Shri Bhagavad-Gita 28 страница
and thickets; thence still more back into the condition of
grass(the lowest type of plants),sticks, clod, stones etc.
How the upward ascenttakes place is now explained,—
by those who,by adopting a strict course offood', and by
thedisinterested performance of meritorious works,gradual
ly become moreand more Satva-natured,and transcend the
(combination of the)qualities.
&c.
19. 'When Ihe Seer cognizes no agent other than the
qualities and knows whatis beyond the quali
ties,then doth he reach to My state.'
Thus by eating food of Satva-description,and perform
ing works without regard to fruit but solely intended as
worship to the Blessed Lord, the Rajas and Tamas quali
ties must be completely suppressed; and one should
become thoroughlyestablished in the pure Satva-quality.—
When this Seer(conversant with the ways of the qualities)
perceives that thus there is no actor or agent beyond ^the
qualities themselves,in other words that the qualities them
selves are the actors according to their respective natures;
when the Seer also perceives that there is atma,the action-
^ess, beyond the qualities, he reaches My state, orstate like
unto Mine.
The purport is that atma perse is perfectly pure, that
agency in performing various acts comps to it derived or
as a result <j/"the union with the qualities as may be prede
termined by the past Karmas; that atma by itself is no
actor, and is essentially ofthe nature ofinfinitely exp,and-
ing intelligence. When atma-nature is thus realized, then
is reached a state equal to My State.
It is stated that after cognizing the actionless nature of
atma, which is beyond or other than,the action-full quali
ties,the state ofthe Blessed Lord is gained. What is this
.state like is now described:—
^i^DHdMcTM &c.
20. 'Transcendingthesethree body-bred qualities,the
embodied (ego), freed from the pains of death
and age,tastes immortality.'*
These three qualities Satvam etc., are born ofthe
matter-stuff symbolized by'body.' When the embodied
(entity)overcrosses the^e and cognizes that which is differ
ent from them, viz; atma, which is essentially ofthe nature
ofintelligence,he becomesrelieved from birth,death,dotage
and other such sorrows and attains to atma-enjoyment.
This is(akin to)My state.
Atjuna queries as to what.sort ofconduct distinguish
es the person who has transcended the qualities and how
he can so transcend them ?
&c.
21. 'By what signs is he to be(recognized),O Lord 1
who has surmounted these three qualities?
What is his conduct, and how doth he step
beyond the.se qualities?'
=signs=Characteristics which distinguish the
person who has surmounted the three qualities. Achara=
conduct or his behaviour in life, connoting his nature.
How=hy what means he transcends the qualities,
Satvam etc?
The Blessed Lord answers:
STOT &c.
22. '
He(the man who hascrossed the qualities) is
one, Pandava! who Lsexempt from hate, when
lucidity,activity and folly prevail; who, when
they prevail not,desireth them not.'
Prakdsa=\\ic\d\ty, or brightness of disposition, the
effect of Satvam.
Pravritti=iE.^orl or activity or the disposition to
engage in active work,is the effect of Rajas.
MjAassFolly or infatuation or having a distorted dis
position,isthe effect of Tamas.
Things external to atma are of a two-fold character,
the one which men desire to have ; the other which they
hatefully shun. (The sign by which one may understand
that. he.is above the qualities is thatof his) not feeling a
hatred when lucidity etc., may be found to be prevailing
regarding things unwished for, and not feeling a longing
when they(lucidity etc.,) may be found to be not prevail
ing regarding things wished for.
&c.
23. '
Sitting unconcerned, whoso is by qualities not
rqflled, who.so calmly reflects: "the qualities
revolve," is not disturbed.'
Like one unconcerned{uddsinavat\ because his delight
consists in atma-vision, and therefore he is indifferent
to anything else.
Whoso is never agitated by desires and aversions
which the qualities beget;and who keeps silent by reflect
ing:
'
It is natural for the qualities to parade themselves
as lucidity {^prakdsa) etc.,' is never disturbed i. e., does not
allow himselfto be impelled to act as the qualities would
provoke him so to act.
&c.
24. '
Equal in griefand joy;self-centred ;looking on
clod,stone and gold alike;the same in likes and
dislikes ; equal to blame and praise ; wise;
Equal-minded for honoftr or ignominy;the same
towards friends and foes; retired from all effort;
^—such an one is called the surmounter of the
qualities.'
