service

Chapter 02, Verse 64

श्रीभगवानुवाच:

रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् |

आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति || 2.64 ||

sri-bhagavan uvaca:

raga-dvesa-viyuktais tu visayan indriyais caran |

atma-vasyair vidheyatma prasadam adhigacchati || 2.64 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca)
“The Supreme Lord said: This is Krishna’s first direct statement in the Bhagavad Gita, which leads off his teaching Arjuna on the process of selfless service.”
राग (raga)
Attachment
द्वेष (dvesa)
Aversion, hatred
वियुक्तैः (viyuktaih)
Free from
तु (tu)
But
विषयान् (visayan)
Sense objects
इन्द्रियैः (indriyaih)
Through the senses
चरन् (caran)
Moving, experiencing
आत्मवश्यैः (atma-vasyaih)
Under self-control
विधेयात्मा (vidheyatma)
One who is disciplined
प्रसादम् (prasadam)
Peace, divine grace
अधिगच्छति (adhigacchati)
Attains

Translation

            “But a person free from attachment and aversion, who moves among the sense objects with self-control and discipline, attains divine peace.”

Context of the Verse

            Krishna now offers a solution to the problem described in the previous verses; self-mastery leads to peace.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            Freedom from Attachment & Aversion (Raga-Dvesa-Viyuktaih); most suffering comes from likes (Raga) and dislikes (Dvesa). A wise person remains neutral, neither craving nor rejecting sense experiences.

            Controlled Interaction with the World (Visayan Indriyais Caran); the senses naturally interact with the world, but a self-controlled person (Atma-Vasyaih) does not get enslaved by them.

            Attainment of Inner Peace (Prasadam Adhigacchati); when the mind is calm and disciplined, one attains Prasada, meaning divine peace and clarity.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Krishna advises Arjuna to perform his duty without attachment or aversion. Instead of being controlled by emotions, he should act with wisdom and inner discipline to find true peace.

Explanation

            Krishna has described the fate of a non-devotee Yogi. But Krishna mentions too but a person who is devotee, who controls his senses and, in this way, engages his senses in the service of Krishna. He attains mercy of the Lord. When a person is able to follow the regulated principles of freedom, sometimes people think, oh, this religious life, spiritual life is very hassle. So many restrictions are imposed upon us. Actually, the restrictions are important, just like traffic rules and regulations may be considered restriction, unnecessary restriction. But a wise man knows if these traffic regulation little restrictions are not there, it will create so much of accident.

            In a similar fashion, such restrictions are recommended. They are actually regulated principles of freedom, just like a sick man is given some prescriptions and proscriptions. If he follows that he’ll be fit, then he can enjoy life. So as long as we are there trapped in this body in this bodily concept of life following these restrictions, regulative principles of freedom are important. So, when we follow these dos and don’ts very nicely in the service of Krishna, we attain the mercy of Krishna, without mercy of God we cannot advance. Mercy is the key factor for spiritual advancement, as per the Yoga process described by Lord Krishna and a person can attain mercy when he follows the dos and dos and don’ts very strictly and engages senses in the service of Krishna. What happens then when he receives mercy of Krishna, he becomes free from all attachment and detachment also. So materialist is attached and a non-devotee Yogi is detached. They go leave all the people and all the sense objects they go too far of place, they are detached.

            But a devotee is neither attached nor detached. He simply wants to engage in service of Krishna. So, if I am there around sense objects let me use those sense objects in the service of Krishna. If it is required, his only consideration is God gives Krishna pleasure. If I leave everything and go far away and that brings displeasure to Krishna, I don’t want to have detachment also. So a devotee is perfectly situated in the understanding that my existence is only for the pleasure of God, because I am part and parcel of God, just like you put water on the roots of the tree. All the leaves are automatically satisfied. This is my design. I am part of Krishna just like the finger is part of the body only when the finger puts food stuff in the stomach finger will be healthy so devotee knows this. I should not get carried away by attachment. Let me directly enjoy the sweet finger should not think or detachment. What is the use of feeding the stomach if I am not able to enjoy the foodstuff?

