GITA 7.20
Till the 12th sloka, Sri Krishna hinted His greatness. In the 13th and 14th sloka, He further told the prakruti acts as a screen and hides these greatness from realization by us. Then He told that surrender unto Him - saranagathi- is the only way to realize Him. In the 15th sloka, He indicated the Four types of persons, who never realized Him. In the 16th sloka, He described the Four types of devotees, who solicit Him. In the 17th sloka, He mentioned, how among these devotees, Gyani, who seeks only Him, is the most superior. Now we will see the 18th sloka:
When we worship the Lord and Sri Thayar, here, how can we ask for any material wealth, when He is available? This is what is explained in this sloka. We are listening to today's [3rd April 2008] lecture from the sannidhi of Sri Govindaraja, in Therazhundur.
As told earlier, both the sannidhis of Sri Ranganatha andSri Govindaraja are outside the sannidhi of SriGosakha or Sri Aamaruviyappan. Around this sannidhi we can see a number of ponds. Alwar praises the multiple ponds and green fields spread out in this Kshetram.
Sarva evaita =all these [four types of devotees mentioned in sloka 16] are , udhara = generous or magnanimous. We may have a doubt here. How can Sri Krishna call all these devotees are generous? After all two types are devoted to Him to gain material benefits only. So, how can they be magnanimous? The Lord feels that at least for material gain sake, they have come to Him, stretching their hands, instead of going to all sorts of other persons and gods. The Lord is praised because He is able to shower on them bountiful. But, is it not bad to ask the Lord for such trivial things? For the starter or in the initial phase of devotion, such requests are not bad. In fact, all have to run the family and live comfortably. So, there is no harm in requesting the Lord for material benefits. But, we should neither be greedy nor stop with asking only material wealth. We should slowly advance and reach the stage of Gyani. The Lord is happy that for some reason we approach Him for favours. In fact, these material benefits become a catalyst or encouragement to approach Him for higher things in life. Though, all these persons are generous ones, me matham = My [Sri Krishna's] opinion or policy is, jnani tu atmaiva = Gyani [most superior devotee] is [Sri Krishna's] Soul. This is a bit difficult to accept. All scriptures, puranas, Alwars and Acharyas have been telling that the Lord is our soul and never they have mentioned that the best of devotees is His soul. But, we have to accept these words as they have come from His mouth. Our intelligence says He is our atman; but the Lord's opinion is, a Bhakta is His atman - says Swami Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar. In his Tatparya Chandrika, Swami Vedanta Desika enquires into this and poses a question, how this policy, opposed to Vedas, has been told by the Lord? Answer is, that for the moment we have to keep aside all Vedas' pronouncements and we are listening to the Lord and have to accept what He says. Gyani always thinks of Him. Yuktatma = he [Gyani] wants to be always with [Sri Krishna]. He can not tolerate a moment of separation, like many Alwars. Bhakta sees Him in everything and everywhere. They are so mad after the Lord that they send insects and birds as messengers and convey their plight of separation. Similarly, the Lord also can not think of separation from Mahatmas. Mam eva = I [Sri Krishna] alone, anuttamam gathim = nothing more is to be attained. He does not want anything else. Like the Cow and Calf, in this Kshetram, attaching themselves to the Lord and dependent only on Him, for all needs, we should also develop our Bhakti in Him. With a heavy heart, we will now take leave of the Lord here and move on to the next Kshetram.
udarah sarva evaite
jnani tv atmaiva me matam
asthitah sa hi yuktatma
mam evanuttamam gatim
jnani tv atmaiva me matam
asthitah sa hi yuktatma
mam evanuttamam gatim
"All these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own soul. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he wants to attain only Me, the highest and most perfect goal."
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| Sri Govindarajan Sannidhi |
As told earlier, both the sannidhis of Sri Ranganatha andSri Govindaraja are outside the sannidhi of SriGosakha or Sri Aamaruviyappan. Around this sannidhi we can see a number of ponds. Alwar praises the multiple ponds and green fields spread out in this Kshetram.
Sarva evaita =all these [four types of devotees mentioned in sloka 16] are , udhara = generous or magnanimous. We may have a doubt here. How can Sri Krishna call all these devotees are generous? After all two types are devoted to Him to gain material benefits only. So, how can they be magnanimous? The Lord feels that at least for material gain sake, they have come to Him, stretching their hands, instead of going to all sorts of other persons and gods. The Lord is praised because He is able to shower on them bountiful. But, is it not bad to ask the Lord for such trivial things? For the starter or in the initial phase of devotion, such requests are not bad. In fact, all have to run the family and live comfortably. So, there is no harm in requesting the Lord for material benefits. But, we should neither be greedy nor stop with asking only material wealth. We should slowly advance and reach the stage of Gyani. The Lord is happy that for some reason we approach Him for favours. In fact, these material benefits become a catalyst or encouragement to approach Him for higher things in life. Though, all these persons are generous ones, me matham = My [Sri Krishna's] opinion or policy is, jnani tu atmaiva = Gyani [most superior devotee] is [Sri Krishna's] Soul. This is a bit difficult to accept. All scriptures, puranas, Alwars and Acharyas have been telling that the Lord is our soul and never they have mentioned that the best of devotees is His soul. But, we have to accept these words as they have come from His mouth. Our intelligence says He is our atman; but the Lord's opinion is, a Bhakta is His atman - says Swami Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar. In his Tatparya Chandrika, Swami Vedanta Desika enquires into this and poses a question, how this policy, opposed to Vedas, has been told by the Lord? Answer is, that for the moment we have to keep aside all Vedas' pronouncements and we are listening to the Lord and have to accept what He says. Gyani always thinks of Him. Yuktatma = he [Gyani] wants to be always with [Sri Krishna]. He can not tolerate a moment of separation, like many Alwars. Bhakta sees Him in everything and everywhere. They are so mad after the Lord that they send insects and birds as messengers and convey their plight of separation. Similarly, the Lord also can not think of separation from Mahatmas. Mam eva = I [Sri Krishna] alone, anuttamam gathim = nothing more is to be attained. He does not want anything else. Like the Cow and Calf, in this Kshetram, attaching themselves to the Lord and dependent only on Him, for all needs, we should also develop our Bhakti in Him. With a heavy heart, we will now take leave of the Lord here and move on to the next Kshetram.
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