BG Complete NotesChap7to12

Bhagavad-gita Notes Chapter7
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.3

(b) Non-devotee's argument - Bhakti is very easy. Refutation:
• Then why they cannot practice this path
• Why they choose difficult paths
• So called unauthorized path is easy, but speculative scholars and philosophers fall away; if
they try the factual path
• Devotional service without vedic authorization is disturbance to the society
o (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: "Sruti Smriti ....")

(c) "Tattvatah" - means to know Krishna as He is as the last word in Brahman realization.
• Who can know? - Only pure devotees by devotional service
• Can they knowfu\\yl - only something of the inconceivable transcendental qualities
• Process to know - Ref Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: "atah Sri Krishna...") - "Devotional Service
to Krishna is the last word in Brahman realisation"
• What about Impersonalists, Paramatma realized yogis and demigods -They fail to
understand Krishna (as son of Yashoda) as Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus Srila
Prabhupada highlights the "potency of Bhakti"
• Rarity of true knower (Ref 7.19- "hahunam janmanam...") - After many, many births one
gets Vasudeva realisation (Three verses in Chapter 7 emphasizes the rarity of knowing
Krishna - Ref. Bg. 7.3; 7.19; 7.26)
SECTIONII(7.4-7.12)
KNOWING KRISHNA'S MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL ENERGIES
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION II
• Krishna is the source of all potencies
• Krishna consciousness is active in every sphere and the jurisdiction of Krishna consciousness extends
everywhere, and one who knows Krishna consciousness is blessed
• Those who do not know Krishna are in illusion, and so knowledge of Krishna is liberation, and
ignorance of Him is bondage
y
UNK BETWEEN SECTION I & SECTION II: In the next nine verses (7.4 - 7.12), Krishna explains that He is
the source of both the material and spiritual energies. Because all within our experience is a
combination of these two energies, this information will enable Arjuna to see Krishna everywhere, even
as he stands on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra
Texts 7.4 - 7.7

The Supreme position of Krishna
COMMON THEME: Knowledge of the Absolute
♦ Science of God analyzes the constitutional position of the God and His different energies, broadly the
living entity and the material nature. That analysis is done here.
• 'Prakriti' (7.4)
• 'Jiva' (7.5)
• 'lshvara' (7.6 - 7.7)
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Text 7.4
THEME: Material energy called 'prakriti' is described
(a) Description of material energy
• It is the 'separated' energy - It is the inferior energy
• Principally consists of eight elements (memorise them) - Gross (5), Subtle (3)
o These eight elements expand into 24 elements

■ 5 gross, 3 subtle, 5 sense objects, 10 senses and the unmanifested modes
• It is the energy of the Lord in His different purusa incarnations (Ref. Satvata tantra)
(b) Knowledge of 3 Vishnus - Anyone who knows these 3 Vishnus can be liberated from material
entanglement
• 'Maha-Vishnu'- Creates mahat-tattva to begin material manifestation
• 'Garbhodakasayi Vishnu' - Enters into each universe to make diversities within it
• 'Kshirodakasayi Vishnu' - Enters into each atom of the universe as Supersoul

(c) Preaching Application: Recognize the factual enjoyer- material nature, being the energy of the
Lord in His different Purusa incarnations, is meant for the enjoyment of the Supreme Energetic
and not the living entity
• Result of ignorance of science of God - One assumes this world for his own enjoyment
(d) Different levels of understandings of material energy
• Material science - It comprises only 10 items (5 gross elements and 5 sense objects) and
nothing more
• Philosophers -They deal with the mental activities
o They are also not perfect in knowledge - because they do not know the ultimate
source, Krishna
• AtheisticSan/chya Philosophy
o What do they discuss - 8 energies expanded into 24 elements of the material world;
The subject matter for discussion is only the manifestation of the external energy of
Krishna, without considering the connection with Krishna

o What knowledge do they lack - Krishna as the cause of all causes
(e) Basic Principle of Material Existence - 'False ego'
• It includes ten sense organs for material activities

(f) Intelligence - Refers to the total material creation, called maha-tattva ^
Text 7.5
THEME: "Living entity" discussed as the superior energy

FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 7.5
(a) The Living entity belongs to the superior nature/energy of the Lord - Because
• They are exploiting the resources of material inferior nature for different purposes
• Quality of their existence is one and the same with the Supreme Lord but not in the quantity
of power (Ref. Chapter 2 explains that the \iving entity is spiritual)
(b) Material nature is the inferior energy - It is manifested as 5 gross and 3 subtle elements
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FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 7.5 continued.
(c) Preaching application - God and Jiva are never equal, Because
• Jiva being the energy is always under the control of energetic and has no independent
existence
• Jiva tends to get influenced by matter, while God never gets so
• Supporting Ref SB 10.87.30: Acknowledges living entities as the minute energies of the Lord
(d) Cosmic manifestation works only because of superior energy, living entity - proves that living
entity is superior to matter and equal in quality to the Lord
• Tends to come under the influence of matter - This is the cause of forgetting the spiritual
mind and intelligence
(e) Real liberation (Mukti) - involves:
• Surrender by living entity to God's control
o This is the path to real happiness

o Only then can they be controllers
• To be free from influence of illusory material energy

• Free from false ego ("I and mine") and all material conceptions, even conception of being
one with God
(f) Conclusion: Bhagavad-gita confirms living entity to be one of the multi energies of Krishna
Texts 7.6 - 7.7
COMMON THEME: Krishna (God) discussed
♦ Text 7.6 explains God is superior to both i.e. matter (7.4) and living entity (7.5)
♦ Cause of creation and cause of dissolution (7.6)
♦ Also He is the Maintainer of both / All depends on Him - But no-one can see Him just like no-one can
see the thread that holds together a pearl necklace.
• Analogy: Pearls on thread (7.7)

*X* Krishna has no superior source/truth (7.7)
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.6 - 7.7
(a) Spirit is the cause of matter
• Spirit is not created at a certain stage of material development
o Everything that exists is a product of matter and spirit
o Spirit is the basic field of creation and matter is created by the spirit
• Material world is manifested only on the basis of spiritual energy e.g.
o Child grows to boyhood and then to manhood, because of the superior energy, spirit
soul
o Similarly the entire cosmic manifestation develops because of Supreme Soul - Vishnu
(b) Lord is the cause of everything
• Spirit and matter are two energies of the Lord, therefore the Lord is the original cause of
everything, big (Supersoul) or small souls
• Analogy: Living entity is the cause of big skyscraper or a big factory but he cannot be the
cause of the big universe (caused by big soul, the Supersoul)
• Ref. Katha Upanisad 2.2.13 - "nityo nityanam..."
e^
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FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.6 - 7.7 continued...
(c) Refutes "life comes from chemicals" - because Krishna is the source of material energy
(d) Absolute Truth is personal or impersonal -Text 7.7 helps to solves this controversy
• Refutes "Brahman is superior to Krishna" - because Text 7.7 states "no truth is superior to
Me"
• Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.1: "ishvarah paramah Krishna..."
• Impersonalists argue based on Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.10
o Their argument - The Absolute Truth has no material form based on the word
"arupam"
o Our Response: Arupam indicates no material form but a transcendental form of
eternity, bliss and knowledge as substantiated by Ref:
■ Ref. Brahma Samhita
■ Ref Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8-3.9
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.7 & 7.8: Krishna explains further in the following four verses that He is the
essential or maintaining principle of various manifestations. We should appreciate Krishna not only as
the cause but also as the essence of everything. E.g. Krishna has already explained that the element
water has
come from Him (7.4), but what we most appreciate about water is its taste. That taste which quenches
our
thirst is Krishna. Therefore He is the active ingredient, the essence of water.
The next group of verses give the example of how everything depends on Him as per Text 7.7
♦, PLEA5E NOTE: All translations and some points of the purports 7.8 - 7.12 are covered under the
common theme
^ below. The remaining points ofthe purport 7.8 and 7.12 are covered in the 'Focus of Learning' section
thereafter.
Other points of the purport are mentioned in the Connection between Chapter 4 and 5 above
Texts 7.8 -7.11

COMMON THEME: Krishna is the essence and cause of everything within the modes of material nature
as
follows:
1. Taste of Water - Taste is the active principle of water e.g. No-one likes seawater
• Attraction of water depends on purity of water
• Pure taste is one of the energies of the Lord
• Impersonalists perceive the Lord as the taste; but the personalists glorify the Lord for supplying
the water
2. Light of Sun and moon - Originally comes from Brahmajyoti (impersonal effulgence)
3. OM of Vedic mantras
• Om is the transcendental sound in the beginning of every Vedic hymn
• Addresses the Supreme Lord
• Impersonalists prefer to yibrate Omkara because they are very much afraid of addressing Krishna
by His innumerable names
4. SoundofEther
5. AbilityofMan
Texts 7.8 - 7.11 continued...
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6. Fragrance of Earth - "Punya" refers to uncontaminated original flavor/smell/taste which permeates

everything
• 'Punya' means that which is not decomposed or that which is original
7. Heat of Fire (Vibhavasau) - Fire in factories/cooking/digestive fire
• Indigestion is due to low temperature in the belly
8. Life of all living being - Duration of man's life is also due to Krishna
• By Krishna's grace one can prolong or diminish it
9. Penance of Ascetics
10. Original seed (Bijam) of all existence (Source of everything)
• Seed of all 8.4 million species
• Ref Vedic Literatures: Brahman is the source of everything
o Krishna is Parabrahman -The Supreme Spirit
o Impersonal Brahman is situated in the personal aspect
• Krishna is the original root of all that exists and thus He is the maintainer for everything (Ref.
Katha Upanisad 2.2.13)
11. Intelligence of Intelligent
12. Prowess of all Powerful men
13. Strength of Strong - Devoid of passion and desires (strength should be applied to protect the weak,
not
for personal aggression)
14. Regulated Sex life of Religious Principles (Dharma) - used for propagation of Krishna conscious
children
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.11 & 7.12: Text 7.12 provides a summary that Krishna is the origin of all:
Text 7.12
THEME: Still Krishna is not within modes, but is origin of modes and therefore He is Nirguna
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.8 & 7.12
(a) How to realize Supreme Lord impersonally (7.8)
• Preliminarily perceived by His different energies
• He is all pervasive by diverse material and spiritual energies
• Analogy: For universal perception of the Lord by His different energies - Sun perceiyed by
sun shine
(b) There is no contradiction between personalists and impersonalists (7.8)
• Practically speaking impersonal conception and personal conception are simultaneously

present in everything and there is no contradiction
• Lord Caitanya's sublime doctrine -Acintya-bheda and abheda tattva
(c) Krishna is Nirguna {not affected by the modes)-This is one of the special characteristics of
Bhagavan (7.12)
• All material activities are conducted under the three modes
• These modes emanate from the Supreme Lord and He is not subordinate to them
o Analogy: king/law maker is not subject to state laws
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SECTION III (7.13 -7.14)

KRISHNA CONTROLS THE MODES: SO SURRENDER
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION III
• The three modes are Krishna's potency, which keeps the conditioned souls in illusion
• To be free from their influence, therefore, one must take shelter of Him
• Freedom from modes depends on proportion of surrender
LINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: We have now understood that Krishna is both the cause and
the
essence of everything. In Text 7.12 Krishna summarizes, adding that everything is under His control,
including
the three modes of material nature, which in turn control this world.
This verse ends Krishna 's discussion of His para (spiritual) and apara (material) energies. At this point,
one
may wonder why we are prevented from seeing, knowing and surrendering to Krishna if He is, in one
way or
another, everywhere. Krishna answers this question in the next two verses.
Text 7.13
THEME: Explains "Why people do not know and realize Him as the essence of all, if He is everywhere?"
♦♦♦ Because they are bewildered by three modes
♦ On the contrary, they think - Krishna is also under modes like me
♦ Real position of Krishna - "Above modes" and "inexhaustible
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.13
(a) "Deluded by modes" - It means to identify oneself with a particular type of body and its type of
psychological and biological activities - Example: To identify oneself based on Varna, Nation or
Community etc.
(b) "Resultof delusion"
• One forgets Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the modes

• They do not understand that behind material nature is Supreme Personality of Godhead
(c) How mode of goodness also deludes - It limits the understanding of the 'Absolute' to the
impersonal Brahman conception
• It conditions one by happiness and knowledge

(d) Who is actually liberated
• Only one truly established in Krishna consciousness
• Krishna Consciousness is transcendental to three modes
Text 7.14
THEME: Explains how to get free of modes and how to understand Krishna
♦ Difficult by own endeavour
♦ Easy by surrender to Krishna
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.14 & 7.15: lf surrender is the solution to cross material laws, then why educated
philosophers, scientists, businessmen, administrators and all leaders don't surrender unto the lotus feet.
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Bhagavad-gita Notes 10
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(a) Conditioned souls are called Nitya-baddha, because
• Material energy, like spiritual energy, is an eternal divine energy

• No one can trace out the history of being conditioned
(b) Difficult to overcome - because controlled by Supreme will
(c) "Divine Nature" - Material energy is called so because of divine connection and movement by
divine will (Ref. Vedas "nayam...")

(d) Analogy of 'Guna as rope': Only a liberated person can rescue one who is bound
• Only Krishna or His bona-fide representative can rescue one
• Devotional service can help one gain release
• Causeless mercy on surrendered soul - Krishna, out of paternal affection for the living
entity, can order His energies to release the conditioned soul
(e) "Mam-eva" indicates surrender to only Krishna and not Brahma / Shiva (Because they are also
under material energy) etc. Only Vishnu is the master of maya
• Ref Vedas: One can transcend the modes only by understanding Krishna
• Ref Lord Shiva says: "Vishnu is the deliverer of liberation for everyone"
(f) Why Brahma / Shiva cannot help
• They are almost on the level of Vishnu but they are incarnations of Rajo-guna and Tamo-
guna
• Brahma and Shiva are also under the influence of maya, only Vishnu is the master of Maya
SECTION IV (7.15 -7.19)

THE IMPIOUS NEVER SURRENDER, PIOUS DO
v_
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION IV
One's ability to surrender to Krishna is based upon his piety and knowledge
Text 7.15*
THEME: Duskritinas are impious people who do not surrender
(a) Solution offered by Bhagavad-gita to surmount stringent material laws - Surrendering unto the
lotus feet of the Supreme Personality Krishna

(b) Why intelligent and hard-working leaders do not take to this solution, although they desire to get
liberation from material laws
• They pose themselves as scientists, philosophers etc. just for material gain
• They have no idea of God - They do not accept the plan or path of the Supreme Lord
• They simply manufacture their own worldly plans
• Result of such plans -They complicate the problems of material existence in their vain
attempt to solve them
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FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 7.15 continued...
(c) Material energy is very powerful
• It resists the unauthorized plans of the atheists and baffle the 'planning commissions'
• Position of material energy - It has no independent authority. Analogy: It works as the

shadow moves in accordance with the movements of the object
• Power of material energy to deludey'/Va
o Atheist due to his godless temperament, cannot know how material energy works
o Nor can he know the plan of the Supreme Lord
o All his plans are baffled, even if they are materially learned - e.g. Hiranyakashipu and
Ravana
(d) Meaning of 'Duskritinah' -Jhey are atheistic plan-makers whose intelligence and efforts are
misdirected ('krti' means meritorious work)

(e) Four categories of Duskritnas are explained in the Summarized Theme 7A below
SUMMARIZED THEME 7A
FOUR CATEGORIES OF 'DUSKRITNAS' (MISCREANTS)
'MUDHAS' - Grossly foolish like hard working asses ('beasts of burden')
• Attachment to the fruits - They are fruitive workers who want to enjoy the fruits of their
labor by themselves and do not want to part with them for the Supreme
• Does not know for whom he should work
o Just like an ass works hard for his master but does not know for whom he works so
hard
o Does not know that karma is meant for 'yajna'
• Level of happiness
o For them, destructible material gains are life's all in all, although they enjoy a very
small fraction of the fruits of their labor

o Mudhas work hard but sleepless nights, no time for food; He suffers from ulcers,
indigestion etc.
o Similarly an ass is satisfied by filling his stomach by a bundle of grass, sleeping for a
while under the fear of being beaten, and satisfying his sex appetite at the risk of
being repeatedly kicked by the opposite party
• No time to hear for immortality of soul
o Analogy: swine eats night soil, not care for sweet meats
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SUMMARIZED THEME 7A continued...

2. 'NARADHAMAS' - Lowest of Mankind (Please note: 3 definitions are underlined below)
• 'Nara' means human being and 'adhama' means lowest
• Different categories of human species
o Uncivilized - Numerous lower forms of human life
o Civilized - Those who have regulated principles of social, political and religious life
o 'Naradhamas' - Socially and politically deyeloped but no religious principles
■ Nor is religion without God religion (Purpose of religion is explained in the

next point)
• Purpose of following religious principles -To know the Supreme Truth and man's relation
with Him
o Ref. Bg. 7.7 - "There is no authority above Him, He is the Supreme Truth"
o Civilized form of life - meant to revive man's lost consciousness of his eternal
relationship with the Supreme Truth

o Naradhama - Whoeyer loses the chance of human life to revive their lost relationship
falls into this category
• Example of losing the chance - Baby in mother's womb promises to worship Him after
taking birth, but he forgets as soon as he gets out and falls into maya
• Systems designed to revive the lost relationship with God
o It is the duty of the guardians of the children to revive dormant consciousness in them
o This is done by varnasrama system and 10 samskaras which are meant for purification
and elevation
o 99.9% of population is Naradhama - Because they lack the Varnasrama system and
purificatory samskaras
• Effect of all powerful material energy on 'Naradhamas' - All their education is made null
and void
• Hope for Naradhamas - Mercy of devotees e.g., Jagai and Madhai delivered by Nityananda
Prabhu
o Vision of a true devotee - He sees all castes and species on the same platform (Bg.
5.18)
• Recommendation of Lord Caitanya for Naradhamas
o Can also be delivered by submissive hearing process (which they usually neglect)
• Unfortunate condition of Naradhamas-They refuse to give aural reception to the

messages of Godhead and thus Naradhamas neglect the prime duty of the human being
3. 'MAYAYAPAHRTA JNANA' - Knowledge stolen by illusory energy
• Range of their knowledge is only devoted to material world.
• Examples:
o They are mostly very learned, e.g. philosophers, literary, poets; but are misguided and
they disobey the Supreme Lord

o Many mundane scholars of Bhagavad-gita also fall into this category because they
consider Lord to be an ordinary human being
■ Because they do not know that the blessed form of human life is designed
after the eternal and transcendental feature of the Supreme Lord
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SUMMARIZED THEME 7A continued...

'ASURAM BHAVAM ASRITAH' - Erwious towards God/Atheistic demons

• Their arguments:
o Supreme Lord can never descend in material world
■ but, they are unable to give tangible reasons as to why Lord cannot descend
o He is subordinate to impersonal features
o Present illicit incarnations from factory of their brain
• Yamunacarya's comment on "knowing Supreme Personality of Godhead"
o He is unknowable to persons involved with atheistic principles

o Various proofs of Lord's Supremacy
■ Krishna - His uncommon qualities, features and activities
■ Sastra - Confirmation by all the revealed scriptures in the quality of

goodness
■ Sadhu - Acknowledgement by famous authorities on the transcendental

science
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.15 & 7.16:
Then who surrenders?"
Text 7.16
THEME: Describes Sukritinas, 4 kinds of pious peope who surrender unto the Lord
(a) Sukritinas - Defined as follows:
• Pious people
• Adherent of regulative principles of Scriptures
• Follow moral and social laws

• More or less devoted to the Supreme Lord
(b) 4 categories of Sukritinas (pious men)
• Artah - Distressed
• Artharthi- wealth seeker
• Jijnasu - inquisitive
• Jnani - One who desires knowledge of Absolute truth
(c) Are they pure devotees - No, because they have some aspiration to fulfil in exchange for
devotional service
(d) Pure devotional service explained
• Render transcendental loving service favorably
• Without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical
speculations
(e) Destiny of Sukritinas
• They follow devotional service for above 4 reasons
• In due course, they associate with pure devotees and get purified
• Achieve pure devotional service (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu 1.1.11)
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(f) At what stage do these four Sukritinas become pure devotees
• When they are free from all material desires
• When they fully understand that material remuneration has nothing to do with spiritual
improvement
(g) What is the hope for miscreants in regard to devotional service
• For them deyotional seryice is very difficult - because their lives are selfish, irregular and
without spiritual goals
• Is there any hope any time - lf by chance they come in contact with a pure devot.ee, they
also become pure devotees
Who is the best of the four pious people?"
Text 7.17
THEME: Wise (Jnani) is the best, because he is:
♦ In full knowledge of the Absolute Truth, and free of material desires
♦ Engages in pure devotional service; Lord is very dear to him and he is dear to the Lord
♦ When one is in pure knowledge of the transcendence of the Supreme Lord, material contamination
cannottouch him (study purport)
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.17 & 7.18: After hearing Text 7.17 one may conclude that the three karma-
mishra-bhaktas are insignificant and only a jnani is important. Anticipating this, Krishna speaks Text 7.18
Text 7.18*
THEME: Wise is the best, but, all are mahatma/magnanimous, because, "all come to Him for fulfillment
of
desires"
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 7.18
(a) All are magnanimous because anyone who comes to the Lord for any purpose is called a Mahatma
orgreat soul
(b) Devotees wanting some benefit out of devotional service are accepted by the Lord - Because
there is an exchange of affection

(c) Devotee in full knowledge is very dear to the Lord - Because his only purpose is to serve the
Supreme Lord with love and devotion
• Cannot live a second without serving the Supreme Lord
• Supreme Lord is very fond of his devotee and cannot be separated from him
• Ref. SB 9.4.68: "sadhavo hrdayam..."
(d) Conclusion of 7.17 - 7.18: Intimate relationship between Krishna and pure devotees
• The devotees are always in My heart and I am always in their heart
• Devotee does not know anything beyond Me and I cannot forget the devot.ee
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.18 & 7.19: After many life-times one comes to the level of full knowledge that
Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of spiritual realization
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Text7.19
THEME: Devotional Service is very rare

♦ Jnana ultimately leads to bhakti
♦> "Full knowledge" implies to know Vasudeva as cause of all causes and surrender unto Him
(a) Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of spiritual realization
• Beginning of spiritual realisation - When one is trying to give up ones attachment to

materialism, there is some leaning towards impersonalism
• Adyanced stage - One can understand that there are activities in spiritual life which
constitute devotional service; and thus he becomes 'attached and surrenders' to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead
(b) Understanding and realization of one fully matured in knowledge
• Knows that spiritual life is full of actiyities, which are eternal, and blissful and not just
mpersonalism orvoidism
• Material world is a peryerted reflection of spiritual activities.
• Understand Supreme Lord as the cause of all causes and thus realizes a universal vision of
Vasudeva (Sees all in relation to Lord) and this vision precipitates full surrender to Krishna as
highest goal
• Realizes the dependence on Supreme Lord's mercy
• Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of spiritual realization , therefore

surrenders
o Ref Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.14-3.15
o Ref. Chandogya Upanisad: Life is the centre of all activities in the body of a living
being and not the power to speak, see or hear etc; Similarly Lord Vasudeva is the
prime entity in everything and all the powers lose all importance if not related to the
Supreme Lord
o Ref Bg. 7.17; Bg. 11.40
r
SECTIONV (7.20 -7.25)
SURENDER TO DEMIGODS AND IMPERSONAUSM
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION V
Atheists have no knowledge of Krishna and perform no worship
Others engage in worship, but have no knowledge of Krishna. Thus they
are worship is indirect and imperfect compared to pure devotional service
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION IV & SECTION V: Many people turn to other higher forces to fulfill their needs
for relief etc. but not all surrender to Supreme Personality of Godhead, Some turn to "demigods" and
others turn to "Impersonal Brahman". Krishna described four types of people who have no knowledge
and
therefore do not surrender. Now He describes others types of people, who do surrender, but because
they
also have very little knowledge they surrender in imperfect ways
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SUMMARISED THEME 7B
WHY ARE DEMIGOD WORSHIPERS ARE CALLED LESS INTELLIGENT (7.20 - 7.23)
A) Intelligence stolen by material desires (Lust)- Fruits are limited and temporary (7.20 & 7.24)
B) Basis of choice of worship - Different modes and Natures - Different demigods (7.20)
C) Lack of knowledge of Krishna that:
• Krishna is the source of everything (7.6)
• Krishna makes faith steady, required by a living entity to worship the demigods (7.21)
• Krishna bestows benefits through the demigods to the living entities (7.22)
D) Result: Go to demigod planets (7.23) (keeps one in the material world, a place of misery)
E) Krishna's devotees - Go to the supreme planet of Krishna
• Result of demigod worship are all perishable
• Result of devotional service unto Krishna is unlimited and eternal
Text 7.20
THEME: People whose intelligence is stolen by material desires often surrender to demigods
♦ Their choice of worship depends upon the influence of the material modes
(a) Who surrenders to the Supreme Lord and engages in devotional service - One who is freed from
material contamination
(b) What if material contamination is not completely washed away
• They are by nature non-devotees
• Even those who have material desires and still resort to the Supreme Lord, they:
o Are not so much attracted by the external nature; because of the right goal
o Soon become free from all material lust
• Ref SB 2.3.10: "akamah sarva kamo..." Therefore in any condition one should only approach
Vasudeva
(c) Then why do people still go to demigods - They are less intelligent
• Attitude - They have lost the spiritual sense
• Desire -They want immediate fulfillment of material desire
• Modes - Affected by lower modes, therefore they do not go to the Supreme Lord
• Level of motiyation - Motivated by small desires and do not know how to realize Supreme
Goal
• Level of satisfaction - Satisfied by the rules and regulations of their worship
• Conception -They think demigods are better for certain purpose as per their study of Veda
e.g. Sun god for better health
(d) Understanding of pure devotees

• Ref. CC: "Only Krishna is the Supreme master and all others are servants"
• Never goes to the demigods for material needs
• Depends on the Supreme Lord and is satisfied with whatever he gives
Page 16 of 23
Chapter7
Text 7.21
THEME: However it is Krishna who supplies the faith offered by the worshipper
(a) Every living entity has its own minute independence - Supreme Lord does not interfere but gives
facilities
• Analogy: He is like the Supreme father for all living entities
(b) Why the All Powerful God gives facilities to the living entities to enjoy and fall into the trap of
illusory energy
• lf the Supersoul does not give such facilities there is no meaning of independence
• Along with the facilities he also gives the ultimate instruction as the path to real happiness -
"Give up all other engagements and fully surrender unto Me"
(c) Both, the living entities and the demigods are subordinate to the will of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, and have no separate independence without the sanction of the Lord
• Living entity cannot worship by his own desire
o Lord inspires the particular mode of devotional attitude towards a particular demigod
• Nor demigods can bestow benefit without the Supreme will

• Analogy: Even a blade of grass cannot move without the will of the Lord
(d) People go to demigods for different material desires (As per the Vedic literatures)
• For good health -Sun god, Surya
• For education - Goddess of learning, Sarasvati
• For a beautiful wife - Goddess Uma, wife of Lord Shiva
Text 7.22
THEME: It is only Krishna who bestows benefits through the demigods to the living entities
(a) Demigods cannot give benedictions without permission of the Supreme Lord
• Living entities may forget, that everything is the property of the Supreme Lord
• But the demigods do not forget

(b) Attitude of pure devotee
• Knows that everything comes from Supreme Lord
• Does not ask for material benefit
• Ref. CC: To worship the Supreme Lord and at the same time desiring material enjoyment is
contradictory
(c) Reciprocation of Lord with pure devotee
• For living entity desiring to return to Godhead, material desires are impediments
• Therefore the Supreme Lord does not award material benefits to the pure devotees
(d) Demigod worship is material; Worship of the Supreme Lord is spiritual
Page 17 of 23
Chapter7
Text 7.23
THEME: Result of worshipping demigods - Only perishable results of no eternal benefit
(a) This verse refutes that worship of any demigod can take one to the Supreme Lord
• Worship of demigods lead to their respective planets
(b) Another philosophy - lf demigods are different parts of the body of the Supreme Lord then the
same end should be achieved by worshipping them
• Response: They do not know, to what part of the body food must be supplied i.e. the
stomach
• Similarly the Supreme Lord is the source of all demigods and the demigods in themselves
are not separate gods
(c) Perfect knowledge - To know, not only demigods but also living entities as parts and parcels of the
Supreme Lord
• Brahmanas are the head
• Ksatriyas are the arms
• Vaishyas are the waist and
• Sudras are the legs
(d) Result of worshiping demigods vs. devotional service to Krishna
• Results of demigod worship are perishable because
o Within the material world the planets, the demigods and their worshippers are all
perishable
• Devotional service -The Supreme Lord is unlimited; His favour is unlimited and His mercy is
unlimited
X
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.23 & 7.24: In addition to the demigod worshipers, another class of men who
surrender, but improperly, are the Impersonalists. They are described next.
Text 7.24
THEME: "Impersonalists" are unintelligent - Due to their small knowledge, they do now know My higher
nature which is imperishable and supreme
SUMMARISED THEME 7C
IMPERSONALISTS
A) Their philosophy:
• Impersonal Brahman as Supreme
• Krishna's form and pastimes are temporary manifestations of Brahman in contact with
matter(Mayavada)
• They think of Krishna as an ordinary human, son of Vasudev and Devaki, or powerful living
entity
B) What knowledge they lack
• Krishna is imperishable and Supreme (7.24)
• Krishna is unborn and infallible (7.25)
• Krishna knows past, present and future (7.26)
Page 18 of 23
Chapter7
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 7.24: REFUTATION OF IMPERSONAUSTS

(a) Based on Bhagavad-gita
• Krishna Himself speaks Bg. 7.24 (Impersonalists are unintelligent) in His personal form
• Bg. 4.6 mentions Lord is "aja" (unborn), but still appears
• Bg. 7.20 and Bg. 7.23: Demigods and Lord Himself as having their personal planets which
points out to personalism
• Bg. 9.11: Fools deride Me as human

(b) From different 6evotees/Acaryas
• Yamunacharya - "only devotees like Vyasadeva and Narada Muni can know Your form and
activities, non devotees under passion and ignorance can never know.
• Brahma Samhita - Supreme Personality of Godhead not known by study of scriptures like
Vedanta literatures but by mercy of the Lord.
• Sankaracharya - Krishna is Supreme Personality of Godhead (His followers do not accept,

and therefore they are even less intelligent because they do not follow their predecessors)
(c) Why called Abuddhayah
• Because no knowledge of ultimate feature (Bhagavan) of Absolute truth (Ref: SB)

(d) Vedanta Sutra - Absolute truth is "ananda - mayo'byasat"
• Full of unlimited bliss and auspicious qualities

(e) How one cannot understand Krishna
• By mental speculation or by simply discussing Vedic literatures (Ref. SB 10.14.29)

(f) How one can understand - Only by devotional service, beginning with chanting
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.24 & 7.25: Why Impersonalists who are detached from matter and are also
transcendental are still unable to see Krishna. Why, although Krishna's form and pastimes are eternal,
they are not visible to everyone
Text 7.25
THEME: "Result" for Impersonalists
♦ Supreme Lord (Absolute Truth) hides from foolish and unintelligent
♦ Gets covered by internal potency
♦ They do not know Lord as "unborn and infallible"

(a) Why Krishna does not reveal to everyone now, just like when He descended on earth
• Krishna revealed only to pure devotees and not to common man, for example, only to
Pandavas, Bhisma and few others and not to non-devotees like Shisupal etc.
o Ref Bg. - Except devotees, all consider Him as ordinary
• Yogamaya curtain - puts the curtain of Brahmajyoti, which is the covering of the internal
potency; therefore the impersonalists cannot see
o Ref SB 1.8.19 - Kunti Maharani's prayers

o Ref Isopanishad Mantra 15
• Brahma's prayers (Ref. SB 10.14.7) - It is difficult to calculate the inexhaustible potencies,
o Because You are always expanding your internal potency

o e.g. Learned scholars and scientists who can even study the atom, but cannot
calculate Your inexhaustible potencies
Page 19 of 23
Chapter7
SECTION VI (7.26 -7.30)

BEWILDERMENT AND FREEDOM BY KNOWING KRISHNA
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION VI
Living entities are trapped in the material world because of selfish desire, they can become free
by cultivation of devotion and surrender to Krishna in full knowledge
The original sinful desire of the living entity is to take Krishna's position as the Supreme enjoyer
The original hate is towards Krishna because of the living entities envy
LINK BETWEEN SECTION V & SECTION VI: Does covering mentioned in Text 7.25 works both ways? Does
it also prevent Krishna from knowing them? (Like a closed curtain)
Text 7.26*
THEME: Defeats that Krishna's form is material, because Lord states here
♦♦♦ I am fully cognizant of past, present and future (indicates Krishna has no material body)
♦ Iknowall
♦♦♦ No one knows Me
(a) This verse also solves the question of personalism or impersonalism
• lf Krishna's form is material and He changes bodies, then how can he remember past,
present and future
• e.g. Krishna instructed Visvasvan millions of years ago, but still remembers and recalls
(b) Ref utes - "Maya can cover The Supreme Lord"
• Because He knows past, present and future
• Analogy: Sun covered by the cloud - The covering of the clouds is only apparent to our
limited vision; clouds cannot cover the sun, moon and other stars
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.26 & 7.27: How and when Living entity gets covered by Maya. How to get free
from this covering
Text 7.27
THEME: Desire and hatred cause them to be bewildered by dualities
♦ What is the delusion/bewilderment - Controlled by illusory energy, one cannot understand Krishna
♦ Who can overcome delusion - One who
• Recognize Krishna's supremacy and
• Become a devotee
Page 20 of 23
Chapter7
(a) Real constitutional position - subordinate to the Lord who is "pure knowledge"
(b) Cause of delusion - Separation from 'pure knowledge' / thus covered by illusory energy
(c) Effect/ manifestation of illusory energy - duality of desire/hate
(d) Thoughts/symptoms of such delusion
• Wants to become one with the Lord - "Original sinful desire of living entity"
• Envies Krishna as Supreme Personality of Godhead - "Original hatred of living entity"
• Think Supreme Personality of Godhead is created by material energy
• Manifestations of dualities of delusion - dishonour/honour; good/bad; pleasure/pain;

man/woman etc.
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 7.27 & 7.28: This point mentioned in Text 7.27 further reveals the rarity of the
jnani because, as described in Texts 7.16 - 7. 19, jnani's are beyond being fooled by dualities of
happiness
and distress, male and female, and so on...
One may ask, after hearing Text 7.27, whether anyone is, in fact, capable of overcoming illusion and
becoming
a devotee.
Text 7.28*
THEME: Qualifications of a devotee to perform determined devotional service:
♦ Acted piously in this and previous life - Thus ceasing to act according to desire and hate
♦♦♦ Sinful actions are completely eradicated
♦ Freedom from dualities of delusion
(a) The verse explains the eligibility to elevate to transcendental position
(b) For whom is it diff icult to transcend the dualities of desire and hatred - For those who are sinful,
atheistic, foolish and deceitful

