Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition -- Prabhupada Books (98 page)

Bg 13.26

TEXT 26

TEXT

anye tv evam ajānantaḥ

śrutvānyebhya upāsate

te 'pi cātitaranty eva

mṛtyuṁ śruti-parāyaṇāḥ

SYNONYMS

anye-
others;
tu-
but;
evam-
this;
ajānantaḥ-
without spiritual knowledge;
śrutvā-
by hearing;
anyebhyaḥ-
from others;
upāsate-
begin to worship;
te-
they;
api-
also;
ca-
and;
atitaranti-
transcend;
eva-
certainly;
mṛtyum-
the path of death;
śruti-parāyaṇāḥ-
inclined to the process of hearing.

TRANSLATION

Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death.

PURPORT

This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources, he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, he will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home.

Bg 13.27

TEXT 27

TEXT

yāvat sañjāyate kiñcit

sattvaṁ sthāvara-jaṅgamam

kṣetra-kṣetrajña-saṁyogāt

tad viddhi bharatarṣabha

SYNONYMS

yāvat-
whatever;
saṁjāyate-
takes place;
kiñcit-
anything;
sattvam-
existence;
sthāvara-
not moving;
jaṅgamam-
moving;
kṣetra-
the body;
kṣetrajña-
knower of the body;
saṁyogāt-
union between;
tat viddhi-
you must know it;
bharatarṣabha
-O chief of the Bhāratas.

TRANSLATION

O chief of the Bhāratas, whatever you see in existence, both moving and unmoving, is only the combination of the field of activities and the knower of the field.

PURPORT

Both material nature and the living entity, which were existing before the creation of the cosmos, are explained in this verse. Whatever is created is but a combination of the living entity and material nature. There are many manifestations like trees, mountains and hills, which are not moving, and there are many existences which are moving, and all of them are but combinations of material nature and superior nature, the living entity. Without the touch of the superior nature, the living entity, nothing can grow. Therefore the relationship between matter and nature is eternally going on, and this combination is effected by the Supreme Lord; therefore He is the controller of both the superior and inferior natures. The material nature is created by Him, and the superior nature is placed in this material nature, and thus all these activities and manifestations take place.

Bg 13.28

TEXT 28

TEXT

samaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu

tiṣṭhantaṁ parameśvaram

vinaśyatsv avinaśyantaṁ

yaḥ paśyati sa paśyati

SYNONYMS

samam-
equally;
sarveṣu-
in all;
bhūteṣu-
living entities;
tiṣṭhantam-
residing;
parameśvaram-
the Supersoul;
vinaśyatsu-
in the destructible;
avinaśyantam-
not destroyed;
yaḥ-
anyone;
paśyati-
see;
saḥ-
he;
paśyati-
actually sees.

TRANSLATION

One who sees the Supersoul accompanying the individual soul in all bodies and who understands that neither the soul nor the Supersoul is ever destroyed, actually sees.

PURPORT

Anyone who can see three things-the body, the proprietor of the body, or individual soul, and the friend of the individual soul, combined together by good association-is actually in knowledge. Those who are not associated with the soul's friend are ignorant; they simply see the body, and when the body is destroyed they think that everything is finished, but actually it is not so. After the destruction of the body, both the soul and the Supersoul exist, and they go on eternally in many various moving and unmoving forms. The Sanskrit word
parameśvaram
is
sometimes translated as the individual soul because the soul is the master of the body, and after the destruction of the body he transfers to another form. In that way he is master. But there are others who interpret this
parameśvaram
to be the Supersoul. In either case, both the Supersoul and the individual soul continue. They are not destroyed. One who can see in this way can actually see what is happening.

Bg 13.29

TEXT 29

TEXT

samaṁ paśyan hi sarvatra

samavasthitam īśvaram

na hinasty ātmanātmānaṁ

tato yāti parāṁ gatim

SYNONYMS

samam
-equally;
paśyan
-seeing;
hi-
certainly;
sarvatra
-everywhere;
samavasthitam-
equally situated;
īśvaram
-Supersoul;
na
-does not;
hinasti
-degrade;
ātmanā
-by the mind;
ātmānam-
the soul;
tataḥ yāti
-then reaches;
parām
-the transcendental;
gatim
-destination.

TRANSLATION

One who sees the Supersoul in every living being and equal everywhere does not degrade himself by his mind. Thus he approaches the transcendental destination.

PURPORT

The living entity, by accepting his material existence as just so much suffering, can become situated in his spiritual existence. If one understands that the Supreme is situated in His Paramātmā manifestation everywhere, that is, if one can see the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living thing, he does not degrade himself, and he therefore gradually advances in the spiritual world. The mind is generally addicted to self-centered processes; but when the mind turns to the Supersoul, one becomes advanced in spiritual understanding.

