Srimad Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 4 Part 1 Parama Saaram by Thirukallam Narasimha Raghavachariar

[Guest guest]

In the fourth chapter, Sri Krishna explained how at the beginning of the

manvantara (there are 14 manvantaras in one day of Brahma. There are

also 1,000 yugas during one day of Brahma. On manvantara roughly lasts

for about 308.5 million years. Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita as it

is gives the time of the Geeta being taught by Sri Krishna to the Sun

god at 120.4 million years ago.), He taught the concept of Karma Yoga

for the spiritual upliftment of all fallen souls. By emphasizing the

fact that He explained Karma Yoga, Sri Krishna underscores its

superiority. By stating that Jnaana Yoga is contained within Karma

Yoga, Sri Krsihna shows that Karma Yoga itself is a form of Jnaana Yoga.

The nature of Karma Yoga is knowledge. Jnaana Yoga is the principal

yoga among the various sub divisions of Karma Yoga. Incidentally, the

secret behind Sriman Naaraayana's incarnations are stated. This is the

essence of the fourth chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Geeta.

 

Sri Krishna: "Oh Arjuna! Don't think that I taught you Karma Yoga to

instigate you to fight the war and to get you motivated. I taught Karma

Yoga as a means to liberation for all living entities drowning in the

ocean of nescience within the material world. Surya taught this to Manu

and Manu to Ikshvaaku. Learning this Karma Yoga as a part of family

tradition, it was mastered by Raajarshis like Ashwapti, Janaka and

Ambarisha. For various reasons, the understanding of this Yoga was

lost. Since you are devoted to Me and surrendered to Me, I am teaching

you this science of Karma Yoga complete with all its components and

accessories. At this point there is no one other than Myself, with a

complete understanding of this Yoga, or with the ability to teach it.

Therefore, it has become a well preserved secret within the realms of

the Upanishads incapable of being expressed by the written word."

 

Arjuna: "You and I are contemporaries. Surya was born prior to the

current cycle of four yugas. How am I to mentally accept your statement

that You taught this to Surya at the beginning of the manvantara?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Paartha! Are you implying that in your mind, an

individual is capable of having only one life?"

 

Arjuna: "I was not thinking like that."

 

Sri Krishna: "Then are you saying that since you do not remember what

you have learnt in previous lifetimes, it is difficult for you to accept

the fact that I remember what I taught in prior lifetimes?"

 

Arjuna: "Oh Paramapurusha! I am well aware of the fact that great souls

like Jada Bharata remembered events from previous lives."

 

Sri Krishna: "Dhananjaya! Are you wondering how this Son of Vasudeva

can remember everything that happened 120 million years ago, during this

lifetime?"

 

Arjuna: "Hrishikesa! Great souls are known to talk about events that

took place way before their lifetime. I am well aware of the fact that

You are all knowing and a silent witness to all events taking place

everywhere. Devarishis like Narada, and Maharishis like Asita, Devala

and Vyasa have taught the universe that You are the Para Brahman and Adi

Kesava (the ancient creators of the primary gods like Brahma and Siva).

You Yourself have told me that You are the Lord of all that exists.

Therefore, I am well aware that You, Vaasudeva are the Lord of All."

 

Sri Krishna: "Kaunteya! What is the (hidden) implication behind your

question?"

 

Arjuna: "Vaasudeva! (1) You as the destroyer of everything loathsome,

gets rid of the cycle of birth and death for others. Will You then

consent to this appalling process of taking birth in a material body

resulting in an endless cycle of birth, death, old age etc?

 

(2) You are Kalyaanaika daanan or the bestower of auspiciousness. What

gain is there for a person who is blissful by nature, in taking birth in

a material body?

 

(3) You are Sarveshwara or the Lord of all. If there existed a person

superior to You, You could then be made to experience birth, death etc

subject to that superior person's will. When no such person exists, why

would You accept a material body?

 

(4) You are Sarvajnan or Omniscient or One who knows everything that

goes on everywhere at all times. Only someone without knowledge of what

brings about good and what causes evil can fall into the trap of a

material body, because of His limited intelligence. Why will you take

birth in this land of ignorance which is shunned by even the gods?