(c) Process of being situated on the spiritual platform
• Who can accept this process - Those who live practising the regulative principles of religion,
who have acted piously and who have conquered sinful reactions
• Gradually they can meditate in trance on the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Best process -This elevation is possible in Krishna consciousness in the association of pure
devotees
(d) Living entity can get liberation from bewilderment by devotional service or Krishna
consciousness. This is possible by:
• Association of great devotees ("mahat seva...") - doors to liberation open
o Association with materialistic people - path to darkest region of existence

o Mercy of devotees - Devotees traverse the earth to recover the conditioned souls
from their delusion
(e) Impersonalists lack the following knowledge
• Greatest yiolation of God's law is to forget ones position as subordinate to Lord
• Only way to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Only by being reinstated in
one's constitutional position of transcendental loving service with determination
Page21of 23
Chapter7
Text 7.29
THEME: Describes another kind of devotee (a 4 th kind of sakama devotee), one with mixed intentions
(Devotion is mixed with desire of liberation from birth and death)
♦ One who, due to intelligence, desires freedom from old age and disease and take shelter of Krishna's
service
♦ Devotees are 'Brahman' - because:
• In devotional service, they are acting as Brahman because know everything about transcendental
activities
• They understand Krishna asAdhibhuta, Adhidaiva and Adhiyajna (Bg. 7.30)
(a) "Aham Brahmasmi" - refers to Brahman conception of life -stage of no birth, old age, disease
and death
• This Brahman conception is also present in devotional service as described in this verse
• One who attains a spiritual body becomes one of the associates of the Supreme Lord
(b) Importance of "mam ashritya" '— only Krishna conscious person can be really called Brahman and
can go to Supreme planet, because
• They have no misgiving about Krishna, and
• They are actually endeavouring to reach Krishna's planet

(c) Pure devotional service compared to other paths
• Four kinds of impure devotees -They achieve their respective goals and also gradually
becomes fully Krishna conscious
• Demigod worshipers - Never reach the Supreme Lord in His Supreme planet
• Less intelligent Brahman realised persons cannot reach the Supreme planet of Krishna
(d) Other categories who also know Brahman, Adhibhuta etc, by the grace of the Lord
• Worshipers of arca and
• Those who meditate on the Lord, simply for liberation from material bondage
$T
Text 7.30
THEME: Result: Krishna conscious devotees can know Krishna at death and go to Him.
♦ They are in f u II consciousness of Me and know Me as the:
• Supreme Lord
• 'Adhibhuta' - Governing principle of material manifestation
• 'Adhidaiva' - Go\/em\ng principle of demigods
• 'Adhiyajna' - Governing principle of all methods of sacrifice
Page22of 23
Chapter7
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.30 - Essence of Chapter 7
(a) Explains how to become fully Krishna conscious beginning with association of Krishna conscious
persons
(b) Surety of Krishna conscious path- Person acting in Krishna consciousness are never deviated from
path of entirely understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead

• They understand Krishna in transcendental association
• They understand Supreme Lord as the governing principle of material manifestation and
even the demigods
• Gradually they become convinced of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• At time of death, he can never forget Krishna and promoted to Goloka Vrindavan
(c) Chapter 7 is the substance of the conviction that simply by hearing and glorifying Supreme Lord,
all the objectives will be fulfilled -this is called Drdha-vrta / determined faith . This is the beginning
of Bhakti-yoga
8oENDOFCHAPTER7c#
Page23of 23
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 7 Appendix
CHAPTER 7 Appendix
Selected Texts extracted from "Surrender unto Me"
Introduction
ln earlier chapters Arjuna often encouraged Krsna to speak by asking a question. At the beginning
of Chapter Seven, however, Krsna spontaneously explains how to attain the constant remem-
brance of Him that he described in the final verse of Chapter Six. According to that verse, remem-
berance of Krsna characterizes one as the topmost yogl. Because this point is so important, Krsna
speaks about it without being prompted by Arjuna.
Text 7.2
Jnana generally refers to knowing that the body and soul are different. Here, however, knowledge
refers to knowledge of Krsna and His energies. Srlla Ramanujacarya comments that vijnana refers to
knowledge of Krsna's form.
Text7.15
Mudhas
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakra writes: "Duskrtls are of four kinds. Some are mudhas, karmls
who are just like animals. As is stated: 'Those who are condemned by fate avoid the nectarean top-
ics of Lord Acyuta and listen instead to impious narrations. They are just like dogs eating stool.'
And: 'Who will not serve Lord Mukunda, other than one who is less than human?"'
According to Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Krsna says, "Some are bewildered (mudha) by maya,
their intelligence dulled by fruitive work. They think that I, Lord Visnu, am like Lord Indra, an agent
of the law of karma, and that, like jlvas, I am subject to karma."
Naradhamas
"Naradhamas," according to Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura, "having become civilized human
beings by practicing devotional service for some time, later decide that devotional practices are im-
practical for achieving their aims in life and thus whimsically discard devotional service. The symp-
tom of their being adhama, or the most fallen, is their intentional rejection of devotional service."
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana adds: "Some people are made into the worst of men by the influence
of maya. Even having received a most excellent status by birth in a brahminical or high-class family,
they become degraded to a low-class status by attachment to poetry or wealth. As is stated: 'Such
people have been cheated by fate. Abandoning the nectar of topics about Lord Acyuta, they listen
to impure narrations, just as dogs eat excrement.'"
Mayayapahrta-jhanls
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura states: "Some people have the qualification of having studied
scripture, but their knowledge has been stolen by illusion. That is to say, they think that only the
Narayana form of God residing in Vaikuntha is the eternal object of attainment by devotional ser-
vice, and the mere human forms of Krsna, Rama and so on are not. This is described in the words,
Tools deride Me when I appear in My human form.' Even when those persons are apparently sur-
rendering unto Krsna, they actually are not surrendering to Him."
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana explains Krsna's words: "Others, such as the proponents of Sahkhya
philosophy, have had their knowledge stolen by maya. The Sahkhyas belittle Me, even though My
Page 1 of 3
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 7 Appendix
qualities of omniscience, omnipotence and being the creator of all and the bestower of liberation
are proclaimed by thousands of revealed scriptures. Instead they whimsically propose that material
nature is the creator of all and the bestower of liberation. The reason that they raise hundreds of
such faulty and deceptive arguments is simply the influence of maya."
Asuras
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura says that Krsna is stating: "Some people have taken shelter of
the demoniac nature. Demons such as Jarasandha aim and shoot arrows at My personal form, while
these persons try to obliterate My personal form. They attack My form with bad logical arguments
based on such evidence as the fact that My form is visible. Such persons certainly do not surrender
unto Me."
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana writes, "Some people have taken shelter of the demoniac nature by
the influence of maya. These are the proponents of the philosophy that the Absolute is pure spirit,
without any qualities. In the same manner as asuras try to shoot arrows at My personal form, the
source of all bliss, the Mayavadls attack My personal form, which is proven in sruti to be the eternal
embodiment of living spirit. The Mayavadls thus try to destroy My personal form with their argu-
ments. The reason for such a mentality arising in them is, again, simply the influence of maya."
7.16: Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that a jijnasu is mentioned in the Sanskrit verse be-
tween an arta and an artha-arthl because both will naturally progress to the jijnasu category as they
advance in Krsna consciousness. If they are not curious about Krsna consciousness, then they are
likely to later give up their interest in Krsna's service.
Text 7.18
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains:
Then, are the three kinds of worshipers beginning with the distressed not dear to You?
"That's not the case at all," says the Lord in the verse beginning udarah [text 18]. "Those who wor-
ship Me, taking something they want from Me, which I was prepared to give them anyway, are very dear
to
Me. They are giving so much to satisfy Me, and I am very affectionate to My devotees. The jnanl,
however,
is like My own self. While worshiping Me, he does not hanker for any benefit — neither attainment of
heaven,
nor liberation, nor anything else. Therefore, in My opinion, such a jnanl is My very self, and I become
subor-
dinate to him."
The implied idea is: "I accept him as My very self because he has concluded that I, in the form of
Syamasundara, am the supreme goal, not dissolution in the formless identity of Brahman."
In this way the jnanl, by possessing bhakti that predominates over other tendencies and is devoid of
ulterior
motives, comes to be considered by the bhakta-vatsala Personality of Godhead as His own self. But the
devotee whose devotion is completely pure, who has no other desires at all, the Lord considers even
greater
than His own self: "My dear Uddhava, neither Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Lord Sankarsana, the goddess of
for-
tune nor indeed My own self is as dear to Me as you are." (Bhag. 11.14.15)
Lord Krsna is atmarama, self-satisfied. Still, He is inclined to enjoy with the gopls, which indicates
that He considers the gopls even more dear than His own self. "Sukadeva GosvamI said: Smiling upon
hearing
despondent words from the gopls, Lord Krsna, the supreme master of all masters of mystic yoga,
mercifully
enjoyed with them, although He is self-satisfied." (Bhag. 10.29.42)
Page 2 of 3
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 7 Appendix
Text 7.26
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana poses a question: "lf a living entity can be covered by maya and fall
into ignorance, can this also happen to Krsna?" "No!" he answers. Maya is inferior to Krsna and is
controlled by Krsna's prowess. She carries out His orders from afar and cannot affect Him.
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains Krsna's words: "Maya has no power to bewilder her
own shelter. Therefore neither the extemal maya nor the internal Yogamaya can ever cover My
awareness. And no one knows Me completely — no materialistic or transcendental person, such as
Maharudra, or anyone else — even the most omniscient person. That is because either maya or
Yogamaya, as is appropriate in each individual case, is always covering everyone's awareness."
Text 7.28
Pious persons are qualified to take to devotional service, not exactly because of their piety, but be-
cause their piety attracts a pure devotee's mercy. It is the mercy of the Lord's devotee, and noth-
ing else, that destroys sins and establishes faith in bhakti. Thus it is the bhakta's business to
distribute Krsna consciousness to others. Srila Prabhupada writes, "All the devotees of the Lord
traverse this earth just to recover the conditioned souls from their delusion."
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana's comment points directly to the unique, magnanimous contribution of
Srlla Prabhupada:
But do we ever find devotion for You in anyone? It seems that this would not be the case, judging by
Your statement that all beings in creation are born into delusion.
[This is answered:] Those living beings who have received the merciful glance of the topmost pure
souls will have all their sinful reactions destroyed. As stated in sruti: "The personal servants of Lord
Visnu
wander this world to purify the conditioned souls."
What characteristics are found in those who receive such mercy? This is answered by the phrase
punya-karmanam: their activity of taking the darsana of great souls is punya, "attractive or charming."
"Becoming firm in their vows and gaining determination by virtue of the association of great souls,
they are freed from the delusion of duality. Coming to understand the truth about Me, they engage in
wor-
shiping Me."
How munificent, then, was Srlla Prabhupada! He so widely cast his purifying glance that it fell upon
even the impious and those engaged in most unfortunate works, and thus he created their punya-
karmanam.
Page 3 of 3
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
CHAPTER 8
ATTAINING THE SUPREME
Introduction / Connection between Chapter 7 and Chapter 8
♦ Last two verses of Chapter 7 - Lord used 6 technical terms
♦ Arjuna asks for clarification of these terms and thus asks 8 questions in Texts 8.1 - 8.2
♦ First, Krishna answers the first 7 questions and then discusses 8 th question in detail
♦ Krishna also discusses:
• Yoga mishra bhakti (Devotional service mixed with yoga)
• Shuddha Bhakti (Unmixed, pure devotional service) and
• Factors that determine soul's destination when it leaves the body
BREAKDOWN OF CHAPTER 8
SECTION I (8.1 - 8.4) — KRISHNA'S ANSWERS TO ARJUNA'S QUESTIONS
• Arjuna asks Krishna about Krishna's words at the end of the seventh chapter and He replies to
each one of Arjuna's queries briefly
o 'Brahman' is the indestructible living entity
o 'Adhyatma' is the living entity's nature, which is to serve
o 'Karma' is that activity and its reactions which cause the development of a material
body
o 'Adhibhuta' is the ever changing material manifestation
o 'Adhideva' - He who presides over all the demigods and their planets is Adhidaiva, the
universal form of the Lord

o 'Adhiyajna' - Krishna, as the Supersoul, is within everyone's heart and is Adhiyajna, the
Lord of all sacrifices

SECTION II (8.5 - 8.8) — REMEMBERING KRISHNA AT THE TIME OF DEATH
• One attains whatever one remembers at the time of death
• Krishna recommends Arjuna to undeviatingly meditate on Him, dedicate his activities to Him
and thus attain Him
SECTION III (8.9 - 8.13) — REMEMBERING KRISHNA (Practice remembrance through

meditation)
• By meditating on Krishna and His qualities, or by practicing yoga-mishra-bhakti, one can think of
Supreme Personality of Godhead when quitting the body and reach the spiritual planets
SECTION IV (8.14 - 8.16) — PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE (Remembrance of Krishna through

bhakti)
• By constant engagement in devotional service, one who undeviatingly remembers Krishna easily
attains the Lord's abode, far from this miserable material world
SECTION V (8.17 - 8.22) — COMPARING THE MATERIAL & SPIRITUAL WORLDS /
GLORIES OF SUPREME ABODE
• Material world is continually being created and destroyed
• Beyond this ocean of creation and destruction lies Krishna's abode, where He is present and can
be attained only by unalloyed devotion to Him
Page lof 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
SECTION 1(8.1 -8.4)

KRISHNA'S ANSWERS TO ARJUNA'S QUESTIONS
Texts8.1-8.4
COMMON THEME: "Understanding Krishna through proper inquiry"
♦ Arjuna asks 8 questions
♦♦♦ Krishna answers first 7 as tollows (8.3 - 8.4):
1. 'Brahman' (Spirit) - Indestructible living entity
2. 'Adhyatma' (Controller of the body) - Eternal nature, the self (to serve the Supreme)
3. 'Karma' (Work/Fruitive activities) - Activity which generates a material body for the living entity
4. 'Adhibhuta' (The material manitestation) - Constantly changing physical world
5. ' Adh\da\\ia' (The supreme demigod) - "The universal form" which includes all demigods and their
different planets
6. 'Adhiyajna' (The enjoyer of sacritice) - Paramatma in every embodied being, Krishna Himselt
7. Where does Adhiyajna reside? - In the heart of all
♦ 8 th Ouestion -
8. How to remember Krishna at the time of death?
• Answer to 8 th question is the main subject of the rest of chapter
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 8.1*
(a) Atma - according to Vedic dictionary - Refers to mind, soul, body and also senses
(b) Brahman - It can refer to the Supreme Absolute Truth or indiyidual soul
(c) Purushottama -
• Indicates Krishna to be the Supreme Person and not simply a friend
• He is the Supreme authority able to give detinite answers
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 8.2*
(a) Lord of sacrifice (Adhiyajna) - Can be Indra or Vishnu
• Vishnu - Chief of primal demigods including Brahma and Shiva
• Indra - Chief of administrative demigods
• Both are worshipped by yajna
• The question is "who is the actual Lord of yajna"

(b) Lord as 'Madhusudana' - to kill the demon of doubt, not expected to arise in the mind of a
Krishna conscious devotee (Arjuna)

(c) 'Prayana-kale' means - at the time of death
• Crucial time when whatever we do throughout life will be tested
• Indicates Arjuna's anxiety to know the position of the Krishna conscious devotee at death
o e.g. King Kulashekhar's prayers - He prays to die immediately when healthy because
it is difficult to remember Supreme Lord when bodily tunctions and mind is disturbed
o Analogy: "Swan of my mind can enter the stem of Your Lotus feet" (study purport)
P^
Page2of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
(a) Living entity and Supreme Lord (Both called Brahman) -
• Living entity is called 'Brahman' because eternal and indestructible, therefore same in
quality as Lord
• But Lord is differentiated by referring to as 'Para-Brahman'
(b) Difference between material consciousness and spiritual consciousness
• Material consciousness - "trying to lord over" - results in karma (different bodies) - Such
consciousness results in generating karma
o Karma - It is the varied creation of material bodies by the force of material

consciousness
• Spiritual consciousness - to serve the Supreme

(c) Living entity is called marginal entity - Why?
• Because the living entity sometimes identifies with matter
• And sometimes identifies with superior nature - then, he has only one spiritual body
(d) What happens when the living entity identifies with matter -
• Takesany oneof 8,400,000 bodies
• Basis of transmigration - karma
• For elevation to heaven - performs yajna (see "Vedic Sacrificial Process" below)
(e) Krishna conscious viewpoint - Avoid such sacrifices, take direct Krishna consciousness and go
back to Godhead
(f) This verse refutes impersonal commentators who say - "Brahman takes the form of the jiva in
material world". They misunderstand Bg. 15.7
• The living entity is an eternal individual supported by two references:
o Ref. Bg. 15.7: Living entity is an ' eternal' fragmental part and parcel of Myself
o Ref Vedic literatures - Distinguishes Brahman from Para-Brahman
• Supreme Lord is Achyuta - He never falls; buty'/Vo may fall down

(g) Vedic sacrificial process - See diagram below
ACTIONS THAT RESULT IN A MATERIAL HUMAN BODY (8.3 purport)
VEDIC SACRIFICIAL PROCESS

(Chandogya Upanisad)
Five kinds of orterines
[Pancagni-uidya)
Fivekindspf sacrifice
Page3of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
(a) Adhibhuta - Constantly changing physical nature which manifests as six changes of body : birth,
growth, sustenance, by-products, dwindling and death

(b) Adhidaivata - Universal form
• Contemplated by neophytes who cannot approach the Supreme Lord in manifestation as

Supersoul
• Contemplated as follows:
o Legs- lower planets

o Head - upper plants
o Eyes- sun and moon
(c) Adhiyajna - Function of Supersoul
• Witness of souTs actiyities
• Source of soul's various types of consciousness
• Gives indiyjdual soul - free independence

(d) "Eva" - Stresses that Paramatma is non-different from Supreme Lord Krishna Himself
(e) Who understands the functions of all these manifestations of Supreme Personality of Godhead
clearly-only a pure Krishna conscious devotee

pf
SECTIONII(8.5-8.8)
REMEMBERING KRISHNA AT THE TIME OF DEATH
To attain Krishna, one must remember Him at the time of death. This remembrance is more than
a mental trick. The word used in Text 8.5 - 8.6 is 'bhava' which means mood. At death, one will
automatically rememberthe mood he cultivated throughout his life
The most effective means for fixing the mind on Krishna is 'Harinama sankirtana'
Text 8.5
THEME: This verse stresses the importance of Krishna Consciousness - Whoever remembers the
Supreme
(Krishna) at the point of death will attain the Supreme destination (attains "My Nature")
(a) Krishna consciousness means being 'Purest of the Pure' - because of constant remembrance of
the Supreme Lord who is the 'Purest of the Pure'

(b) Smaran (Remembrance)
• It is not possible for an impure soul
• Purify yourself by practicing remembrance
• lf not practiced, one cannot remember Krishna at the end of his life
Page 4of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
(c) How to practice remembrance - to be effective at the time of death (8.5 - 8.6)
• Live in the mode of goodness
• Life dedicated in service to Krishna and thus always thinking of Krishna
• Constant and incessant chanting of the Holy Name (best process) - Srila Prabhupada
mentions the full Hare Krishna maha-mantra three times in Texts 8.5 and 8.6 to stress the
important of this process
• Tolerate all impediments like a tree
o Ref. Lord Chaitanya's Shikshastakam Verse 3: "taror iva..."
Text 8.6
This verse is the basis of Text 8.5
THEME: Mentions the "General Law at the time of death"
♦ One's state of mind at the time of death determines the destination attained in the next life
(a) Text 8.6 establishes:
• "Process of changing one's nature" at the critical moment of death - Srila Prabhupada
explains that the best process is chanting Hare Krishna
• Also establishes that the transcendental absorption in Krishna's service assures next body to
be spiritual and not material
(b) How to make sure that one thinks of Krishna at death - Practice remembrance during one's life ;
not just at death

(c) Refutes - "Thinking anything will give the same result" (Preaching Application)
(d) Example: Bharat Maharaja becoming a deer ~.

y
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 8.6 & 8.7: Arjuna may think: "Remembering may be better advice than fighting";
Krishna clears this misconception in Text 8.7. The Lord does not recommend giving up prescribed duties
Text 8.7*
THEME: "Always think of Me in the form of Krishna" and at the same time carry out your prescribed
duties of
fighting
♦ Thus Lord promises the goal - "surety of attaining Krishna" - without doubt
(a) Principle -Throughout life, Practice remembering Krishna by dedicating mental, intellectual and
physical activities to Lord's service e.g.
• Mental - Think of Me 'in form of Krishna' and 'by chanting Hare Krishna'
• Physical - Carry out prescribed duty of fighting dedicated to 'Me'
• Intellectual - Mind and intelligence fixed on 'Me'
• Result - 'Freedom from all material contamination' and 'Surety of attaining Me'
Page5of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8

(b) Howto practice?
• Chant- Constantly chant Hare Krishna
• Continue Duties - Performing active devotional service through your prescribed duties
(c) Text 8.7 is an important instruction to all men engaged in material activities
To remember Krishna is so important, that Krishna repeats the same point in the next verse
Text 8.8
THEME: Further stresses the importance of remembering Him: Assurance that such a person who
meditates
on the Supreme Personality of Godhead (c/. Text 8.9 also discusses the aspect of meditation); and who
constantly engages in remembering 'Me' (Krishna) will:
♦ Will remember Krishna at the time of death and
♦ Will attain supreme abode
(a) Lord stresses, "The Importance of Remembering Him" in this verse, this point is a repetition of
the previous verse, Text 8.7, by Lord Himself

(b) Refutes the concept that "Smaran" (remembering Krishna) requires inactivity
• Thus it refutes the need to give up prescribed duty to remember Krishna
(c) Most effective means to remember the Supreme Lord - Chanting Hare Krishna - Benefits of
chanting and remembering the Lord:
• Revival of memory of Krishna
• Ear, tongue and mind are engaged in Krishna's service
• Attain Supreme Lord and His planet

• Analogy: Caterpillar to butterfly - 'Forcing' the mind to think of Krishna transfers one to
Krishna's planet: one achieves same bodily constitution as Krishna
(d) Thinking of Krishna as a practical process -
• Constant thinking of Supreme Lord in any of His features is possible by chanting Hare
Krishna
• Practice is purifying - At the end of life one transfers to God's kingdom

(e) Importance of Purusha - Two points established
• Lord is the 'real enjoyer' and not the living entity, he is the marginal energy and 'meant to
be enjoyed'
• Confirms Lord as a person -This connects toText 8.9 - Which recommends meditating on
Lord's form as a person
o Yoga practice vs Chanting of Hare Krishna - Yoga practice is meditating on Supersoul

within; while chanting Hare Krishna fixes the mind alwavs on the Lord
REMEMBERING KRISHNA
Practice remembrance through meditation
Page6of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION III '
• By strict yoga practice one can fix the mind on Krishna's transcendental qualities, and go to Him
at death
• Remembrance of Krishna means to meditate on His qualities. This is an important point
because it reiterates the Supremacy of Krishna's personality. Qualities arise from personality,
not from a void
• Steady yoga practice gives strength for one to focus his mind on Krishna (yoga balena)
Preparing for the critical moment of death ;
LINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: After "Stressing Remembrance", now He explains How He can
be remembered
Text 8.9
THEME: Mentions 10 ways of thinking/meditating on the Supreme
♦ How to think of Krishna (This includes all the points ofthe purport)
1. Kavi - Knower of everything (past, present and future)
2. Oldest-AII born outof Him
3. Controller
4. Smallerthan the smallest
• Enters into each atom
• Enters into the heart of the living entity; who is one ten-thousandth the tip of a hair
5. Maintainer of everything
6. Beyond all material conception - All big planets are floating by His energy
7. Achintya- lnconceivable
• God's energy is beyond our thinking jurisdiction
• Logic and philosophical speculation cannot touch Him
• Sign of real intelligence -
o Accept the principles of sastra as it is
o Avoid useless arguments and speculations
8. Always a person - As indicated by the word 'rupam'

9. Luminous likesun
lO.Transcendental, beyond this material nature
♦ Text 8.9 refutes "Absolute Truth as impersonal "; Recommends meditation on personality
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 8.9 & 8.10: Krishna is thus discussing Bhakti, but Bhakti mixed with aspirations of
a
yogi seeking liberation from birth and death "yoga mishra bhakti". Meditating on Him as possessor of
these qualities enables one to realize Supersoul who is the goal of yoga practice done by yogis
Texts 8.10 -8.13

COMMON THEME: Describes 'Practice of these Yogis' (Yoga-mishra bhakti). All these practices assist
yogis in
remembering Krishna; they are not end in themselves
♦ Practice sat-chakra-yoga, raise life air to ajna-chakra (8.10)
♦ Chant 'OM' (8.11)
♦ Renounce all sense gratification, especially sex life (8.11 - 8.12)
♦ Fix mind on heart (8.12)
Page7of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
Fix mind in devotion to Supreme Personality of Godhead at death (8.10 & 8.13)
(a) Sat-cakra-yoga recommended in this verse
(b) Bhaktya-yukto - indicates "to fix mind in devotion at death"
(c) Yoga-balena
• Indicates that without practice of yoga (Sat-caktra-yoga or Bhakti-yoga) one cannot come to
the transcendental stage of remembering the Lord at death.
• Advises "Practice transcendence through yoga during one's life"
• Refutes the idea that - "I will take up spiritual path at old age"
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 8.11 & 8.13 - (These two purports are combined because they
share similar theme)
(a) Who enters into impersonal Brahman
• Those learned in Vedas
• Who utters "om-kara"
• Practice celibacy
• Great sages in renounced order of Life

(b) Om and Hare Krishna Maha-mantra
• Vedic system - students learn to vibrate Om and learn of impersonal Brahman by living in
complete celibacy
• Modern system - No celibacy possible / No such institution
o Lord Chaitanya preaches according to the injunctions for Kali-yuga

o Only Yuga-dharma - Holy Name
• Om, Brahman and Krishna are non-different {also study Text 7.8 for Om and Hare Krishna)
o Impersonal sound of Krishna is Om

o Hare Krishna contains Om
o lf anyone quits body chanting Hare Krishna - He goes to the spiritual planet
(c) Om and Brahman
• Brahman although is "one without second" has various manifestations
• For Impersonalists - Om-kara is identical with Brahman
Page8of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
(a) Pratyahara -implies
• Withdraw senses from sense objects
o Control ?\ve jnanendriyas (Knowledge acquiring senses) fully

o No sense gratification allowed
• Mind focused fully on Supersoul
• Life force on top of head

(b) For Modern Age
• Above practices- impossible
• Best process - Krishna consciousness
• Somehow fix the mind on Krishna - immediately transcendence achieved
SECTION IV (8.14 -8.16)

PURE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE
Remembrance of Krishna through Bhakti
• The practice of Pure Devotional Service is the qualification for one to attain Lord's favour
• By Lord's mercy the pure devotee is promoted to spiritual realm
LINK BETWEEN SECTION III & SECTION IV: Krishna next discusses pure devotional service and the nature
of 'spiritual world', which one attains by practicing pure devotional service
Text 8.14*
THEME: Bhakti Yoga is easier path: Although Yoga practice of Text 8.10 -8.13 is genuine but it is easier
and
more effective to remember the Lord through unalloyed love and devotion
♦ The Lord is easy to be obtained by one:
• Who remembers 'Me' without deviation
• Constantly engaged in devotional service
Page 9of 17
Chapter8
(a) Text 8.14 describes the final destination of unalloyed devotees who serve Supreme Personality of
Godhead in Bhakti-yoga
(b) Their final destination - Easy to obtain Krishna. Because:
• No material impediments in devotional service
o Only qualification is the sincere desire to adyance
o Jnana/Astanga-yoga - depends on prior knowledge, renunciation and favourable

situations for practice
• In devotional service, Krishna gives intelligence on how to attain Him
o Ref. Bg. 10.10 "dadami buddhi yogam..."

