Chapter VIII - 41 Home | Index | Previous | Next

"Men render the inner consciousness impure by dwelling on the objective world through ignorance. They take delight in mere Sabda, Rasa, Rupa, etc. When they seek objective pleasure they are tempted to secure the objects that give the pleasure; foiled in the attempt, they get restless, hateful and afraid. Fear robs man of his mental resources. It creates anger that cannot be easily pacified. Thus, desire, anger and fear are aroused one after the other and these three have to be removed. Arjuna, revolve in your mind these facts and then act. Become reasonable. Have faith in My words."

Arjuna heard all this and asked, "Nandakumara! Why can Yoga not make this sacred and high stage available for all persons? You announced Yourself as Premaswarupa and Dayamaya. Why then all this partiality? I must declare it as favouritism, for you endow this stage only on Jnanis and deny it to the Ajnanis. I would even say that the Ajnani, the ignorant person who has no discrimination, the person who swings like the pendulum of the clock from one thing to another, merits your grace more. The Jnani knows everything; he is aware that the Jagath is Vishnumayam; why then should it be made further clear to him? Such men have no more need of grace."

Krishna replied, "Yes. Men are usually overwhelmed by such doubts. You represent humanity and so your doubt is humanity's doubt. By clearing your doubt, I can also announce My message to humanity. Listen. Those who seek Me are of four types:

  • One is always worn out by ills that affect the body; he is the Aartha.
  • Another is worried by the struggle for prosperity, power, self, property, posterity, etc. He is the Artha-arthi.
  • A third yearns for the realisation of the Atma, reads the scriptures and sacred texts, moves ever in the company of spiritual Sadhakas, acts along the lines laid down by the sages as Sadachara, and is always motivated by the eagerness to reach the Sannidhi of the Lord. He is the Jijnaasu.
  • The fourth is the Jnani. He is immersed in the Brahmathathwam."

"The first, the Aartha, worships Me only when he is in difficulty and suffers from grief or pain. When he prays to Me, I hear it and I satisfy him only in relation to that particular difficulty, that particular grief or pain. So too, when the Artha-arthi prays for riches or position or power or high status, I listen and award him only the particular thing he craves for. The Jijnaasu is blessed with chances to do Nishkaama-karma, with a proper Guru as guide, with an intellect that is sharp enough to discriminate between Atma and Anatma, and thus helped to achieve the Goal. I bless him so that he is saved from distractions and helped to concentrate on the single aim of liberation."

Next