CH 4, Verse 39

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Chapter 4

Verse 39

 

Shraddhaavaa.nllabhate jnaanam tat-parah

sa.nyat'endriyah /

jnaanam labdhvaa paraam shaantim

achiren'aadhigachchhati //

 

The man of faith, who is devoted and has mastered his

senses, attains this knowledge. Having gained the

knowledge he attains at once the Supreme Peace.

 

 

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 44

As taught by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji

Compiled by: Swami Dattananda

Bhaktimala, August 1996

 

"The man of faith, who is devoted and has mastered his

senses, attains this knowledge. Having gained the

knowledge he attains at once the Supreme Peace."

 

It is said in the earlier verse that there is nothing

as useful for purification as Divine knowledge. But

who is really entitled to get this knowledge? He alone

can attain this knowledge who has deep faith (Sraddha)

in God, in his Guru and the scriptures. Such a man of

faith is called Sraddhavan.

 

Faith is not a superstitious acceptance of something

which is unknown or unseen. It is a positive attitude

of the mind towards exploring and discovering the

unseen Reality. In fact, it is not blind or

superstitious. Sraddha is considered as the foremost

among the basic virtues for progress in spiritual

life. Sraddha is very akin to Bhakti. A mind full of

Sraddha (faith) and Bhakti (devotion) will be

automatically receptive to the mysteries of spiritual

life.

 

Unlike the man who possesses a mere belief, the man of

faith is intent on winning the knowledge. As such, he

becomes devoted to knowledge. In fact his faith works

as an operative force enthusing him to put his heart

and soul in his struggle to attain to the realization

of knowledge. Therefore, although devotion to the

ideal is considered the second basic qualification in

the attainment of knowledge, it is nothing but the

very stuff of faith.

 

The third one is the control of the senses. The man

who has control over his senses does not allow them to

be tied to the objects of enjoyment. Therefore his

mind does not run helter-skelter and so he is able to

concentrate it on his ideal. He easily gains the

knowledge.

 

What follows from the gain of knowledge? The supreme

peace is attained without delay. All the agonies of a

man and tensions of his earthly life are annihilated

forthwith like that of a man who dreams that he is

being attacked by bandits and when he wakes up

realizes that all his agonies were the creations of

his mind in the dream and there is nothing to be

worried and so he is at peace with himself.

 

 

 

 

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