This is the second part of the two-part article published on the occasion of the 2018 Tyāgarāja Ārādhana Utsavam, which falls on today's date. — Editors Bhakt...
Prekshaa is glad to bring out a special two-part article on the occasion of Tyāgarāja Ārādhana 2018, which falls on January 6th this year. This also happens to...
If we are to preserve our culture and heritage, it is imperative that we acquaint our children with it. Teaching them Sanskrit is a necessary preliminary step t...
(Karmayoga) yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko’yaṃ । karma-bandhana iti jānīhi satyam ॥ karma-phalāsaṅgaṃ tyaktvaiva santṛptaḥ । karma kurvannapi kar...
itthaṃ rāmāyaṇe dṛśyā gītā-tātparya-mūrtayaḥ । īśa-prītyā loka-saṃsthā-kṣemārthaṃ datta-jīvitāḥ ॥11॥ The personification of the Gītā’s teachings are thu...
Was dharma established? When Arjuna said he would not fight, what did Svāmi say? He said, “I stand for upholding dharma. This war is for the sake of that. This...
A similar example can be seen even in business : (1) Adhiṣṭhāna = Capital and site of business (2) Kartā: the businessman’s and his knack (3) Karaṇa: the stock...
There are two opposite energies hidden in music. One excites, inflames, and disturbs the mind. The other steadies it and calms it down. One helps in concentrati...
We said in (5) that time is when existence is comprehended. Comprehension is the characteristic of the ātmā. That itself is ‘cit’ or ‘cicchakti’. Existence i...
In our country, it is not difficult to find instances where extreme religiosity makes one forget worldly duties. It is quite common to find educated people who,...
Bhakti-Karma-Jñāna Our philosophical literature is replete with analyses about the superiority of either one of bhakti, karma or jñāna. This also features as o...
Adhyāropa-Apavāda[1] When we have to explain a completely unknown entity to someone, we first try to describe a thing he is familiar with, and at least partial...
The great Bhartṛhari says thus: maheśvare vā jagatām adhīśvare janārdane vā jagad-antarātmani । ṇa vastubheda-pratipattir-asti me tathā’pi bhaktis-taruṇe...
This is also called the bhramara-kīṭa-nyāya. A bee captures a worm with the intention to eat it, and keeps it in front of it, waiting for the vim of the worm to...
The result of human love is also the same. When a mother feeds her baby, dresses it up, and cuddles it, what does she expect in return? She only desires for her...
The study of five aspects Let us now examine the difference between the three matas. Each mata has its many subtle processes and detailed specifications. That...
The differences between the three matas are due to the various interpretations of the Śruti and not because of their acceptance or otherwise of Vedic testimony....
A Subtle Concept The truth explained in this appendix is that of the paramārtha. We have explained earlier that truth is of three kinds: (1) vyāvahārika...
One thing is established from this discussion of the history of philosophy; even though the testimony of the Vedas is necessary for all the three matas, since n...
Vedanta is not antithetical to Christism or Islam. Even if we say that divine principle resides outside man, Vedanta does not say that it is wrong. antarbah...
Thoughts on the Three Matas It has become common practice among us — notably among Brahmins — and especially among those who think they have understood the ess...
udāracaritānām tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam || bāndhavā viṣṇubhaktāśca svadeśo bhuvanatrayam || This is the opinion of the Gītā. When contact with foreign...
Principle is more important than practice Whatever be the turmoil due to changing times, we should remember that it is related to our outer life and that it do...
About the relationship between husband and wife In recent days, a school of political thought known as socialism is making a lot of commotion. Taking birth amo...
Now, with the advent of democracy, our lives are full of constant turmoil. The king reigned over a kingdom that was subject to rule by a single ruler. Democracy...
But then, what is the use of lamenting over that? There is another side to this topic. We see this kind of admixture only among the rarefied urban population. T...
Having now reflected upon the steps to attain the right level of eligibility, let us think once again about the four problems due to changing times. 1) The det...
What about the jñānī? He too has to perform karma but instructing him is not necessary. He performs karma without any guidance. Karma is imperative as long as t...
