Excerpts from an Extraordinary Expose
by
Swami Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
Invocation
om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmiltam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
I offer my humble obeisance unto my dear spiritual master who with pure spiritual knowledge has illuminated my consciousness which was blinded by the darkness of nescience.
namah om visnupadaya acarya simha rupine
srimad bhaktiprajnana keshava iti namine
I offer my humble obeisance to Srila Bhakti Prajnan Keshava Goswami, the lion-like acarya who never fears having taken shelter of Lord Krishna.
namah om visnupadaya krishna prestaya bhutale
sri srimad bhaktisiddhanta saraswati iti namine
I offer my humble obeisance to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupad who is very dear to Lord Krishna in this world having taken shelter of Him.
vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavenebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah
I offer my humble obeisance to all the Vaisnava devotees of the Supreme Lord Krishna who just like desire trees bestow the ultimate benediction on humanity being fully compassionate to all living entities.
................ OM TAT SAT ................
It has been unequivocally determined by the previous acaryas in disciplic succession from the four authorised sampradayas that in order to realize the eternal spiritual truths that apply to all created beings knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita is essential. As long as ones foundation in spiritual life is not substantiated by the divine revelation originally spoken by the Supreme Lord Krishna known as the Bhagavad-Gita and this knowledge has not been firmly established within the consciousness of a living entity, then regardless of how intelligent or advanced in culture and technology they may appear to be they will not possess a complete and comprehensive understanding of spiritual reality.
When we read the Bhagavad-Gita we must also be careful and attentive to read only the commentaries from those authorised by disciplic succession in one of the four authorised Vaisnava schools of knowledge which is well verified in Vedic scriptures. If unaware we make the mistake of reading the comments of those unauthorised outside of disciplic succession we will find ourselves helplessly adrift from the actual truths of the Bhagavad-Gita and hopelessly stranded from the factual meaning of the Bhagavad-Gita.
Lord Krishna gives five levels of instructions in the Bhagavad-Gita. The first level is the general teachings for everyone. Then in a very sublime way He gives four more additional levels of teachings each more exalted than the previous. These teachings although extensive are delineated in a condensed form revealing only the essence. How are we to understand what is the essence? The following example will illustrate this for you.
When one milks a cow the first thing one does is bring the baby calf to the mother so she can give it a little milk. This first milk is like the general teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. Afterwards the milkman finishes milking the cow and puts the milk into a pot. This milk is like the confidential teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. But on the top of this milk there will be some cream. This cream is like the more confidential teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. Yet if we take and churn the cream it will become butter. This butter is like the most confidential teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. Still if we take the butter and heat it on a low fire it will slowly turn into pure golden ghee. Ghee is the essence of milk. From this essence we cannot obtain anything else. This essence is like the most confidential verse of all in the Bhagavad-Gita. But you must remember and consider that to turn milk into ghee is no ordinary endeavour and also to acquire the understanding and realization necessary to comprehend the essence of all 700 verses of the illustrious Bhagavad-Gita is also no ordinary endeavour. These points should be thoroughly contemplated and reflected upon.
So after the general teachings there are the confidential teachings and then the more confidential teachings and then the most confidential teachings and then the most confidential teaching of all which Lord Krishna reveals in the following most confidential verse in the whole Bhagavad-Gita.
Sanskrit
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo 'si me
Anvaya
man-mana bhava..absorb your mind and heart in Me, mad-bhakto..become My devotee, mad-yaji..offer propitiation to Me, mam namaskuru..give humble obeisance unto Me, eva..surely, esyasi..you will come, mam..to Me, satyam pratijane..I promise this in truth, te..to you, asi..being, priyan..very dear, me..to Me.
Translation
Absorb your mind and heart in Me, become My devotee, offer propitiation to Me, just give humble obeisance unto Me, and surely you will come to Me. I promise this in truth to you, being very dear to Me.
Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 18, verse 65
Lord Krishna first gives the topmost instruction man-mana bhava absorb your mind and heart in Me. But if you are unable to do that then Lord Krishna alternatively advises mad-bhakto become My devotee. But if it is not possible to do that then Lord Krishna suggests mad-yaji offer propitiation to Me and if you cannot even do that then Lord Krishna gives the final request of mam namaskuru just give humble obeisance to Me. This final request gives everyone a chance because if one can at least humbly offer their obeisance to the Supreme Lord then the previous three instructions will gradually manifest themselves eventually due to the effect activated by the rendering of this last most simple form of devotion.
Who are those who are dear to the Supreme Lord? Lord Krishna reveals that those who contemplate the Bhagavad-Gita are very dear to the Supreme Lord. One who contemplates the Bhagavad-Gita with their intelligence will propitiate the Supreme Lord by that very act as a performance of sacrifice to Him in acquiring this spiritual knowledge and wisdom. So we who now engage in contemplating this sacred scripture are also dear to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is so merciful that he accepts even the contemplation of the Bhagavad-Gita as propitiation to Him.
Man-Mana Bhava
Man-mana bhavo means absorb your mind and heart in God. This is the paramount instruction not easy to achieve and accomplish in this world. For a person to absorb their mind in any singular activity then the eyes, the ears, the nose and all the senses must be completely focused solely on that activity. If the mind cannot concentrate in this way then it is more or less considered to be uncontrolled. Sometimes our minds are peaceful. Sometimes our minds are agitated. Sometimes our minds are desiring sense enjoyment. Sometimes are mind are desiring relaxation. Sometimes our minds are pondering about the future. Sometimes our minds are lamenting over the past. Sometimes our minds are thinking about loved ones and sometimes our minds are thinking about God. This is the conditioned state of human beings everywhere. But if someones mind is fully absorbed in the name, form, qualities and phenomenal pastimes of the Supreme Lord Krishna then this is the most exalted form of worship of all.
When will this be possible? First and foremost their must be sraddha or faith. Without faith nothing can be accomplished. We get up and begin our day each morning solely because of faith. You may wonder what kind of faith allows us to even get up out of bed each day? We will tell you. Faith that the sun will rise each morning. Faith that the air we breathe each second will be full of oxygen. Faith that the water we drink, cook and wash in will be fresh. Faith that our loved ones are well. Faith that the Earth will continue to revolve. Faith that we will be existing tomorrow. Faith in God. In so many ways we are nonchalantly taking faith for granted but the actual fact is that we are always constantly exhibiting firm faith.
Even firm faith though is not enough to attain the level of absorbing ones mind and heart in God. Along with this faith there must be ruci or inspiration or it still will not be possible to achieve this. But even with faith and inspiration it will not be enough without asakti or spiritual attachment and only then at this point can we begin to absorb our minds and after in the stage of bhava or devotional ecstasy we can absorb our hearts also until we attain the stage of prema which is divine transcendental love.
The only way we can attain this is if our heart has been purified; but purity alone is not enough to accomplish this. There must also be something very special, something very wonderful, something very precious accompanying our purified heart and this is the sublime presence and delightful fragrance of loving devotion. If loving devotion is accompanying our purified heart then we will surely be successful in this endeavour.
Lord Krishna gave these paramount instructions to Arjuna while on the battlefield at Kuruksetra. It was very difficult for Arjuna to follow this primary instruction while preparing for war. As it was difficult for him then it is also difficult for us now. We are also at war. You may wonder what we are at war with? We are at war with the tendencies of our own minds which are very restless and unpredictable by nature.
The Supreme Lord Krishna was the driver of Arjunas chariot but the only driver we have is our imperfect intelligence. Arjuna had an invincible chariot given to him by the fire god Agni which could not be destroyed. But we only have a fragile and perishable human body which is subject to old age, disease and death. Arjuna had his intrepid Gandiva bow to subdue his enemies. But we have only an undetermined will. Arjuna had a quiver of unlimited arrows that would never become empty but we have only our unlimited desires. Arjuna had so much help and assistance but still he was unable to follow the instruction man-mana-bhavo absorb your mind and heart in God.
