"The Most Secret Knowledge"
Lord Krishna is the supreme divine person and the highest object of worship. The soul is eternally connected with Him through transcendental devotional service (bhakti). Having revived his pure love and devotion to Krsna, one returns to the spiritual realm.
SECRET SECRET
In each chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, more and more hidden secrets about spiritual reality are revealed. Usually a person cares what the Lord has done for him, or rather, what He has not yet done for him. But chapter nine talks about what a person can do for the Lord. Therefore, this section is called the most secret knowledge. It is stated in the Vedas that one who understands this chapter of the Bhagavad-gita will surely get out of the influence of material energy and get rid of material suffering, even if he continues to remain in this world.
In previous chapters we tried to understand the difference between the body and soul of a person, and now we need to understand the difference between material and spiritual activities. Spiritual activity is called devotional service and consists of 9 types: listening, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping, offering prayers, fulfilling the orders of the Lord, friendship with Him, and fully surrendering to Him. Engaged in these types of spiritual activities, a person fully spiritualizes his consciousness. And when, as a result of this, his heart is completely purified, he becomes able to understand the desires of God.
TEXT 1
sri-bhagavan uvcha
idam tu te guhyatamam
pravaksyamy anasuyave
jnanam vijnana-sahitam
yaj jnatva mokshyase 'subhat
idam tu te guhyatamam
pravaksyamy anasuyave
jnanam vijnana-sahitam
yaj jnatva mokshyase 'subhat
sri-bhagavan uvaca - the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, said; idam is that; tu - but; those to you; guhya-tamam - the most secret; pravaksyami - I am speaking; anasuyave - to the unenvious; jnanam - knowledge; vijnana - knowledge reinforced by experience; sahitam - followed by; yat - which; jnatva - having realized; mokshyase — you will be free; asubhat - from excruciating material existence.
The Supreme Lord said: Dear Arjuna, because you will never envy Me, I will reveal to you the most secret knowledge and wisdom, with which you can be freed from all material sufferings.
TEXT 2
raja-vidya raja-guhyam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakshavagamam dharmyam
su-sukham kartum avyayam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakshavagamam dharmyam
su-sukham kartum avyayam
raja-vidya - the king of knowledge; raja-guhyam - the king of innermost knowledge; pavitram - the purest; idam is that; uttamam - transcendental; pratyaksa - through direct experience; avagamam - comprehensible; dharmyam - which is the law of religion; su-sukham - very joyful; kartum - perform; avyayam - the eternal.
This knowledge is the king of knowledge, the most secret of secrets. This is pure knowledge, and since it gives a person a living experience of comprehending the nature of his “I”, it is a perfect religion. Knowledge is eternal, and comprehension of it is joyful.
TEXT 3
ashraddadhanah purusa
dharmasyasya parantapa
aprapya mam nivartante
mrtyu-samsara-vartmani
dharmasyasya parantapa
aprapya mam nivartante
mrtyu-samsara-vartmani
ashraddadhanah - those who do not have faith; purusah - people; dharmasya - a form of religion; asya - these; parantapa - O conqueror of enemies; aprapya - not reaching; mam - Me; nivartante - return; mrtyu - of death; samsara - in the material world; vartmani - on the way.
Those who engage in devotional service without faith will never reach Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore, they return to the cycle of samsara, being born again and again and dying in the material world.
TEXT 4
maya tatam idam sarvam
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na chaham tesv avasthitah
jagad avyakta-murtina
mat-sthani sarva-bhutani
na chaham tesv avasthitah
maya - by Me; tatam - permeated; idam is that; sarvam - everything; jagat - the universe; avyakta-murtina — possessing an unmanifest form; mat-sthani - those who are in Me; sarva-bhutani - all living entities; na - not; ca — also; aham - I; tesu - in them; avasthitah - situated.
In My unmanifest form, I pervade the entire universe. All beings abide in Me, but I am not in them.
