|
(O grace of My Master), you are
known to be pure and generous and ever ready to give joy to your disciple. Glory
to you. The fainting fit, which results from the bite of a snake in the form
of sense-objects, does not abate without your help. If the waves of your
kindness come in floods, which will suffer from the pangs of misery or
worldly sorrow? O mother, it is through you that the disciple enjoys the
bliss resulting from yoga, and his strong desire to become one with the
Absolute is also satisfied by you. You keep him on the lap of the
Serpent-Power of the Muladhara and placing him in the cradle of the
region of the heart, you swing the cradle (1-5). You wave the light of
self-knowledge before him. Provide him with toys of self-restraint and
breath-control and adorn him with child's bliss. You give him nectar to drink
from the seventeenth phase of the moon and singing a lullaby of the unstuck
sound (Anahata), you lull him to sleep after acquainting him with the
bliss flowing from samadhi You are the mother of the seekers, and all lores
spring from your feet. Therefore, I shall never leave your cool shelter. O grace
of my master, one to whom you show mercy becomes the founder of all lores. Therefore, O magnanimous mothers,
who are the wish yielding tree to your devotees, give me leave to unfold this
literary work (6-10). Oh mother; pray help me to create oceans of the nine
sentiments, mines of figures of speech and cliffs of imports of the Gita. Let
me open up in the land of the mother-tongue mines of gold and cultivate rows
of creepers in the form of thoughts. Let there is laid out always-dense
orchards of topics of knowledge laden with the fruits of discussions. Let the
dens of atheists and the crooked ways of wranglers be destroyed and the
beasts of prey in the form of evil thinkers be driven away. Endow me with the
capacity to sing the praise of Lord Krishna and secure for the hearers the
kingdom of bliss by hearing it (11-15). Let there is abundance of divine.
Knowledge in the city of Marathi language and let the world have dealings
only in the bliss of knowledge. O mother, if you will take me under the wing
of your love, I will launch this literary work, Hearing this entreaty of the
disciple, the Guru gave him a gracious glance and said, "Now start your
discourse on the Gita without any further talk". Jnanadeva said,
"Very well, this is indeed a great favour from you. I am highly pleased
and shall continue the discourse. Please lend me your ears." Arjuna said: 1.
The devotees who, absorbed in you, worship you in this manner, and
those who (meditate) on the Imperishable of them who are more versed in yoga?
Then the heroic son of Pandu (Arjuna), the very
banner of victory of the Kuru race, said (16-20), O Lord, have you heard what
I said? I was frightened of your marvellous cosmic vision. I took refuge in
your human form, as I was accustomed to it. But you warned me that I should
not do so. Undoubtedly you exist both in the unmanifest and the unmanifest
form, the former being attainable through devotion and the latter through the
practice of yoga. These are the two pathways, which lead one to the threshold
of the manifest and unmanifest forms. But the purity of a bar of gold
weighing hundred tolas also belongs to a piece of that bar weighing three
gunas (a red berry forming the smallest weight of a jeweller). Therefore, the
worth of the limited manifest form and the all-pervading unmanifest form is
the same (21-25). The power, which subsists in the ocean of nectar
(to grant immortality), exists in a sip of nectar. My mind has already
reached this definite conclusion. But I wish to know whether the universal
form assumed by you for a moment is your true nature or is only your divine
play. You have devotees who perform all actions for your sake, hold you to be
the highest object of worship and surrender all their desires to you. Then
there are some that worship you by cherishing your unmanifest form in their
mind (26-30), which is indescribable, and beyond the Omkara, which is
imperishable and not like anything else. They meditate upon this form, which
is super-sensuous, imperceptible and not limited by time and space, with the
conviction that 'we are that Brahman'. Tell me who between the two have
apprehended the essential nature of yoga. Overjoyed at thetas query from
Arjuna, the blessed Lord, the friend of all said "O Arjuna, you know
well how to ask a question." The blessed Lord said: 2.
