(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)

Ishvara Can Only Be Attained Through Single-Pointed Devotion

भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन |
ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप || 11.54||

bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham evaṁ-vidho ’rjuna
jñātuṁ draṣhṭuṁ cha tattvena praveṣhṭuṁ cha parantapa|| 11.54||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 11- Ver. 54:

But, O Arjuna, I am reachable by single-minded dedication. In this way, O scorcher of adversaries, I can be known, seen, and merged with as my essence.

Explanation

Shree Krishna advocates bhakti as a means of attaining him in this verse. Now, Shree Krishna asserts strongly in this verse that his two-armed appearance as seen before Arjuna can only be attained through bhakti.

Verse & what we can learn

Finally, Shri Krishna explains how we can gain access to Ishvara’s cosmic form. It can’t be done through rituals, Vedic studies, or other means because they all take place in the domain of space and time.

The only way to reach Ishvara is by single-pointed devotion. The phrase “ananya” denotes a situation in which there is no alternative but We should not devote ourselves to Ishvara in order to obtain something else. The sole purpose of devotion should be to acquire Ishvara.

If we treat Ishvara differently when we ask him for something tangible. This irritates Ishvara. When we solely want Ishvara, we don’t treat him any differently from the rest of us. Single-pointed dedication means this.

Shri Krishna explains how to achieve Ishvara in the second half of the shloka. We must first determine what Ishvara is, eliminating all previous assumptions. We must know him in his essence, as encompassing the entire world, not as a figure hidden somewhere in the sky. We learn to recognize Ishvara in everything and everything as Ishvara when we attain this knowledge and meditate on it continuously.

The final step, however, of not perceiving Ishvara from the outside but completely merging with Ishvara, can only be accomplished through single-pointed devotion. Shri Krishna taught Arjuna about Ishvara, and he also beheld Ishvara in his cosmic form. But he didn’t completely blend in; he was still visible.

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 tells Arjuna how one can attain him.

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