(c) Ananya-cetah - Refers to Pure Bhakti-yoga
• Without mixture of Jnana/Karma/Hatha-yoga
• No other desire but Krishna
(d) Pure Bhakti-yogis (Ananya chetah - indicates "No other Desire ")
• Karmi - desires sense gratification
• Jnani - desires relief from material misery

• Yogi - desires mystic abilities
• Pure deyotee - desires only Lord's pleasure / Ready to even go to hell (cf. CC : Niskama gets
perfect peace)
(e) Satatam / Nityasah - means always / regularly / every day - refers to pure devotees constantly
remembering Krishna and meditating on Him -Thus wins Lord's attention
(f) Creating Vrindavan - pure devotee can create Vrindavan anywhere - e.g. Sri Advaita tells this to
Lord Caitanya - "Wherever you are, O Lord, there is Vrindavan"
(g) Five ways of Bhakti-yoga - Shanta, dasya, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya rasa
(h) Great blessing of Krishna conscious process of chanting Hare Krishna maha-mantra is - "Pure
devotee and Lord never forget each other for a moment"
Texts 8.15 -8.16

COMMON THEME: Describes "Result achieved by practicing pure bhakti"
Text 8.15*
THEME: Such 'Bhakti-yogis' achieve...
♦ Krishna directly (the highest perfection)
♦ Never fall down from highest Vaikuntha planet
♦ No return to temporary world because
• Material world is f u II of miseries
• And they have attained the highest perfection
Page 10 of 17
Chapter8
(a) Text 8.15 refers to "Personalist devotees" of the Supreme Lord Krishna - They achieve highest
perfection and are supreme souls (Mahatmas)

(b) Ref. Vedic Literatures describe the 'supreme planet' as 'Avyakta' and 'Akshara' and 'Parama-Gati'
• Avyakta and Akshara - Planet beyond Material vision and inexplicable
• Parama-Gati - The Supreme destination, destination for Mahatmas

(c) Describes 'Mahatmas'
• Receive in Parampara - They receive transcendental messages from the realised devotees
• Gradual development -They gradually develop devotional service in Krishna Consciosness
• Highest Absorption -They get so absorbed that No desire of any elevation to any Material
or Spiritual planets
• Only desire - Only want Krishna and Krishna's satisfaction - 'The highest perfection of life' ^^
Text 8.16*
THEME: Krishna glorifies the Supreme abode, by contrasting it to material world
♦ From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein
repeated birth and death take place.
♦ But one who attains to 'My' abode, never takes birth again
(a) To come to "Krishna consciousness is must" if you want to go to Krishna's abode
• All other yogis have to come to this level
(b) What about heaven - It is a place of return (birth, old-age, disease, death)
(c) How to achieve Brahmaloka - By Panchagni-vidya of sacrifice (Chandogya Upanisad)
(d) Fate on Brahmaloka-lf we do not cultivate Krishna Consciousness, we must return to earth.
(e) Scope of progress on higher planets - lf they progress in Krishna consciousness, can gradually
elevate to
• Higher and higher planets
• Can they go to Spiritual sky - if perfect in Krishna consciousness, can go to spiritual kingdom
at universal devastation (Ref. Sridhar Swami guoted)
Page 11 of 17
Chapter8
SECTIONV (8.17 -8.22)
COMPARING THE MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL WORLDS /
GLORIES OF SUPREME ABODE
• The only refuge from ocean of birth and death is Lord's Supreme abode
• This abode is only attainable by one who makes himself qualified to associate with the Lord
• This qualification is Pure Devotional Service
LINK BETWEEN SECTION IV & SECTION V:
Krishna compares material world with spiritual nature in Texts 8.17 - 8.22
Texts 8.17 -8.19

COMMON THEME: In comparison to spiritual world, Material world is a place of repeated creation and
destruction
♦ Material world is
• Miserable and
• Temporary
♦ Because, here everyone must suffer -
• Birth, Old age, disease, death (8.16)
• Constant creation and annihilation (8.17 - 8.19) - 'Bhutva Bhutva praliyate'
(a) Duration of material universe is limited
• 1 kalpa = 1 day of Brahma = 12 hours of Brahma = 1 night of Brahma
• 1 kalpa = 1,000 yuga cycles. Each cycle has the following four yugas in this order and
duration:
o Satya-yuga = 1,728,000 years

o Treta-yuga = 1,296,000 years
o Dvapara-yuga = 8,64,000 years
o Kali-yuga = 4,32,000 years
• One lifespan of Brahma = 100 years of Brahma = 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years
• Analogy:
o Brahma's lifespan as compared to eternity is like lightning flash

o Causal ocean has innumerable Brahmas like bubbles in Atlantic
(b) Brahmaloka if compared to material planets - not free from birth, disease, old-age and death
(c) Who goes to Brahmaloka - Elevated sannyasis
(d) Fate of Brahma - Because of service to the Lord, gets liberation
(e) Bhutva Bhutva praliyate - Repeated creation and destruction because of being captivated by
illusory energy - Explained as follows
• Annihilation at Brahma's night - all living entities remain compact in body of Vishnu.
• Again manifest at arrival of day.
• End of Brahma's life all living entities remain unmanifest for millions of years, again to be
manifest in another millennium
Page 12 of 17
Chapter8
(f) 3 types of annihilation a living entity experiences (as per the purport), with respect to Brahma's
life
• At death of the living entity every time he takes a body
• End of Brahma's day
• End of Brahma's life
(g) Intelligent persons-Take to Krishna Consciousness
• Use human life fully in Devotional Service, chanting Hare Krishna.
• No more Rebirths - Transfer in this life to the spiritual planet of Krishna and become
eternally blissful
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 8.19 & TEXTS 8.20:
Krishna compares material world with spiritual nature in Texts 8.17 - 8.22
Texts 8.20 - 8.21*

COMMON THEME: Describes the spiritual world, the abode of the Lord.
The Spiritual world is:
1. Eternal - Free from birth and death

2. Infallible, because Krishna's superior energy is opposite to material energy in quality
3. Full of unlimited bliss, as opposed to the material world which is full of miseries
4. Fulfils all desires
5. All attractive
6. Unmanifest to mundane eyes
7. Transcendental to manifest and unmanifest (difference from material world - repeatedly manifest
and unmanifest) - Lord's abode never changes like material world / Composed of cit-sakti
8. Supreme destination
9. A place of no return
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 8.20 - 8.21: REFERENCES ON LORD'S ABODE
(a) Description of Abode - Brahma Samhita ("chintamani...") Study Purport
(b) As ultimate destination' - Katha Upanishad
(c) A place of no return - Bhagavad-gita (8.15; 8.21; 15.6)
(d) Absolute nature - Krishna's abode is non-different from Him
(e) Replica of Goloka Vrindavan - Bhauma Vrindavan (on this planet)
Text 8.22*
THEME: How to attain that abode of Lord?
♦ The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is greater than all, is attainable by unalloyed Devotional
Se rvi ce -Ananya Bhakti
♦ Although He is present in His abode, He is all pervading, and everything is situated within Him
Page 13 of 17
Chapter8
(a) Bg. 2.22 clearly states that the Supreme destination, from which there is no return, is the abode
of Krishna, the Supreme Person

(b) Lord as all pervading by "Spiritual and material energies"
(c) Variegatedness of Spiritual energy - Ref Brahma Samhita ("ananda chinmaya rasa...")
(d) Material energy - Although the Lord is always in His Supreme abode, He is nonetheless all
pervading by His material energy,

(e) "yasyantah sthani bhutani..." -This phrase in Text 8.22 means that everything is sustained within
Krishna, within His spiritual or material energies

(f) Importance of the word 'bhaktya' -Jo enter Krishna's Supreme abode or any of the Vaikunta
planets is possible only by bhakti

(g) Vedic description of "Supreme abode" - "Supreme Personality of Godhead" resides in the
Supreme abode and has millions of plenary expansions
• Ref. Gopala-Tapani Upanisad 3.2 - Describes that Supreme Abode and the Supreme
Personality of Godhead
• Analogy: Vedas compare the Lord with a tree bearing many flowers, fruits, leaves etc.
Similarly the Lord expands into many plenary expansions
• Ref Brahma Samhita 5.37 - "Goloka eva..." - Although the Lord resides in the Supreme
Abode, He is all pervading
• RefSvetasvatara Upanisad - "parasya shaktir.. ." - Supreme Lord although residing far away,
systematically conducts everything in the cosmic manifestation by His all pervading energies
J^
SECTION VI (8.23 -8.28)

SUPREMACY OF PURE DEVOTION IN ATTAINING KRISHNA
Subsection A: 8.23 - 8.26: Attaining the Supreme through mystic yoga

Subsection B: 8.27 - 8.28: Supremacy of Bhakti in attaining the Supreme
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION VI
A devotee is confident about Krishna's protection; he
need not make any special endeavour for his ultimate salvation.
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION V & SECTION VI: Krishna has now concluded describing the spiritual world and
the process of reaching it. In the final six verses of this chapter Krishna discusses the process by which a
soul should leave his body to attain the Supreme.
Text 8.23*
THEME: Lord declares to explain...
Process by which "Soul should leave the body to attain Supreme" - in the next few verses
Page 14 of 17
Chapter8
Texts 8.24 - 8.27
COMMON THEME: These verses mention different ways to leave the body and thus achieving different
destination.
♦ Devotees don't worry about proper time to leave the body, but leave everything in Krishna's hands
and become fixed in devotion. This is because:
• Krishna takes care and gives protection
• Devotional service gives results of all other practices
WAYS OF LEAVING THE BODY
1. Path: In light, influence of fiery God, auspicious moment of day,
Fort night of waxing moon, or 6 months when sun travels to north (8.24)
Forwhom: Path of yogis and Jnanis
Destination: Brahmajyoti
2. Path: In darkness/night, during smoke, fortnight of waning moon or 6 months when sun
passes to south reaches the moon and again comes back (8.25)
Forwhom: Path of Karma-kandis
Destination: Attain heavenly planets, and then return to earth
3. Path: At any time (8.27)
For whom: Path of unalloyed devotees
Destination: Krishna-loka
(a) Can a yogi choose time of leaving - an expert yogi can choose;
• lf not expert in choosing, then it depends upon accident or destiny

(b) Kala - refers to presiding deity of time
(c) Travel to moon planet
• Eligibility - one expert in fruitive acts/sacrificial methods
o Ref. Kapildev in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3
• Life duration - 10,000 years (demigod calculation)
• Engagement - soma rasa and other pleasures
• Fate - when credits finished, one return to earth

(d) Yoga-yukta - implies to engage constantly in Krishna Consciousness in all the activities.
• Example - Rupa goswami's yukta vairagya
• Devotee does not worry about different paths and is undisturbed (8.27), because...
o Firmly established in Krishna Consciousness and chant Hare Krishna

o Best way to absorb - dovetail in the service of Krishna
Page 15 of 17
Chapter8
Text 8.28
THEME: Explains the knowledge that fixes the devotee in the path of devotion
♦ Such a devotee automatically and effortlessly achieve all the results of Jnana, Yoga and Karma and all
the Vedic forms of purification

♦♦♦ This verse is a summation of Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 which particularly deals with Krishna
consciousness and devotional service
(a) Path of Vedic Literatures
• Brahmachari life - study Vedas under Spiritual master, many austerities and penances,
trained in celibacy and menial services, beg alms, take food only under master's order
o Vedic study not meant for - recreation of armchair speculators, but for building a
perfect character
• Householder life - Sacrifices and, charity according to time, place and person.
• Retired life (Vanaprastha) - tapasya
• Sannyasa
• Purpose of Vedic path - gradual elevation to perfectional stage
(b) Beauty of Krishna Consciousness - by one stroke of Devotional services, one surpasses all the
rituals of different ashrams.

(c) Idam viditva - it implies one should understand the instruction of Krishna very scrutinizingly
• Which?-those in Bg. Chapters 7 and 8
• How? - By hearing in the association of devotees
• How not? - Academic scholarship/mental speculation

• Great fortune? - To understand middle 6 chapters in the association of devotees
• Why fortune? - Because, life becomes glorified beyond all yajna, dana, tapa etc, and all the
results of such activities are automatically achieved simply by Krishna Consciousness
PLEA5E NOTE: The last paragraph of the purport is covered in the diagram below
Page 16 of 17
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter8
17
RELISHING STUDY 0F BHAGAVAD GITA

Bg. 8.28
SRADDHA
SADHU-SANGA
BHAJANA-KRIYA
& ANARTHA-NIVRITTI
NISTHA
RUCI
& ASHAKTI
BHAVA
& PREMA
Starting point: Little

faith in Bhagavad-gita
Sign of faith: Learn from
only qualified devotees/not
from mental speculators
Service in association dispels

all misgivings about God
One becomes fixed

in ones study
Relishes the study - Attains a state of

feeling always Krishna conscious
Advanced stage - falls completely
in love with Krishna (Highest
perfectional stage)
Transferto Krishna's
abode: Eternal
Happiness
&)ENDOFCHAPTER8c#
Page 17 of 17
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 8 Appendix
CHAPTER 8 Appendix
Text 8.1
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana analyzes Arjuna's remaining questions as follows: "What is the
adhyatma?" asks if the adhyatma, the self, pertains to the gross or subtle body.
"What is karma?" asks if karma (activity) refers to fruitive or spiritual activity and why, if they are
equivalent, he should fight.
In "What is the adhibhuta?" Arjuna is asking "What gross, physical things are you referring to —
items such as pots or the bodies of living beings?"
"Who is the adhidaiva?" asks if the adhidaiva, the governor of the demigods, is a demigod or the
Virat Purusa (the universal form of the Lord).
The prefix adhi is significant. One definition of it is "above, over and above." In another respect,
then, Arjuna is asking about the identity of the adhi, the one above or ruling over the body, the
physical manifestation and the demigods.
Text 8.2
Arjuna now inquires about the sixth term, adhiyajha. By inquiring about adhiyajha, Arjuna wants to
understand the identity of the one who is ultimately worshiped by the performance of sacrifice. Is it
Visnu? A demigod? And whoever He is, where in the body does He live?
Text 8.7
Often devotees wonder if it is necessary to remember Krsna while they do their duty or whether
doing the duty for Krsna is sufficient. Here is Krsna's answer. We should remember Krsna and do
our prescribed duties. Even though it may be difficult to remember Krsna while we work, it will be
far more difficult to remember Him at the time of death when our consciousness is disturbed and
overwhelmed with pain. Therefore Krsna wants us to practice now. Krsna will repeat His desire for
us to constantly remember Him in Bg. 18.57 and in other verses.
It is interesting that Krsna says, mam anusmara ("go on remembering Me") even before yudhya ca
("and fight"). We should remember Krsna in devotion and work for His pleasure.
Text8.14
Ananya-cetah means undeviating, with no desire for heavenly pleasure or liberation. Satatam and
nityasah mean always serving, with no break — for one's entire life — without consideration of time
and place. Krsna is so pleased by such an attitude that He becomes su-labhah, easy to obtain, even
if one is not yet on that platform but only desiring to reach it. Krsna removes all obstacles from
such a devotee's path. A vivid example illustrating the importance of ananya-ceta bhakti is found in
Lord Caitanya's llla.
Once Lord Caitanya went to evacuate. When He returned, He was holding His tongue. When the
devotees saw this peculiar sight, they asked Him why He was doing that. Mahaprabhu replied that
His tongue was acting so improperly that it wouldn't stop chanting Hare Krsna even when He was
engaged in such a filthy activity. Therefore He was forced to hold His tongue to restrain it. At that
time, a small boy named Gopala bravely spoke up.
Page 1 of 2
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 8 Appendix
Gopala said, "No, no, this isn't the correct philosophy. Krsna's names are pure and should be
chanted at all times. For instance, if one were about to die, would he think, 'Oh, this is an inauspi-
cious, dirty time and therefore I shouldn't chant?' No, at all times, regardless of the external purity
of the situation, one should remember Krsna and chant His names."
Srl Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "You have properly understood the philosophy. You are my guru.
You are Gopala Guru."
Text8.15
After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogls in devotion, never return to this temporary
world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection.
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains, "Such devotees enter Krsna's pastimes and happily
take birth when Krsna appears in the house of Vasudeva as his son."
Text8.16
Krsna makes it clear that His planet is supreme. The term mam upetya used in both texts 15 and 16
means "achieving Me." Krsna, through repetition, emphasizes this, because He does not want us
bewildered by a desire to go to the heavenly planets. He therefore clearly states that every situa-
tion in the material world is miserable. We should desire only mam upetya, to achieve Him.
Text 8.21
These verses explain the paramarh gatim, the supreme abode mentioned in Bg. 8.15. That place is
eternal and transcendental, and it is that supreme abode for which we hanker. Unfortunately, we
search for it within the realm of time and matter. When we attain Krsna's supreme abode, we,
along with Krsna's other devotees, will continuously exult in our loving relationship with Him. What
a striking contrast to the material world! In the material sphere we are "again and again helplessly
annihilated." Spiritual life, however, carries us to the supreme destination, which is never annihi-
lated.
The term avyakta does not mean "formless" in this context, but "materially unmanifest." That
which is avyakta is composed of Krsna's internal energy.
Text 8.22
Here the words tv ananyaya reiterate the statement made in Bg. 8.14. Ananya-cetah satatam yo
matti smarati nityasah: our desires must be undeviatedly focused upon Krsna. Maintaining desires
for jhana, karma, yoga and so on, prevents us from attaining Krsna.
Text 8.23
These four verses (23-26) pertain to the jhana-yogls, karma-yogls and astahga-yogls, and they ex-
plain how yogls must carefully plan their deaths so that they will not return to the material world.
The last two verses of this chapter (27-28) are for the devotees.
Page 2 of 2
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
CHAPTER 9
THE MOST CONFIDENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
Connection between Chapter 8 and Chapter 9
♦ ln 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
SECTION I (9.1 - 9.3) — HEARING: QUAUFICATIONS AND DISQUAUFICATIONS
• Non-envious and faithful will attain Krishna by hearing this most confidential knowledge about
Him
• Faithlessness forces one to return to the path of birth and death in this material world
SECTION II (9.4 - 9.10) — AISVARYA-JNANA: KRISHNAS RELATIONSHIP TO THE MATERIAL
WORLD
• Krishna pervades, creates and annihilates entire cosmos through His material energy
• Although He is the supreme director, yet the material world nevertheless moves independently
and Krishna thus remains neutral and detached
SECTION III (9.11 - 9.25) — FOOLS NEGLECT BHAKTI: THE DIVINE DON'T
• Duratmas - Fools who think Krishna's form is ordinary are defeated in their endeavours (9.11 -
9.12)
• Mahatmas -Those who know that Krishna has a transcendental form take shelter of Him and
worship Him (9.13-9.14)
• Indirect worshippers - All who take shelter of a conception of Supreme and worship it, are
ultimately worshipping Krishna, but they worship Him indirectly -These are of 3 types:
o Ekatvena - the monist, the lowest, worships himself as one with the Supreme (9.11 - 9.12)
o Visvato-mukham - a worshiper of the material, universal form is the best (9.16 - 9.19)
o Prthakvena - a demigod worshiper, is situated higher than the 'ekatvena' (9.20 - 9.25)
SECTION IV (9.26 - 9.34) — THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA
• Pure devotional service - lf one worships Krishna with devotion or even offers Him the fruit of
his work, one becomes free from reactions and comes to Him. Worship is simple and result is
super excellent (9.26 - 9.28)
• Krishna shows favouritism to His devotee. He considers a devotee saintly, even if he's
committed a horrible act, and He quickly purifies the devotee (9.29 - 9.31)
• Devotional Service purifies all. By thinking of Krishna, offering Him obeisances and being
absorbed in Him, one goes back to Godhead, regardless of his position (9.32 - 9.34)
Page lof 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
SECTION 1(9.1 -9.3)

HEARING: QUAUFICATIONS AND DISQUAUFICATIONS
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF TEXTS 9.1 - 9.3
Most intimate knowledge of Absolute Truth is obtainable through proper hearing

'Non-enviousness' and 'faith' are the two qualifications to receive most confidential knowledge
Text 9.1*
THEME: Qualification and means to achieve 'most confidential knowledge' and benefit of achieving this
knowledge are mentioned here:
♦ Qualification - Because Arjuna is free from envv, therefore he qualifies to hear the most confidential
knowledge (anasuyave - non-envious)
♦ Means - Proper hearing is the means to obtain most confidential knowledge
♦ Benefit - Relief from miseries of material existence
(a) Non-envious (Anasuyave) is the qualification to hear properly / "Envy is the root of
misinterpretation" -This sets the qualification for anyone who wants to comment on Bhagavad-
gita
• Useless commentary - High academic scholars but give inaccurate commentaries because
they are envious
o One who criticizes the character of Krishna without knowing Him is foolish
o Recommended approach - Avoid such commentaries
• Bona-fide commentary - Only possible by a devotee

(b) Two benefits of hearing about Krishna
• Spiritual advancement - Ref. SB: One who hears becomes more and more enlightened . This
process works as follows:
o Potent Messages - Messages of Supreme Lord are full of potencies

o How to realise these potencies - By discussion among devotees
■ Not by association of mental speculators and scholars, because it is realised

knowledge
o 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
o e.g. Krishna is telling Arjuna more confidential matters to encourage Arjuna in higher
and higher elevations in His potent service
• Freedom from material miseries (9.2) - One who is situated in most confidential knowledge
is naturally transcendental and has no material pangs - 2 references :
o Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: "Iha yasya harer..." - Even in the conditional state of
material existence, one can considered to be liberated if one is sincerely engaged in
trying to render loving devotional service
o Ref. Bg. Chapter 10: Anyone engaged thus is a liberated person
Page2of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
(c) Why Chapter 9 is called most confidential knowledge
• Confidential: Chapter 2 and 3 - Explains the knowledge of spirit soul and body; useful for
liberation
• More confidential: Chapter 7 and 8 - Knowledge which brings about enlightenment about
Krishna consciousness, Supreme Lord and Hisenergies
• Most confidential: Chapter 9 - Because it deals with pure unalloyed devotion and delineates
the glories of the Lord
(d) Idam Jnanam - Refers to "nine-fold process of devotional service by which":
• One's heart becomes cleansed of material contamination
• One understands the science of Krishna and elevates to spiritual consciousness
• One understands spiritual actiyities - Simply knowing that living entity is not material is not
sufficient - one must understand difference between activities of the body and the spiritual
activities
Text 9.2*
THEME: Further glorification of the most confidential knowledge (7 characteristics mentioned)
•v PLEA5E NOTE: All points of the purport are covered under the numbered points below, therefore
there is no
^ separate 'Focus of Learning' section for this verse.
1. 'Rajvidya'- 'King of all knowledge'
• Because it is the essence of all doctrines and philosophies explained before
• Different philosophers: Gautama, Kanaada, Kapila, Yajnavalkya, Shandilya and Vaishvanara. And
finally there is Vyasadeva, the author of the Vedanta-sutra
2. 'Raj guhyam' - 'Most confidential knowledge'
• This talks about the eternal actiyities of the soul and thus gives positive information
• Just 'Confidential knowledge' explains spirit soul as imperishable and immutable but does not give
positive information about the soul
o Lack of complete knowledge leads to misconception of impersonalism or voidism

o Soul is always active
• Modern educational system - Deals only with external knowledge (bodily platform)
3. 'Pavitram idam uttamam'- 'Purest form of all activities', purifying potency of devotional service is very
strong:
• Sinful reaction has four stages
o Analogy: Growth of a tree from a seed has different stages - study purport (Ref. Padma
Purana)
• Payitram - Implies all the four stages can be purified
o Ref. Bg. 7.28: - Only those purified can engage in devotional service
• Uttamam - Implies 'beyond tamas' (material activities) - Devotional service is never

contaminated by modes, although sometimes devotees appear to be engaged like ordinary men;
therefore devotional service is transcendental
Page3of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
4. 'Pratyaksavagamam' - 'Direct perception of self by realisation'.
• How one gets 'direct perception of the self - By practising devotional service in the association of
advanced devotees
• Example of 'direct perception': By chanting Hare Krishna Maha-mantra without offence - One
feels transcendental pleasure and gets purified quickly
o lf one further helps in the mission - one makes spiritual progress

• Qualification: Advancement is irrespective of previous education or qualification
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra: "Prakasas ca..." - Devotional Service is very powerful, simply by
engaging one becomes enlightened, irrespective ofgualification

o e.g. Narada Muni - served great souls
5. 'Dharmyam' - 'Perfection of religion'
• Highest goal of all religion - Devotional service (Ref SB: "Sa vai pumsam..."; Bg. 8.28)
• Potency of Devotional service - So potent that without performing regular religious processes one
can be raised to highest perfection - How?
o Possible simply 'by association' of great acaryas

o e.g. Narada Muni (Ref Vedic literatures)
6. 'Su sukham'- 'Blissful' -Why? Because:
• Positiye engagement for senses
• Simple to perform e.g. hearing, chanting, prasadam
• Sastric example : Sanat Kumar became devotee by tasting Tulasi leaves of Lord's lotus feet
• God accepts only love
o 'Anything' can be offered - "Patram puspam phalam toyam" (Bg. 9.26) - Leaf, flower, fruit
or water
o 'Any person' regardless of social position can offer
7. 'Avyayam' - 'Eternally everlasting'
• Refutes Mayavadis - who say that "we perform devotional service to become one with the Lord
after liberation"
• Other References on this aspect
o Actual devotional service begins after liberation (Ref Bg. 18.54)
o Only by devotional service one can understand Supreme Personality of Godhead - Only
when heart is cleaned by hearing Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam (Ref SB 1.2.20
"Evam prasanna...")
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.2 & 9.3: QUESTION: lf Bhakti is so joyful, who will still continue in material
existence (Material existence is referred to as the word 'Samsaara' in Text 9.3). ANSWER: Only the
faithless disqualify and continue in this 'Samsaara' (9.3)
Text 9.3
THEME: Faithless cannot attain Krishna - 'Faith' is a most important factor for progress in Krishna
Consciousness (purport)
♦♦♦ Faithless people return to the path of birth and death in this material world
Page4of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
(a) Development of that faith is the process of Krishna consciousness
(b) Definition of faith - Simply by serving Krishna one can achieve all perfection (Ref. Caitanya
Charitamrta)
• Analogy: Watering the root of the tree satisfies the whole tree; Feeding the stomach
satisfies all the body parts. (Ref. SB 4.31.14)
(c) "How faith is created" - By association of devotees
(d) Three types of Krishna conscious men on the basis of 'faith'
• 3 rd Level (lowest)
o Have no good faith/no knowledge of scriptures - easily falldown
o May officially be engaged in devotional service but cannot achieve highest
perfectional stage
o e.g. People coming to Krishna Consciousness with hidden motives
• 2 nd Level-firmfaith
o But not very advanced in devotional scriptures

o Simply trying to follow by association and simplicity
• l st Level (highest)
o Firm faith and well versed in devotional scriptures

o No chance of falldown
(e) Faithless find this path very difficult
• Even after hearing about Krishna and excellence of devotional service, they think it to be
simply eulogy, even if supposedly engaged in devotional service
• Fate - Very little hope of perfection
(f) Destiny of faithless - Return to the path of birth and death

(g) Expected conclusion after reading Bhagavad-gita
• Give up all other engagements and adopt the service of the Lord with full faith
SECTIONII(9.4-9.10)
AISHVARYA-JNANA: KRISHNA'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD
• Krishna explains His own 'achintya-bhedabheda' (inconceivable) relationship with the material
world
• Purpose: This gives us 'aishvarya-jnana' (Knowledge of His opulences) "to stimulate our
reyerence and deyotion "
o Because of His unique and Supreme position in relation with material creation, Lord
Krishna is the Supreme object of worship
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION I & SECTION II: Krishna has completed His glorification of the knowledge He
will
speak. In the next group of verses (9.4 - 9.10), He begins describing His own 'achintya-bhedabheda'
relationship with the material world
Page5of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
Text 9.4
THEME: The Lord supports and pervades the entire universe through His energies
♦ The all pervading aspect of the Lord is described as 'avyakta-murtina', His unmanifested form
♦ Also the Lord says: "All beings are in Me, but I am not in Them"
•i PLEA5E NOTE: Some points as given in the translation are included under the point headings of the
'Focus of
^ Learning' section for this verse
PLEASE NOTE: The points headings below are related to the translation and the points of the purport are
explained
in their subpoints
(a) "All Pervading" - Lord pervades the entire universe

(b) "How He is all pervading"
• 'Avyakta-murtina' - indicates " In unmanifested form " -This implies that we cannot see the
Lord by our gross material senses
• The Lord is unmanifest to material senses but can be perceived by one whose senses are
purified by the practice of devotional service
• Only way to see the Lord - Practice pure devotional service under proper guidance. 2
Scriptural quotes to support this:
o Ref. Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu 1.2.234: "Atah Sri Krishna... "

o Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38: "Premanjana..."
(c) "All beings are in Me" - This implies that everything rests in Him
• Ref. Bg. Chapter 7: Entire cosmic manifestation is a combination of superior and inferior
energies of the Supreme Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.5 and 7.6)
• Analogy: Sunshine spread all over the creation / All universes are resting in sunshine;
similarly all creation is resting in His energy
(d) "I am not in them" - This Implies that the Lord by all pervasiveness does not lose His personal
existence
• 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
• Supporting Ref. Bg. 10.42: "Vistabhyam..."
P"
Text 9.5
THEME: Yogam-aisvaram explained - After explaining that all beings rest in Him, Lord says the opposite;
that
they do not rest in Him. This contradictory language is meant to show that He is personally aloof from
the
workings of the universe and that such functions are carried out by His energies
Page6of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
(a) "Yogam-aisvaram" - This term describes the inconceiyable mystic opulences of the Lord i.e.
Everything that is created does not rest in Me. It implies:
• Implies that although everything rests in Him as per 9.4, still "He is aloof" and not directly
concerned with maintenance etc.
• Not like ATLAS - tired of holding globe
(b) How "He is aloof" - Examples of "inconceivable opulences"
• e.g. Planetary systems floating in space, and space is the energy of the Lord. But He is
different from space
• e.g. His potencies are exemplified by His determination - No difference between His mind
and Himself, because He is Absolute Spirit. All activities are performed just by His willing.
• Ref. Nirukti dictionary: 'Yujyate...' - lnconceivable pastimes are performed by His energy
(c) Refutes the argument: "Since God has expanded in everything, then everything we worship is
God"
• Refutation: Krishna is everywhere, everything is in Him, but still He is aloof
J^
Text 9.6*
THEME: Lord gives an analogy of the sky and wind to explain the concept of "yogam-aisvaram" (9.5) of
how
Krishna maintains and still remains unaffected
(a) 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
(b) Other examples of Lord's supreme will as the Ultimate control over wonderful material
manifestations
• e.g. Taittiriya Upanisad -Wind blowing underthe will of Supreme Lord
• e.g. Brahma Samhita 5.52 / Brhad Aranyaka Upanisad- Sun, moon and other planets
moving under the Supreme order of the Lord
0*
Texts 9.7 - 9.8

COMMON THEME: lnconceivable potency" in terms of creation and destruction - Now Krishna after
explaining His role in maintenance, explains His relationships with creation and destruction
♦> Under the will of the Supreme Lord, all the material manifestations are automatically created and
annihilated again and again
Page7of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 9.7 - 9.8
a) "At the end of millennium" - This indicates the time of Brahma's death
• At this time all energy is wound up in the Lord Himself
• At manifestation - He expands Himself in material energy (Ref. Chandogya Upanisad:

"Bahu syam" '- "\ become many")
b) Refutes the modern concept of evolution -
• Modern concept: There is gradual evolution of species, from one to another, beginning
from creation
• Our Understanding of evolution based on this purport - All species of life are created
immediately along with the universe at the beginning of creation (and not one after
another); based on desires and past deeds of living entities
c) lf Krishna as Paramesvara is aloof, then how does material world continue - This is answered as:
• "Supreme will" is always present - Everything is definitely under Supreme will of the
Lord
o Because "He enters as three Vishnu forms into the Mahat-tattva to create"
• But no direct involvement of the Lord - He does not Himself create or destroy but:
o Material nature acts by His desire -Term "automatically manifested (avasam) ".
In Text 9.8 points out to Krishna's detachment, which implies Krishna has no
direct involvement but acts through material nature

o "Basis of Creation" - Creation takes place to accommodate inclinations or the
desires of the various living entities

r
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.8 & 9.9 Although the Lord creates and annihilates but all this work cannot bind
Him. It implies that the Lord is not directly responsible for all good and evil done in this world.
Text 9.9
THEME: The Lord is not directly responsible for all good and evil done in this world. Lord says:
♦ All this work cannot bind Me
♦ I am ever detached from all these material activities
(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 unaffected
with the gain and loss

(c) Reference for neutrality: Ref Vedanta Sutra: "Vaisamya Nairghrnye na..."
• This reference implies Lord is transcendental to all material dualities
• Based on past deeds and desire , living entities take on different forms
• Lord does not interfere
(d) Does it mean Lord has no engagement? - He is always engaged in blissful pastimes in spiritual
world (Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.6) _

P^
Page8of 25
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter9
Text 9.10*
THEME: Ultimately 9.10 emphasizes the Lord's Supreme will and thus proves that without the
superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, material nature cannot do anything
♦ The Lord is neutral and aloof and He simply sanctions the material energy
♦ Management is done by material nature on His behalf and Lord is detached
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 9.10 - Srila Prabhupada gives references on relationship between the
Lord and material nature
(a) Ref. Bg. 14.4:
• Analogy: Lord is Father and Material Nature is Mother
• Lord glances, but species are decided based on past deeds and desire of living entity
(b) Ref. Smrti:
• Analogy: Fragrance of a flower touched by the smelling power of a person (yet the smelling
and the flower are detached):
o Similar connection is there between material world and Supreme Personality of

Godhead
SUMMARISED THEME 9A
SUMMARY OF LORD'S AISHVARYA-JNANA
His inconceivable potency in terms of creation, maintainence and destruction

A) Krishna's role in maintenance
• Lord pervades the entire universe by His energies
• He pervades in His unmanifested form, which can only be revealed by devotional service
• Everything rests in Him, but still He does not lose His personal existence
• lnconceivable mystic opulence - He is aloof from all the material creation and everything
happens just by His will
• Analogy of sky and wind
o Sky is the biggest manifestation to conceive. In that sky, wind is the biggest to
conceive
o Wind is great and influences all the movements. But wind is never beyond sky, it is
always subordinate to the sky

o All wonderful cosmic manifestations (compared here to the movements ofthe wind)
exist by the will of the Lord (Lord compared to sky) - Still Lord is aloof and unaffected
just like sky is aloof and not affected by movements of wind

B) Krishna's role in creation and destruction
• Under the influence of the Lord's energy, material world is automatically created and
destroyed again and again
• At the end of the millennium all material manifestations enter into My nature
• Maha-Vishnu is the resting place of all material
• It is Lord Krishna Himself who controls this process as the purusha-avartaars
• At the beginning of another millennium, the Lord again creates by His potencies
C) Lord is neutral - The Lord is not directly responsible for any of the activities of material existence.
He simply sanctions the material energy based on the past deeds and desires of the living entities
Page 9of 25
Chapter9

FOOLS NEGLECT BHAKTI: THE DIVINE DON'T

Different people will appreciate Krishna in different ways
according to their level of devotional consciousness
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: After hearing the Lord describe how He is the Supreme object
of worship in terms of the material creation, one may ask, "Why then do some people not respect Him?"
Krishna answers this question here.
Text 9.11*
THEME: Fools think of Krishna's form as ordinary human and do not consider Aishvarya-Jnana of Text 9.4
-
9.10
♦♦♦ Fools do not consider His transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be
(a) First half of the purport establishes that Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, although
appearing ordinary but He is not a common man
• Based on 9.4 - 9.10 (Yogam-Aishvaram) - One who conducts such inconceivable acts of
creation, cannot be a common man
• Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.1 - Krishna is the Supreme lshvara - Supreme Controller
• Ref. Gopala-Tapani Upanisad and Brahma Samhita - His body is sac-cid-ananda and not
like a common man
• lf Bg. 7.14 ("daivi hy...") says: 'A soul surrendered unto Krishna can get out of material
energy' - Then how can Lord who conducts creation, etc, and controls material energy,
have a material body like us
• Mudhas - Great scholars, who may be born as extra-ordinary man due to good karma,
deride Him because of poor fund of knowledge - They are called Mudhas
o What knowledge they lack? - They do not know Krishna's transcendental knowledge
like...
■ Confidential activities of Supreme Lord and His different energies
■ His eternal body is of complete bliss and knowledge
■ He is Supreme proprietor
■ He can award liberation to anyone
■ His manifestation in material world is a manifestation of internal energy
■ He controls infinite (biggest) and finite (smallest) and still He is aloof
■ This can be established by 'Yogam-Aishvaram' (9.4 - 9.10)
• Who accepts Krishna 'yogam-aishvaram' easily
o Pure devotee who know Krishna as the Supreme personality of Godhead

o Result of this knowledge - Complete surrender in devotional service
Page 10 of 25
Chapter9
(b) Solution to controversies between impersonalists and personalists on lord's appearance as a

human being - Solved on the basis of authoritatiye texts like Bhaqavad-qita and Srimad
Bhagayatam
• Superhuman acts of Krishna and Balarama (Ref. SB 1.1.20) - Krishna and Balarama played
like human beings but performed many superhuman acts which no human can perform
• Two examples of the Lord's appearance - Lord's appearance as human is one of His
features of His transcendental body
o Krishna appears as four-armed form and then two-armed form in front of_Vasudev
and Devaki
o Universal form and four-armed-form in front of Arjuna (Ref. Bg. Chapter 11)
• Mayavadis quote Srimad Bhagavatam to prove Krishna as ordinary man. They say
everyone is God
o Argument : They use Text SB 3.29.21 - "Supreme is present in every living entity" - to
establish Krishna as an ordinary man or 'Everyone is God'
o Refutation : Based on Srila Jiva Goswami and Srila Visvanath Chakravathi Thakura
■ Jiva Goswami says: Krishna is present as Paramatma in all the hearts. To give
attention to Archa Murti in temple and not to respect other living entities is
neophyte mentality and is useless worship. Visvanath Chakravathi Thakur
warns about this mentality
■ Conclusion: Devotees vision - "Krishna is present is everyone's heart as