            So similarly, devotees neither attached nor detached. He knows I am part Krishna only when I satisfy God satisfy Krishna, I will gain satisfaction in life. So, when Mercy is received, this knowledge is awakened and devotee becomes free from attachment as well as detachment.

wisdom

Chapter 02, Verse 65

प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते |

प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते || 2.65 ||

prasade sarva-duhkhanam hanir asyopajayate |
prasanna-cetaso hy asu buddhih paryavatisthate || 2.65 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
प्रसादे (prasade)
In divine peace
सर्व-दुःखानाम् (sarva-duhkhanam)
Of all sorrows
हानिः (hanih)
Destruction, removal
अस्य (asya)
Of this person
उपजायते (upajayate)
Arises
प्रसन्न-चेतसः (prasanna-cetasah)
Of the one with a tranquil mind
हि (hi)
Certainly
आशु (asu)
Quickly
बुद्धिः (buddhih)
Intelligence, wisdom
पर्यवतिष्ठते (paryavatisthate)
Becomes steady

Translation

            “All sorrows are nothing in divine peace. For the one with a calm mind, wisdom soon becomes stable.”

Context of the Verse

            Krishna relates the benefits of being able to arrive at inner peace (prasada), the end of suffering and the steadiness of wisdom of the sage.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            Peace Summarily Dismisses All Suffering; Prasade Sarva-Duhkhanam hanih, when the pacified mind has no desire to suffer. Attachments create restlessness, and sorrow; when those are removed, peace follows.

A Tranquil Mind Leads to Steady Wisdom (Prasanna-cetasah buddhih Paryavatisthate); a peaceful person quickly attains stable wisdom. They remain clear-minded and make sound decisions, rather than being emotionally distracted.

Relevance to Arjuna

            If Arjuna can master his mind and emotions, Krishna tells him, he will free himself of sorrow and confusion. He should not let himself become trapped in grief but know his own peace of mind and wisdom.

Explanation

            Life, nevertheless, there is no more misery when the mercy of the Lord is received. When this happens, the devotee is very happy. So, thinking about God and understanding the Science of God requires a lot of happiness. The threefold miseries always plague those who cannot understand the science of God. The first reward for following this process of Buddhi Yoga is that we are liberated from all the miseries of material life. That means, according to what we are following (spiritual) life, because if one is following the standardized method, he should be happy. Otherwise, within a short time, you become permanent on the platform of happiness. And even if a person has the Yoga practice on the platform of happiness and if he continues his practice, then comes intelligence very clearly. Lord Krishna removes all the confusion and clearly says, “Who am I?”, “Who is God?”, What is his creation, what is the purpose, and no more confusion in life.

Teaching

Chapter 02, Verse 66

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य चायुक्तस्य भावना |

चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् || 2.66 ||

nasti buddhir ayuktasya na cayuktasya bhavana |
na cabhavayatah santir asantasya kutah sukham || 2.66 ||

Word-by-Word Analysis

Word Meaning
नास्ति (nasti)
There is no
बुद्धिः (buddhih)
Intelligence, wisdom
अयुक्तस्य (ayuktasya)
For the undisciplined
न (na)
Nor
च (ca)
And
अभावयतः (abhavayatah)
Of one who lacks contemplation
शान्तिः (santih)
Peace
अशान्तस्य (asantasya)
For one without peace
कुतः (kutah)
How can there be?
सुखम् (sukham)
Happiness

Translation

            “There is no wisdom, nor is there meditation, for the undisciplined. Without meditation, there is no peace. And where could happiness be without peace?”

Context of the Verse

            An important lesson that Krishna now points out is that you cannot attain true happiness without discipline, meditation, and peace.

