BHAGAVAD-GITA 10:35

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 10:35

 

brhat-sama tatha samnam

gayatri chandasam aham

masanam marga-sirso 'ham

rtunam kusumakarah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

brhat-sama--the Krhat-sama; tatha--also; samnam--of the Sama Veda

songs; gayatri--the Gayatri hymns; chandasam--of all poetry; aham--I

am; masanam--of months; marga-sirsah--the month of November-December;

aham--I am; rtunam--of all seasons; kusuma-akarah--spring.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Of the hymns in the Sama Veda I am the Brhat-sama, and of poetry I am

the Gayatri. Of months I am Margasirsa [November-December], and of

seasons I am flower-bearing spring.

 

PURPORT

 

It has already been explained by the Lord that amongst all the Vedas,

He is the Sama Veda. The Sama Veda is rich with beautiful songs played

by the various demigods. One of these songs is the Brhat-sama, which

has an exquisite melody and is sung at midnight.

 

In Sanskrit, there are definite rules that regulate poetry; rhyme and

meter are not written whimsically, as in much modern poetry. Amongst

the regulated poetry, the Gayatri mantra, which is chanted by the duly

qualified brahmanas, is the most prominent. The Gayatri mantra is

mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Because the Gayatri mantra is

especially meant for God realization, it represents the Supreme Lord.

This mantra is meant for spiritually advanced people, and when one

attains success in chanting it, he can enter into the transcendental

position of the Lord. One must first acquire the qualities of the

perfectly situated person, the qualities of goodness according to the

laws of material nature, in order to chant the Gayatri mantra. The

Gayatri mantra is very important in Vedic civilization and is

considered to be the sound incarnation of Brahman. Brahma is its

initiator, and it is passed down from him in disciplic succession.

 

The month of November-December is considered the best of all months

because in India grains are collected from the fields at this time and

the people become very happy. Of course spring is a season universally

liked because it is neither too hot nor too cold and the flowers and

trees blossom and flourish. In spring there are also many ceremonies

commemorating Krsna's pastimes; therefore this is considered to be the

most joyful of all seasons, and it is the representative of the

Supreme Lord, Krsna.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.