Arjuna replied to Lord Krishna that he was about to engage in warfare with so many enemies on the battlefield in front of him. How will I be able to absorb my mind in this way if I have to absorb my mind in conquering my enemies? I do not see how it is possible for me to do this.
We also have so many enemies opposite us and we are mostly absorbed in them. What are our enemies? They are the desires of the mind, the eyes, the tongue, the stomach and the sexual organs. Our desires are so strong and prevalent that we cannot conquer even one of these desires let alone all of them. There is aphorism in India which says: If there is no bamboo there will be no flute. The desires of lust, greed, anger and envy are all formidably arrayed against us showing no mercy and it is very difficult for us to overcome them. But anyhow we must endeavour to surmount them one way or another anyway if we are to be successful in our spiritual life. If for some reason due to extenuating circumstances beyond our control we are unable to absorb our mind and heart in Lord Krishna then we can try our level best to follow the advice of the next instruction mad-bhakto become My devotee.
Mad-Bhakto
Lord Krishna being very merciful then gives the advice of mad-bhakto become My devotee. Arjuna reflecting on this said it is very easy for one to say they will become a devotee but to actually be one is not so easy.
To actually become a devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna there is one requirement that is an indispensable prerequisite and that is one should not have even the slightest material desire that is not directly connected for the service of Lord Krishna. For the attainment of bhakti or loving devotional service to Lord Krishna there cannot even be the slightest trace of any material desires in our hearts. Otherwise it is not possible to attain bhakti.
Also to attain bhakti there cannot be even the slightest trace of either:
1) jnana-knowledge acquired by analytical logic
2) karma-engagment in fruitive activities
Of course there must be some jnana or knowledge otherwise we will not even be able to understand what devotional service is; but there must not be even the slightest trace of analysis or logic as the reason for performing our devotional activities. Loving devotion comes solely from the heart and if our hearts are influenced by a logistical brain in an analytical mind then all the loving devotion is spoiled and all our efforts for bhakti are ruined.
Also without karma no one is even able to live. We are always engaged in some form of karma or fruitive activities consciously or subconsciously. Even when we are sleeping we are performing some karma. You may wonder what karma can we be doing while asleep? We are breathing, our hearts are beating, our stomachs are digesting the food we ate, we are changing positions, we are dreaming. These things are also karma. So you must understand that karma is unavoidable. Without these different forms of karma we cannot live even for a second. Anyone who claims to be living entirely without karma is in illusion. We are always making some form of karma. We must eat. We must drink. We must work. We must have some recreation. Factually we are always engaged in all sorts of karmic activities.
So since we are always engaged in so many karmic activities how can we neutralise the reactions that are attached to all of these activities that are covering our devotion? Pay close attention as we will illuminate this extremely confidential subject matter now.
Know that our actions will never cover our devotion if all that we do is for the ultimate satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. Actually all the Vedic scriptures confirm that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Lord of all. In the following authorised Vedic scriptures we find these verses.
ete camsa-kalah pumsah krishnas tu bhagavan svayam
indras vyakulam lokam mrdayanti yuge yuge
All the incarnations are either plenary portions or expansions of plenary portions appearing in various universes to protect the theists; but Lord Krishna is the original supreme lord and the source of all.
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, chapter 3, verse 8
isvara paramah krishna sac-cid-ananda vigrahah
anadir adir govindah sarva karana karanam
Lord Krishna is the supreme absolute controller, whose form comprises immortality, omniscience and bliss. He is without beginning, the origin of all, the cause of all causes and the source of the Vedas.
Brahma Samhita, chapter 5, verse 1
advaya-jnana tattva-vastu krsnera svarupa
brahman atma bhagavan tina tanra rupa
Lord Krishna the supreme ultimate reality can be perceived in any or all of three ways. As Brahman which is the magnificent impersonal effulgence emanating from the spiritual worlds, as Paramatma the all permeating aspect of the spiritual soul in every living entity and as Bhagavan the eternal spiritual form of the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi-lila, chapter 2, verse 65
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah
Let me offer my humble obeisance unto Lord Krishna, who is the worshipable deity for all brahminical people, who is the well-wisher of the cows and brahmanas and who is always benedicting all the universes.