Paramatma, therefore everyone is embodiment or temple of the Lord, so
everyone should be given proper respect."
• Impersonalists deride temple worship
o Argument : Since God is everywhere why restrict ourselves to Deity worship

o Refutation : lf God is everywhere then why not also in the temple or in the Deity
o Knowledge of Perfect Devotee in Krishna Consciousness:
■ Knows that "Although Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is all-

pervading by His energies and plenary expansions" (Ref. Brahma Samhita)
What happens to those, who in bewilderment, disrespect Krishna's form
Text 9.12*
THEME: Duratmas - "Fate" of those who out of bewilderment disrespect Krishna's form
♦ They are attracted by demoniac and atheistic views
♦ Hopes for liberation, fruitive activities and culture of knowledge are all defeated
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(a) Example of the category of people mentioned here (Duratmas)
• Many devotees who assume themselves to be in Krishna consciousness and devotional

service, but at heart do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, as the
Absolute Truth
• Those engaged in fruitive pious activities and ultimately hoping to be liberated, but they
mock Krishna and deride Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
(b) People jeer at Krishna because they are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
(c) Supporting Ref. Bg. 7.15 "na mam..." - Such demoniac miscreants never surrender to Krishna
(d) Thoughts and convictions of such Duratmas
• Their mental speculations about the Absolute Truth bring them to the false conclusion that
the ordinary living entity are one and the same
• They think that the body of any human being is now simple covered by material nature and
that as soon as one is liberated from the material body, there is no difference between God
and Himself
(e) Destiny of such Duratmas - They take shelter of the material energy and are attracted by
demoniac and atheistic views
• Never surrender to Krishna - Never taste the fruit of Devotional Service (Back to Godhead)
• Destiny - Birth after birth gets species of demoniac life
o Real knowledge remains under delusion Gradually regress to darkest regions of

creation
(f) It is a great offence to consider Krishna as an ordinary man (Ref. Brhad Vishnu Smrti) - (study
purport)
y
What about those who do respect Krishna as He has revealed Himself
Texts 9.13 -9.14*

COMMON THEME: Mahatamas -Those who do accept Krishna as He revealed Himself (c.f. Duratmas Bg.
9.12)
*, PLEA5E NOTE: All signs and symptoms of 'Mahatmas' as given in the translation are included under
various themes
^ ofthe 'Focus of Learning' section for these verses
(a) Various signs of 'Mahatmas'
• He is already situated in the protection of the Divine Nature
o By surrender unto Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is situated in the divine
nature (Ref. Bg. 7.14)

o 'Guidance of spiritual nature' is called 'Daivi-prakrti'
• Does not divert his attention to anything outside Krishna. How?
o Because he knows Krishna to be original Supreme person
o Attracted by His two-handed form - Performs unswerving service - may not even be
interested in four-armed Vishnu form
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(b) Further symptoms of 'Mahatmas' (9.14):
• Always engaged in chanting the glories of the Lord
o Refutes impersonalism - Because mahatma is attached to the personal form of the

Lord and glorifies personal attributes
• Endeayouring with determination
o Determined to achieve Lord's association in one of five rasas
o Engaged in certain activities called "Determined" e.g. fasting on Ekadasi's,
Appearance days etc.

o Following the rules and regulations of great acharyas
• Always bowing down before Me
o No severe austerity or penance required
o Can perform "in any social condition or ashram"
o "Only thing" is under the guidance of expert spiritual master
• Perpetually worshiping Krishna with deyotion
o Implies engaging all mental, bodily and vocal functions in service of the Lord
o By the nine processes of devotion (devotion means activity)
(c) How do 'Mahatmas' develop - By association with other Mahatmas
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.14 & 9.15: Now Krishna mentions three types of worshipers who worship Him
indirectly
Text 9.15*
THEME: Indirect worshipers - 3 Kinds of worshipers, worship Krishna indirectly, without knowing that it
is only
Krishna whom they are worshiping.
♦ 'Ekatvena' - Worships himself as one with the Supreme

• Lowest and most predominant
• Destiny is given in Texts 9.11 -9.12
♦ 'Prthaktvena' - Concocts some form of the Supreme and worships that form
• Includes demigod worshippers
• Discussed inTexts 9.20 -9.25
♦ 'Visvato-mukham' - Accepts the Universal form as the Supreme
• Best of all these three
• Considers universe to be Supreme organism and worship that.
• Cannot conceive of anything beyond this material manifestation.
• Discussed inTexts 9.16 -9.19
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(a) Why 'Ekatvena' is considered God worship, although they worship themselves as one with
Supreme (as 'GocT )
• Because at least they have the sense, that we are not the material body but spirit soul
(b) 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 'Visvato-
mukham'
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.15 & 9.16: Krishna has already discussed the results gained by the 'ekatvena'
worshiper in Texts 9.11 - 9.12. In the next four verses, He will explain how to recognize and worship Him
in His universal form. Further on in this chapter, Krishna will also discuss the results of demigod worship.
• Seeing Lord Krishna's superiority in terms of the 'material world' as well as 'over demigods', will
lead one to worship him directly
• Since Krishna is both matter and spirit, the gigantic universal form comprising all material
manifestations is also Krishna and His Vrindavana pastimes as two-handed Shyamasundara,
playing on a flute, are those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Texts 9.16 -9.19

COMMON THEME: Mentions "How to recognise Krishna in His universal form". Seeing that Krishna is the
personality behind all material phenomena, the worshipper of the universal form will turn to Him
Text 9.16
THEME: Vedic sacrifices of 'Karma-kanda' division are in total also Krishna
♦♦♦ Those in devotional service are to be understood to have performed all sacrifices recommended in
the
Vedas
♦ Study translation for all the components of sacrifice
Ofall the components ofsacrifice, only the important terms are clarified here:
(a) 'Ritual' - Vedic Sacrifice known as Jyotistoma is also Krishna
(b) 'Sacrifice' - Maha-yajna mentioned in Smrti is also Krishna
(c) 'Oblations' - "Offerings to Pitraloka"
(d) 'Fire' - One of the five material elements; therefore separated energy of Krishna
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Text 9.17
THEME: Krishna as all the relationships: In the material existence, we create different relationships with
different living entities who are nothing but Krishna's marginal energy; under the creation of 'praktrti',
some of
them appear as our father, mother, grandfather, creator etc. But actually they are parts and parcels of
Krishna
♦ Study translation for all points
Only the important terms are clarified here:
(a) Father, Mother, Support and Grandsire - All these relationships in the material world are part and
parcel of Krishna which implies they are all Krishna.

(b) Dhata - implies creator or supporter
(c) Purifier - That subject matter which helps us purify our constitution position is also Krishna
(d) Omkara - A transcendental sound vibration in all Vedic mantras, is therefore Krishna
(e) All the Vedas - Because all the hymns have 'Omkara', therefore it is Krishna
Text 9.18
THEME: All the terms mentioned in the translation indicate Krishna to be the eternal cause of all causes
♦ Study translation for all points

Only some important terms are clarified here:
(a) 'Gati' - 'Ultimate goal is Krishna', although people do not know it
• Many make their destination to different demigods
• Thus perform rigid rituals

• But all such demigod planets, being creations of Krishna, are simultaneously Krishna and not
Krishna - How:
o Being manifestation of Krishna's energy they are Krishna, but

o They serve only a step forward for realising Krishna
o To approach different energies of Krishna is an indirect approach
o Better to have direct approach which saves time and energy
o Analogy: Elevator vs staircase
(b) 'Sustainer' - Because everything is resting on Krishna's energy
(c) 'Master' - Krishna is the Supreme ruler and everything belongs to Him
(d) 'Witness' - He is in everyone's heart
(e) 'Abode' - Residences, countries or planets on which we live
(f) 'Ultimate goal of our shelter' - Take shelter of Krishna for any distress
(g) 'Suhrta' {Best friend) - Because He is the cause of our generation and Supreme Father
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Text 9.19
THEME: For Krishna, there is no distinction between matter and spirit; He is both matter and spirit.
In advanced stages of consciousness one can see Krishna in everything
♦ Study translation for all the points
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 9.19 - Only the important term is clarified here:
(a) 'Immortality' -The energy which sustains us and which prolongs the duration of life
Texts 9.20 - 9.25
Demigod Worshippers ('Prthaktvenas')

Texts 9.20 - 9.21
COMMON THEME: Result of Demigod worship mentioned here
♦ Demigod worshippers worship Krishna only, but indirectly
• They study the Vedas, drink the Soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets
♦ Path of demigod worshipers
• Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra where they
enjoy Godly delights
• After exhausting the result of their pious activity, they return to this mortal planet again
• Thus this path only offers repeated birth and death
(a) Ultimate goal for Tri-vedis is Krishna only (9.20)
• Actual Tri-vedis take shelter of lotus feet of Krishna and engage in devotional service
o By chanting Hare Krishna,

o And by cultivating knowledge of Krishna
(b) Simply official students of Vedas are only interested in sacrifice to demigods
• Have not attained the perfection of knowledge which is to know the "Source of all"
('Janmady asya yatah')
• Only benefits achieved:
o Gets purified of lower modes
o Elevation to heavenly planets with longer life and better sense gratification
(c) Disadvantage of heavenly planets as the goal
• Comes back to the earth - Cycle of birth and death 'after exhausting pious deeds'
• Analogy: "Ferris wheel" compared to "Cycle of birth and death" (study 9.21 purport)
• Solution offered to avoid repeated birth and death: Make spiritual world as your goal
J^
y
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.21 & 9.22: Texts 20 - 21 explains : "How demigods obtain the necessities of life"
Text 22 explains: "How unalloyed devotees are maintained and receive their necessities"
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Text 9.22*
Yoga-Ksemam verse
THEME: Direct worship of Krishna achieves complete perfection by Krishna's grace

♦♦♦ Krishna says: "For those who worship Me with exclusive devotion"
• "For them I carry what they lack"
• "I preserve what they have"
a) A devotee is "Perfect in self-Realization" - It is because:
• His only desire is to associate with Supreme Personality of Godhead
• He always worships with 'exclusive' devotion
o Unable to live without Krishna even for a moment
• Such Krishna conscious activities are "All-auspicious" and "Full of spiritual potencies"
b) 'Yoga'- Implies such a devotee undoubtedly approaches Lord without difficultly
• Helps the devotee achieve Krishna consciousness by yoga

c) 'Ksema'- Refers to "the merciful protection" of the Lord
• When one becomes fully Krishna consciousness, the Lord protects him from falling down
to miserable conditional life
P^
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.22 & 9.23: Because demigod worshipers are ultimately worshipping Krishna, do
they achieve the same result as Krishna's unalloyed devotees? In the next verse, Krishna does not
approve the unnecessary worship of demigods.
Text 9.23
THEME: Demigod worship without knowledge of Krishna's supremacy is called "Avidhi-purvakam" - It is

a
sign of less intelligence because such worship is offered to 'Me' only, but indirectly
(a) Three Analogies for indirect worship of Krishna as the improper method
• Pouring water on leaves and branches and not the roots
• Feeding different parts of the body and not the stomach
• Not to follow the laws of the government and offering a bribe to the officers
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.23 & 9.24: What happens to such worshipers as mentioned in Text 9.23?
- "They simply fall down"
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Text 9.24
THEME: Krishna as the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices:
♦ Demigod worshipers, after great endeavour to follow Vedas, simply fall down to material existence
and do not achieve the desired goal of life (because they do not know Krishna as the only enjoyer and
master of all sacrifices)
♦ Krishna says "Those who do not recognize My transcendental nature, fall down"
(a) Vedas recommend different Yajnas: Actually 'Yajna' means Vishnu
• Ultimately beneficiary of all Yajnas is 'Vishnu' (Ref. Bg. 3.9)
• Goal of Varnasrama is to please Vishnu
(b) Demigod worship is for temporary benefit. Therefore demigod worshipers fall down and do not
achieve the desired goal of life - less intelligent people take to this path
(c) Final conclusion - Even if one has material desires, better to worship the Supreme Lord
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.24 & 9.25:To contrast the destination of demigod worshipers and Krishna
bhaktas, Krishna speaks the next verse (9.25)
Text 9.25
THEME: Relative destination of different worshipers explained (Study Translation for all points)
(a) Refutation: This verse refutes the philosophy - "Worship of any form or any path leads to the
same goal"
(b) Basis of Destination - Destination depends on faith reposed
• e.g. Darsha-paurnamasi - 'A process of karma-kanda rituals to go to the moon or sun etc.
(c) Role of Krishna conscious movement - A sublime process of simply chanting Hare Krishna and
going back to Godhead - deyotional seryice can take one to Krishna's planet
SECTION IV (9.26 -9.34)

THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO KRISHNA
• Worship of Lord Krishna is superior because Supreme Lord takes direct interest in the life of His
devotees
• UnderstandingTruth about Krishna and His Devotees and Their intimate relationships, one
should absorb himself in Krishna Consciousness
• The most essential quality of bhakti which stands out in Text 9.29 - 9.34 is that the Lord
personally reciprocates with His devotees, bringing them closer to Him
Page 18 of 25
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yLINK BETWEEN SECTION III & SECTION IV: To encourage us to make the correct choice, He speaks the
final nine verses of this chapter. These verses plead with us, for our own benefit, to become His
exclusive
devotees.
COMMON THEME: Krishna pleads to us to choose the right path, which is - "To become exclusive
devotees"
(Highest perfection of life)
Text 9.26*
THEME: Bhakti is a very simple process

♦♦♦ Sign of an intelligent person - Engages in Krishna's loving service to achieve permanent bliss in
abode
for eternal happiness

♦♦♦ Krishna accepts anything offered in love - a leaf, flower, fruit or water
(a) Bhakti is easy and universal
• Only qualification required is -To be a pure devotee
• No other qualification required - Can be attempted by poorest of the poor, no matter

where one is or what one is
(b) Compared to other processes - Simplest process and highest perfectional stage offered
• Krishna wants only loving seryice and nothing more , irrespective of quantity or type of
object
o Even a little flower or leaf, fruit or flower from a pure devotee will do
o But no offering is accepted, however big may be, from a non-devotee - Because the
Lord is self sufficient and not in need of anything
• Importance of word Bhakti -"Bhakti" is mentioned twice in this verse - to declare

emphatically that Bhakti is the only means to approach Krishna
o 'No other condition'- being a brahmana / rich man / scholarship / philosopher

o None of these conditions can induce the Lord to accept any offering
• Bhakti is never causal
o It is an eternal process
o It is a direct action in service to the Absolute Whole

(c) Link to the previous verse - Krishna after establishing Himself as the only enjoyer, primeval Lord
and real object of all sacrificial offerings, now He tells, what type of sacrifice He desires to be
offered
(d) Prohibited Items : lf you love Krishna - Offer Krishna whatever He wants / Avoid offering that
which is undesirable and unasked for
• Find out the Lord's desire, if you want to engage in devotional service and want to get
purified and to reach life's goal
• Practical application - No meat, fish or eggs, only patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam (leaf,
flower, fruit or water)
(e) Why offer - To enjoy without offering is sinful (Ref. Bg. 3.13)
(f) Attitudes in offering - Most important element in preparation, serving, and offering is Love
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Chapter9
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 9.26 continued...
(g) Refutes impersonalists philosophers who cannot comprehend this verse because they maintain
that "the Absolute Truth is without senses"
• Our understanding: Krishna has senses and His senses are interchangeable
• Lacking senses would mean Krishna is not full in all opulences
• 3 examples of 'omnipotency' - His senses are interchangeable and can perform the
function of each other
o Lord impregnates by His glance
o Krishna eats by hearing the devotee's words of Love
o Also speaks by breathing and gives Vedas (Ref. Bg. 3.15 purport)
• Who can understand: Only the deyotee who accepts Krishna as described in the Bhagavad-
gita, without interpretation can understand that the Supreme Absolute Truth can eat food
and enjoy it.
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.26 & 9.27: Texts 9.14, 9.22 and 9.26 describe advanced stages of devotion. In
the next verse, according to Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Krishna describes a step below this:
"Niskama-karma-yoga" - For those who are not yet able to practice pure devotional service
Text 9.27*
THEME: Recommends Niskama-karma-yoga - You can even offer fruits of what you are already doing.
One
can do any of the following as an offering to Krishna
♦ Whatever you do
♦ Whatever you eat
♦ Whatever you offer or give away
♦ Whatever austerities you perform
(a) Duties of everyone - To mold one's life in such a way as not to forget Krishna in any circumstance
(b) Work needed even for bodily maintenance - Therefore better to work for Krishna e.g.
• Eat - Only prasadam
• Religious duties - Do it only for Krishna (Archana)
• Charity - Utilise for furthering Krishna consciousness
• Austerity - Greatest meditator and greatest yogi is one who meditates on Krishna 24 hours
by chanting on his beads (Ref Bg. 6.47)
Text 9.28*
THEME: Result of acting with Mind fixed on 'Me' in this principle of renunciation as explained in Text
9.27
♦ Liberation - Freedom from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results ("moksyase
karma-bandhanaih")
♦ Realisation of Krishna - "Liberation and one comes to Me" ("vimukti" and "mam upaisyasi")
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(a) 'Yukta' - One who acts in Krishna consciousness under superior direction.
(b) 'Yukta-vairagya' - To perform actions and give the fruits to Krishna
(c) 'How does this process work?' - when one is situated in such renunciation, the following effects
are seen:
• Cleansing - Such activities clear the mirror of mind
• Progress - Gradual progress in spiritual realisation
• Surrender - Complete surrender to Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Liberation - At the end becomes liberated
• " Come to Me " indicates the "Kind of liberation" - Not brahmajyoti but entering into Lord's
planet (Indicated by the word Mam-upaisyasi)
(d) Who is a real sannyasi- A Krishna conscious person - because of the following characteristics:
• Niskama - No other interest but to dedicate life in service of the Lord
• Seryitude - Always thinks of himself as eternal servant
• Dependence - Depends on Supreme will of the Lord
• Beyond Vedic Rituals - Does not give serious attention to fruitive activities or prescribed
ritualistic duties of the Vedas
o PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Prescribed duties are obligatory for ordinary persons
■ But a pure devotee who is completely engaged in Lord's service may sometimes
appear to go against prescribed duties but actually it is not so
o Ref. CC Madhya-lila - One cannot understand the plans and activities of a pure
devotee
o A pure devotee is above all material criticisms just like Krishna
P
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.28 & 9.29: Krishna stated earlier that He delivers His devotees and annihilates
the miscreants, but shouldn't the Supreme Lord, who is the father of all living entities, treat all - both the
good and bad - equally? Is Krishna partial?
Text 9.29
THEME: But Krishna is not partial, He is equal to everyone, He envies no one
♦ But whoever renders service unto Me is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to Him
QUESTION: lf Krishna is equal to all and no-one is His special friend then why does He take special
interest in devotees who are always engaged in his transcendental service
ANSWER: This is not discrimination but " natural "
(a) Analogy: Any man in material world may be charitably disposed, but has special interest in own
children
(b) But one may say: Lord says all living entities are His children -
• Our response - Yes, therefore He supplies everyone with generous supply of all necessities
o Analogy: Like a cloud pours water all over the earth: rock, land or water
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Chapter9
(c) But for devotees - "He gives specific attention" - Such devotees are
• Transcendentally situated in Krishna
o The phrase "Krishna consciousness" indicates that they are "Living

Transcendentalists"
• Lord says "Mayi te" - They are in Me. Naturally Lord is also in them reciprocally
• Ref. Bg. 4.11 - "Ye Yatha..." - Lord reciprocates accordingto one's surrender
• This transcendental reciprocation exists because the Lord and His devotees are conscious
(d) Analogy: Lord and living entity eternally glitter - When living entity is in service of diamond like
Lord, he looks like Gold (Diamond on gold ring)
(e) Personalism - lf reciprocal relationship not present between Lord and devotees, there is no
personalist philosophy
(f) Analogy: Lord is like a desire tree - supplies whatever one wants
• Lord's reciprocation should not be considered under the law of karma
o It belongs to transcendental situation in which Lord and His devotees function

o Devotional service is not an activity of the material world, but a part of the spiritual
world where eternity, bliss and knowledge predominates
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.29 & 9.30: Krishna personally maintains and cares for His devotees. Even if His
devotee were to perform a heinous act, Krishna would nevertheless protect and purify him.
Text 9.30
THEME: Even if a devotee is imperfect, Krishna takes him as saintly - Why:
♦ Because he is properly situated in his determination (9.30)
♦ And he quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace (9.31)
(a) 'Su-duracharah' - Very significant word
• Two kinds of Actiyities : Conditioned living entity has 2 kinds of activities - conditional and
constitutional
o Conditional - Those 'for protecting the body' or 'for my abiding by the rules of society
and state'
o Constitutional/Transcendental - Activities of living entities, being conscious of
spiritual nature (Engagement in devotional service)
• Actiyjties may be parallel or opposed : In conditioned state, sometimes devotional and

conditional acts parallel each other and sometimes they oppose each other
• Deyotee tries to balance : Devotee tries his best not to disrupt his wholesome condition
knowing that perfection in his activities depend upon progressive realisation of Krishna
consciousness
(b) Abominable acts does not disqualify
• Sometimes a Krishna conscious person acts abominably socially or politically
• Such temporary fall-down does not disqualify him
• Ref. SB - lf such a person is whole heartedly engaged in transcendental service of Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Lord in the heart purifies him and excuses him for that act
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(c) "Sadhur eva" - Emphatic expression of "He is saintly"
• A person situated in Krishna consciousness engages with determination in chanting Hare

Krishna
• Should be considered transcendental - Not to deride for accidental falldown
(d) "Mantavyah" - Makes it still more emphatic - lf we deride someone like this, then we are
disobeying the Lord's order

(e) Ref. Nrsimha Purana - Analogy: Compares accidental fallen or abominable acts of a devotee to be
like mark of a rabbit on the moon - Such spots do not impede diffusion of the bright moonlight
(f) In that perspective only qualification of a devotee is - To be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged
in devotional service
(g) CAUTION! Do not take it as allowance to act in all abominable ways
• Only for Accidental Falldown - Only refers to accident due to strong power of material
connections
• Deyotional Seryice and War : Devotional service is declaring war against illusory energy
(h) WARNING! Till we are not strong enough -there may be accidental falldowns
• Do not take free license : lf one does not improve in his character by devotional service, it is
to be understood he is not a high devotee
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.30 & 9.31: Still, the question may be raised: "How can a person who is "su-
duracara" (committing highly improper activities) be regarded as saintly?"
Text 9.31*
THEME: Krishna purifies him (A devotee who succumbs to his conditionings and engages abominably as
explained in 9.30)
1. He quickly becomes righteous
2. He attains lasting peace
3. Promise of Krishna :"My devotee never perishes"
ARGUMENT: How can a person acting abominably by accident or intention can be a pure devotee?
Because Chapter 7 declares "only one free from mischievous acts can become a devotee of the Lord".
(Ref. Bg. 7.28)
EXPLAINED AS FOLLOWS:
(a) Cleansing going on - Devotee engaged in nine kinds of devotional service is
• In process of cleaning heart
• Puts Lord in the heart
• All contaminations naturally washed away

(b) No need of ritualistic processes - One who falls down from exalted position - No need to undergo
certain ritualistic processes for purification

• Purification process is already there in the heart - Continue remembering Krishna by
chanting without stoppage
• All protection assured for accidental fall-downs

PT
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Krishna continues to glorify the path of bhakti
Text 9.32
THEME: Even unqualified classes also achieve Krishna by His mercy
♦ e.g. Women, Vaisyas and Sudras
(a) No distinction in different classes - This verse establishes that in devotional service, there is no
distinction between higher and lower classes as opposed to the material conception of life . (Ref.
SB 2.4.18)
(b) Indicates 'Power of devotional service and pure devotees' - Most simple man taking shelter of a
pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance, even the lowest of men chandalas (Ref. SB
2.4.18)
(c) Importance of shelter ('Vyapashritya') - One has to take complete shelter of Krishna - Then one
can become greater than greatjnanis and yogis; pure devotees can enable people of lower classes
to attain highest perfection.
The next verse describes those who have taken higher birth
Text 9.33
THEME: Then what to speak of qualified righteous brahmanas, devotees and saintly kings - Krishna
detinitely
helps them.
♦ Conclusion: Having come to temporary miserable world, one must engage in loving service unto 'Me'
(a)
'Anityam asukham lokam'- Indicates 'world is not a happy
place but temporary
and full of
misery' - "Whoever you may be"
(b)
Refutes Mayavadis who say that 'th
s world is false', but our philosophy is "this world is not false
but temporary"
(c)
'Rajarsis' - "Saintly royal families" -
Indicates Arjuna is also
motivated to take to devotional
service
(d)
Conclusion: Devotional service is the only process to solve a
II problems of life for
all people at all
times
^J
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 9.33 & 9.34: Krishna concluded Text 9.33 with the words "bhajasva mam",
"Engage in loving service unto Me." In the next text, Krishna will clearly tell us how to do so.
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Text 9.34
THEME: Worship Krishna directly - This verse points out clearly that "Krishna consciousness is the only
means
for deliverance from material world."
♦ How to worship Krishna directly
• Engage your mind always in thinking of Me
• Become My devot.ee
• Offer obeisances to Me
• Worship Me
(a) Howto engage one's mind
• Engage in His eternal form, the primal form of Krishna
• With conviction that Krishna is the Supreme
• Engage body, mind and activities in His service without deviation - Nine activities
• Benefit: Transfer to Krishna-loka
(b) Srila Prabhupada refutes unscrupulous commentators
• Unscrupulous commentators defined
o Make profit and mislead : Make profit out of misleading people. Divert their mind to
that which is not at all feasible

