Ten Essential Principles of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

[suchandra 1]

Aug. 5th, 2008 | 01:23 pm

 

BHAGAVAD-GITA Dasa-Mula

http://pranagovinda.livejournal.com/9917.html

 

Ten Essential Principles of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

by

 

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura

 

 

 

1) Pramana: Criteria for evaluation and comprehension.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 17

 

 

vedyam pavitram omkara rik sama yajur eva ca

 

Translation

 

Lord Krishna is the goal of all knowledge, the purifying, transcendental sound vibration Om, and the Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 16, verse 24

 

 

tasmac chastram pramanam te karyakarya-vyavasthitau

 

jnatva sastra-vidhanoktam karma kartum iharhasi

 

 

Translation

 

Therefore the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures are the sole authority in ascertaining what is to be done and what is not to be done. Thus knowing the ordinances of the Vedic scriptures as prescribed one should perform actions in this world in accordance to them as a matter of duty.

 

 

a. Prameya: Principles of the proof.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9 , verse 2

 

 

raja-vidya raja-guhyam pavitram idam uttamam

 

pratyaksavagamam dharmyam susukham kartum avyayam

 

 

Translation

 

This knowledge is the king of all wisdom, the king of all that is confidential, the topmost in righteousness, purifying, able to be perceived by direct realisation, very joyous to perform and everlasting.

 

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 4, verse 2

 

 

evam parampara-praptum imam rajarsayo viduh

 

 

Translation

 

This supreme science is received through disciplic succession and the

 

saintly kings understood it in this way.

 

 

 

b. Sambandha: Eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita; chapter 8, verse 3

 

 

aksaram paramam brahma svabhavo'dhyatmam ucyate

 

 

Translation

 

The Supreme indestructible reality is the ultimate truth and its eternal nature is the soul.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 10, verse 8

 

 

aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate

 

iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah

 

 

Translation

 

Lord Krishna is the original generating cause of all causes, everything emanates from Him; realising this the spiritually intelligent endowed with devotional sentiments become devoted to Him.

 

 

2) Krishna-tattva: Truth about the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 7

 

 

mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya

 

mayi sarvam idam protam sutre mani-gana iva

 

 

Translation

 

There is nothing equal to or greater than Lord Krishna. Everything rests in Him and nothing can exist independently. Just as a cluster of pearls are strung on a thread.

 

 

 

3) Krishna-sakti: The Potencies of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 4

 

 

bhumir apo nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca

 

ahankara itiyam me bhinna prakrtir astadha

 

 

Translation

 

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, spiritual intelligence and false ego, these eight fold divisions comprise Lord Krishna's external energy.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 5

 

 

apareyam itas tv anyam prakritim viddhi me param

 

jiva-bhutam maha-baho yayedam dharyate jagat

 

 

Translation

 

The external energy is inferior but superior to this is Lord Krishna's marginal energy comprising the conscious embodied souls of all living entities by which the material creation is utilised.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 6

 

 

etad yonini bhutani sarvanity upadharaya

 

aham krtsnasya jagatah prabhavah pralayas tatha

 

 

Translation

 

Understand that all living beings, moving or stationary in existence in all of creation are manifested by these two energies of Lord Krishna, who is the creator and the terminator of all the worlds.

 

 

4) Krishna-rasa: Divine sentiments for the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 24

 

 

avyaktam vyakam apannam manyate mam abuddhayah

 

param bhavam ajananto mam avyayam anuttamam

 

 

Translation

 

Unable to comprehend Lord Krishna's supreme, imperishable and exalted state of being; the spiritually deficient regard Him as being of the material nature coming into existence from the unmanifest.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita; chapter 9, verse 11

 

 

avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam

 

param bhavam ajananto mama bhuta-mahesvaram

 

 

Translation

 

Fools blaspheme Lord Krishna when he descends in His divine form, unable to realise His paramount position as the Supreme Lord of all beings and all creation.

