Gemsof

Bhagavad Gita

T. K. G. NAMBOODHIRITHIRUVALLA, KERALA

INDIA

BHAGAVAD GITA – THE DIVINE SONG-An Introduction

Bhagavad Gita-Part of the Sanskrit Epic Mahabhaaratha.(200 BC to 200 AD)

700 verses in 18 chapters.

A conversation between Lord Krishna and his close friend Arjuna in the middle of the battlefield just before the start of the Kurukshetra battle.

Arjuna loses his heart and refuses to fight his teachers and relatives, and Krishna revives him by his wise words of wisdom.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaCHAPTER 15

PURUSHOTHAMA YOGATHE YOGA OF THE SUPREME SPIRIT

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaURDHWAMOOLAMADHAH SAAKHAMASWATHTHAM PRAAHURAVYAYAM, CHANDAAMSI YASYA PARNAANI YASTHAM VEDA SA VEDAVITH. (15.1)To teach Arjuna the truth about the Supreme Soul, Sree Krishna talks about a tree of empirical life here:They speak of the eternal fig tree whose roots are above & branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns. He who knows it, knows the Vedas. (Brahman, the unmanifest & subtle, is said to be ‘’above’’. The nature, with intellect, ego, etc. is “below”.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaADHASCHORDWAM PRASRITHASTHASYA SAAKHAA GUNAPRAVRIDHA VISHAYAPRAVAALAAH, ADHASCHA MOOLAANYANUSANTHATHAANI KARMAANUBANDHEENI MANUSHYALOKE’. (15.2)Both below & above spread the branches of this tree, flourishing because of the 3 constituents; sense-objects are its shoots. Below in the human world extend its intermediate roots that link up actions.(impressions left in the mind by the fruits of actions)

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaNA ROOPAMASYE’HA THATHOPALABHYATHE’ NAANTHO NA CHAADIRNNA CHA SAMPRATHISHTAA, ASWATHAME’NAM SUVIROODHAMOOLAMASANGA SASTHRE’NA DRIDHE’NA CHCHITHWAA. (15.3)Its form as described is not known as such. It is like a dream. It has no beginning, no end, & no foundation. Having split this fig tree with its well-nourished roots with the strong weapon of detachment, man seeks that status of Brahman.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaTHATHAH PADAM THATH PARIMAARGITHAVYAM YASMIN GATHAA NA NIVARTHANTHI BHOOYAH, THAME’VA CHAADYAM PURUSHAM PRAPADYE’ YATHAH PRAVRITHIH PRASRITHAA PURAANEE. (15.4)Then that status has to be laboriously sought after, reaching which, there is no return. It should be sought contemplating “ I take refuge in the Primeval Spirit whence has emanated this ancient process of creation, etc.”.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaNIRMAANAMOHAA JITHASANGADOSHAA ADHYAATHMANITHYAA VINIVRITHA KAAMAH, DWANDAIR VIMUKTHAAH SUKHA DUKHA SAMJNAIR GACHCHANTHYAMOODHAAH PADAMAVYAYAM THATH. (15.5 ) Wise men, free from pride & delusion, unattached, without any cravings, immune to pleasure/pain etc. & eternally in union with God, reach that supreme state from which there is no return.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaNA THADBHAASAYATHE’ SURYO NA SASAANGKO NA PAAVAKAH, YAD GATHWA NA NIVARTHANTHE’ THADHDHAAMA PARAMAM MAMA. (15.6)

The Lord describes that status further: The sun does not illuminate it; nor does the moon; nor does the fire. That is My abode supreme, after reaching which, none falls back.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaMAMAIVAAMSO JEEVALOKE’ JEEVABHOOTHAH SANAATHANAH, MANA SHATAANINDRIYAANI PRAKRITHSTHAANI KARSHATHI. (15.7)Why those who reach His abode do not return? An eternal part of Myself alone has become the embedded-soul in the world of living beings. It pulls the 5 senses & mind , which come from nature, together. ( to enjoy this world. Like the reflection of sun in a pool of water goes back to sun when the water dries up, the embedded soul goes back to Brahman, when its attachment to the world is severed.)

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaSAREERAM YADAVAAPNOTHI YACHCHAPUTHKRAAMATHEESWARAHGRAHEETHWAITHAANI SAMYAATHI VAAYUR GANDHAANIVAASAYAATH. (15.8).Then how does the soul transmigrate?

When a person dies, the soul leaves the body, taking along with it the mind & five senses, just like the wind taking away the scent from flowers, & migrates to another body.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaSROTHRAM, CHAKSHUH SPARSANAM CHA RASANAM GHRAANAME’VA CHA, ADHISTAAYA MANASCHAAYAM VISHAYAANUPASE’VATHE’. (15.9 )

Jiva (the embedded Soul) experiences the world objects through the ear, the eyes, the skin, the tongue, & the nose as well as the mind.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaUTHKRAAMANTHAM STHITHAM VAAPI BHUNJAANAM VA GUNAANWITHAM, VIMOODHAA NAANUPASYANTHI PASYANTHI JNAANACHAKSHUSHAH. (15.10)

The deluded do not perceive him (Jiva), going out of the body or staying or experiencing through the 3 Gunas. Only those who have wisdom’s eye perceive him.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaYATHANTHO YOGINASCHAINAM PASYANTHYAATHMANYAVASTHITHAM. (15.11)SARVASYA CHAAHAM HRIDI SANNIVISHTOMATHAH SMRITHIRJNAANAMAPOHANAM CHA. (15.15)

Those who persevere, endued with Yoga, see the Jive dwelling in the body. I dwell in the heart of all; from Me spring memory, knowledge, & forgetfulness.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaDWAAVIMOW PURUSHOW LOKE’ KSHARASCHAAKSHARA EVA CHA, KSHARA SARVAANI BHOOTHAANI KOOTASTHO AKSHARA UCHYATHE’. (15.16).In the world are these two persons, the perishable & the imperishable. The perishable consists of all beings, the imperishable is the immovable, the Jiva or embedded soul. Adi Sankara says that the imperishable is the Maya-the delusive power of Brahman.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaUTHAMAH PURUSHASTWANYAH PARAMAATHME’THYUDAAHRITHAH. YO LOKATHRAYAMAAVISYA BEEBHARTHRYVYAYA EESWARAH. (15.17)

Distinct from these is the Supreme Spirit known as the Supernal Self. Having entered the three worlds, the mighty Lord upholds them.

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaYASMAATH KSHARAMATHEETHO AHAM AKSHARAADAPI CHOTHAMAH, ATHO ASMI LOKE’ VEDE’ CHA PRATHITHAH PURUSHOTHAMAH. (15.18).

Since I surpass the perishable & am exalted above the imperishable, both in common speech & in the Vedas, I am celebrated as the Supreme Spirit (Purushothama)

TKG Namboodhiri

Gemsof

Bhagavad GitaYO MAAME’VAMASOMMOODHO JAANAATHI PURUSHOTHAMAH, SA SARVAVID BHAJATHI MAAM SARVABHAAVE’NA BHAARATHA. (15.19)

He who, undeluded, knows Me thus as the Supreme Spirit, is all-knowing; Arjuna, he adores Me in all possible moods.

TKG Namboodhiri