Bhagavad Gita Chapter 11
(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.
Virat Rupa Gyan Yoga - Yoga of the Universal form of God
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11.24, 25:
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- शमं = mental calm
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- प्रसीद = be pleased
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11.32 - श्रीभगवानुवाच:
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्त: । ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे येऽवस्थिता: प्रत्यनीकेषु योधा: ॥ ३२ ॥
I am death, destroyer of the worlds. I am here to destroy all the warriors. They will not survive even if you dont fight.
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ऋते = except (you, besides you)
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11.33 - तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुंक्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् । मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥ ३३ ॥
Therefore get up and fight, be victorious over enemies & enjoy a kingdom of opulence. The enemies have already been killed by Me, be simply an instrument of My will, O Arjuna.
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निमित्तमात्रं = simply an instrument
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11.37 - गरीयसे = superior; - जगन्निवास = जगन्नाथ = refuge of the world
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11.42 - तत्क्षामये त्वामहमप्रमेयम् = for those immeasurable (offenses I made) I seek your forgiveness, O Lord
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11.47 - आत्मयोग = internal energy = cosmic yoga
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11.9 & 50 - दर्शयामास = (Lord) displayed
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11.54 - भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन । ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप ॥ ५४ ॥
Only by devotion its possible to know Me & see Me in Truth, O Arjuna.
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11.55 - मत्कर्मकृन्मत्परमो मद्भक्त: सङ्गवर्जित: । निर्वैर: सर्वभूतेषु य: स मामेति पाण्डव ॥ ५५ ॥
One who makes Me his supreme goal and renders selfless devotional service, comes to Me, O Arjuna.
Thus again, the Lord underlines the importance of selfless surrender to Him in devotion as the only way to know Him.
My chosen verse from this chapter:
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व जित्वा शत्रून्भुंक्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।
मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥ 11.33 ॥
Therefore get up and fight, be victorious over enemies & enjoy a kingdom of opulence. The enemies have already been killed by Me, be simply an instrument of My will, O Arjuna.
Here the Lord clearly describes that everything in this material world is happening under His authority. He arranges everything and then executes His arrangements through us. Due to false ego, we stake claim to this and that and thus get caught in the web of maya. And if freedom from this maya is desired then surrendering to the Lord and being well satisfied in just being His instrument is the way to go.