o They refer to Krishna's mind : They do not know that there is no difference between
Krishna's mind and Krishna
• Our Response is:
o Krishna is not an ordinary human but Absolute (Body, Mind and Himself are Absolute
One)
o Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasyati guotes from Caitanya Charitamrta : "No difference between
Krishna and His body"
(c) Demoniac Mentality - They do think of Krishna but always unfavourably and enyiously e.g. Kamsa
(d) Real bhakti defined based on correct understanding
• One should "Think of Krishna as a person"
• Favourably in devotional love
• Cultivate knowledge of Krishna continuously
• What is that favourable cultivation - Learn from bona-fide spiritual master
• What are the bona-fide teachings of such a Spiritual Master - Krishna is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and His body is eternal, blissful and full of knowledge and we are His
eternal servants
&)END0FCHAPTER9c#
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CHAPTER 9 Appendix
Introduction
Chapter Seven and Chapter Nine share various themes: hearing from Krsna (7.1-2 / 9.1-2); the rela-
tionship between Krsna and material nature (7.4-7, 7.12 / 9.4-10); Krsna's potency manifested
within matter (7.8-11 / 9.16-19); worship of demigods contrasted with worship of Krsna (7.20-23 /
9.20-28); and the impersonalists' knowledge of Krsna contrasted with that of devotees (7.24-26 /
9.11-15)
Text 9.1
The first three verses of this chapter glorify its contents. Later, Krsna will describe His inconceivable
opulence, which will help fix a nonenvious soul in unswerving devotional service by increasing his
knowledge, appreciation and awe.
Text 9.2
Su-sukham indicates that this knowledge will bring us great happiness and that its application, devo-
tional service, is joyfully performed. Bhakti-yoga is joyfully performed because it entails using our
senses in Krsna's service. Bhakti-yoga does not require, as jhana-yoga does, that we renounce all
activities. Renouncing sense activities does not bring joy, but, rather, dryness and misery.
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana asserts that raja-vidya raja-guhyarh indicates "the knowledge of kings,
the secret of kings." It is "the knowledge, or more exactly, the meditational worship, of those who,
like kings, have magnanimous, compassionate hearts. They are unlike the cripple-hearted karmls,
who worship demigods with the desire to attain sons and other material benefits. Kings, even when
they fail to hide their treasures of gems and other valuables, keep their private counsel very hidden.
In the same way, even when My devotees do not conceal other kinds of knowledge, they keep this
knowledge concealed."
Text 9.6
Although all living entities are within Krsna, are dependent on Krsna and are supported by Krsna,
they nevertheless act independently. How can one who is completely dependent act independ-
ently? This is an inconceivable feature of the relationship between the living entities and Krsna.
Krsna provides an analogy to help us understand. The sky, like an upside-down bowl, contains the
wind. In the same way, "all created beings rest in Me." Just as the sky is detached from the wind,
the wind, though in the sky, blows freely and independently. The sky restricts only the area of
movement, not the movement itself.
Krsna thus limits the activities of the conditioned living entities, regardless of the extent of their
power, to the circumference of the material world. Within the material sphere they are free, and
Krsna is detached from their independently enacted activities and from the reactions their activities
generate. The living entities are thus simultaneously fully dependent on Krsna and independent of
Him.
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura raises a question: Because Krsna has described, by an analo-
gous example, His acintya-sakti, or inconceivable mystic power, hasn't His explanation made the
inconceivable conceivable? He writes: "But then how is the Lord's mystic power inconceivable,
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Chapter 9 Appendix
which He claimed it to be in His statement, 'Just see My mystic power'? After all, we now have a
conceivable example explaining His mystic power."
He then answers:"The sky is nonattached to the wind, which is contained within it, because the sky
and wind are unconscious matter [and matter does not form attachments]. However, only in one
case does living spirit remain nonattached while living in this world and controlling it, and that is in
the case of the supreme controller. In this way the inconceivability [of the supreme controller's be-
ing nonattached] is established. The example of the nonattached sky is nonetheless offered in order
to give ordinary people an opportunity to begin to understand this subject."
Krsna began His explanation of His inconceivable relationship with the material world in Chapter
Five (texts 14-15) by saying, "I do nothing. The material nature is the doer." As Srlla Prabhupada
confirms in his purport to this verse, however, Krsna is nevertheless the cause of the material nature
and "not a blade of grass moves without the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Srlla
Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura concludes by saying, "This is Krsna's inconceivable potency, and we
can only fold our hands and offer respects to His greatness."
Text9.10
Maya means "by My," adhi means "from above" and aksa means "eyes." Thus, mayadhyaksena
means "under My eyes." Everything is done under Krsna's supervision.
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura gives an analogous example to explain Krsna's words: "The
govemmental business of a king, like Ambarlsa Maharaja, is carried out by his ministers (prakrtis),
while the uninvolved king merely remains present. All the same, unless the king is present on his
throne, the ministers are incapable of doing anything. In the same way, unless I give My support as
the supervisor, material nature (prakrti) cannot do anything."
Text 9.1 1
That Krsna, who appears in a humanlike form, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is even
higher than the four-armed Visnu form is not easy to accept. Even Lord Brahma became bewil-
dered about Krsna's identity. After Krsna killed Aghasura, Brahma saw Him as a cowherd boy sur-
rounded by His friends, with a lump of food held in His left hand. Brahma could not accept this boy
as his master, the Supreme Lord, the source of innumerable universes.
Rather than accepting Him as He is, some consider Him simply a powerful man. Others think He
has acquired His wonderful form and qualities by karma and tapasya. Still others consider the Su-
preme to be impersonal and devoid of attributes. They think that since absolute oneness cannot be
understood, it assumes a form and descends as Krsna, Rama and other avataras through contact
with the material mode of goodness.
Krsna's opinion about such speculations is expressed in this verse. Avajananti marti mudha manuslm
tanum asritam: "Fools deride My descent, thinking that I have assumed this human form."
Text9.12
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains that if one is practicing astahga-yoga for liberation, or
if one is practicing karma-kanda rituals for material well-being or if one is practicing jhana-yoga for
knowledge and Brahman realization, all his aspirations will be crushed if he misunderstands Krsna's
form to be material. No success is awarded to those refusing to accept Krsna's transcendental
form.
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One modern politician wrote a commentary on the Ramayana and said that Lord Rama, by acting
as a ksatriya and fighting to protect Sltadevl, proved the omnipotence of the modes of material na-
ture. How? Because by acting in that way, claimed the author, the Lord revealed that even when
God descends into the material world, He becomes controlled by the modes of nature. How fool-
ish! How can God be controlled by His own energies?
The hopes, knowledge and fruitive desires of one who thinks in that way are destroyed by such in-
appropriate, illogical and demoniac conclusions. Mayavadls, who say that Brahman affected by the
mode of goodness becomes Isvara, an incarnation, are particularly ruined.
Text9.14
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains: "A mahatma always serves and glorifies Krsna, regard-
less of time and place. He offers his obeisances and chants a fixed number of rounds with great de-
termination. The word mam is used twice in this verse. The repetition emphasizes that these
activities are offered to Krsna and to no one else."
Text9.15
The first type of jhanl mentioned is the one who worships himself as one (ekatvena) with the Su-
preme. This person is the lowest of the three. Although he is a monist, he is still considered to be
performing worship of God because he understands that he is eternal and is not his material body.
Those in this category are the most predominant.
Above them are the demigod worshipers who imagine a favorite demigod as the Supreme Lord
(prthaktvena bahudha).
The best of the three is one who, considering the universe as the supreme entity, conceives of the
Lord's universal form within the manifest universe (visvatah-mukham) and worships that.
Text 9.22
Paryupasate (properly worship) and nityabhiyuktanam (always fixed in devotion) indicate a devo-
tee's absorption in pure Krsna consciousness. Srlla Prabhupada writes: "One who is unable to live
for a moment without Krsna consciousness cannot but think of Krsna twenty-four hours a day, be-
ing engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping,
serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering
fully to the Lord."
With such determination in their practice of sadhana, the devotees neglect even their own mainte-
nance and do not care for liberation. They leave both responsibilities to Krsna, and thus Krsna per-
sonally delivers them. (This contrasts with the description given of the yogl in Bg. 8.24, where it is
said that the demigods, in shifts, arrange for the soul's passage higher and higher through the mate-
rial realm to the ultimate destination of the brahmajyoti.)
One may ask, "What kind of devotee would give his worshipful Deity, Krsna, such a burden?"
However, Krsna does not consider maintaining His devotee a burden. He wants to serve His devo-
tee. Krsna is so powerful that simply by exerting His will, He can create unlimited universes; main-
taining His devotees is not a burden. Rather, it is His pleasure.
When the brahmana, Arjunacarya, was writing his commentary on the Glta, he saw this verse and
thought it a mistake to believe that the Lord would personally carry whatever was needed to each
devotee. Arjunacarya therefore scratched out vahami (I carry) and inserted karomi (I have it done).
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Arjunacarya was extremely poor. After making the change in the text, he, as he did every day,
went out begging.
While he was gone, his wife heard a knock at the door. Two beautiful boys fearfully insisted that
she quickly accept the food that her husband had forced them to bring. These beautiful boys were
anxious to get away from her house because, They told her, the great brahmana scholar, Ar-
junacarya, would probably beat Them again. When Arjunacarya's wife expressed disbelief that her
husband had beat such boys, one said, "See?" And the dark boy turned to show her the marks on
His back where He had been struck. Then They both dashed away.
Arjunacarya's wife was bewildered, and she began to cook and eat the food the boys had brought.
Upon Arjunacarya's return, he saw his wife eating. He was shocked. According to the Vedic sys-
tem, a wife never eats before she has fed her husband.
When he challenged her, she replied, "Acarya, why have you acted so inappropriately and become
so cruel?" She then told him that two beautiful boys had come, left a bountiful supply of food, and
after the dark boy had showed her the marks on His back, They had rushed away. The acarya
thought for a few moments and then asked what the boys looked like. Upon hearing that one had
a beautiful darkish complexion and that the other was white, he could understand that his fortunate
wife had been blessed with the darsana of Krsna and Balarama. The "beating" marks on the beauti-
ful dark boy's back were the result of the acarya's having scratched out the word vahami. Krsna
had been forced to come personally to prove the truth of His words, "I carry what they lack."
Text 9.26
To worship the demigods properly, one is required to perform elaborate sacrifices govemed by in-
tricate rules. Numerous pure and trained priests, and huge amounts of ghee and other difficult-to-
obtain ingredients are needed before one can perform such yajnas.
Worshiping Krsna is simple. Patram, puspam, phalam and toyam are all in the singular. Krsna asks
only for a leaf, a flower, water or a piece of fruit. His request is not even for all of them! His actual
desire is to taste the bhakti of His devotee's offering. Therefore He mentions bhakti twice in this
verse for emphasis. The demigods are pleased by the offering; Krsna is pleased by devotion.
A devotee not only offers these items to Krsna with devotion but he bases his entire life on render-
ing pleasing service to Krsna. Therefore, the essential ingredients of an offering (the sentiments of
bhakti) are not only evoked at the time of the offering but are cultivated throughout a devotee's
life. The garden in which the grains, vegetables, fruits and flowers are sown and grown is watered
with devotion to Krsna. The flowers are picked and the food cooked with devotion. Finally, the
items are served and offered to Krsna. Krsna says that He accepts (asnami) such offerings because
His devotee's bhakti has given Him an appetite.
Text 9.27
Niskama-karmls are attached to the specific work they perform. To them Krsna therefore says that
whatever you are already doing, "do that as an offering to Me." First perform the activity and then
surrender its fruit to Krsna.
Bhakti is different. In bhakti, we first surrender to the order of guru and Krsna and then act. We
make no distinction between the activity and its fruit. Everything is offered in surrender to Krsna's
lotus feet.
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Srlla Prabhupada confirmed that this verse refers to karma-yoga, technically different from bhakti-
yoga, in a lecture on the prayers of Queen Kunti, given in Mayapura in 1974:
Krsna is meant for the paramaharhsa and muni, very, very exalted persons. Yoga means "contact" or
"having connection." Bhakti-yoga means directly connecting with Krsna, or God. Other yogas are not
directly
connected. When there is karma-yoga, it is adulterated. It is not pure. Karma-yoga means yat karosi yad
asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat. In the beginning one cannot take to pure bhakti-yoga. Therefore karma-yoga
is
recommended. People are interested in different types of work. So therefore Krsna says, yat karosi:
"Never
mind, whatever you are doing." So how does it become karma-yoga? Now, kurusva tad mad-arpanam:
"You
give it to Me." Krsna says, "All right, go on. You are attached to business. You go on doing that. But the
money earned out of your business, you give to Me." This is karma-yoga. "It doesn't matter, whatever
you
are doing, but the ultimate result, you give to Me."
Text 9.28
Srlla Vis'vanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains: "He [the person described in the previous verse] not only
be-
comes liberated but also achieves vimukti. He becomes exceptional (visista) among those who are
liberated
and comes into My proximity in order to serve Me directly."
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana explains: "The consequence of such devotion is described in the verse
beginning
s'ubha [text 28] . When you engage in the kind of devotional service characterized by offering all works
to Me
under My order, then you become freed from the bondage of material activities. You not only become
mukta, liberated from material activities, but vimukta, and come to Me. You become exceptional among
those who are liberated and come near Me in order to serve Me directly."
Devotees of the Lord are so special. Narayana-parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati / svargapavarga-
narakesv
api tulyartha-darslnah: "Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the
hellish
planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord." (Bhag.
6.17.28)
9.29: Krsna is compared to rain. Trees absorb rainwater and then grow and produce fruits. Some trees
pro-
duce bitter fruits, and others produce sweet ones. Does this mean the rain is partial? No. Similarly,
regardless
of a living entity's situation, Krsna nourishes everyone equally. Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana explains the
Lord's mood, described in the first half of this verse, as the mood of the Supersoul, the Paramatma:
"Sending
forth and maintaining all kinds of beings among the demigods, humans, animals, nonmoving creatures
and so
on, I, the Lord of all, am equal. I am just like a cloud pouring rain on all kinds of seeds. Among all these
crea-
tures, none are My enemies, and none are especially dear to Me."
The second half of this verse, however, confirms Krsna's partiality to His devotee in His feature as
Bhagavan.
Earlier in this chapter, Krsna described that although the material world rests on Him, He remains aloof
from
it. Here, on the contrary, we find that Krsna does not remain aloof from His devotees.
Krsna vowed ye yatha marh prapadyante tarhs tathaiva bhajamy aham: "As all surrender to Me, I reward
them accordingly." Here He confirms that He reciprocates even more personally with His devotees who
love
Him. He is not like a kalpa-vrksa tree, who responds equally to all requests. Rather, He is willing to
become
the enemy of His devotee's enemy. As Krsna told Duryodhana, "Anyone who is envious of the Pandavas
is
envious of Me and is My enemy."
Text 9.31 :
Srlla Vis'vanatha Cakravartl Thakura comments on verses 30-31 as follows:
One might ask, "But if someone is corrupted by such bad behavior, how can he be a sadhu?"
This is answered: "He should be considered as such and thought of as a sadhu." "He should be
considered" is
an injunctive statement. If this injunction is disobeyed, there will be unfavorable consequences. In other
words, "The evi-
dence for the truth of this is that it is simply My command."
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"Well," someone might say, "one may be considered a sadhu partially, to the extend that he is
worshiping You.
But to the extent that he is usurping other men's wives and property, he is not to be considered a
sadhu."
This is answered by the word eva, only: "He should only be considered a sadhu, in all ways, completely."
We should never view him as not a sadhu. His determination is completely fixed: "I may go to hell or
obtain an
animal birth because of my unavoidable sinful reactions, but I will never give up my exclusive worship of
SrT Krsna." Such
determination is praiseworthy.
"But," one might ask, "why do You accept the worship of such an irreligious person? Why do you
consume the
food and drink offered by one whose heart is contaminated by lust, anger and other faults?"
In response, the Lord says, "He quickly becomes religious." This is not expressed as "He is going to
quickly be-
come" or "He will soon achieve peace." Rather, the present tense is used: "he becomes" and "he
attains."
The Lord continues, "This means that immediately after he commits impiety, he remembers Me and
feels re-
morse. He thus quickly becomes religious. He thinks, 'Alas! Alas! There is no person more fallen than me.
I defile the
reputation of the community of devotees. Damn me!' Again and again feeling remorse like this, he
achieves complete
peace and detachment."
"Well," one may say, "if he actually becomes religious, there can be no argument about such a person.
But
what about a devotee whose behavior is wicked and who fails to give up his bad behavior throughout
his whole life?
What can be said about him?"
Always affectionate to His devotees, the Lord responds to this doubt with complete confidence and with
some
anger, in the words beginning kaunteya: "My devotee never perishes. Even when he dies, he never falls
down."
To encourage Arjuna, who is disturbed with sorrow and apprehension over the thought that hard-
hearted quibblers who
indulge in false logic will not accept this, the Lord says, "O Kaunteya, go to the assembly of these
disputants, and making
a loud sound with drums and cymbals, raise your arms fearlessly and declare My promise: 'I, Krsna, am
the Supreme
Lord, and even if My devotee is wicked in his behavior, he will never perish. On the contrary, such a
devotee is sure to
become successful.' Their bad logic will be shattered by this confident declaration. They will certainly
take shelter of you
as their guru." Such is the interpretation given by SrTdhara SvamT in his commentary.
Someone may ask, "But why doesn't the Personality of Godhead Himself make this promise? Why does
he in-
stead deputize Arjuna to promise? In the same way as the Lord will later say, 'Without a doubt you will
come to Me. I
promise you this because you are very dear to Me,' why doesn't He now say, 'Kaunteya, I promise that
My devotee will
never perish'?"
Here is the answer. At that moment, the Lord was thinking, "I am very affectionate to My devotees and
cannot
tolerate their being discredited at all. I will often even break My own promise and let Myself be
discredited to protect My
devotee's promise. For example, I will soon fight with BhTsma and discard My own promise in order to
protect BhTsma's
promise. Thus atheistic, logical quibblers will only laugh if I now offer My own promise, but they will
have to acknowl-
edge Arjuna's promise as if it were written in stone. Therefore I will have Arjuna make this promise."
9.34: First, Krsna tells us to always think of Him. It is not sufficient to work hard for Krsna while our
minds
wander. SrTla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that here Krsna says to Arjuna: "A so-called 'devotee'
of a
king, the king's servant, actually is thinking about his own wife and so on. His thoughts are not fixed
upon the
king. Thus he is not actually the king's devotee. You, however, in contrast with such a person, should be
ab-
sorbed in thinking of Me and should be My devotee. Your mind should always be fixed, like an
uninterrupted
flow of honey, on Me, the son of Vasudeva. You should think of Me as your own master and as the very
goal of your life."
The Bhagavad-gTta is the essence of all Vedic literature. The middle six chapters are the essence of the
GTta,
and the Ninth and Tenth Chapters are the essence of the middle six chapters. Finally, the last verse of
this
chapter, which is exactly in the middle of the GTta, and which will be repeated practically verbatim at
the end
of the GTta, is the most confidential and essential sloka. It is the essence of the essence of the essence
and
the most confidential of all knowledge: Become a pure devotee of Lord Krsna.
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One may question whether this verse beginning man-mana bhava mad-bhakto is actually the essence of
the
Glta. Noting that almost the same verse appears again as Bg. 18.65, one may think that Bg. 18.66, sarva-
dharman parityajya , is actually the essence, not 18.65. Actually, both verses are the same in that, in
both,
Krsna offers the same instruction. Text 18.66 expresses Krsna's desire that Arjuna surrender, and text
18.65
explains the components of that surrender.
In Bg. 18.64, just before these essential verses, Krsna states, sarva-guhyatamarh bhuyah s'rnu me
paramarh
vacah: "I am speaking My supreme instruction, the most contidential knowledge of all." Sarva-
guhyatamarh
means "the most contidential of all." Bhuyah means "again." Krsna speaks the verse here in Chapter
Nine and
again as text 18.65. Krsna also clearly says that these verses, 18.65 and 18.66, are the most contidential
knowledge of all and are His supreme instruction. Srila Prabhupada has many times explained this same
point.
In his purport to Bg. 18.65, he writes: "The most contidential part of knowledge is that one should
become a
pure devotee of Krsna and always think of Him and act for Him. Concentration of the mind on the form
of
Krsna constitutes the most contidential part of knowledge, and this is disclosed to Arjuna because
Arjuna is
the most dear friend of Krsna's."
Srlla Prabhupada writes in his purport to Srlmad-Bhagavatam 3.24.32: "In Bhagavad-glta Lord Krsna
advised
Arjuna many times to surrender unto Him, especially at the end of the Ninth Chapter — man-mana
bhava
mad-bhakto: 'lf you want to be pertect, just always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and
offer
your obeisances to Me. In this way you will understand Me, the Personality of Godhead, and ultimately
you
will come back to Me, back to Godhead, back home."'
In his purport to Srlmad-Bhagavatam 5.26.37, Srlla Prabhupada says:
The complete purpose of this material world will be fulfilled when we resume our spiritual identities and
go back
home, back to Godhead. The very simple method for doing this is prescribed by the Supreme Personality
of Godhead.
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekarh saranarh vraja. One should be neither pious nor impious. One
should be a devotee
and surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna. This surrendering process is also very easy. Even a child can
pertorm it. Man-
mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yajl marh namaskuru. One must always simply think of Krsna by chanting
Hare Krsna, Hare
Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. One should become
Krsna's devotee,
worship Him and offer obeisances to Him. Thus one should engage all the activities of his life in the
service of Lord Krsna.
In a lecture on Srlmad-Bhagavatam 1.15.51, Srlla Prabhupada said:
And the very simple thing is, ya idarh paramam guhyarh mad- bhaktesv abhidhasyati: this contidential
service,
preaching of Bhagavad-glta — what is that? Bhagavad-glta preaching — the essence is: sarva-dharman
parityajya mam ekarh
s'aranarh vraja. Simply go and preach. This very thing. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-
yajl marh namas-
kuru. This is Krsna's desire. Preach to the world: "Just be Krsna conscious." Man-mana. "Just become
Krsna's devotee."
Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yajl. "Just worship Krsna." Namaskuru. "Just offer your obeisances to
Krsna." Four
words. Then you become a preacher. It is not a very difficult to become a preacher and to become a
spiritual master.
How? Very simple thing. Go and speak what Krsna says. That's all. (Lecture, Los Angeles, December 28,
1973)
Page 7 of 7
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
THE OPULENCE OF THE ABSOLUTE
♦ Krishna ends the ninth chapter with the imperative to fix the mind on Krishna (Bg. 9.34 "Man mana...")
♦ Therefore Chapter 10 describes the Lord's opulence on which a devotee can fix his mind and how to
remember Him when we see opulent, powerful and beautiful things in this world
♦ Conclusion of Chapter 9 is that one should become a pure devotee of the Lord
♦ Therefore Chapter 10 will increase our devotion by hearing more about Krishna's opulences
SECTION I (10.1 - 10.7) — UNDERSTANDING KRISHNA'S UNKNOWABUTY, ONE SERVES HIM
• His origin is impossible to understand for He is the source of all

• That which has been created cannot independently understand its own source
• One who understands this fact, serves Krishna with devotion

SECTION II (10.8 - 10.11) — THE CATUR-SLOKI GITA (10.8 - 10.11)
• The opulence of His position as source of all
• Eagerness of His devotees to love and serve Him
• His own reciprocation with that eagerness of devotees
SECTION III (10.1 - 10.18) — ARJUNA ACCEPTS KRISHNA'S POSITION AND REQUESTS TO HEAR MORE
OFHISOPULENCES
• Arjuna refers to previous authorities
• Thus confirms Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Also by his own realisation)
• Prays to Krishna to hear more of his glories so that he can always think of Him and remember
Him
• Otherwise Krishna will remain unknowable
SECTION IV (10.19 - 10.42) — Krishna's opulences Krishna describes the most prominent among His
limitless, all-pervading opulences
• Names His opulences and then explains that these opulences simply indicate a fraction of His
glory
• Because He pervades and supports the entire universe with a mere fragment of His total
notenrA/
SECTION 1(10.1 -10.7)

UNDERSTANDING KRISHNA'S UNKNOWABUTY, ONE SERVES HIM
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION I
• Knowing of Krishna's supreme position is an inspiration for one to take to the process of
devotional service
• One can understand Krishna by His mercy, not by material qualification (10.2 - 10.3)
• Fully understanding Krishna frees one from all sins (10.3)
• Appreciating Krishna's position naturally leads to surrender (10.7)

Page 1 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
Text 10.1*
THEME: Krishna tells us to listen carefully as He will reveal more wonderful knowledge about His
opulences
♦ Listen again
♦ Qualification - "You are my dear friend"
♦ "I shall speak for your benefit, knowledge that is better than what is already explained"
(a) 'Bhagavan' - Meaning of this word is explained by Parashara Muni as "One full of all six
opulences"
(b) What does 'Sri Bhagavan' (Krishna) offers in Chapter 10 compared to Chapter 9
• Gives more confidential knowledge of His specific opulences and His work
• In Chapter 7 the Lord explained His different energies and how they are acting
• In Chapter 9 the Lord established His different energies to establish devotion in firm
conviction
(c) Benefits of hearing more (Hearing from/about Sri Bhagavan)
• Fixed in devotional service - The more one hears, the more one becomes fixed in devotional
service
• Enhances devotional service - Hearing in the association of devotees enhances one's

devotional service
(d) 'Eagerness to hear' as the qualification - Discourses in the society of devotees can take place only
among those who are really anxious to be in Krishna consciousness (Just like Arjuna's qualification:
"You aredearto Me")
y
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 10.1 & 10.2: Texts 10.2 - 10.7 presents Krishna as the mysterious origin of
everything
Text 10.2*
THEME: Who can know Krishna fully - Not even the demigods or liberated sages can know Krishna fully
♦ Because He is the origin of eyeryone and eyerything including all demigods and great sages
(a) Krishna is the cause of all causes (Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.1 / Bg. 10.2)
(b) 'Scholarship' is not the qualification to understand Krishna
• e.g. Demigods and great sages cannot understand Krishna, His name or His personality (Ref.
Sb.)
• So what to speak of scholars of this tiny planet
• What they cannot understand - No one can understand why the Supreme Lord comes to
this planet as an ordinary human being and executes such wonderful uncommon activities
• Speculation - One can speculate to the limits of the imperfect senses
o But may reach the opposite conclusion of impersonalism, or

o They can imagine something by mental speculation
Page 2 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 10.2 continued.
(c) How to understand Krishna
• Lord indirectly declares "Here I am, As the Supreme Personality of Godhead"
• Simple Way - Simply by studying His words in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam we
can understand Him in full ('sat-cit-ananda')
• Different Conceptions of God As :
o 'Krishna As The Personality of Godhead' - can be conceived only when one is in the
transcendental position
o 'As some ruling power or the impersonal Brahman can be reached by persons who in
the inferior energy of the Lord
• Krishna's favor/grace is essential to understand the Supreme Lord fully
o Only devotees who have fully surrendered achieve this grace
o Devotees of the Lord do not bother about impersonal Brahman conception. Their
faith and devotion bring them to immediate surrender and thus attracts Krishna's
causeless mercy
o Only those who are contaminated by material energy consider the impersonal
Brahman to be the Supreme, despite the Supreme Lord's uncommon activities
Text 10.3*
THEME: Result of understanding Krishna properly - Freedom from all sinful reactions
♦ They - Demigods/Sages/Mental speculators (as per 10.2) - cannot understand Krishna as :-
• Unborn
• Beginningless and
• Supreme Lord of all the worlds (Supreme Proprietor)
♦ Thus Text 10.3 describes "Undeluded among men" - Those who can understand Krishna in these 3
features (Unborn, Beginningless, Supreme Proprietor)
(a) The most successful spiritually realized person: Very rare
• One who understands Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Unborn, the
Supreme Proprietor
• Out of millions, one may endeavor and out of many one may succeed (Ref. Bg. 7.3)
(b) 'Unborn' (aja) -This 'unborn' is different from 'living entity' described as 'unborn' in Chapter 2
(Ref. Bg. 2.20)
• Living entites are taking birth and dying due to material attachment -Thus they are
changing bodies under external energy
• Lord as unborn - Lord comes to the material world as the self-same 'Unborn' - Comes By
His internal potency; body is unchangeable (Ref Bg. 4.6)
o Argument - But Krishna is the son of Devaki, how can He be unborn

o Refutation - Ref SB: He appeared before Devaki and Vasudev in His Original form, not
as an ordinary child; and then transformed into an ordinary child
Page 3 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
(c) "Vetti loka maheshvaram" -This phrase means 'Supreme Lord of all the worlds/planetary
systems' because:
• He was existing before the creation and is different from His creation
• Demigods were created; He is not created
• Thus Krishna is different even from great demigods (Brahma and Shiva)
(d) Only way to know Him as such as given in translation - Devotional service
• Who can know - One who is free from all sinful activities
• Result of knowing - Immediate Freedom from all sinful reactions

(e) How not to perceive Krishna
• Foolish Mentality -To try to understand Him as a human being (Bq. 9.11)
• Sign Of Intelligence - Understand the constitutional position of Godhead

(f) Transcendental and real auspicious activities
• Transcendental - Anything done under the direction of Krishna is transcendental
• Inauspicious material world - Nothing in the material world is auspicious ; We simply

imagine itto be auspicious
• Real auspiciousness - depends upon action in Krishna consciousness in full devotion and
service
• How to get such directions - From Guru, Sadhu, Sastra
• Transcendental attitude of a devotee - Attitude of renunciation in the performance of all

activities -This is called Sannyasa
o Rea I Sannyasi
■ Acts as a matter of duty / Not take shelter in the fruits
■ Ref. Bg. 6.1 defines real Sannyasi and real yogi
o Wrong conception of Sannyasi - Not the man in the dress of a Sannyasi or Yogi
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 10.3 & 10.4: Now Krishna tells us that "All the qualities possessed by any living
entity comes from Him"
Texts 10.4* - 10.5*

COMMON THEME: He is the origin of all qualities, by which one seeks to understand the Truth
FOCUS OF LEARNING IN 10.4 - 10.5
(a) Different qualities, be they good or bad are all created by Krishna - Nothing can manitest in
material world which is not in Krishna

(b) Where does Krishna manifest all these qualities -Throughout the universe, in human society and
the society of demigods

(c) For whom, are these created - Krishna creates for those who want to advance in Krishna
consciousness but
• The person has to develop from within
• Ofcourse, by devotional service one automatically develops all good qualities
Page 4 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
QUAUTIES MENTIONED IN 10.4-10.5
S. NO.
QUAUTY
DEFINITION
Intelligence
• The power to analyze things in their proper perspective

2
Knowledge
• Knowing the distinction between matter and spirit
• Academic university education - talks about only matter;

therefore incomplete
Freedom from doubt and

delusion (Asammoha)
• Can be achieved when one acts without hesitation based on

understanding transcendental philosophy
• Slowly but surely he becomes free from bewilderment (Text

10.3 speaks about "unbewildered")
• Nothing should be accepted blindly / But with care and

caution
Tolerance and Forgiveness

(Ksama)
• Excuse the minor offences of others
• One should be practiced to bear insult and dishonor from

others
Truthfulness
• Facts presented as they are, for the benefit of others: Not
distort truth for some personal interest
• Social convention -To speak palatable BUT it is not always

good (One must call a thief a thief)
Control of senses
• Senses should not be used for unnecessary personal

enjoyment.
Control of the mind
• Restrain the mind from unnecessary thoughts
• Misuse of the thinking power - to spend one's time pondering

over money
• Power of thought should be used to understand the prime

necessity of human beings and to present authoritatively
• Power of thought should be developed in association with

Guru, Sadhu and Sastra
Happiness and distress

(Sukham)
• Always considered in relation to what is favorable or

unfavorable to Krishna consciousness.
9
Bhava (Birth)
• For soul there is no birth or death
10
Fear/ Fearlessness
(Abhayam)
• Due to worrying about the future; absorption in illusory

energy (Ref. SB 11.2.37)
• Fearlessness is possible only in Krishna consciousness
o One is confident of his spiritual identity

o Engages in transcendental services
o Surety of his bright future that he is going back to
Godhead
11
Non-violence (Ahimsa)
• Not do anything which would put others in misery, confusion,

all distress
• Not checking anyone's progressive life
12
Equanimity (Samata)
• Freedom from attachment or aversion
• Accept the material world without attachment or aversion
• Accept whatever is favorable to Krishna consciousness and

reject unfavorable
Page 5 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
S. NO.
QUAUTY
DEFINITION
13
Satisfaction
• Not be eager to gather more and more material things by

unnecessary activity
• One should be satisfied with what is obtained by the Lord's

grace
14
Austerity and Penance

(Tapas)
• Voluntary accepting hardships or suffering for a higher

purpose e.g. rising early and taking bath ; fasting on
recommended days.
15
Charity
• Give 50% of income to Krishna consciousness
• To brahmanas and sannyasis (study purport)
16
Fame
• A man is famous when he is known as a great devotee
Text 10.6
THEME: He is the source of all
♦ He is the source of all great sages, Manus and all living entities
♦ Thus Lord gives genealogical synopsis of universal population
(a) 'Hiryanyagarbha' - refers to Brahmaji who is the original creator born out of the energy of the
Supreme Lord
(b) Patriarchs of the living entities - 25 great sages = 4 Great sages born from Brahma (4 Kumaras) + 7
Great sages born from Brahma + 14 Manus

(c) Tapasya of Brahma - lasted 1000 demigod years - He realised by Krishna's grace how to create
(d) Krishna is Prapitamaha (father of grandfather) and Brahma is known as Pitamaha (grandfather)
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 10.6 & 10.7: Srila Prabhupada mentions that the twenty-five persons spoken of in
this verse (eleven sages and fourteen Manus) are the source of all progeny in the universe. Even these
exalted personalities can accurately learn about Krishna only by hearing directly from Him or His
devotees.
Text 10.7
THEME: Appreciating Krishna's position leads to surrender
♦ No-one can understand Krishna by conventional means
♦♦♦ One who is factually convinced of 'this opulence' (as per glimpse given in last few verses) and His
'mystic
power' will
• Engage in unalloyed devotional service without doubt
♦ This verse is an impetus for Arjuna's request in Text 16 to describe Krishna's opulence in detail
(a) Highest summit of spiritual perfection - Knowledge of Supreme Personality of Godhead

(b) Knowing 'God as Great' - Generally people know God is great, but they do not know in detail
how God is great
Page 7 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
(c) What is the need to know these opulences - Only if one is firmly convinced about these
opulences, then only:
• One can accept Krishna with great faith and without doubt
• One becomes fixed up and sincere in devotional service
• It increases one's interest in loving devotional service
• One comes to the 'platform of factual knowledge' - there is no alternative but surrender
o How to get this factual knowledge - from descriptions of Srimad Bhagavatam and
Bhagavad-gita and similar other literatures
• Conclusion: Do not neglect to understand fully how great Krishna is

(d) Conclusion of Text 10.1 - 10.7 - Krishna is the forefather of 'all the forefathers' and 'all the
demigods in administration'
P^
SECTION II (10.8 -10.11)

THE CATUR-SLOKI GITA
LINK BETWEEN SECTION I & SECTION II:
The next four verses summarizes the entire Bhagavad-gita
• Text 10.8 summarizes "His opulences" and "the result of truly knowing His opulences - one becomes
a pure devotee"
• Text 10.9 describes how a pure devotee worships Him
• Texts 10.10 & 10.11 describes His reciprocation with their loving worship
>
Lord Krishna is the source of everything. Those who understand this become His devotees and enjoy
fixing their minds and hearts in Him. The Lord gives them the knowledge to come to Him
Text 10.8
THEME: Source of all - This verse establishes Krishna as 'the original source of all spiritual and material
worlds'
♦ Result of knowing this: One surrenders and 'engages in devotional service' and 'worships Krishna
with all their hearts.'
(a) How one can understand this truth about Krishna (As the original source of all) - Only by hearing
from sastra through bona-fide authorities
• A learned scholar who has studied the Vedas perfectly and
• Has information from authorities like Lord Chaitanya, and
• One who knows how to apply these teachings can understand this truth
• Result: Thus one is never deviated by any non-sensical commentaries or by fools
Page 8 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
(b) References for Krishna being the source of all demigods including Lord Brahma and Lord Siva:
• Gopala Tapani Upanisad - Krishna in the beginning gave knowledge to Brahma
• Narayana Upanisad - Supreme person Narayana desired to create living entities Thus
Brahmaji, 25 Patriarchs, Indra, 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras and 12 Adityas born. Narayana is an
expansion of Krishna
• Maha Upanisad - In the beginning of creation there was only one Supreme Personality,
Narayana
• Moksha Dharma - Krishna says Patriarchs, Shiva and others are created by Him, although
they do not know so, because they are deluded by His illusory energy
• Varaha Purana - Narayana is the Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom Lord Brahma
and further Lord Shiva is born
(c) Recommendations for Krishna Conscious persons -
• Avoid unauthorized commentaries on Bhagavad-gita

o Fools say 'Krishna' as ordinary men
• Thus one should proceed in Krishna Consciousness with determination
Text 10.9*
THEME: Symptoms of a pure devotee - Krishna becomes his life and soul and he constantly hears about
and
discusses Krishna
♦ "Thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me"
♦ "Life fully devoted to My service"
♦ "They derive great satisfaction and bliss always conversing about Me"
(a) Two stages of devotional service
• Preliminary stage -They relish the transcendental pleasure from the service itself
• Mature stage - They are always situated in Love of God and thus relish the highest
perfection, which is exhibited by the Lord in His abode
(b) Analogy: Bhakti-lata-bija - Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu compares transcendental devotional

service to sowing of a seed in the heart of a living entity (Ref. Madhya-lila Chapter 19)
• Rare fortune to get the seed - Innumerable living entities are travelling all over the universe
- Few fortunate ones meet a pure deyotee and get a chance to practice devotional service
("Brahmanda brahmita...")
• Watering of the seed - hearing and chanting Hare Krishna
• Seed fructifies and grows - penetrates the covering of material universe
• Reaches Brahmajyoti and grows more
• Final destination - Reaches the highest planet Goloka Vrindavan and take shelter under the
lotus feet of Krishna and rests there
• Gradually bears fruits and flowers and watering process goes on

• Full absorption - Thus one becomes fully absorbed in Love of Godhead
• Cannot live a moment without Lord - At this stage devotee attains transcendental qualities
in contact with the Lord
o Analogy: Just like fish cannot live without water

0"
Page 9 of 18
Chapter 10
(c) What do the devotees discuss - Srimad Bhagavatam
• What is Srimad Bhagavatam - Nectarean narrations about transcendental relation between

Lord and His devotees
• Standard of Srimad Bhagavatam - Free from Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha
• Pleasure in Srimad Bhagavatam - This is a transcendental narration and realised souls take
pleasure in such literatures
o Analogy: Just like a young boy and girl take pleasure in association
o Ref. SB 12.13.10 - Srimad Bhagavatam is very dear to the devotees
Text 10.10*
Lord's reciprocation with His pure devotee

THEME: Lord gives us the required intelligence - The activities of pure devotees as per Text 10.9 attract
Krishna's mercy who guides a devotee Back to Godhead
(a) Buddhi-yoga - Action in Krishna consciousness is a sign of highest intelligence

• Buddhi means 'intelligence' and 'yoga' means mystic activities or mystic elevation
• Thus, Buddhi-yoga is the process by which one gets out of the entanglement of the material
world
(b) Ultimate goal of progress - Krishna ,the Supreme Personality of Godhead
(c) How one can get introduced and know this goal - By association of devotees and a bona-fide
spiritual master
(d) Different steps of yoga
• When one knows the goal is Krishna but is addicted to the fruits - karma-yoga
• When one knows the goal is Krishna but takes pleasure in mental speculation to understand
Krishna, he is acting in jnana-yoga
• When one knows the goal and seeks completely in Krishna consciousness and devotional
service, he is acting in buddhi-yoga or Bhakti-yoga (The complete yoga - the highest
perfectional stage)
(e) Lord gives the intelligence in Bhakti yoga
• Krishna helps - One may have bona-fide spiritual master and may be attached to a spiritual
organization but still he if he is not intelligent enough, Krishna from within gives him
instructions, to come to Him
• Only qualification - Be sincere and devoted to the activities of devotional service
• Only expectation - One should perform some sort of work for Krishna with love
Text 10.11*
Lord's reciprocation with His pure devotee

THEME: Special mercy of the Lord - Lord destroys all the impediments and dispels any ignorance in the
heart,
with the shining lamp of knowledge.
Page 10 of 18
Chapter 10
FOCUS OF LEARNING IN 10.11
(a) Philosophers criticize devotees as naive sentimentalists, e.g. Lord Caitanya was criticized by
Prakasananda Sarasvati in Benaras

(b) Our retutation:
• We can see, many learned scholars have put forward philosophy of devotion
• Even if a devotee not intelligent enough to take advantage of the literatures of his spiritual
master:
o But if he is sincere in devotional service - he is helped by Krishna himself within his

heart
■ Only qualification - carry out devotional service in f u II Krishna Consciousness

o All the knowledge is revealed within the heart
• Thus Text 10.11 refutes modern philosophers who think that "Without discriminating, one
cannot have pure knowledge"
(c) Analogy: Krishna is like the shining lamp or like the sun, who destroys all the darkness in the heart
of a devotee
(d) Heart of a conditioned living entity
• Covered with dust of materialism since millions of births
• Cleaned by chanting and devotional service
• And not by mental speculation or argument

(e) But what about the material necessities of life
• When darkness is removed and Lord is pleased, everything is automatically provided by the
Lord
(f) Conclusion (10.1 - 10.11) - Special mercy rendered to a pure devotee
• Speculation or mere mental effort fails to help
o There is no possibility to understand the Supreme Truth simply by speculating

o Supreme Truth is so great that it is not possible to understand Him simply by mental
effort
• Devotional service is the only way
o Only by devotional service, a lover of Supreme Truth can please the Supreme
o By His inconceivable energy He can reveal Himself to the heart of a pure devotee and
all darkness is dispelled
SECTION III (10.12 -10.18)
ARJUNA ACCEPTS KRISHNA'S POSITION AND
REQUESTS TO HEAR MORE OF HIS OPULENCES
Lord Krishna can be understood to be Supreme by one who

follows the spiritual authorities and who cultivates devotion
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: Arjuna accepts Lord Krishna in full faith. He then recites
prayers which glorify the Lord. He requests Krishna to describe how He can be appreciated in His all
pervading aspect. This is the first time Arjuna speaks since Text 8.2. In the next seven verses, Arjuna
expresses his acceptance of everything Krishna has said
Page 11 of 18
Chapter 10
Texts 10.12 - 10.13