Let us now remember and discuss these in some detail. 1) The pre-eminence of the self: The ātmā (self) is the essence of all beings. Whenever man thinks, "I","...
The Gītā is not a treatise with a limited outlook for one set of people. It is beneficial to the entire humankind. We firmly believe that the principles taught...
Section 20 / Conclusion We had a second look at the Gītā. What did we gain for our own use? Whatever be the śāstra or art that we set out to learn, there...
2. Universal self-hood (Atmaupamya): is the perfection of knowledge; its ripe fruit. Intellectual conviction is achieved via reflection upon the śāstras a...
How can there be adharma for one established in the origin of dharma? For such a person, there is no other object or being than Brahma. Whence pāpa for him? The...
A doubt here. "sarvadharmān parityajya" (having given up all dharmas), "māmekaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja" (surrender unto Bhagavān alone) - is the instruction. Fine. What...
There was a rich man I knew. When all members of his household were asleep, he would enter his room with a small lantern, open his iron safe, noiselessly remove...
There is a set of rules for the riders on the merry-go-round. The rider should proceed in his path and not collide with those ahead of him and those who follow...
Let us now look at a story. A story There was a wedding in our village in the house of the landlord Shamarao. Shamarao was wealthy and generous. His kin by ma...
In the phrase, īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānām, īśvara is not to be taken as the same as the absolute aspect of Parabrahma. Īśvaratva is an aspect or a state of Parabrahm...
The nature of aparigraha (non-acceptance of superfluous material wealth) is well described in the story of Uṣasti in the Chāndogyopaniṣad. Uṣasti was a brāhmaṇ...
asaktabuddhiḥ sarvatra jitātmā vigataspṛhaḥ | naiṣkarmyasiddhiṃ paramāṃ saṃnyāsenādhigacchati || BG 18.49 The word naiṣkarmya is used repeatedly in t...
Qualities like truth and purity are not the special property of brahmins. They are to be practised by others as well. Why did we specially mention them as brahm...
While bringing up a baby, is one who feeds milk superior and one who cleans the cradle is inferior? Is the person who rocks the cradle superior to the one who t...
In our times, the question of why is a brāhmaṇa given more importance has become more and more vociferous. The answer to that is in the description of the above...
Impurities comprise impressions carried over from many lives, or natural temperaments — different tastes, wavering wants and infatuations, etc. Thus, the uncons...
There are three types of pleasure as well. yat-tadagre viṣamiva pariṇāme’mṛtopamam । tat-sukhaṃ sāttvikaṃ proktam ātma-buddhi-prasādajam ॥ BG 18.37...
Let us look at Śrī Rāmānujācārya’s commentary for the above sūtra. The interpretations of the three schools of Vedanta differ from one another only in parts whe...
The summary is this. Daiva is hidden, a secret. It comes suddenly and unexpectedly, and cannot be grasped by the logic of causality. The word in Saṃskṛta is “āk...
Since saṃsāris are thus different from saṃnyāsis, the interest and regard of saṃsāris towards karma is different from that of saṃnyāsis. However,the meaning tha...
Managing the family is a vrata. Marriage is a dharmic ritual. The transactions with the world that is done for these are opportunities for performing dharma. Ho...
A gṛhastha performs karmas out of desire — for the wellbeing of his wife and children and for the sake of his friends and relatives. Worldly life becomes possib...
Note sapta-daśādhyāya-gaḻoḻ Vistarisida dharma-tattva-gaḻan-īgaḻ saṃ- । kṣiptadi peḻvaṃ guru tan- nāpta-sakha-vyāja-diṃde loka-hitārthaṃ ॥ 1 ॥ For t...
Let us now reflect a little upon its meaning. 1.Om tasmādomityudāhṛtya yajñadānatapaḥkriyāḥ | pravartante vidhānoktāḥ satatam brahmavādinām || BG 17.2...
Arjuna now asks ye śāstravidhimutsṛjya yajante śraddhāyānvitāh । teṣāṃ niṣṭhā tu kā kṛṣṇa sattvamāho rājastamah ॥ BG 17.1 Some people in the world po...
There are four kinds of activities of the buddhi. The first is analysis which means separating the object of inquiry into its constituent elements. The second i...