TEXT 5
na ca mat-sthani bhutani
pasya me yogam aishvaram
bhuta-bhrin na ca bhuta-stho
mamatma bhuta-bhavanah
pasya me yogam aishvaram
bhuta-bhrin na ca bhuta-stho
mamatma bhuta-bhavanah
na - not; ca — also; mat-sthani - those who are in Me; bhutani - the created; pasya - see; me - Mine; yogam aishvaram - inconceivable mystic power; bhuta-bhrit - the keeper of all living entities; na - not; ca — also; bhuta-sthah - situated in the universe; mom is Mine; atma - I; bhuta-bhavanah - the source of everything.
And at the same time, everything created is outside of Me. Behold My Mystical Power! Being the support of all living beings and abiding everywhere, I am not part of the material universe, for I myself am the source of creation.
TEXT 6
yathakasha-sthito nityam
vayuh sarvatra-go Mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya
vayuh sarvatra-go Mahan
tatha sarvani bhutani
mat-sthanity upadharaya
yatha - how; akasha-sthitah - situated in the sky; nityam - always; vayuh - the wind; sarvatra-gah - blowing everywhere; mahan - the great; tatha - like that; sarvani bhutani — all created living entities; mat-sthani - those who rest in Me; iti - in this way; upadharaya - understand.
Know that all created beings rest in Me just as the mighty wind, flying everywhere, always remains in the sky.
TEXT 7
sarva-bhutani kaunteya
prakritim yanti mamikam
kalpa-ksaye punas tani
kalpadau visridjam aham
prakritim yanti mamikam
kalpa-ksaye punas tani
kalpadau visridjam aham
sarva-bhutani - all created beings; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; prakrtim - into nature; yanti - enter; mamikam - mine; kalpa-ksaye - at the end of an era; punah - again; tani — te; kalpa-adau - at the beginning of an era; visridge - I create; aham - ya
O son of Kunti, at the end of each kalpa, the entire material universe enters into My nature, and at the beginning of the next I with His energy I create it again.
TEXT 8
prakrtim svam
avastabhya visrijami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam kritsnam
avasham prakriter vashat
avastabhya visrijami punah punah
bhuta-gramam imam kritsnam
avasham prakriter vashat
prakrtim - into material nature; svam - His; avastabhya - by entering; visridge - I create; punah punah - again and again; bhuta-gramam - the universe; imam is that; krtsnam - entirely; avasam - by itself; prakrteh - of nature; vasat - by will.
All cosmos is in My power. Obedient to My will, it itself arises again and again, and at the end of each kalpa according to My will perishes.
TEXT 9
na ca mam tani karmani
nibadhnanti dhananjaya
udasina-vad asinam
asaktam tesu karmasu
nibadhnanti dhananjaya
udasina-vad asinam
asaktam tesu karmasu
na - not; ca — also; mam - Me; tani — te; karmani - acts; nibadhnanti - bind; dhananjaya - O conqueror of wealth; udasina-wat - as indifferent; asinam - of being; asaktam - without attachment; tesu - in those; karmasu - acts.
O Dhananjaya, all this does not bind Me. Being aloof from this material activity, I remain as if uninvolved in it.
TEXT 10
mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracharam
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
suyate sa-caracharam
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
maya - by Me; adhyaksena - under supervision; prakrtih - material nature; suyate — appears; sa - together; cara-acaram - moving and still living entities; hetuna - for a reason; anena is that; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; jagat - the universe; viparivartate - acts.
Being one of My energies, O son of Kunti, material nature acts under My supervision, producing into the light all moving and still beings. Under her leadership, the universe again and again arises and is destroyed.
TEXT 11
avajananti mam mudha
manushim tanum ashritam
param bhavam ajananto
mother bhuta-mahesvaram
manushim tanum ashritam
param bhavam ajananto
mother bhuta-mahesvaram
avajananti - ridicule; mam - Me; mudhah - fools; manusim - human; tanum — the body; asritam - accepting; param - transcendental; bhavam - nature; ajanantah - not knowing; mom is mine; bhuta - of everything; maha-isvaram - the supreme master.
