Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 63:
(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
God Has Given The Soul With The Capacity To Choose Among Various Options
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया |
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु || 18.63||
iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā
vimṛiśhyaitad aśheṣheṇa yathechchhasi tathā kuru|| 18.63||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 63:
I have revealed to you the information that is the most secret of all secrets in this way. Consider this carefully, then act as you like.
Explanation
Knowledge that is unavailable to the majority of people is referred to as a secret. Spiritual knowledge is vast and is not accessible to the senses directly. It must be discovered through the guru and the written word. As a result, it is referred to as secret. Shree Krishna had revealed the guhya, or secret knowledge, of the soul in the second chapter.
The Bhagavad Gita is now being completed by Shree Krishna. After explaining the eighteen chapters to Arjuna, including the majority of the hidden information, he now leaves the decision in Arjuna’s hands. “I have imparted to you significant and private knowledge,” he claims. You now have an option to make.
God has granted the soul the ability to make choices based on available options. The options available to us are limited. “I choose to be the most intellectual person in the world,” is not a decision that one can make. Our present and past karmas restrict our options.
we are not androids in God’s hands; we do have some degree of free will. People occasionally ponder whether we would have committed any sin if God had not given us free will. But then we would not have accomplished anything constructive. Always, there is a risk of doing evil along with the chance to do well.
God wants us to love him above all else because love can only exist when there is a choice. God gave us choices and free will so that we may choose him and express our love for him in that way. The soul must choose to love and surrender to God; not even the all-powerful God can compel it to do so. Here, Shree Krishna is calling Arjuna’s free will and requesting that he make a decision.
Verse & what we can learn
In the Gita discourse, the term “iti” appears frequently. It always serves to wrap up a chapter as well as a key idea or subject. This word is used by Shri Krishna to inform Arjuna that this shloka marks the end of the Gita discourse. Shri Krishna also draws attention to the text’s most obscure element. The Gita is not an exclusive scripture by any means.
A number of commentaries, including this one, are publicly accessible online. Due of their preconceived assumptions, the majority of people will avoid reading the Gita. Others believe it to be outmoded, unworkable, and so on. Few people are interested in the Gita, and of those who are, even fewer are prepared to comprehend it and modify their way of life in light of it.
Any spiritual message must pass through these three stages in order to affect our life. Shravana is attentively hearing the book read by a knowledgeable teacher. Manana is the act of reflecting on the lesson in order to clear up any confusion or logical flaws. To fully integrate that instruction, nidhidhyaasana entails meditation and persistent thought.
Despite being avid listeners, many seekers make the error of omitting the second step. As a result, individuals are unable to recognize the teaching’s relevance to their own lives. Shri Krishna emphasizes the significance of contemplation. In addition, he grants Arjuna the flexibility to apply the instruction in accordance with this knowledge developed through reflection rather than accepting it at face value.
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.
In the next shloka Shri Krishna talks about supreme statement.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…