Note śraddhèyoḻamirpudu trai- vidhyaṃ prakṛtijaguṇatrayāgatamadariṃ | buddhi samaṃtoṃtatsad- baddhamiral śraddhèyaduve saṃsiddhikaram || There are three...
Therefore, it does not mean that belief in śāstra means that the buddhi is going to stop working. In the sixth chapter, Bhagavān himself has explained how impor...
It is not possible for ordinary people to know the path of dharma by their own judgment, without the guidance of Śruti and Smṛti. Their knowledge is limited; th...
In the Rāmāyaṇa, after Daśaratha left to the heavenly abode, when Bharata begged Rāma to return to Ayodhyā and become the king, Srirāma says the following -...
All the above are sāttvika qualities. “Abhijāta” means one who is born after performing puṇya. Such a person is blessed with daivī qualities. Whoever thinks he...
Note manujaṃ daivāsurala- kṣaṇamiśritanavana jagakè kaṭṭuva saṃpad- guṇamāsuram adariṃ mo- canèyāgipa saṃyamādigaḻè daivya-dhanaṃ ॥ Man is an admixt...
Let us now conclude this topic. The jīva has come in contact with the saṃsāra-tree. The root of that tree is in the supreme position (“parame vyoman”). In its l...
We saw in the previous Bhāgavata śloka a mention of two birds in the primordial tree - dvikhago hyādivṛkṣaḥ. When there is a tree, there is usually a bird in it...
What is the reason behind the name aśvattha for a tree thus extolled in the Veda? Śvaḥ in Saṃskṛt means tomorrow. Śvastha is something that will exist tomorrow...
Introduction parākṛtanamadbandhaṃ paraṃbrahma narākṛti | saundaryasārasarvasvaṃ vande nandātmajaṃ mahaḥ || I bow to that Supreme Brahma in human form that d...
A relevant matter here needs discussion. Bhagavān says that the three guṇas have to be transcended or sublimated. Good. But even to transcend those guṇas, a guṇ...
What is a guṇa? A certain innate characteristic or natural power of a thing that causes affinity or otherwise with another thing is its guṇa. Thus the guṇa is a...
Introduction vaṃśī-vibhūṣita-karān-navanīradābhāt pītāmbarādaruṇa-bimba-phalādharoṣṭhāt | mugdhendu-sundara-mukhādaravinda-netrāt kṛṣṇāt-paraṃ kim-api ta...
The object that is water, is H2O for a chemist, and ambrosia for a thirsty man. The satiating and refreshing potential imperceptible in hydrogen and oxygen was...
Thus, the Parabrahma is conducting the activities of the universe in three forms — prakṛti, jīva and Īśvara. yāvatsaṃjāyate kiñcit sattvaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam...
How is Brahma? sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tat sarvatokṣi-śiro-mukham । sarvataḥ śrutimalloke sarvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhati ॥ BG 13.14 “Its limbs are everywhere, as...
Introduction ekam-evādvayam-arūpaṃ brahmam-avyayam-akriyaṃ svīkarisi nijabhogakèṃdu śarīra-vividha-sahasramaṃ । prākṛtāsvādyagaḻa madhuviṃ tannane tāṃ mare...
Śrī Kanakadāsa, the great mystic, said this - Ṣaḍurasadannakè nalidāḍuva jihvè । kaḍurucigoṃbuva ruciguṇa ninadayya ॥ (Yours is the tongue that enjoys fo...
Well, then, is this path — performing one’s duties with the sole purpose of pleasing Bhagavān — an easy journey? Śrīkṛṣṇa himself was uncertain about it. Bhagav...
Introduction dhyānābhyāsa-vaśīkṛtena manasā tannirguṇaṃ niṣkriyaṃ jyotiḥ kiñcana yogino yadi paraṃ paśyanti paśyantu te । asmākaṃ tu tadeva locana-camatkār...
Śrī Kṛṣna was satisfied with this entreaty; Arjuna had been put on the path; his internal transformation was complete. Bhagavān felt certain that Arjuna was rea...
Here, by “divine eyes” we do not need to imagine a pair of extra-physical eyes with their own eyeballs and eyelids. It is enough to think that Bhagavān endowed...