COMMON THEME: Arjuna accepts Krishna as The Supreme Personality of Godhead and great sages
confirm it
FOCUS OF LEARNING IN 10.12 - 10.13
(a) Refutes modern Mayavadi philosopher - Establishs that Supreme is different from individual soul
(b) 'Param-brahma' - Indicates Arjuna's acceptance (by His Grace) of Krishna as Supreme Personality
of Godhead, after hearing the Catur-Sloki Bhagavad-gita
(c) Arjuna's acceptance is not simply flattering by a friend - It is supported by 'Vedic injunctions',
'great sages' and 'Krishna' Himself
• Vedic Injunctions - Every word is confirmed by Vedic injunctions
o Kena Upanisad - Says 'Supreme Brahman is the rest for everything' (Here also Arjuna
refers to Krishna as the Supreme Abode)

o Mundaka Upanisad - 'Supreme Lord (in whom everything is resting) can be realized
only by one constantly thinking of Him' (smaranam)

o Vedas accept 'Krishna as purest of pure' -
■ Such understanding of Krishna can purify all sinful activities
■ One cannot be disinfected of sinful activities unless he surrenders unto

Supreme Lord
■ Thus Arjuna's acceptance of Krishna as the Supreme Pure complies with the
injunctions of the Vedic literatures
o Ref. Bg. 4.6: ' Krishna is unborn' (Arjuna also refers to Krishna as 'Unborn')
• Great sages accept this (10.13)
• Krishna Himself establishes it - Arjuna realized all, by the grace of Krishna
(d) Spirit of knowing Bhagavad-gita - Accept in the mood of Arjuna as stated in 10.12 - 10.13 - This
is parampara system
(e) Not possible to know Bhagavad-gita by academic education and without disciplic succession
(f) Sign of false pride of academic education - Despite evidence, one sticks to the obstinate
conviction that Krishna is an ordinary person
Text 10.14*
THEME: Arjuna especially accepts Krishna's own statement as truisms, because:
♦ Neither the demigods nor demons can know Krishna perfectly as Supreme, only Krishna can reveal
• This verse establishes that Taithless' and 'demoniac' cannot understand Krishna
• Establishes that since Krishna is not known even by the demigods, what to speak of modern
scholars
• Arjuna understands all this by Lord's grace
(a) Importance of parampara -Jhe Bhagavad-gita should be understood in the parampara system
• Original disciplic succession (parampara) was lost
• Lord established a new parampara through Arjuna (Ref. Bg. Chapter 4)
(b) Emulate the spirit - The acceptance by Arjuna of all that Krishna says, should be emulated and
then only can we understand :
• The essence of Bhagavad-gita and,
• Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Page 12 of 18
Chapter 10
Text 10.15
THEME: 'Tell me more' - In the next 5 verses (10.15 - 10.19) Arjuna asks Krishna to tell him more of His
glories
♦ Arjuna says "Only the Lord can fully know Himself by His own internal potency "
(a) Bhagavad-gita is the statement of Krishna and should be understood from Krishna as Arjuna did
• How to understand Krishna, the Supreme Truth - Receive Bhagavad-gita only from Krishna
or any person who is in a devotional relationship with Him e.g. Arjuna and his followers
• Avoid commentaries by mental speculators or persons of a demoniac and atheistic

mentality mental speculation that takes one away from Supreme Lord is a serious sin
(b) Truth about Krishna is established by 'realizations of Arjuna' as follows -

• 'Purusottama' - which implies that Krishna is addressed as "The Supreme Person"
o Bhagavan is the last stage of understanding the Absolute Truth (Ref. SB 1.2.11)
o Common man or even a liberated man, who has realized impersonal feature or
Paramatma feature - but may not understand God's personality

o Sometimes impersonalists accept Krishna as authority, yet cannot understand him as
Purusottama
• 'Bhuta-bhavana' - Yet one still may not understand "Krishna as the father of all living
entities" - therefore Krishna is addressed as Bhuta-bhavana
• 'Bhutesa' -Jhe Supreme Controller of everyone, all living entities
• 'Deva-deva' -The original and worshipable God of all the demigods
• 'Jagat-pati' - Supreme Proprietor of everything (Lord of the Universe)
Text 10.16
THEME: Arjuna's requests:
♦♦♦ Arjuna therefore requests to hear about Krishna directly from Krishna
♦ Request to hear in detail about His divine opulences by which He pervades all these worlds
(a) Arjuna's platform of understanding
• Already satisfied - He is already satisfied with his understanding of Krishna
• Has achieved Krishna's grace - By Krishna's grace Arjuna has personal experience,
intelligence and knowledge and whatever else one may have through all these agencies and
thus he has complete understanding
(b) Then what is the cause of Arjuna's inquiry
• Arjuna is asking on behalf of the common people
• People in general and impersonalists in particular concern themselves mainly with the all
pervading nature of the Supreme
Text 10.17
THEME: Hearing increases rememberance - By hearing of Krishna's opulences one will 'always
remember
Him' and 'think of Him'.
♦ In this verse Arjuna asks the following questions:
• How shall I constantly think of You
• How shall I know You
• In what various forms are You to be remembered
Page 13 of 18
Chapter 10
(a) Importance of word 'yogin' - Sri Krishna is the master of Yoga-maya energy by which He is
covered and uncovered to the common man

(b) Importance of 'Keshu-keshu ca bhaveshu" -
• Refers to material nature - "How to see Krishna manifested by physical representations"
• Common man has no love for Krishna and has to think materially
(c) Nature of Arjuna as a Vaishnava -
• Asking questions for common man's benefit
• Opening for common man the understanding of all pervasiveness of Supreme Lord
Text 10.18*
THEME: Hearing about Krishna is like relishing nectar
♦ Thus by remembering Krishna, 'one can relish great nectar'

♦ One is 'never satiated' by hearing about Krishna
(a) Supporting Ref. SB 1.1.19 - "Saunaka Rsi to Suta Goswami"

(b) 'Amrtam'- Nectar
• Any statement concerning Krishna is like nectar
• This nectar can be perceived by practical experience
• Such topics are ever-fresh and not like other modern histories and stories
• Example of ever-fresh literatures - Puranas are the histories that relate to the pastimes of
the Lord
SUMMARISEDTHEME 10A
Why Arjuna wants to hear more about the all pervading diving opulences of Krishna (Summary of text
10.16 - 10.18)
A) Arjuna is already satisfied with the understanding of Krishna and has no doubt about Krishna's
position. (10.16)
B) Therefore he is asking for the following reasons:
• For sake of common people - On behalf of the common people, and especially
impersonalists, who in particular concern themselves with the "all pervading nature of the
Supreme"
• For sake of a materialist - Also wants to know how a materialist who is absorbed in physical
things can see Krishna manifested by physical representations (10.17)
• For personal absorbtion - Arjuna wants to know how shall I constantly think of You (10.17)
• To taste the nectar - Wants to hear more and more and taste the nectar of His words
(10.18)
Page 14 of 18
Chapter 10
SECTION IV (10.19 - 10.42)

KRISHNA'SOPULENCES
Lord Krishna opulence is visible through the manifestations of His energies in the world. It is interesting
to see how Krishna present His glories. In general, He presents a group within the world, and then shows
how He is the prominent aspect
Text 10.19*
THEME: Krishna agrees to give a 'partial list' of unlimited opulences (only the prominent ones)
(a) Krishna is unlimited - Not possible to comprehend the greatness by our limited senses
(b) Then why do devotees try to understand Krishna - because:
• Not on the principle to know Krishna fully at any specific time or any state of life
• Rather topics of Krishna are so relishable, they appear as nectar
• Devotees enjoy them and take transcendental pleasure
(c) Importance of the word 'Pradhanyatah' (Principal) - Krishna knows the limits of the living entities
and therefore agrees to state only the principal manifestations of His different energies.
(d) Importance of the word 'Vibhuti'- Refers to the opulences by which He controls the whole
manifestation. It indicates "an exceptional opulence"
Text 10.20
THEME: Reveals Krishna to be the cause of everything

(a) Arjuna as 'Gudakesh'
• One who has conquered the darkness of sleep
• Thus one can understand how Krishna manifests Himself in various ways
(b) Krishna is the beginning, middle and end of all beings
• Krishna manifests as three Purusha avartars in the material creation - Maha-Vishnu,

Garbhodakasayi-Vishnu and Ksirodakasayi-Vishnu (Ref. Satavata-tantra)
• Maha-Vishnu is the cause of all causes (Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.47)
• Therefore Krishna is the beginning, middle and end of all the energy
(c) Lord as the Supersoul - Krishna, as the Supersoul in the heart of all living entities as Ksirodakasayi
Vishnu; Maha Vishnu is the Supersoul of Mahat-Tattva
• Ref Subala Upanisad - "The Supreme Personality of Godhead is existing as the Supersoul in
all manifested universes"
PT
SUMMARIZEDTHEME 10B
LORD KRISHNA MENTIONS A FEW OF HIS UNUMITED OPULENCES (10.20 - 10.39)
PLEASE NOTE: This categorization with headings are not based on any specific authority butfor ease of
memorization we have divided them into thefollowing categories.
Page 15 of 18
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 10
16
LORD KRISHNA'S UNUMITED OPULENCES MENTIONED IN TEXTS 10.20 - 10.39
(Off all x, I am y)
DEMIGODS
1. Of all demigods— Indra (Kingof Heaven)
2. Adityas— Vishnu
3. Maruts— Marichi
4. Rudras— Siva
5. Yaksas & Raksasas— Kuvera (Lord of wealth)
6. Vasus— Agni
7. Generals— Kartikeya
8. Gandhavaras— Chitraratha
9. Creators— Brahma
10. Daitya demons— Devoted Prahlada
11. Dispensers of law— Yama (Lord of death)
12. Departed ancestors— Aryama
13. Cause of procreation— Kandarpa(God of Love)
SAGES
1. Off all sages, I am Vyasa
2. Great sages— Bhrgu
3. Sages among demigods— Narada muni
4. Priests— Brhaspati
5. Pertected beings— Sage Kapila

6. Great thinkers— Ushanaa (Sukracraya)
HUMANS&KINGS
1. Pandavas— Dhananjaya
2. Men— Monarch
3. Descendents of Vrsni— Vaasudeva
ANIMALS
1. Horses— Uccaihsrava
2. Lordly Elephants— Airavata
3. Cows— Surabhi
4. Serpents— Vasuki
5. Many hooded Nagas— Ananta
6. Aquatics— Demigod Varuna
7. Fishes— Shark
8. Beasts— Lion
9. Birds— Garuda
LAWSANDCRIME
1. Subduers— Time
2. Wielders of weapon— Rama
3. Cheats- Gambling
4. Means of suppressing lawlessness— Punishment
5. Weapons— Thunderbolt
6. I am all devouring death
QUALITIES
1. Wise— Wisdom
2. Secretthings— Silence
3. Those who seek victory— Morality
4. Splendids— Splendor
5. Woman— Fame, Fortune, Fine Speech, Memory,

Intelligence, Steadfastness and Patience
6. I am adventure
7. I am victory
8. I am strength of the strong
NATURE
1. Lights— Radiant Sun
2. Stars— Moon
3. Mountain— Meru
4. lmmovables— Himalaya
5. Water bodies— Ocean
6. Trees— Banyan Tree
7. Puririers— Wind
8. Flowing Rivers— Ganges
9. Creations— I am beginning, middle and end

(As Brahma, Vishnu and Siva)
10. Months— Margasirsa {November/December)
11. Seasons— Flower bearing Spring

12. 1 am inexhaustible time
13. No beings moving or non-moving can exist without

me
PHILOSPHICALTRUTHS
1. I am Supersoul in all living entities heart
2. Living beings— Living force (consciousness)
3. Senses— Mind
4. I am the beginning, middle and end of all beings
5. I am the generating seed of all existences
6. I am the generating principle of all that Is yet to be
7. Poetry— Gayatri
8. Letters— A
9. Compound words— dual-compound
10. Sciences— Spiritual science of self
11. Logicians— Conclusive truth
12. Hymns in the Sama Veda— Brhat Sama
VEDIC MANTRAS
1. Vibrations— Transcendental Om
2. Sacrifices— Chanting of the holy names
3. Vedas— Sama Veda
Page 16 of 18
Chapter 10
SUMMARISED THEME 10C*

POINTS IN PURPORTS OF 10.21 - 10.42
1. Aditya -Total 12 in number; Krishna is the principal

2. Sun - Chief of all luminaries twinkling in the sky
3. Position of moon - It is one of the stars which implies that there is only one sun in every universe (as
against modern science) and all the stars reflect the light of the sun
4. Difference between matter and spirit - Matter has no consciousness
5. Rudras - Total 11 in number; Lord Siva is predominant (In charge of mode of ignorance)
6. Kuvera - The master treasurer of demigods
7. Meru - A mountain famous for its rich natural resources
8. Asvattha - One of the highest, most beautiful trees / People often worship as daily morning ritual
9. Gandarvas - Living entities who sing beautifully; The best singer is Chitraratha
10. Uccaihsrava - The horse; Airavata the elephant - The two entities who came out from the nectar
11. King is a representative of Krishna because he is the maintainer of the kingdoms
12. Surabhi cows - Found in spiritual world, can give milk anytime and any amount
13. Kandarpa - Sex desire for presenting good sons
14. Off all the creations Krishna is the beginning, middle and end - As Maha-Vishnu He expands,
Brahma (Guna-avartar) is the secondary creator and Lord Shiva (Guna-avartar) is the annihilator. All
these agents are incarnations of material qualities of the Supreme Lord
15. Logicians - Different kinds of Logic
• 'Jalpa' - Supporting ones argument with evidence that also supports the opposing side
• 'Vitanda' - Merely trying to defeat one's opponent
• 'Vada' - The actual conclusion
16. Books of education - 14 divisions - Four Vedas, Six Supplements, the Vedanta-sutras, Books of logic,
books of religiosity and the Puranas
17. Time is a representative of Krishna - Because in due course of time there will be a great fire and
everything will be annihilated
18. Krishna is the generating principle of all that is yet to be - How? - All the six changes of the body
start from birth and that first generation is Krishna
19. Hymns of Sama Veda - Rich with beautiful songs played by demigods
20. Gayatri Mantra -The regulated poetry
• Qualification/Eligibility-
o Meant for spiritually advanced people
o One must acquire qualities of goodness in order to chant Gayatri Mantra
o Chanted by duly qualified Brahmans
• Scriptural References-
o Mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam
o Brahma is it's initiator - It is passed down in disciplic succession
o Very important in Vedic civilization
• Purpose and Goal -
o Especially meant for God realisation, it represents the Supreme Lord
o When one attains success in chanting - Can enter the transcendental position
o Considered to be the sound incarnation of Brahman
21. November/December - the month of collecting grains from the field in India
22. Vasudeva referred to in this verse of Bhagavad-gita is Baladeva, or Balarama (Study 10.37 purport)
23. Kavi - Those who are capable of thinking thoroughly on any subject matter
Page 17 of 18
Chapter 10
yLINK BETWEEN TEXTS 10.39 & 10.40: Krishna herein explains how we can see Him everywhere. Without
Krishna, nothing can be, and no one— moving or nonmoving— can exist. Whenever we see anything, we
can think, "The existence of this person, this tree, this building, this universe rests upon Krishna. Nothing
exists without Him." After speaking this verse, which by itself can award us the vision to see Him
everywhere,
Krishna sums up ChapterTen.
Text 10.40
THEME: There is no end to Krishna's opulence therefore He has given only a sample
Text 10.41
THEME: Everything opulent, beautiful and powerful springs from a spark of His splendor
Text 10.42
THEME: Indeed Krishna supports and pervades the entire universe with a mere fragment of Himself
(a) Supersoul as the source of all strength - It is the Supersoul who gives great men their strength. It
is the Supersoul who arranges for spectacular natural wonders to occur through the material
energy
• Therefore Lord tells Arjuna - No point in understanding how things exist in their separate
opulence and grandeur
• What one should know is - All things (From Brahma to small ant) are existing due to Krishna
entering in them as Supersoul
(b) One mission propounds "Worship of any demigod will lead to Supreme Personality of Godhead,
the Supreme goal" - Chapter 10 refutes this mission as follows
• Worship of demigods thoroughly discouraged - because
o Great demigods like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva represent only a part of opulence of
Supreme Lord
o He is 'Asamaurdhya' - Origin of everyone born and no-one is greater than or equal to
Him
• Ref. Padma Purana - lf one considers Krishna equal to demigods, one immediately becomes
atheist / pashandi
• Chapter 10 fixes mind fully in Krishna - Chapter 10 thoroughly describes different

opulences and expansions of Krishna's energies and thus one can fix one's mind in full
Krishna consciousness
• Baladeva Vidyabhusana concludes Chapter 10 by saying: "From Krishna's potent energy,

even the sun gets its power and by Krishna's partial expansion -The whole world is
maintained -therefore Lord Krishna is worshipable"
(c) Conclusion of Chapter 10
• Chapter 10 explains - How to concentrate mind in Krishna Consciousness in full devotional

service
• Devotional Service and worship of Krishna are told in Catur Sloki Gita (10.8 - 10.11)
• Thus Chapter 10 explains how to attain the highest devotional perfection of 'Association
with the Supreme Lord'
so END OF CHAPTER 10 c#
Page 18 of 18
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 10 Appendix
CHAPTER10 Appendix
Text 1 0.1
Krsna has just established that devotion to Him is the goal of life, and He now discusses His opu-
lences to increase Arjuna's devotion. How does knowing Krsna's opulences increase one's devo-
tion? Imagine discovering that an intimate friend is really a famous billionaire. He is so powerful that
when he snaps his fingers, people line up in their eagerness to serve him. We then realize, "What a
wonderful friend we have!" Our understanding his opulence and power has naturally enhanced our
appreciation of him. We feel fortunate to be friends with someone so great. Similarly, when a
devotee understands Krsna's greatness in detail, he feels increased gratitude for his good fortune of
being able to reciprocate intimately with such a great and powerful Lord.
Krsna's opulence is simultaneously knowable and unknowable. Is this a contradiction? No, because
we can know the unknowable to some degree, not through our own limited abilities, but when
Krsna reveals Himself to us. Even a fraction of knowledge about Krsna's otherwise unknowable po-
sition inspires us to serve Him.
Text 1 0.2
It is impossible for anyone to fully understand his own source. Krsna is the source of the demi-
gods — the demigods are His creations — so even the demigods are unable to know Him. Srlla
Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura comments that if one puts forward the argument that the reason
demigods are unable to know Krsna is because they are too attached to sense gratification, Krsna
defeats that argument in this verse. He says that even the sages — who are detached from sense
gratification — cannot know Him. No one can understand Krsna's origin and opulence without hear-
ing from Him or His devotees.
Text 10.3
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that only Krsna possesses all three characteristics men-
tioned in Bg. 10.3. Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura comments that Brahma is aja (unborn), but
not anadi (beginningless or without an origin).
Krsna, the inconceivably potent Lord, remains unborn though He appears to take birth as the son
of Vasudeva and act as the darling son of YasodadevI. In the Damodara-llla, Yasodamayl tied to-
gether length after length of rope, but no amount of rope was sufficient to circumscribe His unlim-
ited waist, and the rope always remained two inches too short. Yet, inconceivably, the Lord's waist
at that time was already encircled by a black thread and bell, which had been previously tied by
Yasoda to attract good fortune for her son.
Equally inconceivable is that Krsna, the loka-mahesvara, the master of all, allowed Himself to be
controlled by Arjuna as He drove Arjuna's chariot on the battlefield. Understanding Krsna's incon-
ceivable nature with faith frees us from sin and awards liberation. Only by associating with Krsna's
devotees will one understand Krsna's inconceivable potency and become freed from sin and
achieve liberation.
Texts10.4- 10.5
The qualities born of goodness are helpful in knowing Krsna and are awarded to devotees by Krsna
Himself. Srlla Prabhupada writes: "All these qualities are manifest throughout the universe in human
society and in the society of the demigods. Now, for one who wants to advance in Krsna con-
Page lof 4
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 10 Appendix
sciousness, Krsna creates all these qualities, but the person develops them himself from within. One
who engages in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord develops all the good qualities, as ar-
ranged by the Supreme Lord."
Yet despite the helpfulness of these qualities, because they are born of goodness, they cannot on
their own reveal Krsna, who is beyond the mode of goodness. Nor can the great sages and demi-
gods, who are born of Krsna and are situated in goodness, know Krsna through their own abilities.
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains Krsna's words: "The knowers of sastra cannot under-
stand the truth about Me by their own intelligence, because intelligence is born of goodness and
the other modes of maya. So even though they originate from Me, the great sages and demigods
are incapable of understanding Me, who am beyond the modes."'
Text 1 0.9
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that mad-gata-pranah indicates that Krsna is the life of His
devotees. They cannot live without Him any more than a fish can live when taken from water.
Krsna is their life, and krsna-katha, talking about Krsna, is their nourishment. Thus devotees con-
verse about Krsna among themselves in great love. They loudly chant Krsna's names and discuss
His pastimes, form and attributes. A pure devotee's attraction to Krsna is as natural as the attrac-
tion between young boys and girls.
Text 1 0.1
Krsna's devotees understand Him not only by hearing about Him but also because Krsna enters
their hearts and reveals Himself to them. Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura here defines buddhi-
yoga as Krsna's direct inspiration. Because the devotees intensely desire to know Krsna, He gives
them complete understanding of Himself. Srlla Prabhupada discusses this point in his purport: "A
person may have a bona fide spiritual master and may be attached to a spiritual organization, but
still, if he is not intelligent enough to make progress, then Krsna from within gives him instructions
so that he may ultimately come to Him without difficulty. The qualification is that a person always
engage himself in Krsna consciousness and with love and devotion render all kinds of services." Srlla
Prabhupada stresses the wonderful inspiration Krsna gives to reciprocate with His pure devotee's
loving worship.
The living entity has been covered by ignorance since time immemorial. Therefore, is he actually
capable of achieving true inspiration, knowledge and realization?
Text 1 0.1 1
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains Krsna's thinking as follows: '"I become atma-bhava-
stha: Like a bee inside the whorl of a lotus, I become situated in their bhava. In My transcendental
personal form, I reveal My qualities, and with the shining lamp of knowledge of these qualities, I de-
stroy the darkness of the ignorance of anadi-karma (beginningless karma), which obstructs true
knowledge and manifests as hankering for things other than Me."'
This grace — the gift of transcendental knowledge that removes ignorance — is how Krsna recipro-
cates with His devotee's loving service.
According to Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana, Krsna's reply to the question about how a living entity
who has been covered by ignorance since time immemorial can attain true enlightenment is as fol-
lows:
Page2of 4
Bhagavad Gita Notes
Chapter 10 Appendix
The devotees themselves need not endeavor. "No, not at all! To show them special mercy, I bestow
upon them (but not upon any other yogls) the lamplight of knowledge. In other words, they don't have
to
worry about how to achieve My mercy because I personally endeavor to give it to them. I am atma-
bhava-
stha, situated within the workings of their intelligence. Because the knowledge that I give them can be
re-
vealed only by Me, it is not something in the material mode of goodness. It is even something distinct
from
the normal transcendental knowledge arising from devotional service. With this lamp of knowledge I
destroy
their ignorance. Because I personally destroy their ignorance, why should they have to endeavor?
According
to My own words, 'To those who always worship Me with devotion, I carry what they lack, and I
preserve
what they have,' I accept as My personal burden the supply of all their necessities, both material and
spiri-
tual."
These four verses are the essence of Bhagavad-glta, and they are thus called the catuh-slokl
Glta. They remove the distress of all living beings and bring about all auspiciousness.
Understanding who Krsna is and how He reciprocates with His pure devotees, we naturally desire
to surrender unto Him. When we surrender unto the all-powerful, all-knowing Supreme Personality
of Godhead, we attain true security and peace. Devotees see all as Krsna's mercy and thus know
that nothing unfavorable can befall them. Their faith and knowledge grant them peace even in the
most difficult circumstances.
Text 1 0.1 4
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that Arjuna calls Krsna "Kesava." Ke refers to Lord Brahma,
sa to Lord Siva, and va indicates that Krsna binds Brahma and Siva with knowledge of Himself; He
thus makes them His devotees. How then can they independently understand Krsna, what to speak
of Him being known by less powerful demigods or the demons? Therefore only Krsna can truly
know Himself, and Arjuna will point this out in the next verse.
Text 1 0.1 8
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura describes an objection that could be raised by Krsna: '"But ha-
ven't I already said that all things are My opulent expansions, in My statement "I am the source of
all things"? And haven't I already described devotional service in My words "Understanding this, the
wise worship Me"?'
"Arjuna responds to this in the verse beginning vistarena [text 18]: 'O Janardana, with the sweet
nectar of Your instructions, You are generating in me a greed to hear, thus agitating me and impel-
ling me to beg for more. What else then can I do, but beg?' While imbibing the nectar of Krsna's
instructions, Arjuna's ears are acquiring the ability to taste, as if they were tongues."
Text 1 0.1 9
Krsna begins His description by saying, hanta. Hanta is a form of address expressing tenderness.
Krsna is so pleased by Arjuna's inquiry that He reciprocates by saying, "Oh, hanta [yes], I will speak
about My opulences."
Text 1 0.22
Because the mind is the most difficult sense to control, it is considered the greatest sense and
therefore is represented by Krsna.
Text 1 0.24
The ocean is so great that it neither increases when rivers and rains pour into it nor decreases when
its waters evaporate.
Page3of 4
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 10 Appendix
Text 1 0.26
Nara means "mankind" or "spiritual." Da means "giving or granting." Narada, who has disciples all
over the universe, gives God to everyone.
Citraratha was Arjuna's friend, and he taught Arjuna the art of singing.
Text 1 0.29
The sarpas mentioned in text 28 refer to one-headed snakes; the nagas referred to in this verse are
many-hooded.
Text 10.30
Time, as Krsna mentions in Bg. 11.32, is the great destroyer of the world. By time's influence, eve-
rything within this world is created, maintained and destroyed.
Text 10.31
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana comments that the Rama referred to here is Parasurama because
Krsna is explaining His vibhutis, His opulences, not His incarnations. Parasurama is a living entity
empowered (sakty-avesa) to wield weapons.
Text 1 0.32
In Text 20, Krsna said He was the beginning, middle and end of all beings. Srlla Baladeva Vidyab-
husana says that in that verse He was referring to all sentient beings. Here, however, Krsna says
that He is also the beginning, middle and end of every nonsentient creation.
Nyaya, logic, teaches various ways to reach a conclusion, including vitanda, vada and jalpa. Krsna
says, "I am vada, the natural conclusion." Vada is debate carried out fairly according to standard
rules, without trying to force the establishment of a particular conclusion. Vitanda is quibbling, or
merely destructive argument in which one tries to defeat the opponent by any means possible, but
does nothing substantial to positively prove one's own thesis. Jalpa, using various deceptive means
to fool the opposition, is unfair argument. Vitanda and jalpa are forms of argument in which win-
ning, not necessarily determining the truth, is the main consideration.
Text 1 0.34
Death is described here as sarva-harah, all-devouring, because it takes everything away, including
our memories.
Many qualities in the Sanskrit language are considered feminine, and among them, these seven rep-
resent Krsna. Men may also possess these qualities. Srlla Prabhupada explains in his purport: "The
seven opulences listed — fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and pa-
tience — are considered feminine. If a person possesses all of them or some of them he becomes
glorious."
Page4of 4
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
THE UNIVERSAL FORM
• After hearing Krishna's words in Chapter 10 that "With a single fragment of Myself, I pervade and
support the entire universe" (10.42), Arjuna wishes to see that all pervasive form of the Lord.
• Although Krishna is driving Arjuna's chariot, He pervades and supports the entire universe. Arjuna
therefore wishes to see Krishna's all-pervading form. Thus, after two introductory verses, Arjuna asks
Krishna to reveal His universal form.
SECTION I (11.1 - 11.8) — ARJUNA'S REQUEST AND KRISHNAS DESCRIPTION OF
HIS UNIVERSAL FORM
• Arjuna requests Krishna to show him the all-pervading, universal form
• Krishna first describes His universal form and then bestows upon Arjuna the vision necessary to
see it
SECTION II (11.9 - 11.31) — SANJAYAS DESCRIPTION OF ARJUNA'S VISION
Arjuna beholds Krishna's universal form with astonishment
He hesitatingly begins to describe what he sees.
First he sees all existence, immeasurable, with great radiance, in one place within this form
Second he also sees Krishna's frightening, all destructive kala-rupa or 'form of time'
Arjuna then asks this form, "What is Your mission? Who are You?"
SECTION III (11.32 - 11.34) — "TIME I AM, BECOME MY INSTRUMENT"
• Krishna replies, "Time I am, the destroyer of the world. The great warriors on both sides are
already slain by My plan. You can be but an instrument. Arise and fight!"
SECTION IV (11.35 - 11.46) — ARJUNAS PRAYERS
• Arjuna, trembling, prays to Krishna's Universal form
• Begs His forgiveness for having previously, in ignorance, treated the Lord as friend
• Fearfully requests Him to regain His two-armed form as Supreme Personality of Godhead
SECTION V (11.47 - 11.55) — ONLY PURE DEVOTEES SEE KRISHNA'S TWO-ARMED FORM
• Krishna withdraws His Universal Form
• Krishna shows four-armed form
• Finally shows two-armed form
• Krishna's most wonderful two-armed form can be directly seen only by pure undivided
devotional service
Page lof 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
SECTION 1(11.1 -11.8)

ARJUNA'S REQUEST & KRISHNA'S DESCRIPTION OF HIS UNIVERSAL FORM
One understands the Lord's nature through the mercy of the Lord.
SUBSECTION A: Text 11.1 - 11.4: Arjuna's request

SUBSECTION B: Text 11.5 - 11.8: Krishna's description
Text 11.1
THEME: Arjuna acknowledges Krishna's grace - By hearing everything that Krishna has said, Arjuna's
illusion
has been removed
(a) Effect of hearing "most confidential knowledge" - all illusion is dispelled
• Power of Krishna's grace - Arjuna recognizes Krishna's grace by which the illusion is
dispelled
• What illusion is dispelled - "that Krishna is an ordinary friend or a human being"
o One should know that Krishna is the source of everything and in everyone's heart as
Supersoul
• Krishna's supremacy over all - Chapter 11 reveals Krishna as the cause of all causes: cause of
material nature, cause of all living entities, all demigods, even cause of Maha-Vishnu and all
incarnations
(b) Why Arjuna requests Krishna to show His Universal Form (Refer to Text 11.3 'Focus of Learning')
Text 11.2
THEME: Arjuna expresses his understanding that "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead"
(a) Addresses Krishna as 'lotus-eyed' - Out of joy ; after being assured by Krishna that:
• He is the source of all creation, maintenance and destruction (As explained in Bg. 7.6 - 7.7)
• "He is still aloof" (lnconceivable opulence as explained in Bg. 9.4 - 9.5)
Text 11.3
THEME: Arjuna expresses his desire to see - Arjuna has heard that Krishna, who stands before him on
the
chariot, supports and pervades the entire universe (Bg. 10.42); and thus Arjuna expresses his desire to
see that
form
Page2of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11

(a) Why Arjuna requests Krishna to show His Universal Form (4 points):
1. To establish Krishna's divinitv for all (11.1 purport)
2. To conyince others, although he does not have any personal desire and is completely
satisfied to see Him in His personal form of Krishna (11.3 purport)
o Lord is addressed as Purushottama - Implies that Lord as Supreme Personality of

Godhead, knows the heart of Arjuna, that he has no personal desire to see
3. To avoid imposters - Wants to set a criteria for in the future there will be so many imposters
who will pose as incarnations of God (11.3 purport)
4. Arjuna, as a responsibility, wants to substantiate Krishna's statement - so that in the future

people can understand that Krishna "not only theoretically or philosophically", but 'actually'
presented Himself as such to Arjuna - Arjuna fulfils his responsibility because he is the
beginning of the Parampara (11.8 purport)
P^
Text 11.4*
THEME: Arjuna pleads and does not order - Arjuna requests to see Krishna in His form pervading the
entire
universe (Unlimited Universal-self), nnly if , Arjuna is 'qualified' to see such a form and thus Arjuna is not
ordering Krishna
(a) Qualification to see the Lord
• Only by revelation by the mercy of the Lord - Therefore Arjuna requests and pleads and not
orders
• Not possible by "mental speculation" or "perception by material senses"
o Because living entity as infinitesimal spiritual spark ,cannot know unlimited infinite
o Arjuna admits his limitations as a living entity and acknowledges Krishna's inestimable
position
• Lord is addressed as 'Yogesvara' -

o To point out His inconceiyable potencies by which the infinite can reveal to the finite
o Krishna is not obliged to reveal Himself until one 'fully surrenders' in Krishna
consciousness and engages in transcendental loving service
Texts 11.5 - 11.8
Krishna's Description
COMMON THEME: Krishna responds by offering to show Arjuna, the opulences He described in Chapter
10
♦, PLEA5E NOTE: All points of the purports are included as the sub-points; as such there are no individual
'Focus of
^ Learning' sections for these verses.
Page3of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
KRISHNA'S DESCRIPTION OF HIS OWN UNIVERSAL FORM
♦ Krishna shows variegated forms - "See My Opulences!, Hundreds and thousands of varied divine and
multicoloured forms" (11.5)
• Universal form is transcendental buttemporary because it is subject to the temporary time of

material nature (Is manifested and unmanifested like material nature) (11.5)
• Not eternally situated in spiritual sky (11.5)
• Universal Form is not possible to be seen by ordinary men - Krishna must give one the power to
see it (11.5)
♦ Wonderful forms with different manifestations of Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Asvini-kumaras and all other
demigods
♦ No-one has ever seen or heard of this before (11.6)
• Even Arjuna, a personal friend and most advanced learned man, did not know all about Krishna
(11.6)
♦ Could see the entire universe (All moving and non-moving) sitting at one place (11.7*)
• Even most adyanced scientist cannot see other parts of universe, which a pure devotee could see
soeasily (11.7*)
♦ Could see past, present and future, all what Arjuna wanted to see (11.7*)
• Thus Arjuna will be shown the future destiny of all the relatiyes and warriors and thus will be
motivated to just become an instrument (11.7*)
♦ Needed divine vision - Cannot be seen with the present eyes (11.8*)
• Pure devotees do not like to see Krishna in any form, other than His two-handed form
• Therefore Arjuna is told not to change the mind, but change the eyes by Krishna's grace (11.8*)
SUMMARIZED THEME 11A (Extracted from 11.8 purport)
Devotees correctly situated in transcendental relationships
are attracted by loving features and not by godless display of opulences
A) Playmates and parents of Krishna in Vrindavan did not even know that Krishna is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead because they are so immersed in pure love for Krishna
B) Ref. SB 10.12.11 - The Supreme person is considered impersonal Brahman by great sages;
Supreme Personality of Godhead by devotees and o product of material nature by ordinary men.
Now these boys who have performed many many pious activities in their past lives are playing
with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
SECTION II (11.9 -11.31)

SANJAYA'S DESCRIPTION OF ARJUNA'S VISION
LINK BETWEEN SECTION I & SECTION II: Until this point, Krishna has only spoken about the universal
form. In the next verse Krishna gives Arjuna "divya-caksuh", the divine eyes that will allow Arjuna to see
it
Texts 11.9* -11.14
COMMON THEME: Sanjaya is empowered to describe Arjuna's vision (11.9) as follows
•> PLEASE NOTE: All points of the purports are included as the sub-points; as such there are no
individual 'Focus of
Page 4of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
SANJAYA'S DESCRIPTION OF UNIVERSAL FORM
♦ Unlimited divine, wondrous and brilliant forms (11.10* - 11.11*)
• Unlimited mouths, eyes, ornaments, weapons, garlandsetc
• By inconceivable potency of the Lord, Arjuna could see the unlimited sitting in one place
♦ More radiant than hundreds and thousands of suns (11.12)
• Sanjaya is trying to give a mental picture of indescribable revelation to Dhrtarashtra
• Grace of Vyasadeva - Sanjaya, by grace of Vyasa, could see all that happened in Kurukshetra
♦ Seeing everything at one place - All unlimited expansions of the universe including planets of gold,
jewels and all other kinds (11.13)
• The word 'tatra' (There) - indicates Arjuna and Krishna were sitting on the chariot and seeing
everything from one place.
• Others on the battlefield could not see - Because Krishna gave the vision only to Arjuna
♦ Arjuna is bewildered and astonished - Hair standing on end, Arjuna bows down and begins to pray
with
folded hands (11.14)
• Text 11.14 describes the change of rasa from 'friendship' to 'wonder'
• This proves that Krishna is the reseryoir of all relationships (12 rasas)
• Symptoms of wonder - indicated by a calm, sober and quiet personality being changed to ecstatic,
astonished personality with hairs standing on end and offering prayers with folded hands
Texts 11.15 -11.19
COMMON THEME: Arjuna speaks 'his realisations' of the Universal Form
♦, PLEA5E NOTE: All points of the purports are included as the sub-points; as such there are no individual
'Focus of
ARJUNA'S DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM
♦ All living entities at one place - See's all demigods and living entities assembled in that form - Lord
Brahma sitting on a lotus flower, also Lord Siva and all the sages and divine serpents (11.15)
• To see all at one place is possible only by Krishna's grace
♦ Krishna is unlimited - See's many many arms, bellies, mouths, eyes without any limit and with no end,
middle and beginning (11.16)
• Through Him, everything could be seen
♦ Blazing likesun (11.17)-
• Analogy: Glaring effulgence on all sides like a blazing fire or immeasurable radiance like the sun
• This form is very difficult to see
♦ Arjuna attempts to describe immeasurable - He is trying to say "You are the Supreme Lord" by the
followingstatements: (11.18*)
• You are the Supreme primal objective
• Ultimate resting place of all the universe
• lnexhaustible /oldest
• Maintainer of eternal religion
♦ Sun and moon are youreyes (11.19)
Texts 11.19 -11.31
Now Arjuna describes Kala-rupa

COMMON THEME: Text 11.19 marks the beginning of description of 'Kala-rupa' (The form as Time)
which
continues up till Text 11.31
^, PLEASE NOTE: All points of the purports are included as the sub-points; as such there are no individual
'Focus of
Page5of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
ARJUNA'S FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE UNIVERSAL FORM AS 'KALA-RUPA'.