Visnu Purana, Canto 1, chapter 19, verse 65
So always remember Lord Krishna and never forget Lord Krishna. When you eat always remember Lord Krishna. When you drink always remember Lord Krishna. When you walk always remember Lord Krishna. When you talk always remember Lord Krishna. When you work always remember Lord Krishna. When you play always remember Lord Krishna. When you go to sleep always remember Lord Krishna. When you awake always remember Lord Krishna. In all that you do always remember Lord Krishna and always do all that you do for the satisfaction of Lord Krishna. This is the complete understanding of what Lord Krishna means when He says mad-bhakto become My devotee.
Although it is understood that there always will be some jnana and karma they both must always be exclusively dependent upon the service of bhakti otherwise they both will cover our bhakti or devotion. When one uses jnana or knowledge for the service of bhakti then by that process itself it becomes bhakti and when one uses karma or actions for the service of bhakti then by that process itself it also becomes bhakti. This is very confidential information.
One performs the very same action in the exact same situation but due to the intention and quality it becomes bhakti or else remains jnana or karma. In learning to discern these things it is very beneficial to receive the compassionate guidance of a spiritual master in the authorised line of disciplic succession. This is an extremely important principle and should be carefully contemplated giving it adequate attention and consideration.
In general everything that we have and everything that we do should be done for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. This means connected directly to Him in His service. Spiritually inclined and pious people all over the world are following this maxim. But the most munificent and magnanimous Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the previous acaryas in authorised disciplic succession have given us the special instruction to verily offer our very selves fully to the Supreme Lord Krishna with complete surrender. Then everything we do will be automatically reserved in the service of loving devotion to Him. Whatever we do should be for the satisfaction of Lord Krishna. Then whatever will comes to us will be automatically offered to Him. In this way we become exclusively His by performing bhakti in loving devotional service to Him exclusively.
The nine ways to perform bhakti in devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna:
1) sravanam - hearing about Lord Krishna
2) kirtanam - glorifying Lord Krishna
3) smaranam - remembering Lord Krishna
4) pada-sevanam - attending at the feet of Lord Krishna
5) arcanam - worshipping Lord Krishna
6) vandanam - praying to Lord Krishna
7) dasyam - becoming a servitor to Lord Krishna
8) sakhyam - becoming a dear friend to Lord Krishna
9) atma-nivedanam - fully surrendering unto Lord Krishna
Learning to perform these nine types of bhakti is the topmost knowledge because it allows us to establish a personal relationship with the Supreme Lord Krishna. In order to properly establish this personal relationship in the beginning stages it is necessary for us to offer everything first to the spiritual master who will then make the offering to Lord Krishna for us. This is because the spiritual master already has an established relationship with Lord Krishna which he received from his spiritual master in disciplic succession and it is he who establishes our bhakti relationship with Lord Krishna in devotional service also following the authorised line of disciplic succession.
Bhakti is extremely difficult to attain in life because it also requires that we have some sukriti or pious merit from a previous birth. Without pious merit from spiritual activities performed in a previous birth it is not possible to attain the platform of loving devotional service in this life. But by the mercy of Lord Krishna through the potency of the spiritual master in direct disciplic succession from Him which also comes from pious merit derived form a previous life and by the mercy of the Vaisnava devotees of Lord Krishna then pure loving devotional bhakti will surely manifest within us.
As the Ganga river descends from the Himalaya mountains and flows naturally to the ocean without making a special effort in the same we want our bhakti to flow from our hearts naturally to Lord Krishna without effort.