Fools laugh at Me when I come to the material world in the form of a person. They do not know My spiritual nature of the supreme ruler of all things.
TEXT 12
moghasha mogha-karmano
mogha-jnana vicetasah
rakshasim asurim caiva
prakritim mohimim sritah
mogha-jnana vicetasah
rakshasim asurim caiva
prakritim mohimim sritah
mogha-asah - deceived in their hopes; mogha-pockets - deceived in fruitive activities; mogha-jnanah - deceived in their attempts to gain knowledge; vicetasah - misled; raksasim - to the demonic; asurim - godless; ca - i; eva - unconditionally; prakritim - to nature; mohinim - misleading; sриtah - seeking shelter.
Lost and bewildered, they hold demonic, godless views, and therefore their hopes for liberation never come true, and all their attempts to succeed and gain knowledge fail.
TEXT 13
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakritim ashritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
daivim prakritim ashritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
maha-atmanah - great souls; tu - but; mam — to Me; partha - O son of Prtha; daivim - to the divine; prakrtim - to nature; asritah - they come, seeking protection; bhajanti - they serve; ananya-manasah - those whose mind does not deviate; jnatva - having realized; bhuta - of creation; adim - the source; avyayam - inexhaustible.
O son of Prtha, those who are free from error, great souls, are under the protection of divine nature. They serve Me with love and devotion, for they know that I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original and inexhaustible.
TEXT 14
satatam kirtayanto mam
yatantas ca dridha-
vratah namasyantas ca mam bhaktya
nitya-yukta upasate
yatantas ca dridha-
vratah namasyantas ca mam bhaktya
nitya-yukta upasate
satatam - always; kirtayantah - glorifying; mam - Me; yatantah - making efforts; ca — also; drdha-vratah - with determination; namasyantah - bowing; ca — also; mam - to me; bhaktya - with devotion; nitya-yuktah - constantly employed; upasate - worship.
Ceaselessly glorifying Me, serving Me with great determination, prostrating before Me, these great souls always worship Me with love and devotion.
TEXT 15
jnana-yajnena chapy anye
yajanto mam upasate
ekatvena prithaktena
bahudha visvato-mukham
yajanto mam upasate
ekatvena prithaktena
bahudha visvato-mukham
jnana-yajnena - by gaining knowledge; ca — also; api - unconditionally; anye - others; yajantah - sacrificers; mam - to me; upasate - worship; ekatvena - by unity; prithaktena - by distinction; bahudha - in the multitude; visvatah-mukham - who took on universal form.
Others, those whose sacrifice consists in gaining knowledge, worship the Supreme Lord as one who is one and indivisible, who spreads Himself in many forms and takes on a universal form.
TEXT 16
aham kratur aham yajnah
svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam
aham agnir aham hutam
svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam
aham agnir aham hutam
aham - I; kratuh - the Vedic rite; aham - I; yajnah - the sacrifice prescribed in smrti; svadha — offering; aham - I; aham - I; ausadham - healing herb; mantrah - the transcendental hymn; aham - I; aham - I; eva - unconditionally; ajyam - ghee; aham - I; agnih - fire; aham - I; hutam - sacrificed.
But the Vedic rite, the sacrifice, the offerings to the ancestors, the healing grass and the transcendental hymn are all I. I am oil, fire and what is sacrificed.
TEXT 17
pitaham asya jagato
mata dhata pitamahah
vedyam pavitram omkara
rika sama yajur eva ca
mata dhata pitamahah
vedyam pavitram omkara
rika sama yajur eva ca
pita — father; aham - I; asya - of this; jagatah - of the universe; mata - mother; dhata - the keeper; pitamahah - grandfather; vedyam - that which should be understood; pavitram - that which purifies; om-kara - the syllable om; rik - the Rig Veda; sama — the Sama Veda; yajuh - the Yajur Veda; eva - unconditionally; ca - and.