Those I deem the best yogis, mho imbued with supreme faith, fix their
minds on me and worship me with constant contemplation. O Partha, just when the sun goes behind the western
horizon, all his rays follow him (31-35), or a river begins to swell in the
rainy season, so the faith (of my devotees) goes on increasing as they
continue to worship me. Their devotion increases like the tidal flow of the
river Ganges, which flows in its full force all through before it joins the
sea. These devotees fixing their minds on me, worship me day and night and
dedicate their whole life to me. I consider such devotees as the best knowers
of yoga. 3.
But those who worship my unmanifest form, which is all-persuading,
beyond comprehension, unchanging, immovable, eternal, and the ineffable
Supreme Self, 4.
And mho controlling all their senses, and treating everyone alike,
remain devoted to the good of all beings, they reach me too. O Arjuna, the Jnanis try to realise the
imperishable Brahman without form (36-40). How can the senses penetrate that
in which the mental activity comes to a stop and which even reason cannot
enter? Since this Brahman is not to be found at one place, it is inaccessible
even to profound meditation. Since it is without form and exists in all forms
at all places, the mind finds it difficult to contemplate upon it and becomes
non-pulsed. It was never born nor will it ever take birth. One cannot say
whether it exists or does not exist; so no means can be found to attain it.
It neither moves nor stirs, it neither ends nor gets soiled. The Jnanis have
brought this Brahman under their control through their yogic power (41-45).
They have consigned legions of sense-objects to the area of dispassion and
have brought with great fortitude their parched senses under control. Then
they withdraw the senses (from the external objects), holding them in leash
through self-control and confine them in the cave of the heart. After closing the exit of the out-breath, they
erect the tower of mulabandha after adopting a proper posture and mudra. They
snap the bonds of hope, blast the cliffs of fears and completely dispel the
darkness of ignorance. Burning the seven fluids (dhatu) of the body by the
flames of the Mulabandha posture, they offer in sacrifice all the diseases in
the body to the six plexuses (chakras) (46-50). Then erecting the torch of
the Serpent-Power on the Muladhara they make way for it in the spinal column
right up to the head. Then closing the nine gates (of the senses) by means of
crossbars in the form of self-restraint, they open up the way in the Sushumna
nadi. They kill rams in the form of desires and buffaloes in the form of
their minds and offer their heads as oblations to the goddess Durga in the
form of the power of the vital breath. After combining the breath passages
Ida and Pingala, they speedily win the nectar in the seventeenth phase of the
moon in the loud acclamation of the unbeaten (anahata) sound. Then they
ascend the flight of steps carved out in the passage of the Sushumna nadi and
reach the brahmarandhra, the aperture in the head (51-55). After mounting the
difficult stairs of the ajnacakra and clasping in their arms the sky-region
of the head, they become united to the Supreme Brahman. In this way they,
imbued with equanimity of the mind, resort to the strenuous path of yoga in
order to attain Brahman. Those that have attained in this manner the
unmanifest Brahman in exchange of their individual life, also come to me. Do
not think that they gain something more on the strength of this yoga; if any
thing it is toil, which falls into their lap. 5.