There are two distinct processes within these nine types of bhakti:
1) vaidhi-bhakti -devotion strictly following the rules and regulations
2) raganuga-bhakti -spontaneous loving devotion from the heart
Devotion works in these two ways and we must always follow them both. Externally we must perform vaidhi-bhakti in devotional service attentively following all the regulations and injunctions ordained by scripture while internally we will be performing raganuga-bhakti in devotional service within our mind and heart in so many sublime and wonderful ways. With tears flowing from our eyes due to feelings of seperation from the presence of Lord Krishna we should conceive our heart as a beautiful scented flower and offer that flower by our minds and hearts to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
One absorbed in raganuga-bhakti should perform devotional service in this manner. Overwhelmed in a great mood of seperation from Lord Krishna while having the one pointed desire of uniting with Him eternally we should see all the realizations within our hearts in the form of flowers and collecting them all string these wonderful realizations together just like a flower garland and humbly offer them to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
Great enthusiasm and eagerness to have the association of Lord Krishna is a prerequisite for attaining bhakti. This expressed in hearing and glorifying the Supreme Lord and is also further sub-divided into two types:
1) nisthata-bhakti-devotion performed with resolute faith
2) anisthata-bhakti-devotion performed without resolute faith
Although we have begun the practice of bhakti are faith is not yet resolute. So we must make the endeavour to achieve nistha or firm resolute faith. Then after we have achieved nistha and are beginning our practice of bhakti we must also transcend the four kinds of anarthas or reactions which are:
1) bhaktyottha-reactions arising from imperfect service
2) duskrtottha-reactions arising from previous piety
3) sukrtottha-reactions arising from previous sins
4) aparadhottha-reactions arising from offenses in chanting
But there is another reaction more devastating than all the others combined and this reaction we must unceasingly gaurd against or our bhakti is ruined.
1) Vaisnava aparadha-the utterly destructive and totally devastating reaction from an offense committed knowingly or unknowingly unto a Vaisnava devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna.
I now beseech all of you with full compassion to be very, very vigilant against making any type of offense consciously or otherwise by thought, word or deed unto a Vaisnava devotee of the Supreme Lord Krishna for it will certainly destroy all your chances for progress in spiritual life totally devastating all your possibilities at the very root. So even in your dreams gaurd against this most heinous of offenses known as Vaisnava aparadha.
By taking great care in avoiding Vaisnava aparadha and neutralizing the four anarthas our nistha or faith will become resolute and we can then begin to make progress in our bhakti. From nistha comes ruci or inspiration where we begin to relish our devotion and from ruci comes asakti or attachment where we cannot give up our devotion at any cost.
We should have firm faith and complete attachment in our devotion and also to the object of our devotion which is Lord Krishna. When our inspiration reaches a certain level of attainment it will mature within both of these and then by the mercy of the spiritual master and Lord Krishna our heart will never deviate. All this is also included within the advice of mad-bhakto become my devotee.
Arjuna after reflecting on this second instruction and contemplating the situation on the battlefield concluded that it would also be very difficult for him to engage in devotional service in this way and follow the advice of mad-bhakto while fighting a war and so he humbly requested Lord Krishna to give him a method of salvation more simple and easy.
Mad-Yaji
Then Lord Krishna seeing Arjuna still needed something more simple then suggests mad-yaji offer propitiation to Me. Yaji refers to yagna or propitiation by the performance of austerities in sacrifice unto the Supreme Lord Krishna. Even if one has not developed real love for Lord Krishna as yet if they have at least a little faith they can still execute some austerities in sacrifice. These austerities are the medicine and the treatment to directly disengage us from attachments and alleviate our material entanglement.
When one is hungry and thirsty the taste of food and even water will be delicious. Food will be satisfying only to the degree that one has hunger. If one is not hungry even delectable foodstuffs will not be pleasing and there will be no satisfaction. But if we are hungry then old and stale food may even seem to be delicious and give us satisfaction. Similarly if there is no devotion in our activities then they will not be appetising for Lord Krishna and He will not be satisfied by our individuals actions.
Lord Krishna reveals that if someone simply offers to Him with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water He will accept them and He will always accept the love we have for Him with in our hearts. So in this way following the path of devotion store this love in your heart like a treasure chest and always offer in everything you do to Lord Krishna.
In the Vedic scriptures it is written that the ultimate reality for all living beings in life is to develop pure unalloyed, loving devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna. This devotion must be free from any duplicity or ulterior motivation and must be engaged in consistently without interruption to totally satisfy the self.
