Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 10

 Chapter 9 verse 10 

“Working under My direction, this material energy brings into being all animate and inanimate forms. For this reason, the material world undergoes the changes (of creation, maintenance, and dissolution).” 

As illustrated in previous verses, Lord is the creator and protector of both spiritual energy and material energy which manifests in the universe. There are multiple celestial gods appointed to carry out various tasks of creation and sustenance in the universe including Brahma. They are not the Supreme Lord. They execute what He has willed. All beings are created through his material energy, sustained and ultimately dissolved back to his paramatman. This is the absolute TRUTH of Universe.

 

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 9

 Chapter 9 verse 9 

“None of these actions bind Me. I remain like a neutral observer, ever detached from these actions.” 

The material energy from Lord is manifested in the Universe in terms of beings and nature. These beings create the world by their actions. God creates the canvas and the rules of engagement such as Laws of Karma and nature etc., and lets beings play their part. There might be interventions here and there to level set nature in terms of regular avatars. Other than these, He remains a neutral observer and is unaffected by the being’s actions.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 7-8

 Chapter 9 verse 7-8 

“Know At the end of one kalpa, all living beings merge into My primordial material energy. At the beginning of the next creation, O son of Kunti, I manifest them again. Presiding over My material energy, I generate these myriad forms again and again, in accordance with the force of their natures.” 

I am not sure if end of Universe happens at the end of one kalpa or 1 Brahma year, but the manifested material energy at the time of dissolution merges with His spiritual energy and the beginning of the next creation, Lord manifests the material energy again. These forms or beings don’t need to be in the earth plane alone but could be in any of the countless planes of existence in the multitudes of Universe in the grand creation. We are just a speck in the infinity of His creation. Shouldn’t that be enough to counter or arrest our earth sized EGOs!

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 6

 Chapter 9 verse 6 

“Know that as the mighty wind blowing everywhere rests always in the sky, likewise all living beings rest always in Me.” 

Wind needs space to blow and merges into the space. Likewise, all beings even though created as the material energy form of the Divine is after all part of His creation. We just don’t recognize the divinity which rests in all of us. When we express unconditional love for fellow beings, the divinity springs forth. Imagine the love God has for us to take care of all beings in the Universe and ensure their well being.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 5

 Chapter 9 verse 5 

“And yet, the living beings do not abide in Me. Behold the mystery of My divine energy! Although I am the Creator and Sustainer of all living beings, I am not influenced by them or by material nature.” 

How is that the Lord is the owner and creator of both the spiritual energy and material energy but does not get engaged in the material energy of maya. He is like lotus leaf in water- deeply entrenched but detached. The moral and physical degradation of the Universe which is nature of the creation does not affect the creator. Lord maintains an arm’s length relationship with the Universe. As a testament to this relationship, He doesn’t interfere in His own laws such as the law of karma and cause and effect. Yet, we engage him in a trading relationship every moment, always asking for something in return for showing devotion towards Him.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 4

 Chapter 9 verse 4 

“This entire cosmic manifestation is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest form. All living beings dwell in Me, but I do not dwell in them.” 

In chapter 8, we saw that there are 2 forms of God energy-His spiritual energy and material energy. His spiritual energy is what is unmanifested and prevalent in the entire Universe and cosmic creation. All the beings in this Universe contain his material energy. The material energy emanates from Him and is part of Him but he is not just the material energy and beyond it. This is the essence of what Lord is enumerating in this verse.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 3

 Chapter 9 verse 3 

“People who have no faith in this dharma are unable to attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. They repeatedly come back to this world in the cycle of birth and death.” 

Faith and Trust needs to come before devotion and results in the path of divine worship. Belief/Faith/Trust is the first step to be taken by the devotee or being. That first step will slowly lead people to knowledge and wisdom. This experience of the Divine principle which gets converted to wisdom through satsang, sattvic thoughts and action and other practices leads one on the path of light. Beings distracted away from the path of light are unable to attain God principle. They then have to repeatedly come back to this world and participate in cycle of birth and death. It is said to take a leap of faith. The first leap has to be taken without any assurance about the result. But it is the most important leap one can take. Let us all take that leap towards GOD!