The toil is greater for those whose minds are set on the Unmanifest;
for the goal, which is not manifest, is hard to attain by embodied persons. There are others who wish to attain without devotion
the supportless unmanifest Brahman, which does well to all living beings. But
they succumb to the temptations such as lordship of heaven and desire of
prosperity and supernatural powers, which come in their way. They have to
face many hurdles such as desire and wrath. Then will they not feel that they
have toiled in vain? They have to suppress hunger and thirst and they have to
keep the wind stirring with both hands. They have to sleep in the sun during
daytime, to derive pleasure from self-restraint and to form friendship with
trees. They have to expose their bodies to heat and cold and live in the rain
(61-65). Thus this yoga is like entering the funeral pyre by a faithful wife
everyday without having a husband. They have to carry on a continuous struggle
with death without any purpose such as serving a master or following a family
custom. Can anyone take a drought of poison, which is hot and pungent'? O
Partha, will not his mouth get torn in swallowing a hill? Therefore, those
who resort to yoga are destined to share only misery in life. Just consider,
if a toothless person were compelled to eat gram of steel, will that satisfy
his hunger or put him death (66-70)? Has anyone swum across the sea with the
help of his arms, or has anyone ever been able to walk in the sky? Has anyone
been able to ascend the steps of sun's abode without receiving a single wound
on the battlefield? Therefore, O Arjuna, just as a cripple cannot enter into
contest with the wind, so it is difficult for an embodied person to attain
the formless God. Those who, with this intense longing to attain Brahman,
work hard for it, have necessarily to suffer great afflictions. But those who
resort to the path of devotion do not have to endure such misery (71-75). 6.
But as for those who surrender all actions to Me, being solely devoted
to Me, and who meditate upon Me with exclusive yoga (of devotion), Such devotees perform willingly, with their organs
of actions, all the works falling to their lot according to their caste and
stage of life. In performing such works, they follow the scriptural
injunctions, shun prohibited actions and burn all actions by dedicating the
fruits of actions to me. In this way, by surrendering all their works to me,
they annihilate their actions. And whatever natural tendencies they possess,
whether of the body, speech or mind, are not directed anywhere except to me.
In this way they worship me without interruption and become my dwelling-place
through meditation (76-80). Leaving their poor and helpless clients namely
sensuous pleasures and salvation; they enjoy having dealings with me. In this
way, they surrender to me their body, mind and soul through exclusive
devotion and love. How can I tell you what I do for them'? I do whatever they
wish for. 7.
lift them up from the ocean of the cycle of deaths speedily, O son of
Kunti (Arjuna), their minds being fixed on Me. What more can I say'? O Arjuna, how dear is the
child to its mother? So my devotees of whatever kind are dear to me. I have
undertaken the work of relieving them of their miseries in this Kali age. Why
should my devotees feel anxious about the cycle of births and deaths? Will a
rich man's wife ever have to face the situation of having to eat uncooked
food'? (81-85) These devotees are like my pals. So if they have to face any
adverse times, is it not a blot on my honour? I feel distressed at seeing
this created world engulfed in the waves of the ocean of mortal life. Who is
not frightened of the turbulent sea of life? Therefore to save them from this
fright, I hasten to their places from time to time by assuming different
incarnations. I have delivered them out of this sea of life by constructing
boats in the form of thousand names (viz. Vishnu Sahasranama) (86-90). For
those who are single and unencumbered, I settle them in meditation; for those
who are fond of domestic life, I provide for them' boats in the form of my
names. I provide life belts of my love to some devotees and take them to the
other shore of salvation. For those who call themselves my devotees-be they
quadrupeds, I make them At for the throne of Vaikuntha. Therefore, there is
no cause of anxiety for my devotees. I am their saviour, ever ready to
protect them. When my devotees dedicate all their mental functions to me, at
that very moment they have made me predisposed towards them (91-95).
Therefore, O winner of wealth, I give you this mantra that you should take to
the path of devotion. 8.
Fix your mind on me alone, in me repose your intellect; then you shall
dwell in me alone hereafter without any doubt. O Arjuna, you fix your mind and intellect in me
with determination. You will attain to me if you combine these two and enter
my heart. Once your mind and intellect dwell in me, then how can the notion
of duality exist between us? Just as light ceases when the lamp is put out,
or the daylight vanishes when the sun sets, (96-100), so when the life-breath
leaves the body, the ego automatically goes out with the mind and the body.
Therefore fix your mind and intellect on my essential nature and then you
will become all pervasive and one with me. This I declare to you on oath that
this is the truth, without exception. 9.
