In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna detailing clearly as to who is a real “Bhakta” through the final shloka of the ninth “Adhyaaya”. Bhagawan outlines the important characteristics of the “Bhakta” as the one who constantly has Bhagawan in his thoughts at all times, the one who is constantly putting necessary efforts to practise “Bhakti” constantly without a break, the one who worships Him with a pure and an innocent heart and finally, the one whose thoughts, words and actions are completely aligned with each other! These are the key points that Bhagawan is highlighting and if we’ve to be called “ardent Bhaktas” of Bhagawan Krishna, we’ve to ensure that all these pointers are in place!
Now, this is where we need a real introspection, which we’ve commenced in the previous episode. The important question that we need to ask ourselves is this – “Are we able to focus on Bhagawan continuously for a longer span of time every passing day?” Of course, this is not easy in the beginning, as we’ve discussed earlier as well, but we need to start somewhere, isn’t it? This is where our “Nitya-Anushtaanam” plays a very important role for us. I’ve spoken about this “Nitya-Anushtaanam” several times earlier as well, and also in yesterday’s episode, but I still find a valid context for discussing this because, this is a place where most of us fail! When it comes to several other things that we keep doing in life, we’re able to allocate ample time for everything, aren’t we? However, when it comes to performing our “Sandhyavandanam” and other aspects of the “Nitya-Anushtaanam” that we perform towards Bhagawan, we conveniently say that we do not have time for these! In fact, it is quite unfortunate to see this as a “trend” shaping up amongst the younger generation today that these kinds of practices are considered as “old-school thoughts”! Let me tell one thing clearly, especially for the younger generation – If we constantly keep performing our “Sandhyavandanam” and other practices of “Nitya-Anushtaanam”, our brain’s performance gets better every passing day. Also, our brilliance would increase manifold and our efficiency in whatever we’re doing would increase as well! Moreover, if we’re able to perform our regular tasks with a complete surrender towards Bhagawan, He is going to take care of the resultant of our actions, isn’t He? Hence, isn’t this an opportunity for us to get closer to Bhagawan indirectly? This is a pointer which the younger generation should deeply consider moving forward.
Moving on further thus, with this discussion we come to the end of the ninth “Adhyaaya”, and we would now move into the most important tenth “Adhyaaya” called the “Vibhooti Yoga”. Readers should note that here is where Bhagawan is going to show His “Vishwaroopa Darshan” to Arjuna in the midst of the battlefield at Kurukshetra. Many of us might be knowing that Bhagawan shows His true self to Arjuna during the course of the Bhagawad Gita, and it is worthy to note that this major event happens during this “Adhyaaya” only. Here, Bhagawan is commencing His explanation on a very important note on His existence in this world in various forms. This is also precisely the time when Arjuna for the second time thinks that the Gita is over! Arjuna heaves a sigh of relief, but again, Bhagawan Krishna starts something afresh! Bhagawan says thus,
“Bhooya yeva mahaabaaho shrunu me paramam vachaha!
Yatteham priyamaanaaya vakshyaami hita kaamyayaa!!”
This is the first shloka of the tenth “Adhyaaya” – The “Vibhooti Yoga”. Here, Bhagawan Krishna explains thus, “Oh Arjuna! Till now I’ve told you a lot about the Karma Yoga, Gnyaana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga and how do we attain “Atma-Saakshaakaaram”, didn’t I? Now, let me repeat a few important pointers for you, so that you get a hold on to it!” As Bhagawan says thus, Arjuna asks immediately, “Oh Bhagawan! I never asked you to repeat these pointers, yet, why are you wanting to tell everything again to me?” For this, Bhagawan smartly replies thus, “Oh Arjuna! I know that you did not ask me to repeat. However, you also did not stop me from repeating these important pointers, did you? Hence, it is my duty to repeat a few important pointers for your benefit!”
Now this is an important narrative that Bhagawan is going to frame from whatever He has discussed so far in the Bhagawad Gita. As mentioned earlier, this “Vibhooti Yoga” is going to be the most important “Adhyaaya” in the entire Bhagawad Gita and readers have to definitely take down notes if we’ve not done it till now! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall go into what are those important pointers that Bhagawan Krishna wants to recollect. Stay tuned for an important accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 