Equal=Keeping the mind (or heart) balanced
in both grief and joy.
Self-centred=he who is established in him
self, i. e., from his love centred in atma, his mind is not
distracted with regard to external things,such as theevents
ofrejoicing,the birth ofason etc.,and events ofgrief, such
as his death etc..
Hence a lump of earth, or stone or gold appear of
equal(worth)in his eyes. And hence there is to him
nothing which he particularly loves or particularly .hates.
Dhirah-=SN\SQ=\\t who is edified as to the distinction
between matter and atma. Hence he preserves equanimity
whether blame or praise come to him ;for love of praise
is a.consequence of egotism which inheres in the body,
but which is mistakingly referred to atma, making one to
think that it is a great honor to get praise. Similarly his
aversion to blame,isa consequenceofthesameegotism mak
ing him to think that it is an ignominy to get blame ;
but neither of these illusions exists in the case of him who
is atma-wise,—a wisdom which perceives that no adventi
tious limitations such as being a man etc., attach to atma.
For thesame reason that egotism is foreign to atma,what
pertains to egotism,such as honor and disgrace,friends and
enemies,does notaffect atma. He who has such (spiritual)
light isunconcerned about such matters. Similarly, since
all effort or activity is the outcome ofthe embodied state
ofexistence, the atina-wi.se abandon all such effort.
Such a person is said to be the surmounter of the
qualities.
The chief Means by which tosurmount the aforesaid
qualities, is now stated: •
'IT &c.
26. '
And whoso serves Me with unerrinpf Bhakti-
yoga, surmounts these qualities and is fit to
become like Brahm.'
Not by mere reflection over the matter-soul distinc
tion,in the manner declared in: '
No agent other than
the qualities etc.,'(Gi:XIV-19),can qualities be crossed ;
for reflection is ever liable to be violated by habits ini
mical to it which the mind has contracted in the long past.
.^<f=The Infallible-willed, the Infinitely Merciful, the
Ocean of Love to My faithful,etc.
Avjya6Aickdrena='Lit: without adulteration: means un
erring^one-pointed and exclusively devoted (to Me).
BhakU-yof;a=Intense incessantand all-absorbing love-
devotion to Me. The votary of Bhakti will surmount the
otherwise insurmountable qualities, Satvam etc.
Brahma-bhftvdva = Brahma-hhdvdya = Eligibility to
partake of.the nature of Brahm. This state is the realiza
tion ofthe essential nature of atma,—atma, immortal and
imperishable.
siwnt &c.
27. 'I indeed am the Support of brahma (=soul),
the eternal and infinite, and of the eternal
Dharma ; and of the absolute Bliss.'
^1=Indeed: inasmuch as when by unerring Bhakti-
yoga I am worshipped {vide XIV-26), I become the Sup
port(or Centre)for the eternal and infinite(brahma)"soul.
Eternal Exquisite eternal happiness.*
1. This refers to kaivalya-moksha
or soul-acquisition (which is found in
Me the Seat).
2. This refers to material felici-
ties, such as Svarga étc,
Ekdntika-sukha^N\isa\\x\s. unique Bliss, which is the
fruit ofthe saint {jHdni) who answers to the description:
'
Vasudeva is all' etc.,(G/: VII-19).'
Although the expre.ssion 'Eternal Dharma'(the eter
nal laws, promulgated in the Vedas) usually implies a
'
Means'to accomplish an
'
End,'here it means the'
End'*
itself, occurring as the expression does between two other
expressions which also imply 'Ends' {viz; braknuino hi
pratishthd =soul-acquisition and ekdntika-sukha =God-ac
quisition).
The purport is that as declared in the Stanza:
'
Verily is this. My divine maya, guna-imbued, and
hard to surmount; but those who resort to Me alone as
their Refuge pass this maya' {(ri: XII-14), and other
stranzas following it, the surmounting of the qualities
first and thence the securing ofany ofthe goals (i)aksh-
ara(soul-gain),(2)aisvarya(material prosperity),(3)Bha-
gavat-prdpti(joining the Blessed Lord Himself), depends
upon the Only Means being employed, viz: loving
devotion to the Lord and praying Him to grant them.