If you cannot concentrate your mind finally on me, then seek to reach
Me, O winner of wealth, by repeated yoga. Or if you are not able to devote your mind, heart
and intellect in their entirety to me, then dedicate your mind to me for a
moment everyday (101-105). The moment you experience the joy of communion
with me, that very moment you will become averse to sensual pleasures. Then
as the water in the river dries up with the advent of winter, so your mind
will become free from the bonds of worldly existence. Just as the moon wanes
day by day from the full moon night to the new moon night and then
disappears, so you will become free from the sensuous enjoyments and slowly
enter my being and ultimately become one with me. Know that this is what is
called the yoga of practice. There is nothing, which cannot be attained with
its help (106-110). Among those who practice this yoga, some roam in the sky,
some tame fierce beasts such as tigers and snakes and some digest poison,
while some walk on the sea. Through this practice some have made even the
Vedas look insignificant. Therefore, there is nothing, which is difficult to
secure by this yogic practice. Therefore, try to attain to me through the
practice of yoga. 10.
If you are not capable of this repeated yoga, then be intent on
working for me; performing actions for Mg sake alone, you mill attain to
perfection. If you do not possess the capacity to take up this
yoga of practice, then keep your life-style as it is. Do not restrain the
senses, do not scale down your sensual enjoyment and do not give up the pride
of your caste (111-115). Follow your family customs, observe the rules laid
down by the scriptures and shun actions prohibited by them. Then you are free
in follow your own course of action. But whatever work you do by means of the
body, speech and mind, do not say, "I am doing this." The Supreme
Being under whose authority all the worldly affairs are carried on, knows
what is action and what is non-action. If a work is not completed, then do
not brood over it but adopt the style of life, which conforms to your caste.
Just as water follows the course as devised by the gardener, you also perform
your action, renouncing egoistic feeling (116-120). Then your intellect does
not have to bear the burden of deciding what one ought to do or avoid doing
so that the heart remains Axed on me without interruption. O Arjuna, does the
carriage ever bother about whether the road is straight or crooked'?
Therefore, whatever work you do, whether it is perfunctory or perfect,
dedicate it to me quietly. In this manner, O Arjuna, if you perform actions
with devotion, you will attain the highest form of liberation, namely
identification with me. 11.
If you are incapable of resorting to disinterested action for my sake
also, then relinquish the fruit of all actions, being self-restrained. O Partha, should you not be able to perform actions
for my sake, then think along these lines (121-125). If you think it
difficult to dedicate your action to me before you resolve to do it or after,
before you undertake it or later, then leave it alone. Even if I have pressed
you to perform actions for my sake and dedicate them to me, you need not do
so. Restrain your intellect and whenever you undertake any actions, abandon
all thought about their fruit. Just as the trees and creepers drop down their
fruits, you should also relinquish the fruits of the actions performed by
you. You need not resolve to undertake such actions and perform them for my
sake, but let them go into the Void (126-130). Like the rain fallen on a
rock, a seed sown in fire or a dream seen in sleep, let all such actions be
fruitless. O Partha, Just as a father does not entertain lewd desire for his
daughter, be you desireless for the fruits of your actions. Let your actions
become void, as the flames go waste in the sky. O Arjuna, renunciation of
fruit may appear to you as an easy path. yet it is the foremost among the
yogas. Just as a bamboo tree becomes barren once it yields fruit, so the
actions do not sprout on the relinquishment of their fruit. (131-135) Then
even in the present life, physical activities come to a stop and there is an
end to the cycle of births and deaths, O Arjuna, one attains knowledge
through study and meditation becomes possible with the attainment of
knowledge. Then the different mental states become merged in meditation,
after which all actions stop of their own accord. With the stoppage of
activity, renunciation of fruit automatically comes resulting in peace of
mind. This is the only course open, O Partha, to attain serenity of mind;
therefore you should undertake scriptural study first {136-140). 12.