It is the Supreme Lord Krishna to who we must learn to humbly endeavour to please. Just as a loving wife always tries to please her loving husband in every way by everything she does. In the same way we should always try to please Lord Krishna in every way in everything we do. If Lord Krishna is satisfied then we have succeeded in activating our eternal relationship with Him and the purpose of human existence has been achieved and our lives have become 100% successful.
There is a wonderful story that illustrates the sentiment of worship in devotion that we will relate to you all now. There was once a brahmana that was overly influenced by jnana or analytical reasoning in performing his worship to the deity form of Lord Krishna. Once when he had to travel for one day he lovingly called his son and instructed him to bathe, dress and feed the diety of Lord Krishna while he was gone. The boy had not learned all the appropriate mantras as yet; but he had great faith and respect in the presence of Lord Krishna manifesting in the diety form. That day his mother prepared the food and bringing it before the diety the son placed a fragrant flower petal on the seat where Lord Krishna was being invited to eat. Then carefully putting a Tulasi leaf on each preperation he humbly requested with folded hands and bowed head for Lord Krishna to please accept the offerings of food.
Right away the boy saw that no food was being eaten by Lord Krishna and so he apologised to Him for not knowing all the proper mantras and beseeched Him to please eat His food anyway. After sometime when he saw that the food was still not being eaten he told Lord Krishna that it was not his fault that his father had not taught him all the proper mantras. He asked Lord Krishna will you refrain from eating just because of that? Alright if you do not eat then I will also not eat. I will fast along with you until you decide to accept this offering. Still the food remained on the plate untouched. So the boy told Lord Krishna alright if you will not eat then I will go to sleep right now without eating or even drinking. Hearing these plaintive words from the boy Lord Krishna could not restrain Himself any longer and in compassion jumped down from the altar took His seat and happily ate all the food on the plate before returning back to His position on the altar as before.
When the boy returned with the empty plate to his mother she asked where was the food. The boy told her that it was with great difficulty that he finally got Lord Krishna to eat all the offering. His mother amazed asked how is this possible? The boy said Lord Krishna ate everything mother. And his mother thinking replied now we have to go to bed hungry because there is no more food remaining.
When the brahmana returned the next morning his wife told him that they had to go to bed hungry last night because Lord Krishna had eaten all the food that was offered. The brahmana astonished replied how can this be? Reflecting further he concluded that an animal must have gotten in somehow and eaten all the food. But the son told his father that this was not the case because he had seen Lord Krishna eat all the food. The brahmana after deliberating for some time told his son to offer the food again that day and unknown to his son he hid himself so he could see if Lord Krishna was really eating the offering or not.
The boy came in and placing a fragrant flower petal down on the seat where Lord Krishna was being invited to eat and carefully putting a Tulasi leaf on every preperation he began ringing a small bell and offering the food to Lord Krishna. When the Lord did not begin eating immeadiaiely the boy asked. Why are you not eating? You must eat your dinner. What has happened? Has the food not been prepared properly? In a soft voice Lord Krishna said that today your father is hiding here. Where is my father hiding the boy replied? Lord Krishna said over there behind the curtain. That is why I am not eating. But you must eat your food anyway it is time now and I will be very unhappy if you do not eat the boy answered. Lord Krishna told the boy to go and simply touch his father. The boy did so and just by the touch of his son the boys pure sentiment and firm faith in Lord Krishna arose in the father and the father could also see that Lord Krishna was actually partaking of the food.
So this story illustrates the necessity of appropriate sentiment for performing worship to Lord Krishna. Dressing, cooking, feeding are all included in worship along with chanting, singing and glorifying. If there is no such sentiment and no such faith then one has no qualification for worship and thus their worship may or may not be accepted but with resolute faith our worship will not only be surely accepted but will be reciprocated with as well.
Arjuna contemplating the suggestion of mad-yaji offer propitiation to Me then concluded that it was also not possible for him to perform this on the battlefield and so he beseeched Lord Krishna for still a more simpler way.