Thus it has now been shown that by means of Bhakti-
yoga,the qualities are to be surmounted (Gi: XIV-26)
and thence Brahma-state is attained {Gi: XIV-27).
OM TAT SAT.
Thus closes Discourse Fourteen
Named the Guna-traya-vibhdga-Yoga
or
The Division of the Three Qualities
With Sri RdmanujSs Commentary thereon.
Between Sri Krishm and Arjuna,
In the Science of Yoga,
In the Theos'ophy of the Vpanishads
Or the Chants of Sri Bhagavan
The Bhagavad-Gita
t. This refers to Brahma-prapti
or God-acquisition.
2, The End, #3, Svarga etc.,
which would be gained by following
the laws (rituals etc.,) laid down. in
the Vedas,
SRI
BHAGAVAD-GITA
OR
THE DIVINE LAY.
WITH
SRI RAMANUJA'S VISISHTADYAITA
COMMENTARY.
LECTURE XV
NAMED
THE PURANA-PURUSHOTTAMA-YOGA,
OR
THE WAY TO THE PRIMAL SPIRIT SUBLIME.
Srt Ydmundchdrya, GilArtha-Sangraha,{Stanza,ig).
DistinctJrom souls, both stainedand cleansed, is the Lord Supreme,
For H^sin all,props, owns,rules. Such is Fiftunth^s themd.
Sri YogiPdrthasdrathi Aiycutgdr,
AU M
*1BhAGAYAD-(xITA
WITH
SRi ramanuja's visishtadvaita commentary.
THE FIFTEENTH LECTURE,
NAMED,
THE PURANA-PURUSHOTTAMA-YOGA
OR
TffE WAY TO THEPRIMEVAL SPIRITSUBLIME,
PROEM.
JNtheLecture(XIII),treatingofthedistinctionbetween
the- natures of matter and soul in their relationship
as Kshetra (the abode) and Kshetiajfla (the abider)
respectively, it was shown that the association of the pure
and infinitely (essentially) conscious soul with matter
as represented by the bodies ofdeva, man etc.,—brought
about by his attachment for eons to the qualities (of
matter)—was one which has had no beginning.
In the next Lecture(XIV), the points treated of were
that:—
(1) This association with matter in both its subtle
and manifested forms, due to the attachment which the
soul has for(matter's)qualities—is by the decrees of the
Blessed Lord Himself (XIV-3 and 4);
(2) The manner,in some detail,in which this associa
tion with the qualities is formed (XIV-6 to 25); and that
(3)The" method by which to surmount these qualities
and realisesoul nature is by Loving Devotion tothe Blessed
Lord (XIV-26-27).
Now in this Lecture (XV), will be shown how the
Worshippable Blessed Lord's Sovereign glory of the
Universe is constituted ofkshara—transient bound souls'—
and akshara—freed souls, for eternity*—and how from this
twofold kshara and akshara souls constituting His Kosmos
the Lord differs, He being the Supreme Person[Purushot-
tama), supreme beyond description, and distinguished as
He who is endowed with Glorious Attributes,as he Who is
exempt from all thatis evil. For the elucidation of this
truth, the Blessed Lord takes the Asvattha Tree as the
symbol,' to represent the evolved material universe asone
of bondage (or keeping the kshara souls in bondage)and
as one which (».«., the Tree) the souls ought to exter
minate, so that the kshara souls may escape from the
bondage (in this Tree ofSamsara),to become the akshara
souls of His glorious scheme of evolution. And this
freedom (from the Tree of Samsara) is to be effected
by cutting the Tree asunder by the weapon of non-
attachment.
The Blessed Lord continued:—
&c.
I. 'With root above and branches below,they speak
of an Asvattha Tree' indestructible, ofwhich
the leaves are the Vedas. Whoso knows this
knows the Vedas.'
1. Called Lila-vibhiti or Bhoga-
vibhiti.
2. Called Nitya-vibhiti-
3- For yogic interpretation of this
Symbol consult Uttara-Gita : ch: I-
15, 17. Also see Simon Magus, p: 78.
Samsara is emblematized as the Tree Asvattha, with
root above and branches below. Its indestructible or ever
lasting nature is declared in the Srutis thus:
Having rootabove,and branches below,this Asvattha
is primeval*,'
'
Whoso,now,knows this Tree,ofrootabove and bran
ches below etc., etc..
