Gita: Ch. 18- Verse 66

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Namaste Sir Varma-ji:

 

This is one of the often quoted verse from Gita by all the three

Vedantic Schools (advaita, dwaita and Visitadvaita). The list has

discussed this verse many times and the discussions are available in

the archive using the search engine provided by the .

 

Go to advaitin/

and use the key words " Chapter 18 verse 66,' you will get 44

discussions on this subject. Members should make use of this powerful

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Sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekam sharanamvraja

Aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shuchah

 

Abondoning all duties, come to Me alone for shelter. Be not grieved

for I shall release thee from all evils. (Translation by Dr.

Radhakrishnana, Bhagavad Gita, page 378).

 

Dr. Radhakrishnan also sites this beautiful quotation from

Ruysbroeck: " He only is fit to contemplate the Divine light who is

the slave to nothing, not even to his virtues. " With unreserved

surrender to the Supreme, we will always attain total perfection.

When we didn't reach the highest level of perfection, we should know

that we didn't totally surrender our Ego!

 

Since dharmaa is a quite complex Sanskrit word and is consequently

subject to various English translations and interpretations.

 

Here is the Sankara Bhashya as translated by Swami Gambirananda:

==========================================

Abandoning all forms of rites and duties, take refuge in Me alone. I

sahll free you from all sins. (Therefore) do not grieve.

 

Sarva-dharman, all forms of rites and duties: Here the word dharma

(righteousness) includes adharma (unrighteousness) as well; for, what

is intended is total renunciation of all actions, as is enjoined in

Vedic and Smrti texts like, 'One who has not desisted from bad

actions' (Ka. 1.2.24), 'Give up religions and irreligion' (Mbh. Sa.

329.40), etc.

 

Parityajya, abandoning all rites and duties; [being a Ksatriya,

Arjuna is not qualified for steadfastness in Knowledge through

monasticism in the primary sense. Still, the Gita being meant for

mankind as a whole, monasticism is spoken of here by accepting Arjuna

as a representative man.] saranam vraja, take refuge; mam ekam, in Me

alone, the Self of all, the same in all, existing in all beings, the

Lord, the Imperishable, free from being in the womb, birth, old age

and death-by knowing that I am verily so. That is, know it for

certain that there is nothing besides Me. By revealing My real

nature, aham, I; moksayisyami, shall free; tva, you, who have this

certitude of understanding; sarva-papebhyah, from all sins, from all

bondages in the form of righteousness and unrighteousness. It has

also been stated, 'I, residing in their hearts, destroy the dark-ness

born of ignorance with the luminous lamp of Knowledge' (10.11).

Therefore, ma, do not; sucah, grieve, i.e. do not sorrow.

 

 

This is one of those verses accepted and appreciated for the insights

provided by the Lord by all the three Vedanta Schools. Though the

interpretations of this verse differ from each school's philosophical

point of view, they all concur that Ego is the primary cause of human

bondage. Does Lord Krishna really ask Arjuna to abandon all his

duties? The answer is obviously no, and to get a complete

understanding of this verse, one needs to understand His preaching in

the previous chapters. Lord Krishna's teaching of Gita to Arjuna has

been done coherently and a Gita verse or a Sanskrit term in the later

chapters requires an understanding of all previous references to the

subject matter. To larger extent clearer understanding of Gita will

also require the study of entire story of Mahabharat and the roles

played by the key personalities such as Yudhishtira, Duryodhana,

Karna, Bhisma, Drona, Dhrishtrashtra, Sanjaya and others. Some

familiarity with the key Upanishads can also be helpful to get the

complete interpretation of the message of Gita. This may explain why

we need to listen to the words and writings of great Mahatmas instead

of just reading Gita using a book and a Sanskrit dictionary. We are

quite fortunate to get engaged in this Cyber Satsangh where we are

able to explore our understanding of Lord Krishna's advice to Arjuna

with a focus on Sankara's advaita philosophy by exchanging our ideas

and view points.

 

Let us wait and hear from other scholars for their insights and

thoughts on this important verse.

 

With my warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

advaitin , Ram Varmha <varmha wrote:

>

> To the List,

>

> In Chapter 18 verse 66, of the Gita, Sri Krishna says:

>

> Sarvadharmân parityajya mâm ekam sharaNam vraja.

> Aham tvâ sarvapâbhyo mokshayishyâmi mâ shucah.

>

> What does dharmam relate to here? Is it religion or is it duty?

>

> Is he asking to renounce all other religions and dedicate

yourself to him for he shall cleanse you of your sins and grant you

Moksha?

>

> Or, is he saying: Commit to your duty and action to me and I will

relieve you of all sins contracted during that service and grant you

protection from sin accordingly?

>

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Sri Ramana Maharshi: [Talks -p. 65-66, 5th ed. 1972, Sri

Ramanashramam] -

 

" (All) Sarva is only anAtmanaH (of the non-Self); the emphsis is on

ekam (only). To the man who has strong hold of the eka (one) where

are the dharmas? It means, 'Be sunk in the Self.' .......

 

" ....Thus 'inherence in the Self' is the sum and substance of Gita

teaching.....If aman be established in the Self these doubts would

not arise. They arise only until he is established there. "

 

Q: 'Then of what use is such reply to the enquirer?'

 

" The words still have force and will surely operate in due course. "

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

 

 

advaitin , " Ram Chandran " <ramvchandran

wrote:

>

>

> This is one of the often quoted verse from Gita by all the three

> Vedantic Schools (advaita, dwaita and Visitadvaita). The list has

> discussed this verse many times and the discussions are available

in

> the archive using the search engine provided by the .

 

> Sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekam sharanamvraja

> Aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shuchah

>

> Abondoning all duties, come to Me alone for shelter. Be not grieved

> for I shall release thee from all evils. (Translation by Dr.

> Radhakrishnana, Bhagavad Gita, page 378).

>

> Here is the Sankara Bhashya as translated by Swami Gambirananda: