Hari Gopinath Das

5 minute Gita !!

5 minutes One Chapter outline with 5 most important slokas

Lord Krishna reveals the ancient and eternal nature of the science of yoga (union with the Divine) and the purpose of His own descents.

Srila Prabhupada’s purports extensively elaborate on these crucial points, emphasizing the importance of disciplic succession and the understanding of Krsna’s transcendental nature.

Let’s delve into a summary of the key themes and points in Chapter 4, as explained by Srila Prabhupada:

I. The Origin and Authenticity of Bhagavad-gita (Verses 1-3):

The Disciplic Succession (Parampara): Krishna states that He first spoke this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, who then instructed it to Manu, and Manu to Ikṣvāku. This established a chain of bona fide spiritual masters through whom the knowledge was transmitted.Breaking of the Succession: Krishna explains that over time, this chain of succession was broken, and thus the science as it was originally intended became lost or misinterpreted.Re-establishment for Arjuna: Krishna is now re-establishing this same ancient science to Arjuna, not because Arjuna is a great scholar or yogi, but because he is Krishna’s devotee and friend.Prabhupada’s

Purport: Srila Prabhupada stresses that understanding the Bhagavad-gita requires approaching it through a bona fide disciplic succession (parampara), as it is not a subject for mental speculation or academic gymnastics. Only through a devoted and submissive attitude can the true meaning be revealed.

II. The Nature of Krishna’s Appearance and Activities (Verses 4-9):

Krishna’s Eternal and Divine Body: Arjuna expresses bewilderment that Krishna, being his contemporary, could have instructed Vivasvan, who lived millions of years ago. Krishna clarifies that unlike ordinary living entities, He remembers all His past births and that His body is eternal, full of knowledge, and blissful. He is not subject to the laws of material nature.Purpose of Incarnations (Avatars): Krishna reveals the primary reasons for His appearance: to deliver the pious, annihilate the miscreants, and re-establish the principles of religion (dharma) whenever they decline.

Prabhupada’s Purport: Prabhupada emphasizes that Krishna’s birth and activities are transcendental, meaning they are not forced upon Him by karma but are performed by His internal potency. Understanding this truth about Krishna’s divine nature is the key to liberation from the cycle of birth and death. One who truly understands this immediately attains Krishna’s eternal abode.

III. The Path to Transcendental Knowledge and Liberation (Verses 10-24):

Freedom from Material Desires: Many have attained transcendental love for Krishna by becoming free from attachment, fear, and anger, and by taking complete refuge in Him.Reciprocity with the Lord: Krishna reciprocates with everyone according to their degree of surrender. Those who seek material benefits approach demigods, while those who seek pure love approach Him directly.The Varna System (Four Divisions of Society): Krishna declares that He created the four divisions of human society (Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras) based on qualities and work, not by birth. He is the creator but remains the non-doer.Understanding Action, Inaction, and Forbidden Action: It is difficult to understand what is action, what is inaction, and what is forbidden action. One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is truly intelligent and situated in the transcendental position.Action in Krishna Consciousness: When all actions are performed for Krishna’s satisfaction, without desire for fruitive results, they become transcendental and do not create karmic reactions. The act, the offering, the ingredients, and the enjoyer all become Brahman (spirit).

Prabhupada’s Purport: Prabhupada explains that true inaction is not laziness but performing activities in Krishna consciousness. This means acting without attachment to the results, offering everything to Krishna. Such action purifies one and leads to liberation. He emphasizes that the varṇa system is based on individual qualities and work, not by accident of birth, and is meant to facilitate spiritual progress.

IV. Different Types of Sacrifice (Yajña) (Verses 25-33):

Variety of Sacrifices: Krishna describes various types of yajñas (sacrifices) performed by different types of spiritual aspirants, including those performed by yogis, those who offer their senses into the fire of self-control, those who sacrifice material possessions, those who practice austerities, and those who sacrifice through study of the Vedas.The Sacrifice of Knowledge: All these sacrifices ultimately culminate in the sacrifice of knowledge. The purer the sacrifice, the more quickly one gains transcendental knowledge.

Prabhupada’s Purport: Prabhupada explains that all these sacrifices, in their various forms, are ultimately meant to purify the consciousness and bring one closer to God. He highlights that Krishna consciousness is the highest form of sacrifice, as it directly involves offering everything to the Supreme Lord. He also clarifies that real spiritual progress depends on understanding and living by these principles.

V. The Importance of a Spiritual Master and Transcendental Knowledge (Verses 34-42):

Approaching a Spiritual Master: Krishna instructs Arjuna to approach a self-realized spiritual master, inquire from him submissively, and render service. Such a tattva-darshi (one who has seen the truth) can impart knowledge.Benefits of Transcendental Knowledge: Knowledge is the ultimate purifier. Once knowledge is attained, one is no longer subject to illusion and sees all living beings as parts of the Supreme Lord.Doubts Destroyed by Knowledge: Krishna concludes by advising Arjuna to cut apart the doubts born of ignorance with the sword of knowledge and stand up to fight, fully situated in yoga.

Prabhupada’s Purport: Srila Prabhupada repeatedly stresses that genuine transcendental knowledge cannot be gained by academic speculation but only through submissive hearing from a bona fide spiritual master who is in the disciplic succession. This knowledge liberates one from all sinful reactions and leads to complete surrender and devotion to Krishna. He urges the reader to apply this knowledge in practical life, as Arjuna did.

In summary, Chapter 4, “Transcendental Knowledge,” in “Bhagavad-gita As It Is,” establishes the authentic transmission of spiritual knowledge through parampara, elucidates Krishna’s divine nature and the purpose of His descents, defines true action as Krishna conscious activity, explains the various forms of sacrifice culminating in knowledge, and ultimately underscores the indispensable role of a bona fide spiritual master in acquiring this liberating transcendental knowledge.

5 slokas

1

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥२॥evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥsa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa

Translation: “This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.”

2

Bhagavad-gītā 4.7:यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥७॥yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārataabhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy ahamTranslation: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.”

3

Bhagavad-gītā 4.9:जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥९॥janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥtyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ’rjunaTranslation: “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

4

Bhagavad-gītā 4.11:ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥११॥ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy ahammama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥTranslation: “As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pṛthā.”

5

Bhagavad-gītā 4.34:तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥३४॥tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayāupadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥTranslation: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.”

Jaya Srila Prabhupada!!