Better indeed is knowledge than scriptural study; better than
knowledge is meditation; better than meditation is renunciation of the fruit
of action; from renunciation results instantaneous peace. O Partha, knowledge is more profound than
scriptural study and meditation is still more incomprehensible than
knowledge. Renunciation of fruit of actions is superior to meditation, while
the peace of mind, which comes after it, is matchless. O heroic Partha, by
following this path my devotee attains peace through these stages. 13.
He who is non-hostile, friendly and compassionate to any creature,
free from possessiveness and pride, forgiving and equable in sorrow and
happiness, As the all-pervading consciousness does not
distinguish between what is one's own and another's, so he does not entertain
hatred towards any creature. Just as mother earth does not think of giving
support only to a superior and denying it to an inferior person (141-145), or
the merciful life-breath does not say that it Will only dwell in the body of
a prince and not in that of a pauper, or water does not think of quenching
the thirst of cattle and turn itself into poison to kill tigers, so he is
equally friendly with all creatures and looks after them like an affectionate
nurse. He does not entertain the thought of "me" and
"mine" and is never affected by happiness and misery. He is
forgiving like the earth and joy lives happily in his lap (146-150). 14.
who is ever content practising yoga, self-controlled and of firm
conviction, devoted to Me with his mind and intellect - such a devote is dear
to Me. Just as the sea is ever
full of water even without rains, he is full of contestant without any formal
devices. He restrains his mind taking a vow to do so, and his determination
remains Arm till the end. The individual Self and the Supreme self dwell in
his heart in perfect unison. Endowed with abundant yoga, he also dedicates
his mind and intellect to me, and becoming purified both internally and
externally worships me with devotion and love (151-155). O Arjuna, he alone
is a devotee, a yogi and a liberated soul. I am so fond of him as if he were
my spouse-nay he is dear to me as my own Self is. But even this simile falls
short of conveying my true feeling about him. This account of a loved one is
like a magical spell, which cannot be expressed in words. I had to give
expression to it because of your strong faith. I had to give the simile of
husband and wife to denote this love; otherwise how can one describe it'? O
Arjuna, leave this alone. My love for the devotee is redoubled, when I speak
about him {156-160). And if a dear hearer happens to be near, with what can
you measure the joy that one feels? Therefore, O Arjuna, you are a loving
devotee as well as a dear hearer, and so I am giving vent to my feelings
about a loving devotee, as the occasion required it. This combination of a
devotee and hearer in you became a happy occasion for this enjoyable
conversation. Saying this the Lord began to swing backward and forward. He
added, "Please get to know the characteristics of the devotee, whom I
give a place in my heart". 15. He whom
the world does not vex, and who does not vex the world, and who is free from
joy, irritation, fear and vexation, such a one is dear to Me. A stormy sea does not
create fear in the aquatic animals and does not itself become tired of them
(164-165). In the same way, he does not become bothered because of the rude
world, nor is the world troubled because of him. O Arjuna, just as the body
is not tired of its limbs, he does not become weary of the living creatures.
This is because he knows that I am the life, which dwells in all of them. As
he looks upon the world as his own body, all thoughts of people being dear or
disagreeable to him, leave him. In this way, the notion of duality leaves him
and he does not feel joy or anger. I am enamoured of him who becomes free
from the pairs of opposites such as pleasure and pain or fear and sorrow and
worships me. How can I describe to you how I feel attracted to him'? In
short, he lives only for my sake (166-170). He who is satiated by the bliss
flowing from Self-knowledge, and who has attained the highest aim of life,
becomes wedded to perfection. 16. He who is
inexpectant, pure, adroit, indifferent and without worry, and who has
renounced every undertaking, such a devote of Mine is dear to Me. O Arjuna, he is free from
all expectations and his mind is full of increasing happiness. The holy place
of Kashi is known for its generous gift of salvation, but for that, one has
to part with his body there. Our sins are washed off in the Himalayas, but
one has to risk his life in going there. However the purity in the saints is
not dangerous like that. The sacred water of the Ganges removes all sins and
mental afflictions, but one is likely to get drowned there (171-175). Like
the water of the Ganges the knowledge of the saints is deep and fathomless.
