Dedication: Readers Interested in The Subject Matter of This Book Are Invited To Correspond With

DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to His Divine Grace

A.C. Bhaktivedänta Svämé Prabhupäda, who inspired the world to take
up the path of bhakti by his
Bhagavad Gétä As It Is, inspired by the commentaries of Çréla
Viçvanätha Cakravarti and Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa, and who
ordered me to inquire into the Gauòéya philosophy.
Readers interested in the subject matter of this book are invited to correspond with:
His Holiness Bhanu Swami Maharaj
ISKCON
Hare Krishna Land,
Injambakkam,
Chennai-600 041.
India
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.iskconchennai.com
First Printing : 1,000 Copies

Second Printing :
Quotations from Çrémad-Bhägavatham

are from Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Cover Design by: Vijaya Govinda Das

Printed By Sri Vaikunta Enterprises, Chennai
CONTENTS
Foreword i
Introduction 1
Chapter 1
Viñäda-yoga
The first chapter summarizes the story
surrounding the Gétä.
Chapter 2 47
Ätmänätmä-viveka-yoga
A person will become a jïäné, remembering
the Lord, by performance of niñkäma-karma.
To do otherwise creates only obstacles.
This is the essence of the second chapter.
Chapter 3 135
Karma-Yoga
The third chapter explains that one
should principally practice niñkäma-
karma yoga, and secondarily, jïäna-
yoga which arises from it, for gaining
a vision of the ätmä.
Chapter 4 183
Jïäna-präpti-upäya-yoga
Karma or action has two parts like grain
with its husk. As the rice is superior to
the husk, jïäna is superior to the gross part.
That is the conclusion of the fourth chapter.
CONTENTS
Chapter 5 225
Brahma-jïäna-yoga
By niñkäma-karma-yoga, the most prominent
yoga, which has within it jïäna, the saniñöha
attains liberation. This is the meaning of the
fifth chapter.
Chapter 6 253
Añöäìga-yoga
In the sixth chapter, Mukunda speaks of the
illuminating nature of añöäìga-yoga.
Chapter 7 293
Bhagavaj-jïäna-vijïaëa-yoga
The devotees of five types know Kåñëa in truth
and they cross over His mäyä. This has been
described in the seventh chapter
Chapter 8 327
Yoga-miçra-bhakti-yoga
The aàça of Kåñëa, the puruña, is obtained
by bhakti mixed with yoga, through the
path of light, but Kåñëa Himself is attained
only through ananyä bhakti. This is explained
in the eighth chapter.
Chapter 9 359
Ananya-bhakti-yoga
In this chapter, bhakti, like the Gaìgä,
not considering who is suitable or unsuitable,
and destroying all sins by its very touch, is alone
considered to be the king of all secrets.
CONTENTS
Chapter 10 405
Vibhüti-Yoga
By Kåñëa’s energy alone the universe is maintained,
and by a small particle of His energy the sun derives
its intense heat, and all other objects possess
their powers. This Kåñëa is worshipped in the
tenth chapter
Chapter 11 447
Viçvarüpa-darçana-yoga
The eleventh chapter shows that Kåsëa is the
complete form of God, because He is the source
of all avatäras, and He is thus the cause of
the victory for His devotees, the sons of
Päëdu, on the battlefield in Bhärata.
Chapter 12 495
Susädhya-bhakti-yoga
Kåñëa is controlled by the persons devoted
to Him alone, and by the persons devoted
solely to the process of bhakti dedicated
to Him. The most beautiful Kåñëa is
conquered completely by love. This
is explained in the twelfth chapter.
Chapter 13 517
Prakåti-puruña-viveka-yoga
Both the jéva and the Lord are situated in
the body. The jéva, joined to the qualities
of the body, is bound up, but is liberated
by understanding the Lord. This is the
knowledge of the thirteenth chapter.
CONTENTS
Chapter 14 561
Guëa-traya-vibhäga-yoga
One remains in saàsära by combination
with the guëas. One becomes liberated by
surpassing the guëas. This is attained only
by devotion to the Lord. This is the
knowledge to be gained from chapter fourteen.
Chapter 15 587
Puruñottama-yoga
From the fifteenth chapter, one learns
that the person who is different from the
conditioned and liberated souls—and
who supports both and is superior to
both—is the Supreme Lord Kåñëa.
Chapter 16 611
Daiväsura-sampad-yoga
Those fixed in understanding the meaning
of the Vedas achieve Svarga and eternal liberation.
Those who reject the Vedas go to hell. This is
the conclusion of the sixteenth chapter.
Chapter 17 633
Sättvika-çraddhä-yoga
Rejecting faith arising from one’s impressions,
the person who takes shelter of faith arising
from scripture becomes qualified for the
highest goal. This is the ordinance of the
seventeenth chapter.
CONTENTS
Chapter 18 657
Prapatti-yoga
There are many methods, but among them,
surrender (prapatti), along with the attitude
of being a servant, quickly pleases Viñëu.
This is the conclusion of the eighteenth chapter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 725
About the Author 726
Note From the Publisher 728
Foreword
One can ask why did Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa consider it necessary to
write a commentary on the Bhagavad-gétä, when shortly before that his
sikña guru, Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarti Öhakura, had written an excellent
and original commentary perfectly in harmony with Gauòiya philosophy. His
personal answer to that question we will never know.
However, by examining his commentary, Gétä Bhüñaëa, the reader will be