Introduction āvudò viśvarahasyaṃ jīvāṃgaṇakiḻidu janada sukhaduḥkheccā-| dyāveśadi sahabhāgivò- lāvirbhavisidudu kṛṣṇananènipa vicitram || This strange...
Arjuna’s mind is gaining maturity. Didn’t Bhagavān say – dadāmi buddhi-yogam... BG 10.10 What is buddhi-yoga? Buddhi is a faculty of the antaḥkaraṇa. M...
Note nija-mahimeyan-īśaṃ tā- n-ajan-avyayan-aprameya-navaviliptaṃ meṇ । tri-jagad-vyāptaṃ śaktaṃ bhajanīyaṃ kāmyaneṃbudaṃ baṇṇisuvam ॥ Īśvara, the...
Those who follow the āsurī form of prakṛti delude and waste themselves. moghāśā moghakarmāṇo moghajñānā vicetasaḥ BG9.12 The rākṣasas are cruel and uns...
7. "Mamātmā bhūtabhāvanaḥ" : Brahma-consciousness is the cause of a jīva's rise and fall. The term bhāvanaḥ can variously mean birth, existence, sustenance, or...
4. Now on to "na matsthāni bhūtāni". Was it not said earlier that matsthāni bhūtāni (all objects are in me)? But when we analyse reality, the objects do not exi...
The two ślokas beginning with “Mayā tatamidaṁ” have the following seven points. Mayā tatam-idam (All of this is pervaded or extended by me) Mat-sthāni sar...
Note sarvagatamirdum ātmaṃ nirvikṛtaṃ sarvaśaktam adu niṣkarmam । nirvairaṃ sarvasamaṃ nirvṛtidaṃ patrasumajalārpakariṃgam ॥ The ātmā, though all-pervad...
The Importance of Feeling During dhyāna, it is not syllables that are important, neither are sound or meaning. Feeling is paramount. The syllable is a means to...
Note Brahmavadeṃ jīvavadeṃ । Karmavadeṃ bhautadaivayajñaṃgaḻadeṃ ॥ Gamyavadeṃ dhyeyamadeṃ । Samyagbodhanéyanintu pārthaṃ beḍal ॥ What is Brahma? What is...
Māyā Why does this discernment of thought not exist normally in people? Bhagavān answers: māyāyā’pahṛtajñānāḥ Māyā has taken away the discerning ability...
The State of Īśvara From the perspective of the visible world, the invisible and divisionless part of the universe, Supreme Brahman is known as Īśvara or Param...
Summary Whatever is essential and uniquely great in this world is to be understood as a salient mark of Brahma’s power. Whatever quality endows a thing with us...
Accomplishment through Practice It looks as though this principle appealed to Arjuna’s mind, in the course of teaching of the true nature of the ātmā. However,...
Limiting Pleasures It is not required for a sādhaka practising dhyāna to adhere to valiant restrictions on food and other diversions. His sitting posture shoul...
The Advantage of Performing Karma The idea that the mind becomes pure by performing karma should be examined before acceptance. Even if one is selfish while pe...
Note jñānārhaté saṃnyāsādé saṃnyasipudu karmaphalavano karmavano| enaṃ karmadoḷillaṃ tānénuvudu seré karmadóḷagadu kaluṣaṃ|| Saṃnyāsa makes one fit for...
The Three Maxims of the Yoga of Action If we consider the instruction of the Gītā as valuable in all places and at all times, the principles of karmayoga apply...
The Vision of Equality (Sama-darśana) This is a famous śloka. What does – sama-darśana - the vision of equality mean? Does equality imply that both the elephan...
The Actionless Ātmā The whole of creation is thus created from Brahma’s power, Brahma’s līlā. It is enjoying ānanda (bliss) causing all these actions. Why...
The Steadfastness in Yoga of a Jñānī yuktaḥ karmaphalaṃ tyaktvā śāntimāpnoti naiṣṭhikīm ayuktaḥ kāmakāreṇa phale sakto nibadhyate (BG 5.12) The word “...
The phrase hita-nirata (engaged in welfare) does not involve merely uttering homilies. It means those who internally resolve to act towards universal welfare an...