Bg 13.30

TEXT 30

TEXT

prakṛtyaiva ca karmāṇi

kriyamāṇāni sarvaśaḥ

yaḥ paśyati tathātmānam

akartāraṁ sa paśyati

SYNONYMS

prakṛtyā-
material nature;
eva-
certainly;
ca-
also;
karmāṇi-
activities;
kriyamāṇāni
-engaged in performing;
sarvaśaḥ
-in all respects;
yaḥ
-anyone who;
paśyati-
sees;
tathā-
also;
ātmānam
-himself;
akartāram
-non-doer;
saḥ
-he;
paśyati
-sees perfectly.

TRANSLATION

One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.

PURPORT

This body is made by material nature under the direction of the Supersoul, and whatever activities are going on in respect to one's body are not his doing. Whatever one is supposed to do, either for happiness or for distress, one is forced to do because of the bodily constitution. The self, however, is outside all these bodily activities. This body is given according to one's past desires. To fulfill desires, one is given the body, with which he acts accordingly. Practically speaking, the body is a machine, designed by the Supreme Lord, to fulfill desires. Because of desires, one is put into difficult circumstances to suffer or to enjoy. This transcendental vision of the living entity, when developed, makes one separate from bodily activities. One who has such a vision is an actual seer.

Bg 13.31

TEXT 31

TEXT

yadā bhūta-pṛthag-bhāvam

eka-stham anupaśyati

tata eva ca vistāraṁ

brahma sampadyate tadā

SYNONYMS

yadā-
when;
bhūta-
living entities;
pṛthak-bhāvam-
separated entities;
eka-stham-
situated in one;
anupaśyati-
tries to see through authority;
tataḥ eva-
thereafter;
ca-
also;
vistāram
-expanded;
brahma-
the Absolute;
sampadyate-
attains;
tadā-
at that time.

TRANSLATION

When a sensible man ceases to see different identities, which are due to different material bodies, he attains to the Brahman conception. Thus he sees that beings are expanded everywhere.

PURPORT

When one can see that the various bodies of living entities arise due to the different desires of the individual soul and do not actually belong to the soul itself, one actually sees. In the material conception of life, we find someone a demigod, someone a human being, a dog, a cat, etc. This is material vision, not actual vision. This material differentiation is due to a material conception of life. After the destruction of the material body, this spirit soul is one. The spirit soul, due to contact with material nature, gets different types of bodies. When one can see this, he attains spiritual vision; thus being freed from differentiations like man, animal, big, low, etc., one becomes beautified in his consciousness and able to develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness in his spiritual identity. How he then sees things will be explained in the next verse.

Bg 13.32

TEXT 32

TEXT

anāditvān nirguṇatvāt

paramātmāyam avyayaḥ

śarīra-stho 'pi kaunteya

na karoti na lipyate

SYNONYMS

anāditvāt-
due to eternity;
nirguṇatvāt-
due to transcendental;
param
-beyond material nature;
ātmā
-spirit;
ayam-
this;
avyayaḥ-
inexhaustable;
śarīra-sthaḥ api-
though dwelling in the body;
kaunteya
-O son of Kuntī;
na karoti-
never does anything;
na lipyate-
nor is he entangled.

TRANSLATION

Those with the vision of eternity can see that the soul is transcendental, eternal, and beyond the modes of nature. Despite contact with the material body, O Arjuna, the soul neither does anything nor is entangled.

PURPORT

A living entity appears to be born because of the birth of the material body, but actually the living entity is eternal; he is not born, and in spite of his being situated in a material body, he is transcendental and eternal. Thus he cannot be destroyed. By nature he is full of bliss. He does not engage himself in any material activities; therefore the activities performed due to his contact with material bodies do not entangle him.

Bg 13.33

TEXT 33

TEXT

yathā sarva-gataṁ saukṣmyād

ākāśaṁ nopalipyate

sarvatrāvasthito dehe

tathātmā nopalipyate

SYNONYMS

yathā-
as;
sarva-gatam-
all-pervading;
saukṣmyāt-
due to being subtle;
ākāśam-
the sky;
na-
never;
upalipyate-
mixes;
sarvatra-
everywhere;
avasthitaḥ-
situated;
dehe-
in the body;
tathā-
such;
ātmā-
the self;
na-
never;
upalipyate-
mixes.

TRANSLATION

The sky, due to its subtle nature, does not mix with anything, although it is all-pervading. Similarly, the soul, situated in Brahman vision, does not mix with the body, though situated in that body.

PURPORT

The air enters into water, mud, stool and whatever else is there; still it does not mix with anything. Similarly, the living entity, even though situated in varieties of bodies, is aloof from them due to his subtle nature. Therefore it is impossible to see with the material eyes how the living entity is in contact with this body and how he is out of it after the destruction of the body. No one in science can ascertain this.

Bg 13.34