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VERSE 41
श्रीभगवानुवाच:
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन |
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् || 41 ||
sri-bhagavan uvaca:
vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana |
bahu-sakha hy anantas cha buddhayo vyavasayinam || 41 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
श्रीभगवानुवाच: (sri-bhagavan uvaca) |
The Supreme Lord said: This marks Krishna’s first direct
speech in the Bhagavad Gita, where he begins guiding
Arjuna.
|
|
व्यवसायात्मिका (vyavasayatmika) |
Resolute |
|
बुद्धिः (buddhih) |
Intelligence, determination |
|
एका (eka) |
One-pointed, single-focused |
|
इह (iha) |
In this (path of Yoga) |
|
कुरुनन्दन (kuru-nandana) |
O joy of the Kuru dynasty (Arjuna) |
|
बहुशाखाः (bahu-sakhah) |
Having many branches |
|
हि (hi) |
Indeed |
|
अनन्ताः (anantah) |
Endless, infinite |
|
च (cha) |
And |
|
बुद्धयः (buddhayah) |
Intellects |
|
अव्यवसायिनाम् (avyavasayinam) |
Of the irresolute, the wavering |
Translation
“O joy of the Kuru dynasty (Arjuna), those who are determined in their intelligence have a single focus. But thoughts of the irresolute are multibranched and infinite.”
Context of the Verse
The contributions of Krishna to Karma Yoga, the path of action; Krishna encourages Arjuna to be firm and single-minded in his intent.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Vyavasayatmika Buddhi; a single-minded determination leads to success.
The doubtful; those who have no resolve are pulled hither and thither by objects and Alpen heads.
For spiritual success you need to commit; a single-minded focus and true faith are needed if you want liberation (Moksha) or selfless service (Karma Yoga).
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna says to Arjuna that he needs to possess firm determination that encompasses him only with duty (Dharma) and without doubts, fear, or dispersal.
Explanation
Therefore, those who follow this Buddhi Yoga process are fixed up because they know what the aim of life is, but not everyone is able to appreciate this as the aim of life, the highest activity and even the Vedic scholars are not able to see why they are not able to understand, as Lord Krishna explains.
VERSE 42-43
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः |
वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीतिवादिनः || 42 ||
कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् |
क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति || 43 ||
yam imam puspitam vacam pravadanty avipascitah |
veda-vada-ratah partha nanyad astiti vadinah || 42 ||
kamatmanah svarga-para janma-karma-phala-pradam |
kriya-visesa-bahulam bhogaisvarya-gatim prati || 43 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
याम् (yam) |
That which |
|
इमाम् (imam) |
This |
|
पुष्पिताम् (puspitam) |
Flowery, attractive |
|
वाचम् (vacam) |
Words (speech) |
|
प्रवदन्ति (pravadanti) |
Speak |
|
अविपश्चितः (avipascitah) |
Unwise, ignorant |
|
वेदवादरताः (veda-vada-ratah) |
Attached to the Vedic rituals |
|
पार्थ (partha) |
O Arjuna, son of Pritha |
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
अन्यत् (anyat) |
Anything else |
|
अस्ति (asti) |
Exists |
|
इति (iti) |
Thus |
|
वादिनः (vadinah) |
Those who say |
|
कामात्मानः (kamatmanah) |
Full of desires |
|
स्वर्गपराः (svarga-parah) |
Seeking heaven |
|
जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् (janma-karma-phala-pradam) |
Leading to rebirth and fruits of actions |
|
क्रियाविशेषबहुलाम् (kriya-visesa-bahulam) |
Full of various activities (ritualistic acts) |
|
भोगैश्वर्यगतिम् (bhogaisvarya-gatim) |
The path of pleasure and wealth |
|
प्रति (prati) |
Towards |
Translation
“It is men of little sense, O Arjuna, who say that there is no other way the Vedas end with the flowery words of the Vedas. The above-mentioned people are attached to Vedic rituals for the purpose of material enjoyment and heaven. They are filled with desires, having many fruits of their work, and are involved in many rituals having profit and sense”
Context of the Verse
“Krishna cautions us not to get misled by the flowery language of the Vedas, which deals with materialistic rewards and not true spiritual progress.