able to appreciate that he has indeed made a significant contribution to the
study of the Gétä in writing it. Like Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarti’s, his
explanations are unique and consistent with the whole of the Gétä, and yet
his commentary is quite different from Viçvanätha’s. At the same time, the
explanations are in harmony with the Gauòiya philosophy. Thus, we have two
equally brilliant commentaries on the same text. Both conclude the
supremacy of Kåñëa and pure bhakti, but with different explanations of the
verses leading to that conclusion. Within one sampradäya, we have two
differing explanations of a work, both of which we accept as correct.
Inconceivably, the two commentaries are different but harmonious.
In Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa’s commentary, we will find the influence of

both Rämänujäcarya in particular verses and Madhväcarya in the general
philosophy. In his refutation of impersonal interpretations of the Gétä, he
takes some of the arguments from Çré Rämänujäcarya’s commentary on the
Gétä. He takes the concept of viçeña, the power by which particulars inhere
in an object, from Madhväcarya, in order to explain the non-difference of God
from His qualities.
However, we will also find original ideas in his commentary. He presents the
concept of three types of devotees: the saniñöha, pariniñtùita and nirapekña
in order to bring unity to the whole of the Gétä. The saniñtha-bhakta follows
the gradual process: niñkäma-karma-yoga (varëäçrama), followed by jïäna-
yoga, añöäìga-yoga, and finally bhakti-yoga. Thus all the processes described
in the first six chapters can be considered essential for the saniñöha-bhakta’s
development. The pariniñöhita-bhakta directly engages in the devotional
processes of hearing and chanting as his main sädhana. He also performs
varëäçrama rules, but without attachment, only to set an example for less
advanced persons who do not have strong faith to practice bhakti as their
main sädhana. The nirapekña-bhakta performs only bhakti, and rejects the
rules of varëäçrama. He is usually a renounced person. The latter two types
of devotees are called ananya-bhaktas or pure devotees, though they are
practicing sädhana. They are considered superior because of their direct
practice of bhakti. These two types are described in the middle six chapters,
and at the conclusion of the Gétä. This explanation of the relationship of
varëäçrama to bhakti may be useful to the readers for application in their
own lives.
In producing commentaries, the authors often resort to explanations of the

words of the verse in their grammatical context within the sentence, while at
the same time explaining the words’ implied meanings in the context of the
subject at hand. This often gives rise to long, complex sentences which
become difficult to follow in English, but are quite clear in sanskåt. Such
sentences have been broken up for easier comprehension, though in the
process, the explanation of the grammatical context may disappear. Please
bear that in mind while reading. Comments or explanations of the
commentary are usually in footnotes. Please forgive any mistakes in

translation or interpretation.
I hope the readers will find the commentary stimulating to the intellect and
nourishing to the soul, bringing about greater faith and devotion to Lord
Kåñëa.
Bhanu Swämi
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India
Gaura Purnima 2005.

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DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to His Divine Grace

First Printing : 1,000 Copies

Quotations from Çrémad-Bhägavatham

Cover Design by: Vijaya Govinda Das

About the Author 726

Note From the Publisher 728

However, by examining his commentary, Gétä Bhüñaëa, the reader will be

In Çréla Baladeva Vidyäbhüñaëa’s commentary, we will find the influence of

In producing commentaries, the authors often resort to explanations of the

commentary are usually in footnotes. Please forgive any mistakes in

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