Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 55:
(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
It Takes More Than Knowledge To Experience The Ecstasy Of God’s Intimate Form God-Consciousness Is Possible Only By Bhakti
भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वत: |
ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा विशते तदनन्तरम् || 18.55||
bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaśh chāsmi tattvataḥ
tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā viśhate tad-anantaram|| 18.55||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 55:
One only learns who I am in reality by passionate commitment to Me. Then, after getting to know Me, My disciple experiences Me fully.
Explanation
In the verse before, Shree Krishna said that when one is seated in transcendental knowledge, devotion emerges. He now asserts that the only way to know God’s nature is through devotion. The jñānī had previously come to understand God as the nirakara (formless), nirguna (quality-less), and nirviśheṣha (attribute-less) Brahman.
But the personal nature of God was not realised by the karma, jñāna, aṣhṭāṅga yoga etc, these cannot reveal the secret of that personal form. Love makes room for the inaccessible and opens the door to the impossibly difficult. Here, Shree Krishna asserts that unwavering devotion is the only way to fully understand the mystery of God’s attributes, pastimes, residence, and companions. Because they have eyes of love, worshippers can see God.
Verse & what we can learn
In the shloka, Shri Krishna outlines the sanyasi’s ultimate objective and last step. The monk’s knowledge of Ishvara’s true nature was still limited. However, when his devotion to Ishvara had reached its height, when his sense of self had been shattered, and when he saw Ishvara as an extension of himself rather than a separate entity, he realised the true nature of Ishvara. His identity combines with that of Ishvara at that point. He walks in and becomes Ishvara. Being merged into Ishvara and understanding Ishvara fundamentally are the same.
This is genuine knowledge, or jnyaana. this pure comprehension of Ishvara as the unchanging, ultimate awareness that is unborn, timeless, everlasting, fearless, and deathless. In the shloka, the word yaha, which means “who I am,” has this meaning. The phrase “yaavaan,” which means “what I am,” refers to the variations in Ishvara brought about by his upaadhis and maaya. The seeker’s efforts toward chitta shuddi, or the purification of his mind, have culminated in his ability to make this distinction.
The fruit of bhakti is jnyaana. Jnyaana emerges as bhakti ripens. Bhakti purifies the mind of all impurities, which eliminates the idea of identity or separation between the seeker and the outside world. The seeker unites with Ishvara after realising that his self and Ishvara’s self are one and the same, and that “asi” in “tat tvam asi,” “you are that,” means “you are that.”
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 explains how devotees attain the divine.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…