Key Teachings in This Verse

            Wise people lead a disciplined life (Nasti Buddhir Ayuktasya). Wisdom cannot grow in an undisciplined mind. Someone who gets distracted or out of control does not have a clear mind.

            Nasti Bhavna Ayuktasya (Meditation Brings Peace); Bhavana means meditation and contemplation. Somebody who is lost in worldly distractions cannot realize the higher truth.

            A World Without Peace Is Not a World of Happiness (Asantasya Kutah Sukham); happiness is not something that can be achieved externally; happiness is finding peace within. A mind at rest is agitated, deprived of real joy.

Relevance to Arjuna

            Krishna tells Arjuna that only a well-balanced mind can discriminate wisely. Whereas Arjuna should not fret or regret, he should meditate and conquer the agitation in himself. Real Sukham is not from outcomes, it is from within, how pure your heart is!

Explanation

            So here again is Krishna warning. But in any Yoga practice that cannot ask you to indulge in the service of Krishna, do not indulge in other Yoga practices. Krishna has mentioned many ways so you will contemplate on the sense objects & you could be deceived. You will not be able to even know higher taste.

            So here, Krishna is telling the one who does not give him and his service – instead, does not want to engage in my service. He would have no fixed intelligence because he will never get higher happiness in life, then in his life no one could calculate. Now, his intelligence changes, ‘let me crack this exam as well.’ Then intelligence shifts, ‘allowed me to do this job.’ Then intelligence changes. I should do some other business or some other job. Then let me marry this person.” Let me divorce this person. Let me do this.  Their mind is not full all the time with the question, “What will make me happy?” Awareness is the first and foremost step to stop this disturbance in life. Because nothing satisfies the spirit and soul than Krishna consciousness. So here Krishna is explaining: if you don’t render service to my services, then what will occur? If you don’t make a deliberate decision to change, intelligence will not be updated, and intelligence controls the mind. We can have control over the mind by controlled intelligence, when the intelligence is controlled, not fixed, then the mind will be disturbed. The mind will have this plan, that plan, this idea, that idea; the mind will always be disturbed. If the mind is fixed on happiness, there is peace (Shanti), and vice versa. There is disturbance. And if there is no peace in life, then where is the question of happiness? So Krishna also explained that time is very less; his birth is near. Krishna delivered this Bhagavad Gita at the end of Dwapar Yoga, upper Yoga, just before the commencement of Kaliyuga. He meant to emphasize the importance of stress. One of such very important methods in Kaliyuga. Anyway, people will be in a very much disturbed state. Hence, avoid the gradual process of Yoga, save time, and understand this topmost Yoga, Buddhi Yoga. People ask, use my service in your senses, and I will accept the results. Attempt to foster a loving relationship with me. Ashtanga Yoga, the Yoga we were taught, is for Satyuga; don’t follow this artificial Yoga. It is mentioned somewhere with respect to Satyuga / Kaliyuga: the Vedas are telling it is for Satyuga, nowhere in the Vedas is it mentioned that you follow this practice in Kaliyuga and you will gain success. So, for meditation, they want to do it artificially, like a yogi. They first want to get rid of all those distractions, they want to stop all those activities of the senses, then they want to start contemplation, and then they want to come to meditation, and then they want to reach samadhi. They keep artificially focusing on the form of Krishna, but the very natural way of focusing is the service of Krishna. One does have a lovely relationship when they serve anybody, and when there is love, we are always thinking only about our object of love. So, Krishna here recommends that you please engage in my service, this is the natural process of Yoga. Use whatever little means you have to the best of your ability, and when there is service, there is love, and when there is love, you’re liking for me will only grow, then you will always think of me. Without the prescribed austerities for the sages of old, realization comes effortlessly; it is the process of Yoga that is naturally achieved.

Thus, as Krishna explains, if you do not get involved, intelligence is not absolute. The mind is not fixed. Unhappiness then enters life. Without peace, there is no happiness.

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