Transcendental Knowledge
English Wording:
- nayam loko
- ’sty ayajnasya kuto'
- nyah kuru-sattama.
Purport:
Whatever form of material existence one is in, one is invariably
ignorant of his real situation. In other words, existence in the
material world is due to the multiple reactions to our sinful lives.
Ignorance is the cause of sinful life, and sinful life is the cause of one's
dragging on in material existence. The human form of life is the only
loophole by which one may get out of this entanglement. The Vedas,
therefore, give us a chance for escape by pointing out the paths of
religion, economic comfort, regulated sense gratification and, at
last, the means to get out of the miserable condition entirely. The
path of religion, or the different kinds of sacrifice recommended
above, automatically solves our economic problems. By performance
of yajna we can have enough food, enough milk, etc.—even if there
is a so-called increase of population.
When the body is fully supplied, naturally the next stage is to satisfy the senses. The Vedas prescribe, therefore, sacred marriage for regulated sense gratification. Thereby one is gradually elevated to the platform of release from material bondage, and the highest perfection of liberated life is to associate with the Supreme Lord. Perfection is achieved by performance of yajna (sacrifice), as described above. Now, if a person is not inclined to perform yajna according to the Vedas, how can he expect a happy life even in this body, and what to speak of another body on another planet? There are different grades of material comforts in different heavenly planets, and in all cases there is immense happiness for persons engaged in different kinds of yajna. But the highest kind of happiness that a man can achieve is to be promoted to the spiritual planets by practice of Krishna consciousness. A life of Krishna consciousness is therefore the solution to all the problems of material existence.
Sanskrit working:
English Wording:
- evam bahu-vidha yajna
- vitata brahmano mukhe
- karma-jan viddhi tan sarvan
- evam jnatva vimoksyase.
All these different types of sacrifice are approved by the Vedas, and all of them are born of different types of work. Knowing them as such, you will become liberated.
Purport: Different types of sacrifice, as discussed above, are mentioned in the Vedas to suit the different types of worker. Because men are so deeply absorbed in the bodily concept, these sacrifices are so arranged that one can work either with the body, with the mind, or with the intelligence. But all of them are recommended for ultimately bringing about liberation from the body. This is confirmed by the Lord herewith from His own mouth.
Sanskrit working:
English Wording:
- sreyan dravya-mayad yajnaj
- jnana-yajnah parantapa sarvam
- karmakhilam partha jnane parisamapyate.
0 chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is better than the mere sacrifice of material possessions. After all, 0 son of Prtha, all sacrifices of work culminate in transcendental knowledge.
Purport:
The purpose of all sacrifices is to arrive at the status of complete
knowledge, then to gain release from material miseries, and, ultimately, to engage in loving transcendental service to the Supreme
Lord (Krishna consciousness). Nonetheless, there is a mystery about
all these different activities of sacrifice, and one should know this
mystery. Sacrifices sometimes take different forms according to the
particular faith of the performer. When one's faith reaches the stage
of transcendental knowledge, the performer of sacrifices should be
considered more advanced than those who simply sacrifice material
possessions without such knowledge, for without attainment of
knowledge, sacrifices remain on the material platform and bestow
no spiritual benefit.
Real knowledge culminates in Krishna conscious- ness, the highest stage of transcendental knowledge. Without the elevation of knowledge, sacrifices are simply material activities. When, however, they are elevated to the level of transcendental knowledge, all such activities enter onto the spiritual platform. Depending on differences in consciousness, sacrificial activities are sometimes called karma-kanda (fruitive activities) and sometimes jnana-kanda (knowledge in the pursuit of truth). It is better when the end is knowledge.
English Wording:
- tad viddhi pranipatena
- pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti
- te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah.
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.
Purport:
The path of spiritual realization is undoubtedly difficult. The Lord
therefore advises us to approach a bona fide spiritual master in the
line of disciple succession from the Lord Himself. No one can be a
bona fide spiritual master without following this principle of disciple
succession. The Lord is the original spiritual master, and a person in
the disciple succession can convey the message of the Lord as it is to
his disciple. No one can be spiritually realized by manufacturing his
own process, as is the fashion of the foolish pretenders. The
Bhagavaiam says:
The path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge. Such a spiritual master should be accepted in full surrender, and one should serve the spiritual master like a menial servant, without false prestige. Satisfaction of the self-realized spiritual master is the secret of advancement in spiritual life.