♦♦♦ Blazing fire coming forth from your mouth, burning this entire universe (11.19)
• Numberless arms and sun and moon are the eyes
• Without origin, middle and end
• Repetition of glories is not a flaw - It is a sign of bewilderment, wonder or great ecstasy
♦ Spread throughout - Spread throughout the sky and planets and all space in between; and all the
planetary systems are perturbed seeing you (11.20)
• 'Dyav-a-prthivyoh' (Space between heaven and earth) and 'Loka-trayam' (Three worlds) -
indicate that not only Arjuna saw, but other planetary systems, whoever endowed with divine
vision, also saw this form and got perturbed
• This proves that Arjuna's seeing was not a dream
♦ Petitioned by demigods - Kala-rupa is petitioned by demigods and sages - All are fearful (11.21 - 11.22)
• Demigods are surrendering and praying with folded hands
• Great sages are praying with Vedic hymns
• Siva, Adityas, Vasus etc beholding You in wonder
♦ Rasa changes to fear - Arjuna experiences a terrible fearsome sight (11.23)
• Arjuna loses steadiness and equilibrium of mind, because mind is perturbed by fear (11.24)
• Arjuna sees blazing death-like faces and awful teeth (11.25)
• Link between texts 11.25 & 11.26: Text 11.26 through 11.30 describe future occurrences that
Arjuna sees within the kala-rupa. In Text 11.7, Krishna said that Arjuna could see "whatever [he]
may want to see in the future." In these texts, Arjuna sees that Bhisma, Drona and Karna - the
three most feared members of the opposing army - will be destroyed.
♦ Two Analogies: Devouring all soldiers of both armies on both sides, including Bhisma, Drona & Karna,
rushing into Your mouth (11.26 - 11.27)
• Analogy: As many waves of river flow into the ocean (11.28)
• Analogy: As moths dash to destruction in blazing fire (11.29*)
• Indicates that Arjuna could see his awaited victory
♦ AII-devouring - You are devouring all people from all sides, your effulgence is covering all the universe
with terrible scorching rays(11.30)
ARJUNA'S OUESTIONS
♦ Arjuna in great fear asks two questions (11.31)
• WhoareYou?
• What is Your mission?
♦ Why Arjuna asks these questions - Because although Arjuna knew Krishna as his friend and Supreme
Personality of Godhead, but he was puzzled by various forms exhibited by Krishna
SECTION III (11.32 -11.34)

'TIME I AM, BECOME MY INSTRUMENT
PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF TEXT 11.32 - 11.34
• As the Supersoul, Lord Krishna controls all cosmic events according to His wil
• As Time, He is pushing all things towards destruction
Page6of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
Text 11.32*
THEME: Krishna in the form of Universal Time replies to Arjuna's two questions
♦ "Time I am" (Kala-rupa)
♦ Mission - To destroy everything - "All the people in all the worlds, except Pandavas"
♦♦♦ Indicates - Even if Arjuna did not want to fight, they will die anyway
• Ref. Katha Upanisad - All brahmanas, ksatriyas and everyone else are devoured like a meal by the
Supreme as the AII-devouring giant
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 11.32 & 11.33: Theme of Texts 11.33 & 11.34 mentions Krishna's instructions to
Arjuna
Text 11.33*
THEME: "I have already destroyed all your enemies - become My instrument and win glory"
(a) "Savya-saci" - Means one who fights ambidextrously (i.e with the left or right hand)
• Or one who can shoot arrows very expertly

(b) "Nimitta-matram" - Become an instrument
(c) Sign of intelligence - To recognise that the whole world is moving under the plan of the Lord
• Fools mentality - No plan behind the creation ; All are accidental formations
• Scientists say- "Perhaps" or "Maybe" -but all are foolish ideas

(d) Lord's plan - Very specific in material world
• Purpose of comic manifestation - chance to go back to Godhead
• Till we have the mentality to lord over, we are conditioned
• Creation and destruction are under Lord's law
• Sign of most intelligence - Cultiyate Krishna consciousness and know the plan of the Lord
(e) Thus Arjuna is motivated to:
• Fight in accordance with the desire of the Lord
• This is the " Path of real happiness and real perfection "
P^
Text 11.34*
THEME: Arjuna is "told to fight and be victorious and enjoy the kingdom". Why? Because:
♦ Krishna desires the battle, Indicated by the words 'Know My plan' - "I have already killed them"
♦ Perform your duty - "Do not be disturbed"
♦ 'Jeta asi' - indicates "You will be yictorious "
♦ Get the credit of being "My instrument"
(a) Howto knowthe plan of the Lord
• Only possible by the Lord's mercy
• The plan of His devotees are as good as His plans
• Thus act in Krishna consciousness to know His plan through medium of the spiritual master
(b) Kindness and the mercy of the Lord
• Every plan is made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• But the Lord is very kind and merciful and wants to give credit to His devotees, if one carries
out the plan according to His desire
&
Page7of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
SECTION IV (11.35 -11.46)
ARJUNA'S PRAYERS
Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord of all. He is simultaneously

involved in an intimate relationship of love with His pure devotees
Texts 11.35 - 11.46

COMMON THEME: Arjuna prays in faltering voice
♦ In which mood - as a devotee in the mood of 'wonder' (11.35)
♦, PLEA5E NOTE: The mains points refer to Arjuna's Prayers. The subpoints include all points of the
purports; as such
^ there are no individual 'Pocus of Learning' sections for these verses.
ARJUNA'S PRAYERS
(a) Arjuna recognizes Krishna's action as All-good for everyone after hearing from Krishna the outcome
of
battlefield and observing Universal form and response of demigods and demons (11.36)
• The world becomes joyful on hearing Your name and everyone becomes attached to You
• You are worshiped by great souls and demons are afraid and flee away
(b) Krishna is worshipable by everyone - "You rightly deserve the obeisances of everyone" (11.37)
because:
• You are the God of all the Gods, the original creator, especially even greater than Brahma,
secondary creator
• lnvincible source of all and cause of all causes
• Transcendental to material manifestations
o 'Aksaram' - not perishable like material creation)

o 'Mahatma' - Most magnanimous and unlimited
o 'Ananta'- Nothing is not covered by Lord's influence and energy
o 'Devesa'- He is the controller of demigods and is above them all
(c) You are the ultimate rest of everything and all knowledge (11.38)
• 'Nidhanam' - Ultimate rest even from Brahman.
• Knower of everything in this world and You are all that is knowable
• Object of all knowledge because You are All pervading
(d) You are the essence of everything (11.39)
• You are air (Air being all-pervasive is the most important representation of the demigods)
• You are fire, water, moon
• You are Brahma (Pitamaha) / You are Prapitamaha (because He is the father of Brahmaji)
• You are the Supreme controller
(e) I offer you obeisances from front, behind and from all sides (11.40)
• Arjuna is offering obeisances out of loving ecstasy , accepting that "He is the master of limitless
power" and "He is far superior to all the great warriors assembled on the battlefield" (Ref. Visnu
Purana - All have been created by you, any demigod or anyone)
Page8of 16
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 11
ARJUNA'S PRAYERS continued.
(f) Begs forgiveness for treating Krishna, the lnfallible One, as an ordinary friend (11.41* - 11.42*)
• Not knowing Krishna's glories, Arjuna feels that he has offended Krishna in 'madness' or in 'love',
and begs to be excused for many informal gestures like,
o Called Krishna as Yadava or Krishna or dishonoured him many times.
o Jesting as we relaxed
o Lay on the same bed / sat / ate together
• Never knew Krishna could accept such a Universal form
• Cannot forget the relationship of a friend - The relationship between a living-entity and Krishna is
fixed eternally , it cannot be forgotten, as evident from Arjuna's behaviour
(g) You are the supreme father (11.43)
• Supreme spiritual master - Gave this knowledge to Brahma / Arjuna
• You are the greatest - No-one is greater than or equal to You nor can anyone be one with You.
References for Lord's Supreme greatness:
o No difference between Krishna's body and self (Ref. Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.8)
o Senses are interchangeable
o Birth and activities are transcendental (Bg. 4.9)
o Krishna is one God - All the living entities are His servants, no-one can deny His order (Ref.
CC "ekale ishvara...")
o Cause of all causes (Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.1)
(h) Falls to the ground and begs for mercy - Requests Him to tolerate all wrong-doings (11.44) just like -
Analogies:
• Father -Tolerates the impudence of his son
• Friend - Impertinence of a friend
o "Krishna - Arjuna" relationship is that of friendship
• Wife - Familiarity of her partner
(i) Requests to withdraw the fearsome Form and reveal the form as Personality of Godhead (11.45)
• Indicates Arjuna is 'afraid' and 'joyful' simultaneously
o Afraid because of so many offenses committed
o Joyful because He is gladdened by knowing his Friend's opulence as Supreme Personality of

Godhead and His ability to show the Universal Form
• It proves that Krishna can assume any form , as He is asked here to show His Narayana Form
• Universal Form is a temporary Form ; but Vaikuntha form is transcendental, four-handed and
eternal.
• Different Narayanas are named according to the different configurations of the four hands
• Arjuna's request to see the four-handed form indicates that All the forms are one with Krishna
(j) Wants to see the four-handed form (11.46)
• Texts 11.45 & 11.46 indicate that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and He is the
source of all forms and incarnations (Ref Brahma Samhita 5.39)
• This verse establishes without any doubt the statement of Srimad Bhagayatam that Krishna is the
original Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Constant feature in these forms - He is always fresh like a young man
o He is non-different from His plenary expansions

o He is God in any of His innumerable forms
Page 9of 16
Chapter 11
SECTIONV (11.47 -11.55)

ONLY PURE DEVOTEES SEE KRISHNA'S TWO-ARMED FORM
The most intimate feature of the Absolute Truth is two-armed form of Sri Krishna. This Form is
only known through devotional service
Text 11.47
THEME: Krishna says "I have shown you this Universal form which no-one else has ever seen before"
♦ By 'My' internal potency
♦ Happily by 'My' desire
(a) By 'My' internal potency - because inconceivable by human speculation

(b) Happily by 'My' desire because 'no-one has ever seen this before'
• All disciplic deyotees of the Lord could see the form which was shown to Arjuna by Krishna's
mercy (e.g. other devotees in planets in outer space and in heavenly planets)
• Forms shown to Duryodhana were 'not' the complete forms and were different from this
Universal Form
Text 11.48
THEME: Glorifies 'bhakti' by negation - This Universal form cannot be seen by personal efforts like
studying
the Vedas, performing sacrifices, charity, pious activities or penances
(a) Who can have this divine vision - Only godly souls
(b) Who is a Godly person (Status like a demigod) - ' Only deyotees' can have such diyinity (Ref. Vedic
scriptures)
• Other qualifications are insufficient - By methods like 'charity' / 'penance' / 'Veda-

yajnadhyayanaih' (Vedic study and sacrificial regulations), one cannot qualify to have that
divine yision . These methods include:
o 'Vedas' - FourVedas, eighteen Puranas, Upanishads, Vedanta-sutra

o 'Sutras'- (Kalpa-sutra, Mimamsa-sutra) -for studying the method of sacrifice
o 'Pious activities' - Agnihotra sacrifice and prescribed duties for different caste
o 'Tapasya' - Voluntary acceptance of some bodily pains
o 'Charity' ('Danaih') - Charity to suitable party who is engaged in transcendental loving

service (brahmanas and vaisnavas)
• Even the Impersonalists who are imagining seeing the Universal form - Are unable to see
because Bhagavad-gita explains that Impersonalists are not devotees.
Page 10 of 16
Chapter 11
(c) 'Atheist' in contrast to Godly persons - Atheists cannot have such divinity, therefore they cannot
have the vision to see the Lord
• They do not believe in Vishnu
• Or recognize only the impersonal part of Krishna as Supreme
(d) Devotees do not want to see the Universal Form, although they are qualified to see
(e) Practical application: Text 11.48 helps to refute pseudo incarnations
• Followers of a pseudo incarnation may say that they have also seen the Universal Form
• But without becoming a devotee of 'Krishna' one cannot see the Universal Form of God
Text 11.49
THEME: 'Let this vision be over' - Krishna says, "This fearsome form has disturbed your mind, therefore
let
this vision be over"
(a) One of the purposes of the Universal form - Krishna wanted to show that Bhisma, Drona etc. have
already been killed by Him
• Because they were silent when Draupadi was disrobed (Thus they deserve to be killed)
• Also, this was shown to Arjuna because devotees are always peaceful and cannot perform
such horrible action
(b) Why are devotees not interested in the Universal form
• Because it does not allow them to reciprocate loving feelings
• A devotee either wants to offer respectful worshipful feelings or
• Reciprocate in loving service to Supreme Personality of Godhead in two-handed form
Text 11.50
THEME: Then Krishna shows transcendental four-armed form, then two-armed form (Saumya-vapuh)
(a) Similar example of change of forms - Krishna appears to Vasudeva and Devaki as four-handed
Narayana form and then transformed into an ordinary child

(b) 'Saumya-vapuh' -
• Indicates a very beautiful form - Krishna's form is the most beautiful form
• Who can see this form - Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.38 "premanjana..." - Only one whose eyes
are smeared with the ointment of love can see this beautiful form
• Krishna shows this form because He knows Arjuna's ultimate interest is not even the four-
handed form
Page 11 of 16
Chapter 11
Text 11.51
THEME: Arjuna is pacified - Arjuna's mind is pacified and restored on seeing Krishna's two-handed form
(a) 'Manusam-rupam' - Indicates Lord to be two-armed, but not an ordinary person

(b) This verse refutes the following argument:
• Arguments:
o "Krishna is an ordinary human" and
o "It is impersonal Brahman within Krishna who is speaking"
• Refutation: To think so, is the greatest injustice. How can an ordinary human show the
Universal form and again the four-handed form
(c) Analogy: Gita verses are like sun and does not need any lamplight
• Therefore pure devotees are not confused by misguided commentaries
Text 11.52
THEME: Two-handed form is more difficult to see than the Universal Form (indicated by the word 'Su-
durdarsam') - even demigods desire to see this form which is so dear
(a) Tinge of bhakti is enough for Universal Form -
• Universal Form may be seen by adding a tinge of bhaktito activities like Vedic sacrifices,
penances, Vedic study, jnana etc.
• Without a tinge of Bhakti it is not possible
(b) Krishna's two-handed form is still more difficult to see
• Even for demigods like Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma
o e.g. Demigods were eager to see Krishna in the womb of Devaki
• Foolish mentality (Ref. Bg. 9.11)
o They deride Him as ordinary
o May offer respect not to Him but to the impersonal "something" within Him, but
these are all non-sensical postures
• Krishna's body is described in 'Brahma Samhita' and the 'Bhagavad-gita' as completely

spiritual
o His body is never like material body
Page 12 of 16
Chapter 11
(c) Different processes to know Absolute Truth
• Materialistic calculation of the Supreme Lord
o Consider Krishna to be a great historical personality and a very learned philosopher

o But an ordinary man
o Even though He was so powerful, but had to accept a material body

o Ultimately Absolute Truth is impersonal, therefore they think that from His
impersonal feature, He assumed a personal feature attached to material nature
• Speculatiye calculation of the Supreme Lord
o Those are in search of knowledge also speculate on Krishna
o Consider Him to be less important than Universal form of the Supreme
o Think Personal form of the Supreme is something imaginary
o Believe, in ultimate issue - Absolute Truth is not a person
• Transcendental Process -described in Bg. Chapter4
o Actual Vedic Process - 'Repeated hearing from authorities'
o Also when Krishna reveals by removing yoga-maya
o Ref. Vedic Literature: For one who is surrendered soul, Absolute Truth can actually be
understood
o Spiritual eyes can be opened by 'continuous Krishna Consciousness' and 'devotional
service'
■ Such revelation is not possible even for demigods
■ Advanced demigods are always hoping to see Krishna in His two-handed form
Text 11.53*
THEME: This verse glorifies bhakti by negation - Two-armed form cannot be seen by any endeavor.
♦ Not by studying Vedas, serious penances, charity or worship
(a) Krishna appeared as four-handed before Devaki and Vasudeva and then transformed into His
two-handed form:
• This mystery is diff icult to understand by atheists and those devoid of deyotional seryice
• Neither by scholars who have simply studied by way of
o Grammatical knowledge or
o Mere academic qualifications
• Neither by official yisits to Temple to worship
• Only by path of Deyotional seryice - This is told in the next verse
Text 11.54*
This verse directly glorifies Bhakti

THEME: Krishna can be revealed only by pure deyotional seryice
Page 13 of 16
Chapter 11
(a) Speculative process to understand Krishna is a waste of time

(b) Understanding Krishna
• What is difficult to understand -That "He came from parents in four-handed form and at
once changed to two-handed form"
• Which methods make it difficult - Difficult to understand by 'study of Vedas' or

'Philosophical Speculations'
o Cannot understand Krishna by mental speculation
o Must take personal training under the guidance of bonafide spiritual master,
otherwise impossible to even begin to understand Krishna

o 'tu' - indicates that 'no other process' can be used or recommended, or can be
successful in understanding Krishna
• Who can learn about Him - "Experienced students of Vedic literature" can learn about Him
in so many ways
o So many rules and regulation and if one at all wants to understand Krishna, he must
follow regulatiye principles of authoritative scriptures

o Perform penance according to those principles - Fasting on Janmashtami and
ekadashi
o Charity -To devotees of Krishna engaged in His devotional service. Krishna
Consciousness is a benediction to humanity, e.g. Lord Chaitanya was called most
munificent for the freely distributed charity of ' Love of God '
o Deity Worship in Temples - specially for beginners in devotional service to Lord
■ Ref. Svetasvatara Upanishad - "yasya deve..." - Supreme Personality of
(c) Who can write commentaries - The word 'na' in Text 53 indicates "One should not be proud of
such credentials (as given in text 53), but must take to devotional service" - only then one can
attempt to write commentaries
(d) All formscome from Krishna -
• Indicated by Krishna's changing forms from Universal form to four-handed and then to two-
handed form.
• Krishna is distinct from these forms, then what to speak of impersonal conceptions
(e) Knowing Krishna means knowing the Vedas - Knowing Me as Krishna, 'the Supreme Personality
of Godhead', implies knowing all the Vedas e.g,
• Gopal-Tapani Upanisad
o Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
o He has sac-cid-ananda form
o Understanding Him implies understanding the Vedas and He is the Supreme Master
o Has unlimited forms and incarnations
• Brahma-Samhita 5.1/5.48 says Maha-vishnu also comes from krishna

• Bg. 7.7/10.2/10.12-10.13: Krishna's form istheSupreme most
• SB 1.3.28 "Ete camsa-kalah..." - All incarnations come from Krishna
(f) Universal Form is not attractive to pure devotees who are in love with the Lord
(g) Universal Form is not the original form - it is only good for persons involved in elevating
themselves by fruitive activities, and to draw attention of those who have no love of God
Page 14 of 16
Chapter 11
Text 11.55*
THIS VERSE IS CONSIDERED THE ESSENCE OF BHAGAVAD GITA
Because anyone who wants to approach the Supreme, in Krishnaloka

in the spiritual sky, in intimate connection, must take this formula
THEME: Only most purified devotional service free from Jnana and Karma, executed without envy can
bring
one to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead
•> PLEA5E NOTE: Some points of the purports are included as the sub-points; under the characteristics
motioned
^ below. The remaining points ofthe purport are covered in the 'Focus of Learning' box thereafter.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCH DEVOTIONAL SERVICE {ANANYA-BHAKTI) ARE:
1. 'Mad-bhaktah' - Engages in My pure devotional service (Nine processes)
• Either perform all nine or at least one - That will make life perfect
2. 'Sanga varjitah' - Free from contaminations of fruitive acts and mental speculation
• Disassociate from persons against Krishna and Bhakti-yoga
o Atheists
o Fruitive workers
o Mental speculators
• Definition of pure deyotional seryice - Ref Bhakti-rasamtra-sindhu 1.1.11 - "anya bhilasita..."
o Free from all material desires
o Free from fruitive acts and mental speculation (Karma and Jnana)
o 'Think of Krishna' and act for Krishna 'favourably' - e.g. Not like Kamsa who was always
thinking of Krishna, but unfavourably

o Accept favourable and reject unfavourable (Hari-Bhakti Vilasa - "anukulasya...")
o A pure devotee does not even want Goloka - only wants to serve Krishna
3. 'Mat-karma Krt' - Works for 'Me' -without attachmentto the results (with mentality of Krishna as
proprietor) -
• Krishna-karma - Implies that no work should be done except in relationship with Krishna
• e.g. Businessman offering money to Krishna or Constructing a big temple for Krishna
• Accept remnants of Krishna's offering as Prasadam
• Even poorest man can perform - e.g. Clean temple / Cultivate garden for flowers and tulasi (Bg.
9.26- "patram pushpam...")
4. 'Mat-paramo' - Makes 'Me' the Supreme Goal of Life
• Considers Krishna's association in Supreme abode as the highest perfection of life
• No wish to elevate to Higher planets like Brahmaloka etc.
• Not even satisfied with Brahmajyoti but only Krishna loka
• Because he has full knowledge of that planet
5. 'Nirvairah sarva-bhutesu' - Friendly to all living beings
• Because he knows Krishna consciousness as the only solution to all problems
• Has personally experienced all this
• Therefore wants to introduce Krishna consciousness in human society
• Takes all risk to spread e.g. Jesus Christ / Prahlada Maharaja / Haridas Thakur
o Krishna Conscious person knows the cause of suffering - "forgetfulness of eternal
relationship with Krishna"

o Highest benefit is "to relieve the neighbour from material problems"
Page 15 of 16
Chapter 11
FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 11.55 - Additional points from the purport
(a) About Bhagavad-gita
• For whom - For conditioned souls who are engaged in Lording over and do not know real
spiritual life
• Purpose - To show how to understand spiritual existence and eternal relationship with
Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to go Back to Godhead
• Process-Given in 11.55 -Workfor Krishna (Devotional Service)
• How to Work - Transfer all energy entirely to Krishna conscious acts e.g. Yukta-vairagya
(b) The Lord is very merciful to a person engaged according to 11.55 - Such a person reaches the
highest planet
(c) Conclusion / Purport of Chapter 11 -
• Form of Krishna is Essential and Supreme
o Krishna exhibits 'Universal Form' which is temporary
o 'Form ofTime' which devours all
o Even 'Vishnu' form which is four-handed
o Thus Krishna is the origin of all
• Krishna's Form can only be understood by 'His unalloyed deyotees'
o For a devotee, only two-handed 'Syamasundara' form is important
o Who can see the Lord? - Eyes anointed with 'Love of God' (Brahma Samhita 5.39)
P'
*o END OF CHAPTER 11 c#
Page 16 of 16
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 11 Appendix
CHAPTER11 Appendix
Text 1 1 .4
The word yogesvara, master of all mystic power, is used by Arjuna to indicate that he believes
Krsna, by His mystic power, can enable him to see the universal form. The word prabhu as used
here means "one with the capacity, power and strength" to show the universal form.
Text 1 1 .7
Krsna used the word pasya ('see') four times in the last three verses. He is emphasizing that Arjuna
should see this wonderful universal form, never before seen, though once He showed an aspect of
it to Duryodhana.
In an attempt to avoid the Battle of Kuruksetra, Maharaja Yudhisthira sent Krsna to Duryodhana as
a messenger of peace. Duryodhana's and Karna's response, however, was foolish. To express dis-
dain for the Pandavas' strength, they plotted to bind Krsna with ropes and throw Him into prison.
Only a great devotee such as Yasoda-devl, however, can evoke submission from the unlimitedly
powerful Lord and bind Him. Binding Krsna was impossible for Duryodhana because he was envi-
ous and devoid of bhakti. Duryodhana's and Karna's attempt only caused Krsna to laugh and say,
"You cannot bind Me. I exist everywhere!" At that time, Krsna showed part of His universal form
to Duryodhana, who became frightened but remained unsubmissive. Duryodhana continued mini-
mizing Krsna, despite His show of power, by saying, "Oh, Krsna simply has mystic powers."
The universal form shown to Duryodhana was not the same as the universal form Krsna will now
show Arjuna.
Text 1 1 .8
Krsna uses the word divyam to describe the "divine" eyes or vision He will award Arjuna to enable
him to behold His universal form. Srlla Prabhupada further explains this in his purport to Srlmad-
Bhagavatam 2.1.24: "A pure devotee of the Lord, being unaccustomed to looking into such a mun-
dane gigantic form of the Lord, requires special vision for the purpose. The Lord, therefore, favored
Arjuna with special vision for looking into His virat-rupa, which is described in the Eleventh Chapter
of the Bhagavad-glta."
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura poses and then answers the following question: "Why should
Arjuna, who directly perceives with his own eyes the sweetness of the supreme person, be unable
to perceive a partial expansion of the Lord and need to receive divine eyes? Some explain this by
saying that those most excellent eyes which perceive the sweetness of the supreme person's hu-
man pastimes are exclusive in their scope of perception; they do not perceive the opulence of the
Lord's Godlike pastimes. After all, a tongue tasting crystal sugar cannot simultaneously experience
the taste of unrefined gur, or sugarcane."
Text 1 1 .9
Sanjaya, also empowered to see the universal form, next describes Arjuna's vision.
Page 1 of 3
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 11 Appendix
Texts 11.10-11.11
The word divya is used four times in these two verses to describe the extraordinary ornaments,
weapons, garlands and fragrances of the universal form. Srlla Prabhupada describes the word aneka
("many") in the purport, showing that Arjuna saw unlimited manifestations distributed throughout
the universe.
Text 11.18
The universal form is dazzling and radiant. In text 17, Arjuna describes it as aprameyam, immeasur-
able, and in text 18, he attempts to describe the immeasurable.
Text 1 1 .29
Srlla Baladeva Vidyabhusana describes the significance of these two analogies — waves of the river
flowing into the ocean and moths entering fire — which depict distinct entrances by different warri-
ors into the blazing mouths. Rivers flow into the ocean naturally, without intentional effort, and
moths consciously enter fire and perish. Some of the warriors, by their demoniac behavior, are
consciously destroying themselves.
Text 1 1 .32
What is Krsna's all-destructive form? Kala-rupa, time. What is the mission of the kala-rupa? Destruc-
tion of all the soldiers except the Pandavas. Srlla Prabhupada writes: "The Lord is saying that even if
Arjuna did not fight, every one of them would be destroyed, for that was His plan. If Arjuna
stopped fighting, they would die in another way. Death could not be checked, even if he did not
fight. In fact, they were already dead." Arjuna cannot save anyone's life by not fighting, but he has
the choice whether or not to participate in the battle. Krsna, however, wants Arjuna to perform his
duty. Even though the opposition is already dead, He wishes Arjuna to fight as His instrument.
Text 1 1 .33
Savyasacl also means "one who can fight ambidexterously, with either hand, left or right." Krsna
therefore encourages Arjuna to now use all his skills to fight, without pride, because purvam eva,
"by previous arrangement," not because of Arjuna's skills, the warriors are as good as dead.
Text 1 1 .34
In Bg. 2.6, Arjuna expressed his uncertainty as to who will win the battle. Here Krsna says, jeta asi,
"You will conquer," to certify that Arjuna will be victorious. Krsna also adds Jayadratha's name to
the three warriors already mentioned in text 26. Although he is not as powerful as the others,
Jayadratha was given a boon by Lord Siva to be able to stop the Pandavas once. Because Arjuna
knows this, he is concemed about Jayadratha. Krsna assures Arjuna that his concern is unwar-
ranted.
Texts 11.41 -11.42
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura explains that Arjuna is lamenting his previous, over-familiar rela-
tionship with Krsna. For example, he would usually call Krsna "Krsna," and not the more honorific
"Srl Krsna." Arjuna's referring to Krsna as "Krsna" also indicates that Krsna is the son of Vasudeva,
who was merely a minister, whereas Arjuna's father, Pandu, was a great warrior. Similarly, Arjuna, a
member of the royal Pandava dynasty, would refer to Krsna as "Yadava," a member of a family
unable to rule. Furthermore, Arjuna would at times say, "O my friend" as if being condescendingly
kind: "Although I am superior to You, out of my affection I accept You as my friend." Now aware
of Krsna's actual position, Arjuna feels ashamed and begs forgiveness.
Page 2 of 3
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 11 Appendix
Text 11.53
Text 53 indirectly glorifies bhakti by using negatives. Krsna here mentions that the paths He has dis-
cussed in Chapters One through Six will not provide us the means by which we can truly see Him
in His most confidential, two-armed form. What, then, is the method by which we can see Krsna?
Text 1 1 .54
This verse directly glorifies bhakti. The word ananya emphasizes that devotional service should be
undivided, with no influence of karma and jhana. The word pravestum, "to enter into," is used in
the sense of entering a city. When we enter a city, we don't become the city.
Text 11.55
In Chapter Seven, Krsna described Himself as the Supreme Lord and said that we can see every-
thing in this world as an expansion of two of His energies. In Chapter Nine, Krsna again explained
that everything comes from Him and should be seen in relationship to Him. Krsna concluded Chap-
ter Nine by saying that everyone, regardless of birth, should worship Him with devotion. In Chapter
Ten, Krsna explained His opulences and said, aharh sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate: "I
am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me." At the end of
Chapter Ten, Krsna stated, ekarhsena sthito jagat: "With a single fragment of Myself I pervade and
support this entire universe."
After explaining this confidential knowledge to Arjuna, Krsna proved His words by displaying His
universal form before Arjuna, Sahjaya and the demigods. Krsna thus established the future criterion
for those who claim to be God. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is the Supreme Lord, also showed His
universal form at the home of Srlvasa Thakura.
Page 3 of 3
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
DEVOTIONALSERVICE
♦ After hearing of Lord's inestimable, impersonal opulences, Arjuna
• Again wants to hear about 'devotional service'
• To clarify his 'position as a devotee', who works for Krishna, as opposed to a 'jnani' who
renounces work
• To clarify his position as being attached to the personal form of Krishna, as superior to the
Universal Form or the Unmanifested Brahman
o Because some persons might mistake the awe-inspiring universal form shown in Chapter 11
to be more significant than Krishna's two-armed form
SECTION I {12.1 - 12.7) — BHAKTI IS SUPERIOR TO IMPERSONALISM
• A worshipper of the 'Impersonal feature' is -
o Less perfect
o Undergoes more difficulty than one who worships Krishna with great faith and great
attention
• The path of devotion is recommended because
o It is not only easier to follow but also,
o Krishna personally takes charge of delivering His devotee
SECTION II (12.8 - 12.12) — PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF DEVOTION
• One lives within Krishna by continuously fixing one's mind and intelligence upon Him (12.8)
• One practices the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga to increase one's desire and ability to
rememberand obtain Krishna (12.9)
• One surrenders one's work to Krishna (12.10)
• One gives up the result of one's work to some good cause (12.11)
• One cultivates meditation or knowledge (12.12)
SECTION III {12.13 - 12.20) — QUAUTIES THAT ENDEAR ONE TO KRISHNA
• Possessing divine qualities makes one dear to Krishna
• One who faithfully follows the path of devotional service, making Krishna the supreme goal is
very dear to Him
SECTION 1(12.1 -12.7)
Bhakti is superior to Impersonalism
Bhakti is the safest and surest path of self-realization
Page lof 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
Text 12.1
THEME: Arjuna wants to clarify which is more perfect:
♦ Those who always properly engage in deyotional seryice, or
♦ Worshipers of the impersonal Brahman , the unmanifested
(a) Two classes of transcendentalists - Impersonalists and Personalists
• Personalist - engages himself with all energy in service of Supreme Lord
• Impersonalist-engages in meditation on impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested

