BHAGAVAD-GITA 14:26

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 14:26

 

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

mam--unto Me; ca--also; yah--a person who; avyabhicarena--without

fail; bhakti-yogena--by devotional service; sevate--renders service;

sah--he; gunan--the modes of material nature; samatitya--transcending;

etan--all these; brahma-bhuyaya--elevated to the Brahman platform;

kalpate--becomes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all

circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and

thus comes to the level of Brahman.

 

PURPORT

 

This verse is a reply to Arjuna's third question: What is the means of

attaining to the transcendental position? As explained before, the

material world is acting under the spell of the modes of material

nature. One should not be disturbed by the activities of the modes of

nature; instead of putting his consciousness into such activities, he

may transfer his consciousness to Krsna activities. Krsna activities

are known as bhakti-yoga--always acting for Krsna. This includes not

only Krsna, but His different plenary expansions such as Rama and

Narayana. He has innumerable expansions. One who is engaged in the

service of any of the forms of Krsna, or of His plenary expansions, is

considered to be transcendentally situated. One should also note that

all the forms of Krsna are fully transcendental, blissful, full of

knowledge and eternal. Such personalities of Godhead are omnipotent

and omniscient, and they possess all transcendental qualities. So if

one engages himself in the service of Krsna or His plenary expansions

with unfailing determination, although these modes of material nature

are very difficult to overcome, one can overcome them easily. This has

already been explained in the Seventh Chapter. One who surrenders unto

Krsna at once surmounts the influence of the modes of material nature.

To be in Krsna consciousness or in devotional service means to acquire

equality with Krsna. The Lord says that His nature is eternal,

blissful and full of knowledge, and the living entities are part and

parcel of the Supreme, as gold particles are part of a gold mine. Thus

the living entity, in his spiritual position, is as good as gold, as

good as Krsna in quality. The difference of individuality continues,

otherwise there would be no question of bhakti-yoga. Bhakti-yoga means

that the Lord is there, the devotee is there and the activity of

exchange of love between the Lord and the devotee is there. Therefore

the individuality of two persons is present in the Supreme Personality

of Godhead and the individual person, otherwise there would be no

meaning to bhakti-yoga. If one is not situated in the same

transcendental position with the Lord, one cannot serve the Supreme

Lord. To be a personal assistant to a king, one must acquire the

qualifications. Thus the qualification is to become Brahman, or freed

from all material contamination. It is said in the Vedic literature,

brahmaiva san brahmapy eti. One can attain the Supreme Brahman by

becoming Brahman. This means that one must qualitatively become one

with Brahman. By attainment of Brahman, one does not lose his eternal

Brahman identity as an individual soul.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.