I am the father and mother of this universe, its support and progenitor. I am the goal of knowledge, the purifying power and the syllable om, as well as the Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda.
TEXT 18
gatir bharta prabhuh sakshi
nivasah sharanam suhrt
prabhavah pralayyah sthanam
nidhanam bijam avyayam
nivasah sharanam suhrt
prabhavah pralayyah sthanam
nidhanam bijam avyayam
gatih - the goal; bharta - the keeper; prabhuh - master; sakshi - witness; nivasah — the abode; saranam - shelter; su-hrt — the closest friend; prabhavah - creation; pralayah - destruction; sthanam - the foundation; nidhanam - the place of tranquility; bijam - the seed; avyayam - the eternal.
I am the goal and the keeper, the lord and witness, the abode, the refuge and the closest friend. I am creation and destruction, the basis of all that exists, a place of tranquility and eternal seed.
TEXT 19
tapamy aham aham warsham
nigrichnamy utsrigi ca
amritam caiva mrtyush ca
sad asach caham arjuna
nigrichnamy utsrigi ca
amritam caiva mrtyush ca
sad asach caham arjuna
tapami - giving warmth; aham - I; aham - I; varsam - rain; nigrikhnam - I stop; utsridge - I send; ca - i; amritam - immortality; ca - i; eva - of course; mrtyuh — death; ca - i; sat - spirit; asat - matter; ca - i; aham - I; arjuna - O Arjuna.
O Arjuna, it is I who bestow warmth, send and stop the rains. I am immortality and I am personified death. Both matter and spirit rest in Me.
TEXT 20
trai-vidya mam soma-pah puta-papa
yajnair ishtva svar-gatim prarthaiante
te punyam asadya surendra-lokam
asnanti divyan divi deva-bhogan
yajnair ishtva svar-gatim prarthaiante
te punyam asadya surendra-lokam
asnanti divyan divi deva-bhogan
trai-vidyah - experts on the three Vedas; mam - to me; soma-pah - drinking soma juice; puta - washed away; papah — those whose sins; yajnaih - by sacrifice; istva - giving worship; svah-gatim - the path to heaven; prarthaiante - beg; those are they; punyam - of the pious; asadya - having achieved; sura-indra - Indra; lokam - of the world; asnanti - eat; divyan - heavenly; divi - in paradise; deva-bhogan - the pleasures of celestials.
Those who study the Vedas and drink soma juice in the hope of going to the heavenly planets also worship Me in their own way. Having washed away the consequences of past sins, they are born on the pious paradise planet of Indra, where they enjoy the joys that are available only to celestials.
TEXT 21
te tam bhuktva svarga-lokam vishalam
ksine punye martya-lokam vishanti
evam tray-dharmam anuprapanna
gatagatam kama-kama labhante
ksine punye martya-lokam vishanti
evam tray-dharmam anuprapanna
gatagatam kama-kama labhante
those are they; there is one; bhuktva - having tasted; svarga-lokam - heaven; visalam - huge; ksine - when exhausted; punye — the consequences of their pious deeds; martya-lokam - on mortal earth; visanti - fall; evam - like that; trayi - of the three Vedas; dharmam - to the teaching; anuprapannah - following; gata-agatam - death and birth; kama-kamah - those who desire sensual pleasures; labhante - receive.
Having experienced the pleasures of paradise and having exhausted the supply of pious karma, they again return to mortal land. So those who follow the laws of the three Vedas for the sake of satisfying their own feelings receive only a series of births and deaths as a reward.