Key Teachings in This Verse
It is a misinterpretation of the Vedas; some of them prefer only rituals to gain in the material world instead of gaining the highest wisdom. There is only “sacraments and consequences,” they claim.
Actions motivated by desire; these people want heaven and wealth rather than liberation (moksha).
Overly engaged in rituals, assuming that they alone will bring you the highest good.
Attachment; oblivious in the pursuit of pleasures, power, and rituals, they are forever chained to this cycle of birth and death, rather than achieving true liberation.
Relevance to Arjuna
Another major theme is Krishna’s encouragement of Arjuna to go beyond worldly ambitions and ritualistic attachments. Spirituality is more than doing rituals mechanically; it demands selfless work and worship.
VERSE 44
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् |
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते || 44 ||
bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrta-cetasam |
vyavasayatmika buddhih samadhau na vidhiyate || 44 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
भोगैश्वर्य (bhogaisvarya) |
Enjoyment and opulence |
|
प्रसक्तानाम् (prasaktanam) |
Those who are attached |
|
तया (taya) |
By that (flowery Vedic words) |
|
अपहृत (apahrta) |
Stolen, taken away |
|
चेतसाम् (cetasam) |
Of those whose minds |
|
व्यवसायात्मिका (vyavasayatmika) |
Resolute intelligence |
|
बुद्धिः (buddhih) |
Wisdom, intellect |
|
समाधौ (samadhau) |
In deep meditation or spiritual absorption |
|
न (na) |
Not |
|
विधीयते (vidhiyate) |
Arises, is established |
Translation
“The mind of such a person who is attached to material enjoyment and opulence, and who is carried away by such things, cannot develop the resolute intelligence (samadhi) to be in spiritual absorption.”
Context of the Verse
Krishna continues to caution against the distractions of materialism that prevent one from making genuine progress toward spirituality.
Key Teachings in This Verse
Attachment shrouds the mind; those who are too embroiled in sensual pleasures and acquisitions lose the ability to focus their minds on higher spiritual goals.
Resolute Intelligence is Lost (Vyavasayatmika Buddhi). Focus your lens on Dharma and Yoga and nothing else. A disunited mind cannot have spiritual enlightenment.
No spiritual absorption (samadhi); the highest goal of spirituality is to be totally absorbed into divine consciousness (samadhi), but material distractions never allow that.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna explains to Arjuna that a warrior should not be distracted by temporary incentives such as victory, wealth or pleasure. Rather he will have to cultivate a mind concentrated on Dharma and action without selfish motives.
VERSE 45
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन |
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् || 45 ||
traigunaya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna |
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-ksema atmavan || 45 ||
Word-by-Word Analysis
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
त्रैगुण्य (traigunaya) |
The three modes of material nature (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) |
|
विषयाः (visayah) |
Subject matter |
|
वेदाः (vedah) |
The Vedas |
|
निस्त्रैगुण्यः (nistraigunyah) |
Transcendental to the three gunas |
|
भव (bhava) |
Be |
|
अर्जुन (arjuna) |
O Arjuna |
|
निर्द्वन्द्वः (nirdvandvah) |
Free from dualities (pleasure and pain, success and failure) |
|
नित्यसत्त्वस्थः (nitya-sattva-sthah) |
Always situated in purity (goodness) |
|
निर्योगक्षेमः (niryoga-ksemah) |
Without concern for gain and security |
|
आत्मवान् (atmavan) |
Self-realized, possessing self-awareness |
Translation
“O Arjuna, the Vedas pertain to the three modes of material nature. “But he must transcend these modes, he must be free from all dualities, always be situated in the mode of goodness, unconcerned with acquisition and preservation, and be self-realized.”
