BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:2

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:2

 

evam parampara-praptam

imam rajarsayo viduh

sa kaleneha mahata

yogo nastah parantapa

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

evam--thus; parampara--by disciplic succession; praptam--received;

imam--this science; raja-rsayah--the saintly kings; viduh--understood;

sah--that knowledge; kalena--in the course of time; iha--in this

world; mahata--great; yogah--the science of one's relationship with

the Supreme; nastah--scattered; parantapa--O Arjuna, subduer of the

enemies.

 

TRANSLATION

 

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic

succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in

course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as

it is appears to be lost.

 

PURPORT

 

It is clearly stated that the Gita was especially meant for the

saintly kings because they were to execute its purpose in ruling over

the citizens. Certainly Bhagavad-gita was never meant for the demonic

persons, who would dissipate its value for no one's benefit and would

devise all types of interpretations according to personal whims. As

soon as the original purpose was scattered by the motives of the

unscrupulous commentators, there arose the need to reestablish the

disciplic succession. Five thousand years ago it was detected by the

Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore

He declared that the purpose of the Gita appeared to be lost. In the

same way, at the present moment also there are so many editions of the

Gita (especially in English), but almost all of them are not according

to authorized disciplic succession. There are innumerable

interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all

of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna,

although they make a good business on the words of Sri Krsna. This

spirit is demonic, because demons do not believe in God but simply

enjoy the property of the Supreme. Since there is a great need of an

edition of the Gita in English, as it is received by the parampara

(disciplic succession) system, an attempt is made herewith to fulfill

this great want. Bhagavad-gita--accepted as it is--is a great boon to

humanity; but if it is accepted as a treatise of philosophical

speculations, it is simply a waste of time.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.