The Tree is said to have the root above,since thefour-
faced Brahma fthe Demiurge of the Brahmanda, or a
mundane eggl is seated above the seven' worlds. It is
said to have branches below since on earth below,are all its
denizens, man, animals, beasts, worms, insects, moths,
plants etc.
It is said to be indestructible,[avyayam)or never-end
ing like a stream flowing for ever,or a Tree which cannot
be felled, till the dawning of spiritual illumination which
would wean one from (material)clingings.
Chhanddmsi^the Srutis=the Vedas, which are said
to be the Tree's leaves,since the TreeofSamsara flourishes
in proportion to the performance ofSruti-enjoined kdtnya-
karmas(or works performed with a view to obtain material
pleasures). Such asare declared in:
*The desirer ofriches{prosperitj')shallsacrificea white
(victim)for Vayu (-deva).'*
'
The desirer ofoffspring shall oblate to Indra-Agni in
eleven cups(or dXshess^kapdlaY etc.
Leaves are supposed to be instrumental in preserving
trees.
Whoso has the knowledge of this aforesaid Tree is
the knower of the Vedas, since the Vedas teach the way
how to fell the Tree. He is called the knower of the
Vedas, since a knowledge of the nature ofthis destruction-
worthy Tree,is essential as giving the knowledge necessary
for felling the same.
&c.
'
Below as well as above,do its branches spread
nourished by the Gunas'; its sprouts(are)
the sense objects.'
This Tree having the branches of man etc., ramify
downwardsalong with other branches,—arisingfrom kannu-
showing out as men,animals etc. It ramifies upwards in
the shape of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Devas etc. The
branches get nourished by the Gunas, viz\ Satvam etc.
{Vide-. Lecture XIV). It has for its sprouts the various
objects ofthe senses.
How?
&c.
2. * Below,in the world of men,do stretch its karma-
bound rootlets'.
This Tree having the root in Brahma-loka, and the
(branch-)ends in(the world of) man,has its rootlets again
in this world ofman. And these rootlets are karma-bound,
i. e,, karmas are their causes, and they make these rootless
in this world of man. For, works(karma) wrought when
in the state of man,are the roots from which,on the one
hand, the conditions of man,animals etc., result on lower
levels, and the conditions ofdevas etc., on higher levels
above.
&c.
2^. '
Neither its shape as such, nor its end, nor
beginning nor source,is here understood'.
By people immersed in Samsara,the shape (f. e., the
meaning)ofthis Tree is not understood in that it has its
root above,—the four-faced Brahma being the origin
there—;in that it has branches spreading gradually down
wards having man at the terminals; and in that its
branches again spread upwards and downwardsdetermined
by karmas enacted when in the condition of men.* What
they perceive is simply this much,viz;'I am man ; the
son ofDevadatta I am;the father of Yajhadatta I am,' etc.,
and occupy themselves in such worldly affairs as are
appropriate to these relations.
They perceive not too that an end can be put to this
Tree by weaning themselves from the Guna-generated en
joyments;nor dothey perceivethat itsbeginning liesin the
connectionformed with the Gunas;nor do they,too,perceive
the source or origin wherefrom the tree springs, viz:un
wisdom producing the delusion of mistaking what is not
ego for what is ego(or what is body for what is soul).
Pratishthd—^owxcQ,origin,or theseat wherein all this-
want of understanding (or perception) is fixed, viz\ un
wisdom {ajMna)itself.
&c.
cTcT:'!^ &c.
3. 'Having by the mighty weapon of non-attach
ment, hewn down this firm-rooted Asvattha;
Then is that state to be sought after, reaching
which they return not again.'
The Asvattha Tree of the aforesaid kind has its diverse
roots wide spreading below.
The strong axe or weapon is that of non-attachment
for the Guna-sated enjoyments,—a weapon furnished by
ripe spiritual enlightenment.
I. Unwisdom is the perversity or wrong use ofour free-will.
Cleaving the Tree asunder by this weapon,detachment
from(or dislike for)sense-delights, is produced,followed up
by a search for that(high spiritual) state which, when once
attained,there is no falling back from.
How will this attachment for Guna-full pleasuies,
persisting fora long time past,depart? And its(attachment's)
cause,viparita-jflana or perverted understanding?