TEXT 22
ananyas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesam nityabhiiyuktanam
yoga-kshemam waham aham
ye janah paryupasate
tesam nityabhiiyuktanam
yoga-kshemam waham aham
ananyah - not having another (object); cintayantah - focusing; mam - on Me; ye - which; janah - people; paryupasate - duly worshiped; tesam - them; nitya - always; abhiuktanam - not straying from the path of devotional service; yoga - necessary; kshemam - protection; wahami - I carry; aham - ya
But to those who always worship Me with undivided devotion, focusing their minds on My spiritual image, I give what they lack and keep what they have.
TEXT 23
ye 'pi anya-devata-bhakta
yajante sraddhayanvitah
te' pi mam eva kaunteya
yajanti avidhi-purvakam
yajante sraddhayanvitah
te' pi mam eva kaunteya
yajanti avidhi-purvakam
ye - which; api - also; anya - to others; devata - to the gods; bhaktah - the devotees; yajante - worship; sraddhaya anvitah - endowed with faith; those are they; api - also; mam - to me; eva - only; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; yajanti - worship; avidhi-purvakam - not as it should.
Those who faithfully worship other gods actually worship Me alone, O son of Kunti, but they do it wrong.
TEXT 24
aham hi sarva-yajnanam
bhokta ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mam abhijananti
tattvenatas chyavanti te
bhokta ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mam abhijananti
tattvenatas chyavanti te
aham - I; hi - unconditionally; sarva — of all; yajnanam - of the sacrifice; bhokta - the enjoyer; ca - i; prabhuh - the Lord; eva - undoubtedly; ca - i; na - not; tu - but; mam - Me; abhijananti - they know; tattvena - verily; atah - therefore; syavanti - fall; those are them.
I am the only one who enjoys and commands all the sacrifices. Therefore, those who have not understood My true spiritual nature are doomed to fall.
TEXT 25
yanti deva-vrata devan
pitЌn yanti pitri-
vratah bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam
pitЌn yanti pitri-
vratah bhutani yanti bhutejya
yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam
yanti - go; deva-vratah - worshipers of the demigods; devan - to the demigods; pitЌn - to the ancestors; yanti - go; pitri-vratah - worshiping ancestors; bhutani - to ghosts and spirits; yanti - go; bhuta-ijyah - worshipers of ghosts and spirits; yanti - go; mat - to Me; yajinah - the devotees; api - but; Mom - to Me.
Those who worship the demigods will be born among the demigods; worshiping ancestors will go to the ancestors; those who worship spirits and ghosts will be born in these forms of life; those who worship Me will live with Me.
TEXT 26
patram pushpam phalam toyam
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatat manah
yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatat manah
patram - a sheet; puspam — the flower; phalam - the fruit; toyam - water; yah - which; me - to me; bhaktya - with devotion; prayacchati - offers; tat - that; aham - I; bhakti-upahrtam - <$!> offered with love and devotion; asnami - accept; prayata-atmanah - from one whose consciousness is pure.
If a person with love and devotion brings me a leaf, flower, fruit or some water, I will certainly accept his offering.
TEXT 27
yat karoshi yad ashnasi
yaj juhoshi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurushva mad-arpanam
yaj juhoshi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurushva mad-arpanam
yat - what; karoshi — you do; yat - what; asnasi - eat; yat - what; juhoshi - you offer; dadasi - you give; yat - what; yat - what; tapasyasi - you perform as austerity; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; tat - that; kurushva - do; mat - to Me; arpanam - (as) an offering.
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you bring gifts, whatever you give and whatever tapasya you perform, do it, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.
TEXT 28
subhashubha-phalair evam
mokshyase karma-bandhanaih
sannyasa-yoga-yuktatma
vimukto mam upaisyasi
mokshyase karma-bandhanaih
sannyasa-yoga-yuktatma
vimukto mam upaisyasi
subha - of the auspicious; asubha - of the unfavorable; phalaih - the consequences; evam - in this way; moksyase — you will be liberated; karma - activities; bandhanaih - by fetters; sannyasa - by surrender; yoga - on yoga; yukta-atma - the concentrated mind; vimuktah - liberated; mam - Me; upaisyasi - you will reach.