But the devotee does not sink in their company; instead he becomes liberated
even while living. The river Ganges gets rid of its sins by coming into
contact with the saints (when they bathe in it). How superior in purity must
be this contact of the saints? A saint by his purity lends support even to
holy waters and drives away sinful thoughts from the minds (of those who come
in contact with him). He is as clean and spotless in and out as the sun
itself, and attains the experience of Brahman in the same way as a person
born with his legs foremost sees a treasure buried under the earth. Just as
the sky is all- pervasive and unattached, so his mind, while pervading all,
is detached (176-180). Like a bird, which has escaped from the hands of a
hunter and has shed fear, he becomes desireless and free from the anxiety of
worldly life. He is ever blissful and
does not feel the pricking of any worldly thing, like a dead body which is
not ashamed of its nakedness. He does not suffer from egoism while performing
any work. Just as fire is extinguished when it is not fed with firewood, he
attains peace and his name is recorded on the checkerboard of liberation. In
this way, he who has attained union with the In this way he who has attained
union with Supreme Self reaches the other shore transcending duality
{181-185). Dividing himself into two parts and designating one as the devotee
and the other as God, he experiences the bliss of devotion and demonstrates
to a non-devotee the proper way of devotion. I am fond of such a devotee and
he becomes the object of my meditation. In short, I find great satisfaction,
when I come across such a devotee. Incarnating myself I come to this world
for his sake and he is so dear to me that I wave my life as a lamp before
him. 17. He who
does not rejoice or resent, who does not grieve or crave, and who renounces
good and evil, such a devotee is dear to Me. He does not value any
thing as good as the realisation of the Self and so he does not derive any
pleasure from sensual enjoyments (186-190). Since he has become fully
conscious that he himself is the universe and got rid of the notion of
duality, he does not entertain any feeling' of hatred for anyone. He is fully
convinced that his true nature will remain indestructible even at the end of
the epoch, and so does not lament the loss of anything. Since he has himself
become Brahman beyond which there is nothing, he has no desire for anything.
Just as the right and day do not exist for the sun, he does not distinguish
between good and bad things. Although he has attained the state of
uninterrupted knowledge, he still remains lovingly devoted to me (191-195). I
say on oath that no one else is so truly dear to me as this devotee. 18. He who is
alike to friend and foe, as also in honour and dishonour, the same in heat
and cold in happiness and sorrow free from attachment, O Arjuna, he does not
have even a trace of hostile feeling and so treats equally both a friend and
an enemy. Just as a lamp does not think of giving light only to the inmates
of the house and withhold it from strangers, or a tree gives shade without
distinction to one who has planted it or one who has come to cut it, or
sugarcane is not sweet to one who grows it or bitter to one who extracts
juice from it squeezing it in a press, (196-200), so O Arjuna, he behaves
evenly with friend and foe alike and regards honour and dishonour with the
same feeling. Like the sky, which remains the same in all seasons, he treats
equally heat and cold. Just as the Meru mountain remains unmoved while facing
the southern or the northern wind, he remains unaffected by pleasure or pain,
He treats all living beings equally like the moon-light which gives equal
pleasure to a prince and a pauper.. Just as the entire world craves for
water, so, all the three worlds are fond of him and like to have him as their
own (201-205). Thus my devotee sheds love and attachment in and out for
sensuous pleasures and remains in solitude Axing his mind on my essential
nature. 19. who is
equable in praise or blame, silent and content with whatever comes, homeless
and firm of mind, such a devote is dear to Me. He is not distressed by
hearing slander or elated by praise. As the sky remains unaffected by its contact
with the clouds, he treats evenly both slander and praise and moves with an
even temper in public and in solitude. (As his mind is free from desires]
whatever he utters whether true or false does not affect his silence and he