Context of the Verse
Krishna urges Arjuna to rise above the material life and concentrate on a transcendental life.
Key Teachings in This Verse
In the Indian traditional texts, they talk about the Vedas and the three gunas. The Vedas prescribe performances of ritual activity on the physical platform based on the three modes of nature (qualities) known as gunas:
Sattva (goodness) – Purity, knowledge
Rajas (passion) – Action/Desires
Tamas (ignorance) – Laziness, illusion
Such rituals are aimed at material benefits and a person remains under the bondage of karma.
Transcend Material Nature;
Nistraigunyah bhava – Krishna tells Arjuna to be above the three gunas and worldly desires.
Nirdvandva – Transcend duality (pleasure/pain, success/failure).
Nitya-sattva-stha – In order to progress spiritually, one who resides as Satvik (Vice of purity)
Beyond Yoga & Kṣema (Gain & Security); Yoga is about gaining what one does not possess. “Kṣema” means protecting what you have. Krishna teaches to let go of attachment to worldly security and to trust in divine providence. Become Self-Aware (Atmavan); true success is to know the Self, rather than to possess temporary pleasures.
Relevance to Arjuna
Krishna encourages Arjuna in his third instruction to recognize the permanent soul as opposed to transient material gain. Thus, cutting off all fear, attachment, and hesitation, he will fulfil his own duty (Dharma).
Explanation
‘Vedavati ratac partanna anab asti Etihad’ People get trapped in the fruitive activity segment of the Vedas called ‘Karmakand’ because generally people in this world have material desires.
The Vedas in order to gradually bring them to the point of surrender to the Supreme Lord and to increase their state in Vedic authority, promise them material benefits. You do this sacrifice this charity. This tapasya, austerity and you will get such wisdom such heroic power, such fame, a very nice life partner, and good children. And because people have material desires, they get stuck in following these things of the Vedas; thus, many people ask why Krishna’s name is not mentioned much in the Rig, Yajur, Sam and Atharva Vedas, but that of various devatas is mentioned more. Yes, that is a fact. Krishna’s name is mentioned but not much because the Vedas mainly talk of the karmakand portion of fruitive activity. For that there is no need to disturb the Supreme Lord.
And you can approach other devatas to get your desires fulfilled. Actually, even for that, there are material desires. Also, we should approach supreme law because of its supreme power. But people are not interested in the Supreme Lord and thus the Vedas tell it’s all right. You have no interest in the Supreme Lord. You have only material desires and approach these various other devatas.
But when a person follows this karmakand a portion of material desires will be fulfilled. But even after following and fulfilling all the material aspirations, the contentment of the heart does not come. So, then a person is expected to come to the next level of knowledge that is called the Gyankand, which is mentioned in the Upanishads and is called Vedanta. It is at that point that Lord Krishna is telling Arjuna to come to at least that.
So mostly people tell, oh, there is nothing more than religious rituals. And you do this ceremony, do this fasting and you visit the temple once in a while and that’s all. What is religion? I am a very religious man.
So Krishna is telling, Please do not get stuck in these religious formalities and rise to Vedanta. The end of the Vedic knowledge, the knowledge of the Upanishads of spiritual inquiry and Krishna is telling very importantly ‘Nirit Vandu Nithya Swati Satho Niri Yoga Kshama at Navan’
The whole world is bothered about gain and safety. I want to gain more money. I want to gain more fame recognition, respect, and property in society. Or people are worried about safety once they have gained it. I may not lose it, but Krishna is telling me to be free from all anxieties about gain and safety.
Then if I simply care, yes, I will care about spiritual life. But then at least we have to bother about material affairs. If I don’t think about my gain and safety, then I will be in distress. There is a general understanding, but Krishna is telling me no. Why now? Let us see the next important verse.