BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

Chapter 9 - Overview Verses 1-34

The Most Confidential Knowledge

Jaya Radha-Madhavaby Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura

jaya radha-madhava, kunja-biharigopi-jana-vallabha, giri-vara-dhari

jasoda-nandana, braja-jana-ranjana,jamuna-tira-vana-cari

“Krishna is the lover of Radha. He displays many amorous pastimes in the groves of

Vrndavana, He is the lover of the cowherd maidens of Vraja, the holder of the great

hill named Govardhana, the beloved son of mother Yasoda, the delighter of the

inhabitants of Vraja, and He wanders in the forests along the banks of the River

Yamuna.”

Hare KrishnaMaha-Mantra

The Great Chanting for Deliverance

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,

Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama,

Rama Rama, Hare Hare

“My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly

engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this

material service. Please engage me in Your service.”

Jaya Nitai Gaura-Hari Nitai Gaura-Hari Gaura-Hari

Jaya Prabhupada, Prabhupada,

Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada

Nitai Gaura Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol

All Glories To Sri Sri Nitai Gaura-Hari

All Glories To SrilaPrabhupada

Chant The Names of The Lord Like Nitai Gaura

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakayacaksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistamsthapitam yena bhu-tale

svayam rupah kada mahyamdadati sva-padantikam

vande 'ham sri-guroh sri-yuta-pada-kamalamsri-gurun vaisnavams ca

sri-rupam sagrajatam saha-gana-raghunathanvitam tam sa-jivam

sadvaitam savadhutam parijana-sahitamkrsna-caitanya-devam

sri-radha-krsna-padan saha-gana-lalita-sri-visakhanvitams ca

he krsna karuna-sindhodina-bandho jagat-pate

gopesa gopika-kantaradha-kanta namo 'stu te

tapta-kancana-gaurangiradhe vrndavanesvarivrsabhanu-sute devi

pranamami hari-priye

väïchä-kalpatarubhyaç cakåpä-sindhubhya eva capatitänäà pävanebhyo

vaiñëavebhyo namo namaù

çré-kåñëa-caitanyaprabhu-nityänanda

çré-advaita gadädharaçréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda

hare krsna hare krsnakrsna krsna hare harehare rama hare rama

rama rama hare hare (x3)

oà namo bhagavateväsudeväya (x3)

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

BREAKDOWN OF CHAPTER 9

SECTION I (9.1 – 9.3) — HEARING: QUALIFICATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

SECTION II (9.4 – 9.10) — AISVARYA–JNANA: KRISHNA’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE MATERIAL WORLD

SECTION III (9.11 – 9.25) — FOOLS NEGLECT BHAKTI, THE DIVINE DON’T

SECTION IV (9.26 – 9.34) — THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

SECTION I (9.1 – 9.3) — HEARING: QUALIFICATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

Qualification - Non Envious

sri-bhagavan uvacaidam tu te guhyatamampravaksyamy anasuyavejnanam vijnana-sahitam

yaj jnatva moksyase 'subhat

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you

shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence. (Bg 9.1)

Connection Between Chapters 8 and 9

• In Chapter 8 Krishna has explained that an ananya (unalloyed) devotee surpasses the path of light and darkness. Now Krishna will explain how to become such a devotee

• Chapter 8 concludes that bhakti is the best form of yoga. Chapter 9 supplies the specific knowledge required for performing that most confidential yoga

• Chapter 7 and Chapter 9 are virtually identical. Chapter 8 can be seen as a tangent in the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna, clearing up some important points before continuing on in the same line

Non Envious

“Envy is the root of misinterpretation” – This setsthe qualification for anyone who wants to commenton Bhagavadgita

• Useless commentary – High academic scholars but give inaccurate commentaries because they are envious.1. One who criticizes the character of Krishna without

knowing Him is foolish 2. Recommended approach – Avoid such commentaries

• Bona-fide commentary – Only possible by a devotee

Nine Fold Process Of Knowledge

1. hearing - sravanam2. chanting - kirtanam3. remembering - smaranam4. serving the lotus feet of the Lord – pada sevanam5. offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen

types of paraphernalia - arcanam6. offering prayers to the Lord - vandanam7. becoming His servant - dasyam8. considering the Lord one's best friend - sakyam9. surrendering everything - atmanivedanam

Benefits Of Hearing

1. Spiritual advancement2. Freedom from material miseries

One who hears becomes more and more enlightened. This process works as follows:• Potent Messages – Messages of Supreme Lord are full of potencies• How to realise these potencies – By discussion among devoteesNot by association of mental speculators and scholars, because it is realised knowledge.• Lord helps us to understand – He sees the mentality and sincerity of a

particular living entity who is engaged in Krishna Consciousness and gives him intelligence to understand Krishna