does not become satiated while experiencing the Brahmin State beyond the
mind. Just as the sea never dries up in the absence of the rains, he never
feels joy at any gain nor is he dejected at any loss (206-210). Like the wind
who never remains at one place and 1s constantly on the move everywhere, he
does not resort to a house and regards the whole world as his home. He is
fully convinced that the entire universe is his home-nay, he has himself
become the entire universe, both movable and immovable. Even in this state he
remains still zealously devoted to me. I treat such a one as my crown and
place him on my head. It is no wonder that one should bend one's head before
such an exalted person. So all the three worlds honour him by taking the holy
water of his feet (211-215). One should make Lord Shiva as his guru and learn
from him how to show respect to the object of one's faith. But leave this
alone. To praise Lord Shiva is
really to indulge in self-praise and so this is not an apt illustration. I
wish to reiterate that I bear my devotee on my head. Even when my devotee has
secured in his hand liberation, the fourth object of man's existence, he
still follows the path of devotion and sets an example to the world. As a
priest of emancipation, he decides who should get liberation and who should
not, and yet he remains lowly like water (216-220). Therefore, I bow to him,
hold him on my head and bear the mark of his heel on my chest. I embellish my
speech by singing his praise and adorn my ears by hearing his encomiums.
Though without eyes, I acquire vision to satisfy my strong longing to gaze at
him. I worship him by offering him the lotus in my hand and take on two more
arms in order to clasp him in a close embrace. Though I am formless, I have
assumed a body in order to enjoy his companionship. In short, I am so fond
him that I cannot describe my feeling for him by an appropriate simile
(221-225). I feel somewhat strange in calling him my bosom friend. Those who
pra1se him after hearing his life-story are also as dear to me as my life. O
Arjuna, the yoga that I have described to you so far from the start is none
other than the yoga of devotion. This devotee is so great that I shower My
love on him, meditate upon him and bear him on my head. 20. Those who
partake of this elixir of duty as is taught herein with faith, being solely
absorbed in Me- such devotees are exceedingly dear to Me. Those who hear this talk
of yoga, which is sweet like a shower of nectar and accords with duty and
turn it into self-experience (226-230), develop an expanding faith and
respect for yoga and practice it, after holding it securely in their heart.
If they have attained a state of mind as described by me, they realise its
fruit as from the best seed sown in a fertile field. But only those who bear
loving devotion towards me and regard me as their all-in-all and as their
ultimate goal, are my true devotees and yogis and it is for them that I feel
a strong longing. Those who are fond of hearing tales of devotion are the
holy waters, the sacred places and the holy ones (231-235). I meditate on
them, they are the objects of my worship, and I hold none else as superior to
them. I am extremely fond of them, who are our treasure and I find great
satisfaction in meeting them. But, O Arjuna, I esteem those who take delight
in recounting the tales of devotees as great gods. Thus spoke Mukunda, the
primal seed of the universe, the giver of joy to his devotees, said Sanjaya
to Dhritarashtra. He added: O King, the Lord of Vaikuntha who is pure and
perfect, merciful to the people, protector of those who have surrendered to
him and are At for such surrender (236-240), whose constant sport is to
render help to gods, to cherish and protect the worlds and those who have
submitted to him, who is famous as the saviour of religion, who is the same
to all because of his boundless generosity, who although powerful, became the
bondman of Bali, who is compassionate to his devotees and frank with those
who love him, who is the bridge which goes starlight to the Truth, and the
very treasure-house of arts, is speaking and lucky Arjuna is listening. Now I
shall continue the tale, which Lord Krishna will recount to Arjuna, so said
Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra (241-245). Jnanadeva says, listen to the same story,
which will be translated in Marathi. I have been taught by my Guru
Nivrittinatha to render this service to you (246-247). [ Top
] |
