(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

Without Divine Grace, It Is Difficult To Know Him He Has To Be Kind to Reveal Himself

कथं विद्यामहं योगिंस्त्वां सदा परिचिन्तयन् |
केषु केषु च भावेषु चिन्त्योऽसि भगवन्मया || 10.17||

kathaṁ vidyām ahaṁ yogins tvāṁ sadā parichintayan
keṣhu keṣhu cha bhāveṣhu chintyo ’si bhagavan mayā|| 10.17||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 10- Ver. 17:

How would I know you, Yogin, if I am continually absorbed in meditation? And, O Lord, by which expressions am I to meditate you?

Explanation

His yoga-maya protects the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can only be seen by devoted spirits and devotees. Now that Arjuna is sure that His companion Krishna is the Supreme Godhead, he wishes to learn the general procedure by which the all-pervading Lord might be comprehended by ordinary people.

Because Krishna is protected by His yoga-maya force, no ordinary person, including demons and atheists, can know Him. Arjuna is once again asking these questions for his own benefit. The superior devotee is concerned not only for his own insight, but for all mankind’s understanding.

Arjuna, a devotee, is clearing the way for the common man to grasp the Supreme’s all-pervasiveness as a result of his benevolence. Sri Krishna is addressed as yogin because Sri Krishna is the master of the yoga-maya energy that covers and reveals Him to the common man.

Because a common man who does not adore Krishna cannot always think of Krishna he must think in material terms. Arjuna is contemplating the world’s materialistic people’s way of thinking. Because materialists are unable to comprehend Krishna spiritually, it is suggested that they focus their minds on physical objects and try to observe how Krishna manifests through physical representations.

Verse & what we can learn

In the midst of all the daily activities, it is difficult to bring in a divine thought for a minute, let alone contemplate on Ishvara constantly. We don’t have to be concerned about forgetting Ishvara because he is the cause of everything.

However, due to our long-term programming and the strength of our ego – our belief that “I do everything” – we require additional support to overcome that conditioning. We need a step-by-step approach, a list of Ishvara’s expressions,

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

If a list of Ishvara’s expressions is required, it cannot be brief and concise. It should be detailed. In the next shloka, Arjuna asks for this.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…