Inquiries and submission constitute the proper combination for spiritual understanding. Unless there is submission and service, inquiries from the learned spiritual master will not be effective. One must be able to pass the test of the spiritual master, and when he sees the genuine desire of the disciple, he automatically blesses the disciple with genuine spiritual understanding. In this verse, both blind following and absurd inquiries are condemned.
Not only should one hear submissively from the spiritual master, but one must also get a clear understanding from him, in submission and service and inquiries. A bona fide spiritual master is by nature very kind toward the disciple. Therefore when the student is submissive and is always ready to render service, the reciprocation of knowledge and inquiries becomes perfect.
English Wording:
- yaj jnatva na punar moham
- evam yasyasi pandava
- yena bhutany asesani
- draksyasy atmany atho mayi.
Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.
Purport:
Even the millions of incarnations are only His different expansions. Similarly, the living entities are also expansions of Krishna. The Mayavadi philosophers wrongly think that Krishna loses His own separate existence in His many expansions. This thought is material in nature. We have experience in the material world that a thing, when fragmentally distributed, loses its own original identity. But the Mayavadi philosophers fail to understand that absolute means that one plus one is equal to one, and that one minus one is also equal to one. This is the case in the absolute world.
For want of sufficient knowledge in the absolute science, we are now covered with illusion, and therefore we think that we are separate from Krishna. Although we are separated parts of Krishna, we are nevertheless not different from Him. The bodily difference of the living entities is maya, or not actual fact. We are all meant to satisfy Krishna. By maya alone Arjuna thought that the temporary bodily relationship with his kinsmen was more important than his eternal spiritual relationship with Krishna.
The whole teaching of the Gild is targeted toward this end: that a living being, as Krishna's eternal servitor, cannot be separated from Krishna, and his sense of being an identity apart from Krishna is called maya. The living entities, as separate parts and parcels of the Supreme, have a purpose to fulfill. Having forgotten that purpose since time immemorial, they are situated in different bodies, as men, animals, demigods, etc. Such bodily differences arise from forgetfulness of the transcendental service of the Lord. But when one is engaged in transcendental service through Krishna consciousness, one becomes at once liberated from this illusion. One can acquire such pure knowledge only from the bona fide spiritual master and thereby avoid the delusion that the living entity is equal to Krishna.
Perfect knowledge is that the Supreme Soul, Krishna, is the supreme shelter for all living entities, and giving up such shelter, the living entities are deluded by the material energy, imagining themselves to have a separate identity. Thus, under different standards of material identity, they become forgetful of Krishna. When, however, such deluded living entities become situated in Krishna consciousness, it is to be understood that they are on the path of liberation, as confirmed in the Bhagavatam: Liberation means to be situated in one's constitutional position as an eternal servitor of Krishna (Krishna consciousness).
English Wording:
- api ced asi papebhyah
- sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah
- sarvam jnana-plavenaiva
- vrjinam santarisvasi.
Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.
Purport:
- yathaidhamsi samiddho
- ’gnir bhasma-sat kurute’
- rjuna jnanagnih sarva-karmani
- bhasma-sat kurute tatha.
As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, 0 Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.
Purport:
English Wording:
- na hi jhanena sadrsam
- pavitram iha vidyate
- tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah
- kalenatmani vindati.
In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.
Purport:
When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of
spiritual understanding. As such, there is nothing so sublime and
pure as transcendental knowledge. Ignorance is the cause of our
bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation. This knowledge is the mature fruit of devotional service, and when one is
situated in transcendental knowledge, he need not search for peace
elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within himself. In other words, this
knowledge and peace culminate in Krishna consciousness. That is the
last word in the Bhagavad-Gita.
English Wording:
- sraddhaval labhate jnanam
- tat-parah samyatendriyah
- jnanam labdhva param
- santim acirenadhigacchati.
A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.
Purport:
Such knowledge in Krishna consciousness can be achieved by a faithful
person who believes firmly in Krishna. One is called a faithful man
who thinks that simply by acting in Krishna consciousness he can
attain the highest perfection. This faith is attained by the discharge
of devotional service, and by chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare, which cleanses one's heart of all material dirt. Over and
above this, one should control the senses. A person who is faithful to
Krishna and who controls the senses can easily attain perfection in the
knowledge of Krishna consciousness without delay.
