Bhagavad Gita Chapter 14
(Compiled notes)
Note: This is a series of study notes from the translation of Bhagavad Gita by Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada (ISKCON founder) and titled as "Bhagvad Gita as it is". The copyright and content is that of Prabhupada & publishers. My part is simply distilling the knowledge from my self study and notes to share here in simple abridged form.
Prakriti Gyan Yoga - Yoga of Nature and Modes of Nature
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14.3 - मम योनिर्महद्ब्रह्म तस्मिन्गर्भं दधाम्यहम् । सम्भव: सर्वभूतानां ततो भवति भारत ॥ ३ ॥
The Brahman is the Material nature of Mine. In its womb I give My energy by which all creation is made possible.
In other words, the material nature (Brahman) is subordinate to the Lord because only by the Lords energy does the material nature come alive into cosmic manifestation.
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14.4 - सर्वयोनिषु कौन्तेय मूर्तय: सम्भवन्ति या: । तासां ब्रह्म महद्योनिरहं बीजप्रद: पिता ॥ ४ ॥
All beings which come in existence, of them I am the seed giving father
या: = which
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या: = which
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तासां = of them
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The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the original father of all living entities.
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14.5 - सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणा: प्रकृतिसम्भवा: । निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ॥ ५ ॥
The 3 gunas - Sattva, Rajas, Tamas combine variously to create material nature that a spirit acquires when it takes a certain body.
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14.9 - सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रज: कर्मणि भारत । ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तम: प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत ॥ ९ ॥
Sattva causes the spirit to seek happiness in knowledge, Rajas causes him to pursue fruitive action, Tamas causes him to be deluded in ignorance.
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14.19 - नान्यं गुणेभ्य: कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति । गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति ॥ १९ ॥
That none else but the gunas are the cause of any action, one who knows this Truth attains My nature.
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14. 20 - गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् । जन्ममृत्युजरादु:खैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते ॥ २० ॥
One who thus knowing acts without being affected by the gunas, he attains freedom from the cycle of birth-death-oldage-disease.
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14.26 - मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते । स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ २६ ॥
One who serves me in Bhakti yoga, he transcends gunas & attains My spiritual nature
This verse outlines the process by which one is able to transcend the gunas and attain spiritual perfection. And that process is to simply serve the Lord with unwavering devotion.
My chosen verse from this chapter:
मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते ।
स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ 14.26 ॥
One who serves me in Bhakti yoga, he transcends gunas & attains My spiritual nature
This verse outlines the process by which one is able to transcend the gunas and attain spiritual perfection. And that process is to simply serve the Lord with unwavering devotion. This is the core of Bhakti Yoga.
There is a subtle difference between those who serve the Lord in Karma yoga and those who serve in Bhakti yoga.
In Karma yoga, one executes their prescribed duties efficiently minus the attachment to the results but for the pleasure of the Lord.
In Bhakti yoga, one executes their prescribed duties efficiently minus the attachment to the results but for the Love of the Lord.
So as you can see, in Karma yoga, the mood is detachment whereas in Bhakti yoga the mood is Love of God.
With gradual disciplined practice Karma yoga can graduate into Bhakti yoga. Matter of fact, Bhakti yoga is the highest form of Yoga. This is because Love is the most purifying, powerful and yet the simplest of forces and it being the central element of Bhakti yoga, the Lord has proclaimed Bhakti yoga as the most superior path to Him (BG 12.20).