In this way you will be freed from the burden of karmic activity and its good and bad consequences. By focusing on Me and acting in the spirit of self-denial, you will attain liberation and come to Me.
TEXT 29
samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu
na me dveshyo' sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
mayi te tesu chapy aham
na me dveshyo' sti na priyah
ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya
mayi te tesu chapy aham
samah - equally related; aham - I; sarva-bhutesu - to all living entities; na - not; me - to me; dvesyah - is hated; asti - is; on - no; priyah - dear; ye - which; bhajanti - engaged in transcendental service; tu - but; mam - to me; bhaktya - with devotion; mayi - in Me; those are they (such people); tesu - in them; ca — also; api - unconditionally; aham - ya
I have no hostility or addiction to anyone. I treat everyone the same. But he who serves Me with love and devotion is My friend. He is always in My heart, and I am also his friend.
TEXT 30
api chet su-foolaro
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
bhajate mam ananya-bhak
sadhur eva sa mantavyah
samyag vyavasito hi sah
api - even; even - if; su-fools - a person who performs the most disgusting acts; bhajate - serves with devotion; mam - to me; ananya-bhak - purposeful; sadhuh - the saint; eva - unconditionally; sah — he; mantavyah - one who should be considered; samyak - completely; vyavasitah - full of determination; hi - of course; sah - he.
Even if a person engaged in devotional service performs the most disgusting act, he should still be considered holy, for he is determined to follow the right path.
TEXT 31
ksipram bhavati dharmatma
sasvach-chantim nigaccati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranashyati
sasvach-chantim nigaccati
kaunteya pratijanihi
na me bhaktah pranashyati
ksipram - very fast; bhavati - becomes; dharma-atma — the righteous; sasvat-santim - eternal rest; nigaccati - attains; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; pratijanihi - declare; na - not; me - Mine; bhaktah - a devotee; pranasyati - perishes.
He quickly becomes virtuous and acquires eternal peace. O son of Kunti, boldly declare to everyone that My devotee will never perish.
TEXT 32
mam hi partha vyapashrtya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaishyas tatha sudras
te' pi yanti param gatim
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaishyas tatha sudras
te' pi yanti param gatim
mam — to Me; hi - of course; partha - O son of Prtha; vyapasrtya - having come to take shelter; ye - which; api - even; syuh - would be; papa-yonayah - of low origin; striyah - women; vaisyah - the merchants; tatha - also; sudrah - ordinary workers; te api - even they; yanti - go; param - to the highest; gatim - towards the goal.
O son of Prtha, having surrendered unto Me, even people of low descent, women, vaisyas [merchants] and sudras [workers] can reach the highest abode.
TEXT 33
Kim punar brahmanah punya
bhak so as radzharshayas tatha
anityam asukham lokam
Imam prapya bhadzhasva moms
bhak so as radzharshayas tatha
anityam asukham lokam
Imam prapya bhadzhasva moms
kim - how; punah - again; brahmanah - brahmanas; punyah - the pious; bhaktah - the devotees; raja-rsayah - the righteous kings; tatha - also; anityam - perishable; asukham - full of misery; lokam - the planet; imam - this; prapya - having gained; bhajasva - devote yourself to loving service; Mom - To me.
What, then, is to speak of pious brahmanas, devotees, and righteous kings? Therefore, once you find yourself in this mortal, full of suffering world, devote yourself entirely to the loving service of Me.
TEXT 34
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi yuktvaivam
atmanam mat-parayanah
mat-manah - always thinking of Me; bhava - become; mat - to Me; bhaktah - a devotee; mat - to Me; yaji - worshiper; mam - to me; namas-kuru - bow down; mam — to Me; eva - completely; esyasi - you will come; yuktva - having sunk; evam - like that; atmanam - his soul; mat-parayanah - a devotee of Me.
Always think of Me, become My devotee, fall before Me, and worship Me. Fully focused on Me, you will certainly come to Me.
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