• e.g. Krishna is telling Arjuna more confidential matters to encourage Arjuna in higher and higher elevations in His potent service

King Of Knowledge

raja-vidya raja-guhyampavitram idam uttamam

pratyaksavagamam dharmyamsu-sukham kartum avyayam

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the

purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by

realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully

performed. (Bg 9.2)

FaithWhat does it means?How is faith created?Three types of Krishna conscious men on the basis of ‘faith’3rd Level (lowest)• Have no good faith/no knowledge of scriptures – easily falldown• May officially be engaged in devotional service but cannot

achieve highest perfectional stage e.g. People coming to Krishna Consciousness with hidden motives

2nd Level – firm faith• But not very advanced in devotional scriptures• Simply trying to follow by association and simplicity1st Level (highest)• Firm faith and well versed in devotional scriptures• No chance of falldown

Destiny Of Faithless

“Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot

attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they

return to the path of birth and death in this material

world.” (Bg 9.3)

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

SECTION II (9.4 – 9.10) — AISVARYA–JNANA: KRISHNA’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE MATERIAL WORLD

Destiny Of Faithless

“By Me, in My unmanifested form, this

entire universe is pervaded. All beings are in Me, but I am not in them.”

(Bg 9.4)

Pervasive Nature Of Krishna

“I am not in them” – This Implies that the Lord by all pervasiveness does not lose His personalexistence• Refutes that “Since God is all pervading, He has lost His

personal existence”• Analogy: King heads the government and is present in all

the departments by his energies

God Is Everything?

“Since God has expanded in everything, then everything we worship is God” - Pantheism

Refutation: Krishna is everywhere, everything is in Him, but still He is aloof.

Krishna Is Aloof

Krishna gives an analogy for yogam-aisvaram – Analogy: Sky and the wind• Sky is the biggest manifestation to conceive. In that sky, wind is

the biggest to conceive• Wind is great and influences all the movements. But wind is

never beyond sky, it is always subordinate to the sky• All wonderful cosmic manifestations (compared here to the

movements of the wind) exist by the will of the Lord (Lord compared to sky) – Still the Lord is aloof and unaffected just like the sky is aloof and not affected by movements of wind

Evolution?

“O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium all material

manifestations enter into My nature, and at the beginning of

another millennium, by My potency, I create them again.”

(Bg 9.7)

Aloof – Yet Supreme Will

“The whole cosmic order is under Me. Under My will it is

automatically manifested again and again, and under My will it is annihilated at

the end.” (Bg 9.8)

Creation etc. Does Not Bind Krishna

(a) ‘Udasina-vat’ – Implies the Lord “As neutral”• Lord is always neutral in the material activities in the

created world• Material activities is carried out by His different

potencies• Still He has control over every minute detail(b) Analogy for neutrality: High court judge giving so many decisions, but he is neutral and unaffectedwith the gain and loss

What Does Krishna Do?

Does it mean Lord has no engagement? – He is always engaged in blissful pastimes in spiritual world (Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.6)

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

SECTION III (9.11 – 9.25) — FOOLS NEGLECT BHAKTI, THE DIVINE DON’T

Fools Deride Me

avajänanti mäà müòhämänuñéà tanum äçritamparaà bhävam ajänanto

mama bhüta-maheçvaram

“Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My

transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be.” (Bg. 9.11)

Great Souls

“O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature.

They are fully engaged in devotional service because they

know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original

and inexhaustible.” (Bg 9.13)

Great Souls

“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great

determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with

devotion.” (Bg 9.14)

3 Levels of Krishna worshipers

• ‘Mahatmas’ – Topmost (9.13 – 9.14)• 4 Types of Sukrtinas (7.16)• 3 Types of Jnanis discussed here in Text 9.15 –

‘Ekatvena’, ‘Prthaktvena’ and ‘Visvatomukham’

• ‘Ekatvena’ – Worships himself as one with the Supreme

• ‘Prthaktvena’ – Concocts some form of the Supreme and worships that form

• ‘Visvato-mukham’ – Accepts the Universal form as the Supreme

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support, and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rk, the Sama, and the Yajur[Vedas].

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

O Arjuna, I control heat, the rain and the drought. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both being and nonbeing are in Me.

I Carry What They Lack

ananyäç cintayanto mäàye janäù paryupäsate

teñäà nityäbhiyuktänäàyoga-kñemaà vahämy aham

“But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on

My transcendental form -- to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve

what they have.” (Bg. 9.22)

Actually Worship Me

“Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith

actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way.”

