BHAGAVAD-GITA 12:12

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 12:12

 

sreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj

jnanad dhyanam visisyate

dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas

tyagac chantir anantaram

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

sreyah--better; hi--certainly; jnanam--knowledge; abhyasat--than

practice; jnanat--than knowledge; dhyanam--meditation; visisyate--is

considered better; dhyanat--than meditation;

karma-phala-tyagah--renunciation of the results of fruitive action;

tyagat--by such renunciation; santih--peace; anantaram--thereafter.

 

TRANSLATION

 

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the

cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is

meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits

of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

 

PURPORT

 

As mentioned in the previous verses, there are two kinds of devotional

service: the way of regulative principles and the way of full

attachment in love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For those

who are actually not able to follow the principles of Krsna

consciousness it is better to cultivate knowledge, because by

knowledge one can be able to understand his real position. Gradually

knowledge will develop to the point of meditation. By meditation one

can be able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by a

gradual process. There are processes which make one understand that

one himself is the Supreme, and that sort of meditation is preferred

if one is unable to engage in devotional service. If one is not able

to meditate in such a way, then there are prescribed duties, as

enjoined in the Vedic literature, for the brahmanas, ksatriyas,

vaisyas and sudras, which we shall find in the last chapter of

Bhagavad-gita. But in all cases, one should give up the result or

fruits of labor; this means to employ the result of karma for some

good cause.

 

In summary, to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest

goal, there are two processes: one process is by gradual development,

and the other process is direct. Devotional service in Krsna

consciousness is the direct method, and the other method involves

renouncing the fruits of one's activities. Then one can come to the

stage of knowledge, then to the stage of meditation, then to the stage

of understanding the Supersoul, and then to the stage of the Supreme

Personality of Godhead. One may take either the step-by-step process

or the direct path. The direct process is not possible for everyone;

therefore the indirect process is also good. It is, however, to be

understood that the indirect process is not recommended for Arjuna,

because he is already at the stage of loving devotional service to the

Supreme Lord. It is for others, who are not at this stage; for them

the gradual process of renunciation, knowledge, meditation and

realization of the Supersoul and Brahman should be followed. But as

far as Bhagavad-gita is concerned, it is the direct method that is

stressed. Everyone is advised to take to the direct method and

surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.