&c.
4. '
Let Him the Primal Purusha alone be sought
as the Refuge—He from Whom is the old
with derived.'
Heis Primalor the Beginning ofeverything,as declare
ed in such Stanzas as:
'By Me the Presider, matter begets all the Mobiles
and the Immobiles' {fit:IX-io).
'
I am the Origin ofall, from Me operates everything
'
(Gi;X-S),)
,'Naught whatsoever higher than I the Primal Purusha;
exists,Dhanafijaya!'{Gi: VII-6^);and let Him therefore
be sought as the Refuge, inasmuch as all old material ins
tinctsin the shape ofattachment for Guna-charged enjoy
ments proceed from Him, the all-Creator {vide, Gi: XIV
3 and 4).
I Myselfhave already declared;—
'
Verily is this My divine Maya Guna-full, hard to
surmount. Those who resort to Me alone as their Refuge,
do pass this Maya'{Gi: VII-14).
A variant in this Stanza is ^prapady-cyatah' Instead
of'prapadyed-yatah' In this case the division ofthe former
compound term would be 'prapadya,iyatah'; The inter
pretation ofthe Stanza would then stand thus -
'
By the mere step taken {iyatd)viz.,of having taken
Him as Refuge, all those (spiritual) instincts of old will
awaken in him. Instincts are impulses which are means to-
dispel all ignorance etc. They are called old because they
are the instincts of the ancient moksha-seekers, {mumuk-
skus) for they of old sought Me alone as their Asylum,
and became released from bondage.—'
&c.
5. ' enduringstate,only those enlightened reach,
who are rid of love for non-self;—those victors
over the evils ofattachment;—the soul-absorb
ed;—the weaned from lusts;—the freed from
the '
pairs' ofjoys and griefs —
Attaining to Me as their Shelter or Saviour, they be
come rid ofsuch illusionsasthelove ofnon-self(or non-soul).
The evils of attachment are those of attachment to
Guna-impregnate enjoyments. They conquer this,
Adhyatma-nityah: adhyatma is soul-knowledge; who
so are engrossed in that knowledge are the soul-absorbed.
Lust-weaned=Thos& from whom all other appetites
save the one for soul alone, have departed.
And they become delivered from the
'
pairs of opposi-
tes'characterized as joys and griefs.
Enlightened— in the wisdom discriminating bet
ween soul-nature and non-soul nature.
Avyayam padam=Enduring state:is the realization of
the true nature of atma,inits unbounded-intelligence-char
acterized state (or infinitely expanded consciousness).
To those who claim Me as their Saviour(or Protector),
all theseveralstagesoftheaforesaid(spiritual)characterfor
mingare effected through Mysole agency. Those statesare
easilytraversed throughtillperfection(orthegoal)isreached.
6. 'That which the sun illumes not,nor the moon nor
fire; Thai, My supreme light, going whence
they return not.'^
That atma-Iight, no sun can illuminate(by its light),
nor the moon nor the fire; for intelligence (or wisdom)in
deed is that which gives lightto all. The external lumina
ries are only so far helpful as to scatter the obscurity that
intervenes between the senses and their objects. What
illumines(or reveals) this—viz.,atma—is Yoga.^
Its antagonist is the time-less karma; and conquest
of this (antagonist), it was shown, is by accepting the
Blessed Lord as the Deliverer, by attaining Whom there
is no reversion to the world,etc., {Gi:XV-4).
That light supreme(—paramam dhama)is Mine,i. e.,
belongs to Me,i. belongs to My splendour; is a portion
{amsa)of Myself.
The supremacy ij=-paramatvam)ofthis light consists
in its efficiency to light up(with its intelligencej even the
sun etc., for, the lights, such as the sun and the rest can
never illumine the light ofintelligence(jMna or conscious
ness); intelligence alone is the all-illuminator.
&c.
7. '
This portion of Myself,—ancient,—(is)the life-
entity in this world oflife; it attracts to itself
the matter-seated senses (five) with manas the
sixth.''
1. Yoga: meditation, devotion etc
walking any of the several Paths of
Salvation.
2. Consult Br: S#: I11-3-42:
‘Amso nand-vyapadesatvit’ etc.,
and Manu : 1-16; Pras: Up®: II-9-
10; Punarbhavam ete.’