Sanskrit working:
English wording:
- ajnas casraddadhanas ca
- samsayatma vinasyati nayam
- loko ’sti na paro na
- sukham samsayatmanah.
But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.
Purport:
Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the
Bhagavad-Gita is the best. Persons who are almost like animals have
no faith in, or knowledge of, the standard revealed scriptures; and
some, even though they have knowledge of, or can cite passages
from, the revealed scriptures, have actually no faith in these words.
And even though others may have faith in scriptures like Bhagavad-Gita, they do not believe in or worship the Personality of Godhead,
Sri Krishna. Such persons cannot have any standing in Krishna consciousness. They fall down. Out of all the above-mentioned persons,
those who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress
at all.
Men without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in the next. For them there is no happiness whatsoever. One should therefore follow the principles of revealed scriptures with faith and thereby be raised to the platform of knowledge. Only this knowledge will help one become promoted to the transcendental platform of spiritual understanding. In other words, doubtful persons have no status whatsoever in spiritual emancipation. One should therefore follow in the footsteps of great acharyas who are in the disciple succession and thereby attain success.
Sanskrit working:
English wording:
- yoga-sannyasta-karmanam
- jnana-sanchinna-samsayam
- atmavantam na karmani
- nibadhnanti dhananjaya.
One who acts in devotional service, renouncing the fruits of his actions, and whose doubts have been destroyed by transcendental knowledge, is situated factually in the self. Thus he is not bound by the reactions of work, 0 conqueror of riches.
Purport:
One who follows the instruction of the Bhagavad-Gita, as it is
imparted by the Lord, the Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes
free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental knowledge. He,
as a part and parcel of the Lord, in full Krishna consciousness, is
already established in self-knowledge. As such, he is undoubtedly
above bondage to action.
Sanskrit working:
English wording:
- tasmad ajnana-sambhutam
- hrt-stham jnanasinatmanah
- chittvainam samsayam yogam
- atisthottistha bharata.
Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, 0 Bharata, stand and fight.
Purport:
The yoga system instructed in this chapter is called sanatana-yoga,
or eternal activities performed by the living entity. This yoga has two
divisions of sacrificial actions: one is called sacrifice of one's material
possessions, and the other is called knowledge of self, which is pure
spiritual activity. If sacrifice of one's material possessions is not
dovetailed for spiritual realization, then such sacrifice becomes
material. But one who performs such sacrifices with a spiritual
objective, or in devotional service, makes a perfect sacrifice. When
we come to spiritual activities, we find that these are also divided
into two: namely, understanding of one's own self (or one's constitutional position), and the truth regarding the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
One who follows the path of Bhagavad-Gita as it is can very easily understand these two important divisions of spiritual knowledge. For him there is no difficulty in obtaining perfect knowledge of the self as part and parcel of the Lord. And such understanding is beneficial, for such a person can easily understand the transcendental activities of the Lord. In the beginning of this chapter, the transcendental activities of the Lord were discussed by the Supreme Lord Himself. One who does not understand the instructions of the Gila is faithless, and is to be considered to be misusing the fragmental independence awarded to him by the Lord.
In spite of such instructions, one who does not understand the real nature of the Lord as the eternal, blissful, all-knowing Personality of Godhead is certainly fool number one. Ignorance can be removed by gradual acceptance of the principles of Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness is awakened by different types of sacrifices to the demigods, sacrifice to Brahman, sacrifice in celibacy, in household life, in controlling the senses, in practicing mystic yoga, in penance, in forgoing material possessions, in studying the Vedas, and in partaking of the social institution called varnasrama-dharma. All of these are known as sacrifice, and all of them are based on regulated action.
But within all these activities, the important factor is self-realization. One who seeks that objective is the real student of Bhagavad-Gita, but one who doubts the authority of Krishna falls back. One is therefore advised to study Bhagavad-Gita. or any other scripture, under a bona fide spiritual master, with service and surrender. A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciple succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-Gita have come down to the earthly kingdom.
One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-Gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate others from the actual path. The Lord is definitely the supreme person, and His activities are transcendental. One who understands this is a liberated person from the very beginning of his study of Bhagavad-Gita.