Prologue to Chapter 5 ಬೋಧಿಸಿದೆ ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗವ ಬೋಧಿಸಿದಿದಯ್ ಸಂನ್ಯಸನವನುಮನಾ ದ್ವಿಕದೊಳ್ । ಸಾಧನ ಮೇಲೆನಗಾವುದೊ ಆದೇಶಿಪುದೆಂದು ಬೇಡಿದಂ ಕೌಂತೇಯಂ ।। ೧ Bodhisidĕ karma-yogava...
APPENDIX 2 Distinction between karma and akarma karmaṇo hy-api boddhavyam boddhavyam ca vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaś-ca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ (BG 4.17...
When they ascend the throne, England’s Kings (or Queens) take an oath in front of their subjects that they will follow, preserve, and protect the traditional me...
The Necessity of Firm Decision Arjuna, if we analyse from the perspective of the supreme principle, it becomes clear that your doubts are baseless. Be firm abo...
A person who carries out his duties without considering it an offering, will not even gain the good in this world. Then, how can he obtain a good state in other...
Once we say that it is not wrong but only fit and proper to experience pleasure, we have to make all arrangements to obtain it. Sustaining the family, earning a...
Selfless Karma Who should follow the principle of not wanting results for one’s duties? Those who are seeking mokṣa. How many of us are wishing for mokṣa? Sure...
Arjuna is hasty. Initially, he was eager to fight. Then, he was eager to give up fighting. Vikarma is the result of this haste. Therefore, the following is said...
Why is Dharma Worthy of Worship? Dharma is established and nurtured by the divine. Bhagavān who needs to have no thought for anything else thinks of dharma alo...
The Antiquity of Karma-vidyā “Arjuna, what I am explaining to you now is not something new and contemporary. It is something that I had explained to the sun na...
Note vivarisidenidāṃ pūrvadi vivasvataṃgeṃdu Kṛṣṇanoreyal Pārthaṃ। avatāraṃgaḻadeṃtene svavapurdhṛti dharmarakṣegeṃdaṃ devaṃ॥ Said Kṛṣṇa to Arjuna “Long...
Why only Svadharma? "One’s own karma performed diligently, even though it may not be the best thing, is better than others’ karma performed in a most satisfyin...
Human nature is composed of the triad of guṇas – sattva, rajas, and tamas. It is true of the universe also. A man’s inner nature influences his outward behaviou...
There is another thing to consider. Illustrious people such as Janaka, who are greater than you have all performed karma much before you. karmaṇaiva hi saṃs...
Who are devas? Various pictures of divine beings holding a trident, staff, rope, or discus might arise in our minds. These pictures are useful elsewhere; they c...
“When devas are worshipped and satisfied, they give rain and good crops.” It is easy to misconstrue this statement. Will rains cease, or will crops die be...
Thus, one who leads life in the form of tapas, yajña, and dāna, does not have to hanker after mokṣa. It is readily available. By leading a life that is dedicate...
If we consider the verses between the ninth verse – “yajñārthāt...” and the sixteenth verse – “moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati” as one single meaningful portion, the me...
Sat-karma itself is dharma. It is of three kinds: Laukika (pertaining to the world) Vaidika (pertaining to the Vedas) Pāramārthika (pertaining to the ul...
naranahudu hariyumahuda- ccariyahudu rahasyamahudu rasikanaliptaṃ। pariṇata-laukikanumahudu paripūrṇa-manuṣya-jīvanōjjvala-mukuraṃ॥ He is human a...
Appendix 5. Vyavasāya (Sustained effort) vyavasāyātmikā buddhirekeha kurunandana || (2.41) Here vyavasāya refers to sustained effort or continuous indust...
Appendix 2. What do we do with our sense organs? The havoc created by the sense organs repeatedly comes up for discussion. There is no life without sense organ...
The principle of the Self decides everything The teaching of the Gītā begins from the second chapter in which Bhagavān classifies the entire Universe into the...
The Characteristics of a Knower The teaching must have affected Arjuna a wee bit. He asks, “You mentioned about the state of being in samādhi and talked about...