(b) Only way to have association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Devotional Service
(c) Conclusion of every chapter of Bhagavad-gita - one should 'attach to personal form' e.g.
• Chapter 2 - Living entity is spiritual spark. Absolute Truth is spiritual whole
• Chapter 6 - 6.47 says bhakti-yoga is the best of all yogis
• Chapter 7 - Living entity is part and parcel of the whole. Recommends one to transfer his
full attention to the whole
• Chapter 8 - Anyone who thinks of Krishna at the time of death at once goes to the spiritual
sky, to the abode of Krishna
(d) What Arjuna thinks of other processes:
• Worship of the Impersonal feature - Waste of time because one cannot perfectly conceive
of the impersonal feature of the Absolute Truth
• Experience in Chapter 11 - The personal form of Krishna is best because
o All other forms could be understood

o No disturbance to love for Krishna
Text 12.2
THEME: Krishna answers - Those engaged in devotional service are most perfect because, they:
♦ Fix their minds on 'My' personal form
♦ Always engaged in worshipping 'Me'
♦ Worship 'Me' with great and transcendental faith
(a) Krishna conscious activities are not material - Because everything is done for Krishna
(b) A pure devotee is in 'full samadhi'-
• Because of his constant engagement e.g. Chant, hears, cooks, shopping for Krishna, washes
temple or dishes etc.
• Does not pass a single moment without devoting his activities to Krishna
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 12.2 AND 12.3: Arjuna is happy to hear that devotional service is superior, but he
wonders, "What is the attainment of an impersonalist, who, renouncing work, is able to 'fully worship
the unmanifested'?"
Page2of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
Texts 12.3 - 12.4

COMMON THEME: Those who worship unmanifested will also reach Krishna eventually and surrender
(Ref.
Bg. 7.19 - Vasudeva realization after many births)
♦ Characteristics of impersonal conception of Absolute Truth
1. Unmanifested
2. Beyond sense perception
3. All-pervading
4. lnconceivable
5. Unchanging
6. Fixed
7. lmmovable
♦ How to worship the Unmanifested
1. By controlling various senses
2. By being equally disposed to everyone
3. By engaging in welfare for all
4. Difficult for any common man, much penance involved before the ultimate realization of full
surrender takes place
LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 12.4 AND 12.5: Having replied that personal realization is superior, Krishna now
informs Arjuna of the inferiority of the impersonalist's process of realization.
Text 12.5
THEME: But the path of Impersonalists is troublesome and very difficult
(a) Two groups of transcendentalists discussed
• Jnana-yogis - Those who follow the path of inconceivable, unmanifested, impersonal

feature of the Supreme Lord
• Bhakti-yogis - Those persons who are in full Krishna consciousness and engage in
devotional service of the Lord
(b) Bhakti-yoga vs. Jnana-yoga
• Same goal - Both ultimately bring one to the same goal
• Process of Jnana-yoga is very troublesome - It is very difficult for him to simply

theoretically understand that he is not this body
• Process of Bhakti-yoga is direct - It is a process of being in direct service with the Supreme
o The Bhakti-yoga accepts the Deity of Krishna as worshipable because there is some
bodily conception fixed in the mind, which can thus be applied
Page3of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
(c) Deity worship is not idol worship
• Ref. Vedic literatures - Worship may be 'saguna' or 'nirguna' of the Supreme 'possessing' or
'not possessing' attributes
• Worship of the Deity in the temple is 'saguna' worship - because the Lord is represented
by material qualities
• Absolute nature of the Lord -The form of the Lord although represented by material
qualities like stone, wood, etc. is not actually material
• Analogy: Deity Worship compared to a mailbox
o The Deity is the authorized representation of God, known as 'arca-vigraha'
o The Deity is a incarnation of Supreme Lord to accept service from the living entities
• The Lord is omnipotent, all powerful - Therefore He can accept the services of the devotee
in His ' arca-vigraha' form, just to make it convenient for the man in conditional life
(d) For an embodied soul, there is always a difficulty with the unmanifest, both at the time of
'practice' and at the time of 'realization'

(e) Difficulties in the 'practice' for the Impersonalists
• They have to understand the unmanifested representation of the Supreme
• Process is difficult: e.g. Studying Vedic literatures like Upanisads, learning the language,
understanding the non-perceptual feelings
(f) In contrast, Krishna consciousness provides simple 'practice'
• Simply chanting Hare Krishna
• Guidance of bona-fide spiritual master, simply by offering regulative obeisances unto the
Deity, hearing the glories of the Lord, eating the remnants of foodstuff offered to the Lord
(g) Diff iculties in terms of ' realizations' -
• Impersonalists - They take the risk of practicing difficult path and still do not realize the
Absolute Truth in the ultimate end
o Partial realisation -They can achieve only 'sat' and 'cit' realizations
o Difficult to give up the idea - A jnani-yogi may come to the point of Bhakti-yoga by
the grace of some devotee, but still long practice in impersonalism becomes a source
of trouble, because he cannot give up this idea

o Against one's real nature - Every living soul is partially independent and therefore
this unmanifested realisation is against the nature of his spiritual blissful self
• Personalists - They have no risks, trouble or difficulty in approaching the Supreme Lord
directly
o Complete realisation -They realize 'sat', 'cit' and 'ananda' which implies even the
blissful portion of the Absolute Truth is realized

o Ref. SB - lf surrender or Bhakti is the ultimate goal, then why to take the trouble to
understand what is Brahman and what is not Brahman and spend one's whole life in
that way, when the result is anyway going to be troublesome
(h) Best solution - For every individual living entity, the process of Krishna consciousness, which
entails full engagement in devotional service is the best way
• WARNING! - lf one wants to ignore this devotional service, there is the danger of turning to
'Atheism'
Page4of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
SUMMARIZEDTHEME 12A
COMPARISION OF IMPERSONALISTS & PERSONALISTS
S. NO
IMPERSONAUSTS
PERSONAUSTS
IN TERMS OF PRACTICE
Meditate on formless
• difficult for embodied
Meditate on form of deity
• easy for embodied
Unimanifested is beyond the senses
• restricts the senses
Senses can percieve the Deity and sound of

mantra
• engages the senses
Must understand the brahman through

Upanisads etc.
• learn the language sanskrit
• understand the non-perceptual

feelings
Understands Krishna through devotional service
• simple chanting hare krishna
• guidance of bona-fide spiritual master,

simply by offering regulative obeisances
unto the deity, hearing the glories of the
lord, eating the remnants of foodstuff
offered to the lord
4
Long practice makes it difficult to take up
bhakti
Completely natural
Troublesome
• no relationship with the lord
Miseries mitigated by relationship with Krishna
Depends on our own endeavour
Krishna delivers devotee from Maya. why?
• because krishna himself recommends the

process
• out of paternal love
• by his causeless mercy
IN TERMS OF REAUSATION
Brahman vs Bhagavan)
Brahman
Bhagavan
1
Nirguna (without qualities)
Saguna (with form, qualities, etc.)
lnconcievable
Possess inconceivable potencies
All pervading
All pervading by energy and as supersoul
Unchanging, fixed and immovable
Unchanging, fixed and immovable
Cannot perceive any opulence because of lack

of activity
Possessor of six opulence's in full
6
Risk of not realizing absolute truth at the end
Success is guaranteed as nothing is lost
May realize the eternal (sat) and knowledge

(cit) aspects of his original nature(partial
realization)
Realises eternity, knowledge and bliss (includes

brahman and paramatma realisation)
The ease of attaining the desired goal by practicing true bhakti is next described
Page5of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
Texts 12.6 - 12.7
COMMON THEME: Devotional service is simple and easy because Krishna personally delivers His
devotees
(a) Only way to appreciate Supreme Personality of Godhead - Devotional Service

(b) Fortunate position of devotee- delivered by the Lord very soon
(c) Realization in pure devotional service
• God is great
• lndividual soul is subordinate to Him - duty is to render service to the Lord
• lf not serve the Lord - you will render service to Maya

(d) Principles
• Mind - Completely fixed in devotion to Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Standard of deyotional seryice - One can do any work but work only for Krishna
• Desire - Life's only mission and desire is satisfaction of the Lord
• e.g. Arjuna in battle - Can sacrifice all for Krishna's satisfaction
(e) Process is simple - Just devote to your occupation and chant Hare Krishna -Thus attracts
Supreme Personality of Godhead

(f) Promise - Without delay, Lord will deliver the devotee from material ocean (Yogis have to
personally endeavor to go to other planets)
• Ref. Varaha Purana - Devotee's do not need Astanga-yoga
• Lord takes responsibility like - Analogy: Child taken care by parents
• Comes on Garuda to pick from the ocean -Analogy: Expert swimmer also needs help to be
picked up from the ocean
(g) Sign of intelligence - To always prefer devotional service compared to other paths
(h) Specific benediction of devotional service - Ref. Narayaniya -
• No need to perform fruitive acts or mental speculation
• Attains all benefits of yogic processes, rituals, sacrifices, just by deyotional seryice
(i) Conclusion of Bhagavad-gita: Simply Chant Hare Krishna and go to the Supreme destination easily
and happily (Ref Bg. 18.66- "sarva dharman...")
• Highest Perfection of Life - Take shelter of the Supreme Omnipotent Godhead, Krishna
SECTION II (12.8 -12.12)

PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF DEVOTION
Bhakti-yoga is a systematic process of cultivating attachment

towards Lord Krishna while becoming detached from the material world
LINK BETWEEN SECTION I & SECTION II: Having established the superiority of Bhakti, the question now
arises "How to perform devotional service?". In the next five verses, Krishna, beginning with the highest
stage, describes levels of achievement in bhakti
Page6of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
PROGRESSIVE STAGES 0F DEVOTION
(12 8)
MlNDPIhEOlNKRlSHNA
[REjtHTi Willliyein relationstiipwn h Kri^n-i)
TOPMOST
STAGE
(MRK(~n
J
-"»?K5VS"=
Ci ,UIVAtH>N « "JSi«l*»~« W
J _.iiyvn.CieilC e ' ,naB '
LOWEST
M'\GE
{|\IMHK( I)
Text 12.8
THEME: Perform devotional service by thinking exclusively of Krishna

♦♦♦ Fix mind upon Me
♦ Engage all your inteNigence in Me
♦ Benefit - You will 'live in Me' always without a doubt
(a) Devotee is transcendental from very beginning - Lives in Krishna without a doubt
• In devotional service one lives in direct relationship with Supreme Lord
• Not lives on a material plane, but lives in Krishna
o When one chants the Holy name (Holy Name and Krishna are non-different ), Krishna
and internal potency dances on the tongue

o When the devotee honours prasadam he becomes 'Krishna-ized'
(b) Service gives realizations - One who does not engage in such service, cannot understand how it is
possible, although the process is there in the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures
Text 12.9*
THEME: lf one cannot perform devotional service as per 12.8 (fixing one's Mind on Krishna without
deviation)
then practice "Sadhana"
♦♦♦ Follow the requlative principles of Bhakti-yoga
♦ Benefit - Develop a desire to attain 'Me'
Page7of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
(a) Text 12.8 vs. Text 12.9 - Text 12.8 refers to those who have already developed attachment to
Krishna and 12.9 refers to those who have not developed

(b) Definition of'bhakti-yoga'- bhakti-yoga is the "purification of the senses" by prescribed rules
and regulations
• Material existence - Senses engaged in sense gratification
• Bhakti-yoga - Senses when engaged in direct contact with Supreme Lord are purified.
(c) Service in spiritual existence is the 'platform of pure love'
• In contrast - Service in material existence - One serves some master but there is no love;
only wants some salary
(d) How to achieve that stage of pure love - Practice devotional service with present senses
(e) Is "Love" an external imposition - No
• Love is dormant in all
• Heart is contaminated by material association

(f) How to follow regulations of devotional service - Guidance of spiritual master / rise early / enter
temple and offer prayers / chant Hare Krishna / offer flowers to Deities / cook for the Deities,
honour prasadam, constant hearing of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from pure devotees
(g) Qualifications to practice -'Anyone' can practice;
(h) Guarantee of success -There is suritv of love of Godhead , -^
Text 12.10
THEME: lf you cannot practice 12.9 (practicing the regulations of Bhakti-Yoga) then
♦ Engage all external senses for working for Krishna
♦ Workfor Krishna
♦ Benefit - You will come to the perfect stage
(a) How to perform work for Krishna - based on Bg. 11.55
• Sympathetic to propagation to Krishna consciousness
• e.g. Every endeavor needs land, capital, organization, labor like in any other business
• e.g. Can build a temple / Help in publication
(b) lf one cannot sacrifice results of his activities, at least sacrifice some percentage of his results
Text 12.11
THEME: lf you cannot practice 12.10 (Working in consciousness of Krishna) then
♦ Try to give up all results of your work and be self-situated
(a) Reasons - One may be unable to sympathize for Krishna conscious acts because of social, familial,
religious considerations or any other impediments

(b) What is the hope/recommendation for them - Sacrifice the accumulated results to some good
cause
Page8of 13
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 12
FOCUS 0F LEARNING IN 12.11 continued.
(c) Authority for such matter - Such procedures are given in Vedic rules:
• Manyyajnas
• Special functions of punya, etc.
(d) How that helps - One may gradually elevate to the state of knowledge
(e) Practical examples - Charity to hospitals / Social institutions - such sacrifices of hard earned
results purify the mind and one can gradually understand Krishna consciousness
(f) In what cases social service, community service, national service is recommended: Krishna
consciousness is not dependent on any other experience because Krishna consciousness itself
purify the mind, but if there are impediments to Krishna consciousness then one can try to give up
the results of his actions for some good causes
• In that respect, social seryice , community seryice , national seryice etc. may be accepted
(g) Principle behind this philosophy - Ref. Bg. 18.46 - lf one decides to sacrifice for the Supreme
cause, even if he does not know , that the Supreme Cause is Krishna, he will gradually understand
Text 12.12*
THEME: lf you cannot take to "this practice" ("This practice" refers to the following of the principles of
Krishna consciousness as recommended in Text 12.10)
♦ Then engage yourself in 'cultivation of knowledge' (Knowledge here refers to Bramha-jnana -

knowledge of soul different from the body)
♦ Better than 'knowledge' however is 'meditation' - Yogic meditation by which one will realize the
Supersoul
♦ Better than 'meditation' is 'renunciation of the fruits of action'
♦ Benefit of such renunciation - "peace of mind"
(a) Two kinds of devotional service
• Way of regulative principles
• Way of full attachment in Love of Godhead

(b) Cultivation of knowledge - For those unable to take to Krishna conscious path - It is better to
cultivate knowledge
(c) Result of knowledge - One understands his real position
(d) Knowledge will develop to meditation - Then one can gradually understands the Supreme
• Some processes make one understand that one himself is the Supreme, that sort of
meditation is preferred if one is unable to engage in devotional service
• lf one is unable to meditate in such a way, then there are Vedic prescribed duties for
different Varnas
• But always one should give up the result of labor - Employ the result for some good cause
(e) Why 'renunciation of fruits' is mentioned as better than 'meditation' - Although karma-yoga is
the lowest on the yoga-ladder, Krishna says that it is better than meditation, because it is more
practical and it does not disturb the mind with harsh and impractical requirements for
renunciation
P?
Page9of 13
Chapter 12
SECTION III (12.13 -12.20)
QUAUTIES THAT ENDEAR ONE TO KRISHNA
The characteristics mentioned here are not independent of Bhakti. They automatically result from
surrender to Krishna
• These qualities fall in two categories - Essential (Svarupa-laksanam) and Ancillary (Tatastha-
laksanam)
• All the qualities mentioned are Ancillary, except the most important "Bhaktiman" - Devotional
service to the Lord(Essential Quality)
• Therefore all these qualities result from mind and intelligence fixed on Krishna (Devotional
Service)
yLINK BETWEEN SECTION II & SECTION III: Pointing out these qualities further substantiates the theme
of
Chapter 12: That bhakti is the most efficacious method of spiritual advancement. One engaged in
bhakti-yoga exhibits transcendental qualities which mark him as a devotee. The Lord is pleased with
such
a devotee
Texts 12.13 - 12.14

COMMON THEME: Takes all sufferings as Krishna's kindness to avoid reaction
1. Tolerant - Never disturbed by any circumstances
2. Non-envious - Kind to everyone even to his enemy
• Not become his enemies' enemy - considers all reactions as result of one's past misdeeds (Ref.
SB 10.14.8 "Tat te anukampa...")
o Takes distress as the Lord's mercy: "I deserve much more"
3. 'Nirmama' (Free from Proprietorship) - Devotee does not attach much importance to the pains and
troubles of the body
• Free from false-ego: Knows that "I am not the body"
• Equipoised in happiness and distress
4. Satisfied - Whatever comes by Lord's grace; does not over-endeavor to achieve something
5. Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic - Because completely fixed in instructions of spiritual
master
6. Determined because of Sense control -Therefore fully determined and cannot be swayed by false
arguments
7. Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord - Because Fully conscious that Krishna is
the eternal Lord
Text 12.15
THEME: Never causes distress to others
8. Not get affected - Because a devotee is always engrossed in Krishna consciousness, material
circumstances cannot move him, not disturbed by anyone
• Such a stage is obtained by grace of Lord to the Devotee
9. Does not affect others - No-one is put into anxiety, difficulty, fearfulness or dissatisfaction by such a
devotee, because he is kind to everyone
Page 10 of 13
Chapter 12
Text 12.16
THEME: Detached from everything worldly
10. 'Anapeksah' (Neutral) - Not dependent on ordinary course of activities
• Money may be offered to a devotee, but he does not struggle to acquire it
• lf it comes automatically by Lord's grace he is not agitated
11. 'Sucih' (pure)
• Externaj: Bathing at least twice a day
• Internal : Rising early for deyotional acts
12. 'Daksa' (expert)

• Fully knows the essence of all activities of life
• Convinced of authoritative scriptures
13. 'Udasina' (without cares)
• A devotee never takes the part of a particular party
14. 'Gata-vyathah' (painfree)
• Because he is free from all bodily designations
15. 'Sarvarambha Parityagi' (free from all endeavors) - not striving for some fruit
• Pure devotee doesn't not endeavor for anything against the principles of devotional service
• e.g. Constructing a big building requires great energy, a devotee takes such business only if it
benefits him in devotional service e.g. constructing a big temple but not constructing a big
personal house
Text 12.17
THEME: Unaffected by material emotions
16. Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss
17. Neither laments nor desires: Not anxious to get a son or a disciple / Not laments by not getting them
18. Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts
• Prepare to accept all kinds of risks for Lord's satisfaction
• Nothing is an impediment in the discharge of devotional service
• Bhaktiman (devotee) - The essential quality from which all other qualities appear
Texts 12.18 -12.19

COMMON THEME: Further qualities mentioned
19. Equal tofriends and enemies
20. Equipoised in dualities
21. Always free from contaminating association
22. Silence - implies "to speak only of essentials"

• Most essential speech - To speak of supreme lord
23. Satisfied - Happy in all conditions - Sometimes get palatable food and sometimes not
24. Does not care for any residence
25. Fixed in - Determination and knowledge
26. Engaged in devotional service
Page 11 of 13
Chapter 12
(a) Practical application: Krishna consciousness and good qualifications
• One who wants to be recognized as devotee should deyelop all good qualifications
• Ofcourse one does not extraneously endeayor to acquire these qualifications because
engagement in Krishna consciousness and devotional service automatically helps one
develop them
• One who is not a deyotee has no good qualifications
SUMMARISED THEME 12B
QUAUTIES OF PURE DEVOTEES (2.13-12.19):
Classitied summary of qualities that endear one to Krishna
A) Attitude towards one self
• 'Nirmama' '- Free from sense of proprietorship
• Free from false-ego : Knows that "I am not the body"
• 'Gata-vyathah' (Painfree)
• 'Sarvarambha Parityagi' (Free from all endeavors)
B) Dealings with other living entities
• 'Non-envious' - Kind to everyone even to his enemy
o Equal to friends and enemies
• 'Udasina' (without cares)
• Always free from contaminating association
• Silence
C) Reaction when things happen to him -
• Satisfied
• Self-controlled/Completely perfect mystic
• Tolerant
• Equipoised in happiness and distress
• Anapeksah (Neutral)
• Sucih (pure)
• Daksa (expert)
• Neither rejoices nor grieves over material gain or loss
• Neither Laments Nor Desires
• Transcendental in face of all kinds of auspicious, inauspicious and sinful acts
• Equipoised in dualities
• Does Not Care For Any Residence

D) Dealings with the Lord
• Determined
• Mind and intelligence fixed entirely on the Supreme Lord
• Engaged in devotional service
• Fixed
Page 12 of 13
Chapter 12
Text 12.20*
THEME: Dearest of all is "One who makes Krishna as the goal of his life"
♦ They follow this imperishable path of devotional service
♦ Completely engage themselves with faith
♦ Make 'Me' as Supreme goal of their life
FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 12.20 - This purport summarizes Chapter 12
(a) Chapter 12 recommends without doubt that 'devotional service' is the only Absolute path for
self-realization
• By good association one develops attachment for pure devotional service
• Then one accepts a bona-fide spiritual master
• Then one begins to hear and chant and observe regulative principles with faith, attachment
and devotion
(b) What about the Impersonal path
• Is recommended only up to the time one surrenders himself for self-realization
• Is beneficial as long as one does not have the chance to associate with a pure devotee
• Is for one who works without fruitive result, meditates and cultivates knowledge to
understand spirit and matter
• Fortunately if one develops directly a desire to engage in Krishna consciousness, he does not
need to undergo step by step improvements in spiritual realization
(c) Conclusion of Chapter 12
• Devotional service as described in the middle six chapters is more congenial
• One need not bother about materials to keep body and soul together because,
• By grace of the Lord, everything is carried out automatically
*> END OF CHAPTER 12 c#
Page 13 of 13
Bhagavad Gita Notes

Chapter 12 Appendix
CHAPTER12 Appendix
Text 12.9
Krsna calls Arjuna "Dhanahjaya," the winner of wealth, because Arjuna obtained riches by fighting.
Krsna now requests Arjuna to fight his mind and obtain the wealth of meditation upon Him.
Krsna has already discussed abhyasa-yoga in Bg. 6.35. Abhyasa- yoga is the constant practice of
thinking of Krsna.
In Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Srlla Rupa GosvamI has quoted a statement from Padma Purana that de-
scribes constant remembrance of Krsna as the goal of all sadhana practices. Smartavyah satatarh
visnur vismartavyo na jatucit/sarve-vidhi-nisedhah syur etayor eva kihkarah: "Krsna is the origin of
Lord Visnu. He should always be remembered and never be forgotten at any time. All the rules and
prohibitions mentioned in the sastras should be the servants of these two principles."
Text 12.12
Thus these verses describe a sequence: (Text 8) perfected devotional service: always remembering
Krsna; (Text 9) devotional service in practice: performing sadhana-bhakti and working for Krsna, as
Krsna desires, i.e., performing typical temple service; (Text 10 and Text 12) niskama-karma-yoga:
working with detachment and offering the fruits of the work to Krsna; which will award one peace,
bhakti, as described in "the peace formula" (Bg. 5.29).
Two other stages, which are lower than niskama-karma-yoga, are also mentioned in text 12: yoga
and cultivating knowledge, or brahma-jhana. Still lower than brahma-jhana, and without a direct
transcendental result, is the method mentioned in text 1 1 : detached work without offering the fruits
to Krsna. (Krsna has already explained in Chapter Five that by working in a detached fashion one
attains to brahma-jhana.)
Text 12.20
Srlla Visvanatha Cakravartl Thakura concludes this chapter: "These characteristics that arise in one
from devotion and from peacefulness are not material qualities. This is in accordance with the
statement 'Krsna is satisfied only by devotion, never by material qualities.' The word 'but' (tu) in
this verse indicates the introduction of a new idea. The devotees described up to this point have
each perfectly cultivated one aspect of their personalities. Those mentioned in this verse, however,
are desirous of perfecting all these qualities. Therefore, even during the stage of sadhana, they are
superior to those on other paths even if those individuals have achieved the perfected stage of their
paths. For this reason the word atlva ('extremely' or 'very, very') is used in this verse."
Page 1 of 1
arjuna uvaca
nasto mohah smrtir labdha
tvat-prasadan mayacyuta
sthito 'smi gata-sandehah
karisye vacanam tava
"My dear Krsna, O injallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my
memory by Your mercy. I am now jirm andjreejrom doubt and am prepared

to act according to Your instructions."
BG (18.73)
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Part3
Jnana Yoga Section
Chapters 13-18
Based on "Bhagavad-glta As It Is"
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness
&
Supplemented by additional material from
- 'Surrender Unto Me' by HG Bhunjan Prabhu
- Notes from Vaishnava Training & Education (VTE)
- North America VIHE notes
Sri Sri Radha Goplnath Mandir
ISKCON Chowpatty Mumbai
India
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
NATURE, THE ENJOYER AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Connection between Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 / Introduction to Jnana Section
♦ ln Chapters sixthrough twelve, Lord Krishna concluded His description of bhakti-yoga. In Chapters
thirteen to eighteen, He describes jnana-yoga
♦> One may ask, "lf bhakti is the culmination of the yoga-ladder, why \sjnana presented after the section
on bhakti?"
♦> Understanding the connection between the bhakti section and \hejnana section will help reveal the
reason. In Text 12.7, Lord Krishna promised to save His devotees from the path of birth and death.
Chapters Thirteen to Eighteen fulfill this promise by supplying the philosophical knowledge necessary to
extricate oneself from material entanglement
♦ We call this section the "Jnana Section" but in truth the entire Bhagavad-gita is bhakti. The first six
chapters discuss how to achieve bhakti through one's works (karma-yoga). The last six chapters discuss
how to achieye bhakti through knowledge . The middle six chapters discuss bhakti itself
♦ Jnana has its use in assisting our detachment from maya and our subsequent attachment to Krishna.
When we utilize knowledge as a means to attain deyotion it becomes a part of bhakti
♦> Without the touch of bhakti both karma and jnana are useless. This is another reason why the
discussion of bhakti comes in the middle of Bhagavad-gita, where it can remain in contact with both,
karma andjnana, and thus lend them value
SECTION I (13.1 - 13.7) — ARJUNA'S SIX QUESTIONS & KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE FIELD OF
ACTIVITIES AND THE KNOWER OF THE FIELD

{Text 13.2 - 13.7 answers the 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th questions)
• Krishna explains the field of activities as the body, by which the soul engages within his allotted
sphere of activities within the material world
• The soul, the knower of the field, has knowledge of his own field of activities
• Krishna, as the Supersoul, is the knower of all fields of activity of all living entities
• Knowledge is to know the field and its knowers
SECTION II (13.8 - 13.12) — KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE PROCESS OF KNOWLEDGE AND
LIBERATION
(Krishna addresses the 5 th question)
• The process of knowledge is
o Activities by which a soul gets knowledge beyond the limitations of his field of activities
o And thus transcends his field of activities
SECTION III (13.13 - 13.19) — KRISHNA EXPLAINS THE OBJECT OF KNOWLEDGE
(Krishna addresses the 6 th question)
• The soul can know the Supersoul, the ultimate object of knowledge
• Only devotees can understand - the field of activities (the body), process of knowledge and both
the soul and Supersoul
Page lof 21
Bhagavad-gita Notes
Chapter 13
BREAKDOWN OF CHAPTER 13 continued.

SECTION IV (13.20 - 13.26) — KRISHNA EXPLAINS PRAKRTI, PURUSA AND THEIR UNION
(Krishna addresses the l st and 2 nd questions)
• Prakrti, Purusa (the "jiva" or ksetra-jna) and their union (13.20-13.22):
o Material nature causes all material changes and effects, and
o Living entity meets with good and bad according to the qualities he has acquired due to
his association with material nature
• Paramatma Purusa (ksetra-jna) (13.23): The Supersoul exists within all bodies as the overseer,
the permitter, and the supreme proprietor.
• Result: One who understands the prakrti, purusa and their interactions attains liberation from
birth in material world
• Other methods of obtaining liberation are jnana, astanga and karma (13.25 - 13.26)
SECTION V (13.27 - 13.35) — JNANA-CHAKSHU: THE VISION OF KNOWLEDGE
• Those who see the distinction between the body, its owner and the Supersoul, and who
recognize the process of liberation, can attain the Supreme goal (13.35)
SECTION 1(13.1 -13.7)
ARJUNA'S SIX QUESTIONS AND KRISHNA EXPLAINS
THE FIELD OF ACTIVITIES AND THE KNOWER OF THE FIELD
Understanding reality means knowing matter, the

spirit soul and the Supreme Lord in their proper perspective
Text 13.1
THEME: Arjuna asks 6 questions about the following subject matters;
1. 'Prakrti' - Material Nature
2. 'Purusha' - The Enjoyer of matter

3. 'Kshetra' - Field in which one can act within the material world
4. 'Kshetra-jna' - Entity which experiences the field of actions
5. 'Jnana' - Knowledge and the process of acquiring knowledge (Explained in Texts 13.3, 13.8 - 13.12 and
13.24-13.25)
6. 'Jneyam' - Object of knowledge
Text 13.2
THEME: Krishna answers about the Kshetra and Kshetra-jna -This answers Arjuna's third and fourth
question
♦ This body is called the field - 'Kshetra'
♦ One who knows this body is called the knower of the field - 'Kshetra-jna'
Page2of 21

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Bhagavad-gita Notes Chapter7

FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.3

• Then why they cannot practice this path

• Why they choose difficult paths

• Devotional service without vedic authorization is disturbance to the society

o (Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: "Sruti Smriti ....")

• Who can know? - Only pure devotees by devotional service

• Can they knowfu\\yl - only something of the inconceivable transcendental qualities

PRACTICAL APPUCATION OF SECTION II

• Krishna is the source of all potencies

Texts 7.4 - 7.7

• 'lshvara' (7.6 - 7.7)

THEME: Material energy called 'prakriti' is described

FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.4

(a) Description of material energy

• It is the 'separated' energy - It is the inferior energy

o These eight elements expand into 24 elements

• 'Maha-Vishnu'- Creates mahat-tattva to begin material manifestation

• 'Garbhodakasayi Vishnu' - Enters into each universe to make diversities within it

• 'Kshirodakasayi Vishnu' - Enters into each atom of the universe as Supersoul

• Philosophers -They deal with the mental activities

Krishna, without considering the connection with Krishna

• It includes ten sense organs for material activities

THEME: "Living entity" discussed as the superior energy

FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORT 7.5 continued.

• Jiva tends to get influenced by matter, while God never gets so

entity is superior to matter and equal in quality to the Lord

(e) Real liberation (Mukti) - involves:

• Surrender by living entity to God's control

o This is the path to real happiness

• To be free from influence of illusory material energy

Texts 7.6 - 7.7

COMMON THEME: Krishna (God) discussed

♦ Cause of creation and cause of dissolution (7.6)

• Analogy: Pearls on thread (7.7)

FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.6 - 7.7

(a) Spirit is the cause of matter

• Spirit is not created at a certain stage of material development

o Everything that exists is a product of matter and spirit

• Material world is manifested only on the basis of spiritual energy e.g.

FOCUS 0F LEARNING: PURPORTS 7.6 - 7.7 continued...

• Ref. Brahma Samhita 5.1: "ishvarah paramah Krishna..."

• Impersonalists argue based on Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.10

eternity, bliss and knowledge as substantiated by Ref:

■ Ref. Brahma Samhita

■ Ref Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8-3.9

Texts 7.8 -7.11

• Attraction of water depends on purity of water

• Pure taste is one of the energies of the Lord

• Om is the transcendental sound in the beginning of every Vedic hymn

• Addresses the Supreme Lord

Texts 7.8 - 7.11 continued...

6. Fragrance of Earth - "Punya" refers to uncontaminated original flavor/smell/taste which permeates

• 'Punya' means that which is not decomposed or that which is original

7. Heat of Fire (Vibhavasau) - Fire in factories/cooking/digestive fire

• Indigestion is due to low temperature in the belly

• By Krishna's grace one can prolong or diminish it

10. Original seed (Bijam) of all existence (Source of everything)

• Seed of all 8.4 million species