Srimad Bhagavad Geeta Parama Saaram Chapter 3 Part 2 by Thirukallam Narasimharaghavachariar

[Guest guest]

Arjuna: "Oh Hrishikesa! Is this your opinion? (Please note that Arjuna

is aware at this point that Sri Krishna is Sriman Naaraayana. By asking

if this is His opinion, he means whether this is how Sri Krishna expects

the world to interpret His words and abide by it.) What is the result

of performance of actions with the mentality stated above?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! This is the hidden essence of all the Upanishads.

Those who have an understanding of My intentions and faith in My words

and act accordingly; those who are unable to act according to My

instructions, but have faith in My words; those who do not have faith in

My words, but do not have jealousy (towards Me and manifested as hatred

towards My devotees or My temples and deities), all these people are

freed from reactions to all Karmas. Those who do not perform their

scriptural rites along with Saatvika tyaaga, those who do not have faith

and those who are jealous, they are FOOLS in every respect."

 

Arjuna: "Kanna! Is it impossible to perform Jnaana Yoga with ease?"

 

Sri Krishna: Paartha! It is not possible to perform Jnaana Yoga with

ease. Impressions left behind from old karmas which now bear fruit drag

even the person who has obtained a direct perception of the soul, back

into (sinful) activities associated solely with material nature. Such

activities force the practitioner to abandon Jnaana Yoga. The human

body is designed for the practice of Karma Yoga. Even if you do not

have a taste for the performance of Karma Yoga, it is much better to

grit your teeth and do what you are most suited to do. Jnaana Yoga is

virtually impossible for a person in a materially body to successfully

practice. The practice of Karma Yoga is far superior than the practice

of the more glamorous Jnaana Yoga."

 

Arjuna: "Oh Shining beacon of the Vrishni Clan! What is this tidal wave

that washes away the mind of an individual serene due to the practice of

Jnaana Yoga, and literally forces him back into sinful life as if he has

no choice? What causes it?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! Rajo Guna causes a revival of ancient Karmic

impressions. This results in the generation of lust and excessive

eating. Lust here is the desire to possess and use other living

entities and non living substances in accordance with one's whims and

fancies. This lust changes into anger when the individual possessed by

this lust meets with resistance in his attempt to achieve his objective.

This leads him to commit more sin. Thus Rajo Guna becomes the dominant

mode (guna) in that individual's life. As Jnaana Yoga can be practiced

only when Sattva Guna dominates, Rajo Guna becomes a major obstacle in

the practice of Jnaana Yoga."

 

Arjuna: "Kanna! Please explain how lust creates obstacles?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Oh Kaunteya! Just as fire is covered by smoke, mirror by

dust, the fetus by the womb, in the same way all living beings in the

Leela vibhuti or the material world from Brahma downwards are covered by

lust. In other words, living beings which are of the nature of

knowledge, do not understand this nature of the soul, as this knowledge

is covered by lust."

 

Arjuna: "Krishna! What tools does this lust use to suppress the soul?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Oh Paandava! Lust uses the senses, mind and intelligence

which are connected with material to cover knowledge, and mesmerize the

soul in a million different ways. That is, lust prevents a person from

seeking to understand the soul, and forces that individual to covet

objects of the senses. Since the senses, mind and intelligence are the

three minions of lust, controlling the senses will become the means to

win over lust.

 

"Arjuna! Let Me tell you the greatest obstacle to knowledge. The

senses are said to be the greatest obstacles to knowledge. The mind is

superior to the senses. The intelligence is superior even to the mind.

Understand that lust is more powerful than intelligence. Use the power

of the soul (aatma Sakti) to overpower lust."

 

Thus ends the 3rd chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta. adiyen wishes to

acknowledge the help provided by Sri Anbil Ramaswamy in understanding

some of the more difficult portions of the text. Even this simplified

version itself required a lot of study and queries answered from those

with superior knowledge, before adiyen could understand what was

written. adiyen would like some feedback from those less familiar with

this scripture as to how they view this presentation.

 

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adiyen

jaganath.