Mam Namaskuru
Lord Krishna knowing that Arjuna still needed something even more simple requests him at least to: mam namaskuru just give humble obeisance to Me. What Lord Krishna is revealing here is that we should offer our obeisance without the false ego attached. What is the false ego? The false ego is the I am syndrome. Thinking I am man. Thinking I am woman. Thinking I am young. Thinking I am old. Thinking I am happy. Thinking I am sad. Thinking I am this. Thinking I am that. This is our totally false identification with the physical body. When in truth we are all eternal spiritual beings. So we must offer our humble obeisance to Lord Krishna with the realization that we are all pure, eternal spiritual beings.
Taking this instruction in our hearts we should offer obeisance to Lord Krishna in this way. For any living entity who offers obeisance to Lord Krishna in this way even once in their life are liberated from the material existence. It is like one has jumped into an endless body of water which is what the material existence is like and then once looking back one realizes that they have already crossed over it. This is what even one obeisance to the Supreme Lord Krishna awards. In the Vedic scriptures it is stated that one who has performed ten of the most exalted penance and austerities of sacrifice will take birth again; but one who has even once offered humble obeisance to Lord Krishna never takes birth again.
Exactly what does this mean? It means that when one even once offers obeisance to Lord Krishna they will never again enter the cycle of birth and death. One will not be forced to enter another womb of a mother to languish for 9 months until being born if they have even once offered obeisance to Lord Krishna with exclusive surrender. This is the actual meaning of Lord Krishna requesting mam-namaskuru just give humble obeisance to Me and Arjuna realizing that he could fulfill this final request offered hundreds of obeisances to Lord Krishna.
Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana an exalted Vaisnava acarya in the Brahma Madhva disciplic succession wrote a glorious commentary named Gita Govinda on the Vedanta Sutra by Vyasadeva has stated comprehensively those who are qualified to receive the wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita:
1) those who are inherently pious and reverent
2) those who are righteous and sincere following daily scriptural duties
3) those who are of controlled senses
Those who are qualified to understand the wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita must be humble enough to approach a bonafide spiritual master in authorised disciplic succession and must come possessing three qualities:
1) pranipatena-submission
2) pariprasnena-relevant enquiry
3) sevaya-sincere service
Lord Krishna has revealed that one whose heart has not been purified by austerities, one who has not renounced their false ego and one who has never served the spiritual master and the Vaisnavas will not be eligible to understand the confidential knowledge which the Bhagavad-Gita contains no matter how intelligent they may be.
So in conclusion Lord Krishna advises man-mana-bhava absorb your mind and heart in Me and in this way mad-bhakto become My devotee and then mad-yaji offer propitiation to Me and then mam namaskuru just give humble obeisance to Me always remembering that we are not our physical bodies but effulgent and pure spiritual beings eternally.
Now all of these four instructions have become united harmoniously and this is the supreme secret, the most hidden treasure, the most confidential instruction of the Bhagavad-Gita. If anyone earnestly and sincerely follows the instructions of this single verse with great faith and love in a mood of humility following any or all of the nine branches of bhakti fully surrendered to the Lord Krishna. Then by the causeless mercy of the spiritual master they will surely cross over the vast ocean of birth and death in the material existence and attain pure love and devotion in the spiritual worlds eternally in association with the Supreme Lord Krishna.
Sanskrit
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yaji mam namaskuru
mam evaisyasi satyam te
pratijane priyo' si me
Translation
Absorb your mind and heart in Me, become My devotee, offer propitiation to Me, just give humble obeisance to Me and surely you will come to Me. I promise this in truth to you, being very dear to Me.
Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 18, verse 65
This verse revealed by Lord Krishna is the paramount revelation within the Bhagavad-Gita. The Bhagavad-Gita is the acknowledged panacea for spiritual evolution. The instructions within the Bhagavad-Gita establish the foundation by which we can construct a palace for bhakti wherein we can perform devotion to Lord Krishna with great love. This most sacred and confidential knowledge is the goal to be attained as well as the essence to be gained from the transcendental Srimad Bhagavad-Gita of Lord Krishna!
Swami Bhaktivedanta Narayana
Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti
Brahma Madhva Vaisnava Sampradaya
Jaya Srila Gurudeva .
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