Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 10 verse 1

 Chapter 10 verse 1 

“The Blessed Lord said: Listen again to my divine teachings, O mighty armed one. Desiring your welfare because you are my beloved friend, I shall reveal them to you.” 

One wonders why Arjuna is getting so much attention from the Lord. It is said that Arjuna and Krishna’s previous incarnation was Nara and Narayana respectively. Nara and Narayana are said to be great rishis who meditated together at Badarinath for a long time. They are mentioned in the Bhagavat Purana or Srimad Bhagavatam written by sage Veda Vyasa as well. There is always a reason for Grace to be bestowed on a being. Laws of karma don’t allow benefit without effort or action. Arjuna is reaping the benefit of his actions in his previous births to be so close to the divine Lord. Lord is about to reveal to Arjuna further his infinite capabilities and limitlessness of his infinite capacities.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 34

 Chapter 9 verse 34 

“Always think of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer obeisance to Me. Having dedicated your mind and body to Me, you will certainly come to Me.” 

This verse concludes chapter 9 in a grand fashion. Lord urges all to drop the body, mind, intellect and merge into His service and surrender to Him. In the last verse, I had taken the example of sage Valmiki as someone who came into Godhood even after a terrible life of a highway thief and murderer. This thought made me wonder-How can one get to God without efforts either in the past or the present? Valmiki had to endure the life of a highway robber for exhausting his past karma but sum total of his good karma brought him back to God through sage Narada. Hence the best way is to stay on His path and not swerve any other place. Accept everything which happens to us and take hold of the present moment to effect all and any positive changes we want to implement. Our new life begins this moment every moment. Let’s take charge through His divine grace!

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 33

 Chapter 9 verse 33 

“What then to speak about kings and sages with meritorious deeds? Therefore, having come to this transient and joyless world, engage in devotion unto Me.” 

Is there a lottery of birth? Sanatana dharma does not prescribe that philosophy. Place, type and circumstance of one’s birth is based on our past actions, Vasanas and what karmas has fructified for being exhausted-either good or bad. When one gets a birth in right circumstances- righteous family, good and pious parents, God loving kings and kingdom, folks who follow dharma etc., then one gets a leg up due to their own past actions. It is then up to the person to take advantage of that birth and further their spiritual progress and affinity towards God principle. Key is to not get sucked into the samsara of the transient and apparent joys of the world and stay focused on seeking eternal bliss. As we have discussed multiple times before, there is lots of evidence in Bharata Varsha history of persons who have salvaged themselves from non conducive situations and attained salvation such as sage Valmiki etc. Lord says His path is available equally to everyone so why should saintly followers of Vedas and pious kings worry about attaining God’s lotus feet. Leverage your good fortune of the right birth and progress in your journey is Lord’s message.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 32

 Chapter 9 verse 32 

“All those who take refuge in Me, whatever their birth, race, sex, or caste, even those whom society scorns, will attain the supreme destination.” 

For those who claim to write bharata varsha’s history of sanatana dharma in a bad light regarding varna ashrama and lower place in society for women, this verse would clarify from the Lord any doubts of importance of type or place of birth. There are thousands of examples over our history which states that all humans have the potential to realize oneself and attain the highest state of eternal bliss whether they were born a brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya or sudra, man or woman and even people outlawed by society. According to the laws of karma, even if place and type of birth might be determined by past actions-good and bad, those don’t pre suppose going forward actions of the person. Each person when able to control their current moment with correct actions and body/mind/intellect focused on Supreme Self or Divine wins the day. Each of the paths enumerated in sanatana dharma-jnana, karma, ashtanga and bhakti yoga ultimately helps realize the divinity innate in all of us.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary Chapter 9 verse 31

 Chapter 9 verse 31 

“Quickly they become virtuous, and attain lasting peace. O Arjuna, declare it boldly that no devotee of Mine is ever lost.” 

Continuing his declaration from previous verse where Lord says in unequivocal terms that nobody is beyond redemption, Lord further states that once the surrender to Him happens, it does not take too much time to transform the individual soul and attain everlasting peace. He further wants Arjuna to declare the importance of a devotee to Him since Lord loves the devotee so much that He wants their words to come true. We have instances of my Guruji ask his disciples to declare about the welfare of villagers near his ashram. He and Divine makes those words come true. Likewise Lord is able to make the devotees resolve and words come true in the universe. He wants to put devotees on the top perch as great examples for the world to follow!

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 9 verse 30

 Chapter 9 verse 30 

“Even if the vilest actors worship Me with exclusive devotion, they are to be considered righteous, for they have made the proper resolve.” 

Sanatana dharma believes in the law of karma and nature. There are no eternal sinners in this way of life. One is a product of their past actions, current disposition and always as good as the last moment lived. It is a very just law which governs this multi-verse. Due to their own effort and Divine grace, the person who recovers from their past wrong actions and resolves to surrender all current and future action to non doer ship of self but offering to divine or complete lack of ego, they begin their journey of redemption to the righteous path. Sankalpam (resolve) is the key here. There are multiple historical examples of these happenings as one would expect if universal and eternal laws have existed for eons. Sage Valmiki who wrote the Ramayana mahakavya is just one of them who transformed himself from a highway robber who killed people mercilessly to ultimate devotion to Lord Rama and captured the avatar of Lord Rama for the world to relish. Nobody is beyond redemption. Just to bring this to life, one can think of the worst people we encounter in today’s lives- whether a politician/friend/relative/co-worker/stranger, they are on a path from multiple lives and will eventually realize themselves and merge into the Almighty. It is just a matter of time. When is our time? SURRENDER NOW!

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary Chapter 9 verse 29

 Chapter 9 verse 29 

“I am equally disposed to all living beings; I am neither inimical nor partial to anyone. But the devotees who worship Me with love reside in Me and I reside in them.” 

I have earlier indicated that religion is called “matham” in Sanskrit meaning opinion. Man made religion has limitations. I am pointing to interpretations of some of the major religions in the world that if you don’t follow a particular God, you are doomed in hell. I feel that’s just a flawed interpretation of what the original preacher must have alluded to. Likewise, Lord here wants to make sure that he is not partial to anyone of His creation. Universe is still governed by the laws of nature and karma. The corollary to those laws is that when you approach life with no stress due to surrendering completely your will to God’s WILL, then you experience true bliss. Lord says His love is equal to everyone. Those who reciprocate his love for fellow beings and don’t discriminate in any sense, has equanimity between good and bad times, adversity and happiness, reside in Him.