This(atma)ofthe aforesaid nature, ancient (=eter-
nal), constituting a portion of Myself, yet becomes en
meshed in the immemorial nescience of karma, and be
comes a life-entity in the world of life (=conditioned
existence), and attracts to itself the(five)senses and the
manas(mind)the sixth, having their seat in matter and
fashioned out into specific shapesas deva, man etc. But
when it treads the path laid down already {Gix XV-4-5),
it frees itselffrom the nescience {avidva)^ and re-asserts it
selfin its native character(ofsoul-nature.)
The living (or incorporeated) entity is very much
limited in intelligence and power. Taking hold ofthe
senses and the manas—of which he becomes lord—which
he finds in the karma-begotten matter-moulded body,
drags with them hither and thither.
sfrat &c.
8. '
Whicheverbody the lord(soul)enters or it quits,
it takes them (the senses) and goes, like the
wind the odour from its seat.''
Whatever body is entered into, or whatever body is
departed from, the lord of the senses(the soul)always
takes them ^the senses) along with him, as also the
essences of the elements(or rudimental elementary essen
ces); like the wind abstracting from their seats,the flowers,
sandal(chandand\, musk etc., their scents along with their
fine dust,and carrying them elsewhere.
What these senses are, is explaind:—
^ &c.
9. '
Presiding over hearing,sight, touch, taste and
smell,and manas,it(soul)enjoys sense-objects.*
Ruling these senses in such manner as they are fitted
to.function, the soul enjoys their appropriate objects, viz.,
sound etc.
'dfshHci &c.
10. 'The unenlightened perceive not(it, the soul),the
Guna-cohjoined quitter, dweller, enjoyer ; but
they perceive,—the wisdom-eyed.'
Vimildhah—^t. unenlightened=those who fancy the
corporeal outward configuration, man etc., to be the soul ;
and these perceive not the soul itself—which is z^na-
conjoined i. e., is bound intothe conditions of man and other
guna-full matter-moulded forms,—or as it which is dis-
coverd to quitsuch corporeal forms,—or as it which is seen
to abide in such forms,—or as it which is seen to enjoy
or taste of guna-sated sense-objects,—or as it which is
distinct from all human and other matter-made fleshly
forms, or as it which is essentially intelligent {jfldnaik-
dkdrani].
jAdna-chakshiishah= The wisdom-eyed:are those who
are enlightened as to how atma-nature differs from body-
forms. And these perceive atma in its essential nature,
wherever it may dwell or whatever it may be doing.
&c.
II. 'And the persisting Yogis perceive him who in
body dwells;but if they be of mind unrefined
and impotent,they perceive him not in spite of
their effort'
The persistenceis the effort ofthe Yogisin the Paths of
Karma etc., undertaken after resorting to Me(to crown
their efforts with success). Their culture in these Paths
purify their inner nature,and with the eye of Yoga, they
perceive the true nature of atma abiding in the body
{dtmani) as distinct from the body.
But if their effort is destitute of confidence and trust
in Me,their inner nature remains unrefined; and therefore
are they impotent or of feeble mind, incapacitated for
atma-vision,and hence such do not perceive him.
After affirming that both the state ofliberated souls—
described as the light ofintelligence(}Mna-Jyotih\ lighting
up even the external luminaries,the sun, moon fire, etc.
whose power,it was said, was but limited to that ofremov
ing the gloom preventing the senses from perceiving
objects;—and the state of bound souls {haidh-atma) are
both of them the constituent feature ofBhagavan'smanifes-
ted Kosmic glory, as in Stanzas: 'That, My supreme
light'{G'f. XV-6),'This portion of Myself—ancient—(is)
the life-entity in this world of life'((?/: XV-7);it is now
declared that even the lights ofthoseluminaries,etc., which
are but matter so disposed is a part of Bhagavan's glory.
&c.
12. '
Know thatlightin the sun which lights up all the
Kosmos, that in the moon, and that in fire,
as Mine.'
All the lights that are of the Sun etc., which illumine
the worlds,is Mine i. e., it is light granted them by Me in
answer to the worship which they severally paid to Me.
'
The power in the earth to support all beings that
rest thereon,is also Mine'is now stated:—
|