There are several tiers of instruction in the Bhagavad-gītā from the level of "patraṃ puṣpaṃ phalaṃ toyam" (offering a leaf, flower, fruit or water) to the leve...
Every jīva’s characteristics and circumstances differ from one another. Therefore every one’s dharma is different. Thus everyone has his or her own svadharma....
Dharma is a word not used just by the vaidikas but also employed reverently by the Buddhists and Jains. The vaidikas have employed this term in different śāstra...
The Self Cannot be Destroyed Arjuna, there are two substances in this world – the body and the embodied. The body is a thing that is known directly to everyone...
It may be apt to recall the maxim of the English philosopher John Stuart Mill. It is not enough if one person forms an opinion or follows a certain set of actio...
The Beginning of the Instruction The second chapter of the Gītā has four main aspects. The remainder of the first chapter’s topic, i.e. Arjuna’s words of a...
Terminology [Continued] 7. Kāla-Deśa – See Deśa-Kāla. 8. Deśa-Kāla (Space-time) – The ideas of size and duration that emerge in our minds through the...
Gist ಸ್ಮಿತದಿಂ ಸೌಹೃದವೀಕ್ಷಾ- ಮೃತದಿಂ ಫಲ್ಗುಣನ ಸಂತವಿಡುತವನುಲಿದಾ ಮತಿಮೋಹವ ನೀಗುವ ಜೀ- ವಿತತ್ತ್ವವ ಪಾಡಿದಂ ಜಗದ್ಗುರು ಕೃಷ್ಣಂ || 1 || With a smile and a nectar-like glan...
The fault of Arjuna’s compassion is not just that it was indiscriminate and unexamined. It was mixed with ego. The self-delusion that he was responsible for dec...
It is claimed often that ours is an Age of Science, an era of intellectual superiority. On the one hand, the intellect is mighty but on the other hand, the mind...
At this point, as an example of the severity of the result of one’s own experience, we can recollect the episode of the blind king Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Vyāsa offered to...
Gist ಭರತಕುಲದುಭಯವಾಹಿನಿ ಕುರುರಂಗದಿ ಸೇರಿ ಸಮರಶಂಖಂ ಮೊಳಗಲ್ । ನರನುತ್ಸಹಿಸದೆ ಕೃಷ್ಣಂ ಗೊರೆದಂ ತನಗಾದ ಧರ್ಮಸಂಕಟಭಯಮಮ್ ॥ When the two armies of Bharata’s descendants me...
The Yoga of Life The Bhagavad-gītā establishes and illustrates these three problems of life on a philosophical foundation. There is a place for kāma, a place f...
Puruṣārtha Man is a bag of desires. His life is a river of ceaseless likes and dislikes. Whatever he desires and whatever goals he attempts to attain have all...
Manana There is an element of truth that escapes words and can be discerned only through inner experience. That is the secret. Contemplation via considered ref...
The Importance of Contemplation The Gītā has two intertwined streams of instruction. One is theoretical whereas the other is practical. The theoretical part is...
Let us get back to the Bhagavad-gītā. There are so many punaruktis (repetitions); upamāna-upameyas (comparisons in a simile) and paradoxes. Our attention should...
It is indicated above that the buddhi is a power that works with the manas. The buddhi is under the influence of the manas. Therefore, to purify the buddhi, it...
Let us first look at the theme of the work and the qualification to study it. Each of these decides the other. The story of puṇyakoṭi befits a six year old. A s...
The Style of a Conversation between Friends The sequence of the Gītā appears jumbled at times. The Gītā is referred to as a śāstra. Its theme does make it one....
The Nature of the Work The Gītā is simultaneously a simple-difficult work or a difficult-simple work. What does it mean? Words may be simple to understand but...
What do we get from the Gītā? What can we expect from the Bhagavad-gītā? We normally expect something special from any book we choose. If it is a story, we ex...
Prerequisites to the Study of the Gītā A word of caution before we begin. All parts of the Gītā cannot be understood at the same level of clarity by everyone....
[On the occasion of D V Gundappa’s forty-fifth death anniversary, Prekshaa is delighted to publish the first episode of a new series – a modern English translat...