(Bg 9.23)

“I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Therefore, those who do not recognize My true transcendental

nature fall down.” (Bg 9.24)

Destination of Worshipers

“Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship

ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who

worship Me will live with Me.” (Bg 9.25)

BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS

SECTION IV (9.26 – 9.34) — THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA

Glory of Bhakti

patraà puñpaà phalaà toyaàyo me bhaktyä prayacchatitad ahaà bhakty-upahåtam

açnämi prayatätmanaù

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Bg. 9.26)

Offering To The Lord

yat karoñi yad açnäsiyaj juhoñi dadäsi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteyatat kuruñva mad-arpaëam

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away,

and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as

an offering to Me.” (Bg. 9.27)

“Thus, it is the duty of everyone to mold his life in such a way that he will not forget Krsna in any circumstance. Everyone has to work for maintenance of his body and soul together, and Krsna recommends herein that one should work for Him. Everyone has to eat something to live; therefore he should accept the remnants of foodstuffs offered to Krsna. Any civilized man has to perform some religious ritualistic ceremonies; therefore Krsna recommends, "Do it for Me," and this is called arcana. Everyone has a tendency to give something in charity; Krsna says, "Give it to Me," and this means that all surplus money accumulated should be utilized in furthering the Krsna consciousness movement. Nowadays people are very much inclined to the meditational process, which is not practical in this age, but if anyone practices meditating on Krsna twenty-four hours a day by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra round his beads, he is surely the greatest meditator and the greatest yogi.” (Purport Bg 9.27)

Results

“In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious

results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of

renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.”

(Bg 9.28)

I am Equal

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.”

(Bg 9.29)

Considered Saintly

api cet su-duräcärobhajate mäm ananya-bhäksädhur eva sa mantavyaùsamyag vyavasito hi saù

“Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged

in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is

properly situated in his determination.” (Bg. 9.30)

My Devotee Never Perishes

kñipraà bhavati dharmätmäçaçvac-chäntià nigacchati

kaunteya pratijänéhina me bhaktaù praëaçyati

“He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti,

declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” (Bg. 9.31)

“It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower and higher classes of people. In the material conception of life there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam(2.4.18) it is stated that even the lowest, who are called candalas (dog-eaters), can be purified by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and the guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking shelter of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance. According to the different modes of material nature, men are classified in the mode of goodness (brahmanas), the mode of passion (ksatriyas, or administrators), the mixed modes of passion and ignorance (vaisyas, or merchants), and the mode of ignorance (sudras, or workers). Those lower than them are called candalas, and they are born in sinful families. Generally, the association of those born in sinful families is not accepted by the higher classes. But the process of devotional service is so strong that the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord can enable people of all the lower classes to attain the highest perfection of life.” (Purport Bg 9.32)

My Devotee Never Perishes

man-manä bhava mad-bhaktomad-yäjé mäà namaskurumäm evaiñyasi yuktvaivamätmänaà mat-paräyaëaù

“Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”

(Bg. 9.34)

“In this verse it is clearly indicated that Krsna consciousness is the only means of being delivered from the clutches of this contaminated material world. Sometimes unscrupulous commentators distort the meaning of what is clearly stated here: that all devotional service should be offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Unfortunately, unscrupulous commentators divert the mind of the reader to that which is not at all feasible. Such commentators do not know that there is no difference between Krsna's mind and Krsna. Krsna is not an ordinary human being; He is Absolute Truth. His body, His mind and He Himself are one and absolute.” (Bg 9.34)

“Shri Krishna concludes the ninth chapter with a “take home message”. He gives us specific, tangible and practical instructions to bring the teachings of this chapter into our life. Having declared that this world is impermanent and devoid of joy, he wants us to follow a new way of life that orients us towards Ishvara and away from the world.

Let’s look at the most important instruction first. Shri Krishna wants us to make Ishvara as our sole goal in life. How does this work in practice? If for instance, we are ready to go to college, it should be in line with our svadharma so that we get skilled in performing our work. If we want to get married, it should be with the intention of serving our family and our parents. Any time we serve someone else, we are serving Ishvara.”

Unscrupulous Commentators A simple, modern translation and explanation of the

Bhagavad Gita with shloka (verse) meaning

“Now once this goal is set, everything else falls into place. ShriKrishna wants us to keep on contemplating Ishvara and perform all our actions for Ishvara. The more we do this, the more will our ego get subdued, and this is how we will convert ourselves into a true devotee. We may encounter people and situations that are unpleasant, disagreeable and not to our liking. Even in the midst of this we should bow down and surrender to Ishvara, knowing that it is our past actions that are manifesting as unpleasant but temporary situations.

What is the end result? If we are ever engaged with Ishvarathroughout our lives, if we make Ishvara our goal and refuge, we will certainly attain him. This attainment is explained in the sixth chapter as “Yo maam pashyati sarvatra sarvam cha mayi pashyati”. We will not view the world as different from us. We will see Ishvara in all, and all in Ishavara.”

Thank you. Hare Krishna.