 

(5) Satya Sankalpa! Even a person with the knowledge of discrimination

between good and evil, ends up committing evil while intending to do

good (literally jumps into slush while thinking that he will land on dry

land). The same cannot be said about You, since what You Will is the

truth, and whatever You Will, that gets done.

 

It cannot even be said that You incarnate to protect the world. You are

perfectly capable of achieving that by Your mere Will.

 

(6) You are the fulfillment of all desires. You are the possessor of

all auspiciousness. You have nothing to gain by incarnating here. Why

did You show up as the Son of Vasudeva? This is the purport of my

question."

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! Is My birth true, or did I conjure up this body?

Is this your first question?"

 

Arjuna: "Yes."

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! Both You and I have gone through many, many

births before. I remember them all, both yours and Mine. You do not

remember them. Paartha! Just as your consider all your births to be

true, My births are equally true."

 

Arjuna: "Kanna! What is the nature of these births? Is it separate

from Your nature or combined with Your nature? Is Your body material or

spiritual? What is the reason for Your taking births?"

 

Sri Krishna: "I am One who is not subject to birth or destruction. I,

who am the Lord of all living entities and non living substance, take

birth by My own will, in My transcendental nature. In other words, My

body is not made up of the combination of material elements of sattva,

rajas and tamas, as is everything else in this world. I descend in My

hold and auspicious form made up of pure Sattva guna by My own free

Will."

 

Arjuna: "When do You take birth?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Bharata! There are no time restrictions for My

incarnation. In any age (yuga), when there is a decay in the rites to

be practiced by the four castes and the four stages (ashramas) within a

person life in each caste; when there is a rise in the practice of

irreligious activities among the population; at that time, I incarnate

Myself."

 

Arjuna: "Kanna! Why do You incarnate?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! I protect those pious souls who are devoted to

Me. I destroy evil creatures. Besides this, in order to re-establish

the highest principles of life, I incarnate age after age."

 

Arjuna: "Vaasudeva! All my doubts have been cleared. Is there any

benefit to understanding the real (hidden) truth about Your

incarnations?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! That person who, while meditating on Me,

considers My incarnations to be wondrous; My pastimes to be

transcendental or extraordinary beyond anything that can be conceived

upon in the material world; he is relieved of all sins. When he gives

up this body, he reaches me without taking birth in another material

body."

 

Arjuna: "Kesava! Are there those that meditate upon the secret of Your

incarnation?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Oh son of Kunti! There are many pure souls, who by

performing the austerity of meditating upon My incarnations, have been

relieved of the sins which stand in the way of their liberation. These

people have sought MY protection and have attained to My (spiritual)

nature."

 

Arjuna: "Oh Kannabiran! You, who has no birth, incarnate and bless

those who seek Your protection! Oh how easy it is to obtain Your mercy

(literally what saulabhyam)!"

 

Sri Ranganatha temple desperately needs YOUR SUPPORT at this time.

Please tell your friends and write that check! Pennies add up. If we

can come up with a combination of pledges, loans, guarantees of

$100,000.00, the bank will give the temple a loan of $500,000.00 For

the purpose of construction, Each penny you contribute now will multiply

5 times. For those residing in America, this will be the divya kshetram

that we can reach with ease, where our Sampradayam can be followed

without hesitation. Please circulate this to all of your friends.

Sriman Narayana's will reciprocate with a blessing in this world that

will be beyond what we can imagine. This has been promised in all the

Sastras, for this project has been undertaken under the instructions of

the holiest of all souls to have walked on the surface of the earth this

century, the Mahaan who built the Raja Gopuram in Srirangam, Srimate

Srivan Satakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yateendra Mahadesikan.

 

Send your tax deductible check to Sri Ranganatha Temple. 117 Demarest

Mill Road, West Nyack, NY 10994. or visit

 

http://dileepan.busi.utc.edu/ahboard.html

 

for monthly direct debits from your bank account. adiyen apologizes for

the fact that the above address could not be reached during some of

adiyen's previous postings. The error has been fixed and the forms can

be downloaded now.

 

adiyen

jaganath.