BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:24

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 4:24

 

brahmarpanam brahma havir

brahmagnau brahmana hutam

brahmaiva tena gantavyam

brahma-karma-samadhina

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

brahma--spiritual in nature; arpanam--contribution; brahma--the

Supreme; havih--butter; brahma--spiritual; agnau--in the fire of

consummation; brahmana--by the spirit soul; hutam--offered;

brahma--spiritual kingdom; eva--certainly; tena--by him; gantavyam--to

be reached; brahma--spiritual; karma--in activities; samadhina--by

complete absorption.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A person who is fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness is sure to

attain the spiritual kingdom because of his full contribution to

spiritual activities, in which the consummation is absolute and that

which is offered is of the same spiritual nature.

 

PURPORT

 

How activities in Krsna consciousness can lead one ultimately to the

spiritual goal is described here. There are various activities in

Krsna consciousness, and all of them will be described in the

following verses. But, for the present, just the principle of Krsna

consciousness is described. A conditioned soul, entangled in material

contamination, is sure to act in the material atmosphere, and yet he

has to get out of such an environment. The process by which the

conditioned soul can get out of the material atmosphere is Krsna

consciousness. For example, a patient who is suffering from a disorder

of the bowels due to overindulgence in milk products is cured by

another milk product, namely curds. The materially absorbed

conditioned soul can be cured by Krsna consciousness as set forth here

in the Gita. This process is generally known as yajna, or activities

(sacrifices) simply meant for the satisfaction of Visnu, or Krsna. The more

the activities of the material world are performed in Krsna

consciousness, or for Visnu only, the more the atmosphere becomes

spiritualized by complete absorption. The word brahma (Brahman) means

"spiritual." The Lord is spiritual, and the rays of His transcendental

body are called brahmajyoti, His spiritual effulgence. Everything that

exists is situated in that brahmajyoti, but when the jyoti is covered

by illusion (maya) or sense gratification, it is called material. This

material veil can be removed at once by Krsna consciousness; thus the

offering for the sake of Krsna consciousness, the consuming agent of

such an offering or contribution, the process of consumption, the

contributor, and the result are--all combined together--Brahman, or

the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth covered by maya is called

matter. Matter dovetailed for the cause of the Absolute Truth regains

its spiritual quality. Krsna consciousness is the process of

converting the illusory consciousness into Brahman, or the Supreme.

When the mind is fully absorbed in Krsna consciousness, it is said to

be in samadhi, or trance. Anything done in such transcendental

consciousness is called yajna, or sacrifice for the Absolute. In that

condition of spiritual consciousness, the contributor, the

contribution, the consumption, the performer or leader of the

performance, and the result or ultimate gain--everything--becomes one

in the Absolute, the Supreme Brahman. That is the method of Krsna

consciousness.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.