 

 

5) Jiva-tattva: Truth about all living entities.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 15, verse 7

 

 

mamaivamso jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah

 

 

Translation

 

All embodied living entities in the material creation are Lord Krishna's eternal, separate, infinitesimal parts.

 

 

 

6) Baddha-tattva: Truth about conditioned living entities.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 15, verse 8

 

 

sariram yad avapnoti yac capy utkramatisvarah

 

grhitvaitani samyati vayur gandhan ivasayat

 

 

Translation

 

Whatever new body the eternal infinitesimal portion enters into, it carries the subtle body with it from whatever old body it departed, just as air carries fragrance from a flower.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 15

 

 

na mam duskritino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah

 

mayaya pahrta-jnana asuram bhavam asritah

 

 

Translation

 

The foolish, the depraved, the deluded and the demoniac, whose discrimination is degraded by the illusory energy; do not surrender unto the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

 

 

7) Mukta-jiva tattva: Truth about liberated living entities.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 8, verse 15

 

 

mam upetya punar janma duhkhalayam asasvatam

 

napnuvanti mahatmatmanah samsiddhim paramam gatah

 

 

Translation

 

The great souls having achieved ultimate perfection take refuge in Lord Krishna never again to enter the miserable cycle of birth and death.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 7, verse 14

 

 

daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya

 

mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te

 

 

Translation

 

This divine illusion of Lord Krishna, consisting of the three modes of the external material energy is very difficult to overcome; but those who surrender unto Lord Krishna, only they are able to surmount this illusory energy known as maya.

 

 

 

8) Maya-Illusion, Jivas-Livings Entities, Isvara-Supreme Lord Krishna.

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 4

 

 

maya tatam idam sarvam jagad avyakta-murtina

 

mat-sthani sarva bhutani na caham tesu avasthitah

 

 

Translation

 

All of creation is pervaded by Lord Krishna in an imperceptibly subtle manner and all that is conceivable is situated within Him; but He is not situated within it and He is completely independent of it.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 5

 

 

na ca mat-sthani bhutani pasya me yogam aisvaram

 

bhuta-bhrn na ca bhuta-stho mamatma bhuta-bhavanah

 

 

Translation

 

Behold Lord Krishna's extraordinary, unparalleled, unfathomable majestic opulence. His omniscient self is the maintainer of all living entities in creation and the preserver of all these living entities; but He is uninfluenced by them being transcendental to material nature.

 

 

 

9) Abhidheya-tattva: Devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna.

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 13

 

 

mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakritam asritah

 

bhajanty ananya-manaso jnatvabhutadim avyayam

 

 

Translation

 

The great souls having taken refuge of the divine nature, render loving, devotional service unto Lord Krishna with unalloyed minds, knowing Him to be the imperishable origin of all creation.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 9, verse 14

 

 

satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah

 

namasyantas ca mam bhaktya nitya-yukta apasate

 

 

Translation

 

Always eulogising the Supreme Lord Krishna's glories with joy and humility, resolute with unfailing determination; beings who desire an eternal relationship with Lord Krishna worship Him in loving devotion.

 

 

 

10) Prayojana-tattva: The Ultimate Attainment

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 22

 

 

ananyas cintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate

 

tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham

 

 

Translation

 

Those who desire Lord Krishna's eternal association precluding all else meditate upon Him exclusively in loving devotion and He insures communion with Him supplying what they lack and preserving what they have.

 

 

Bhagavad-Gita: chapter 9, verse 29

 

 

samo'ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo' sti na priyah

 

ya bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi te tesu capy aham

 

 

Translation

 

Lord Krishna is equally disposed to all living entities, there is neither friend or foe for Him; but those who with loving sentiments render loving, devotional service unto Him, as they are attached by affection for Him, in that same way He is attached by affection for them.

 

 

Bhaktivinode Thakura

 

Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya