CHAPTER 9 : The Secret of life
©2001, TheBhagavatGita.com

sri-bhagavan uvaca -- The Supreme said; idam -- this; tu -- but; te -- unto you; guhya-tamam -- the most confidential; pravaksyami -- I am speaking; anasuyave -- to the nonenvious; jnanam -- knowledge; vijnana -- realized knowledge; sahitam -- with; yat -- which; jnatva -- knowing; moksyase -- you will be released; asubhat -- from this miserable material existence.

The Supreme said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realisation, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.

raja-vidya -- the king of education; raja-guhyam -- the king of confidential knowledge; pavitram -- the purest; idam -- this; uttamam -- transcendental; pratyaksa -- by direct experience; avagamam -- understood; dharmyam -- the principle of religion; su-sukham -- very happy; kartum -- to execute; avyayam -- everlasting.

This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and joyous to perform.

asraddadhanah -- those who are faithless; purusah -- such persons; dharmasya -- toward the process of religion; asya -- this; parantapa -- O killer of the enemies; aprapya -- without obtaining; mam -- Me; nivartante -- come back; mrtyu -- of death; samsara -- in material existence; vartmani -- on the path.

Those who are not faithful in this devotional service cannot attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. Therefore they return to the path of birth and death in this material world.

maya -- by Me; tatam -- pervaded; idam -- this; sarvam -- all; jagat -- universe/cosmos; avyakta-murtina -- by the unmanifested form; mat-sthani -- in Me; sarva-bhutani -- all living entities; na -- not; ca -- also; aham -- I; tesu -- in them; avasthitah -- situated.

My unmanifested form pervades this entire universe. All living beings are in Me, but I am not in them.

na -- never; ca -- also; mat-sthani -- situated in Me; bhutani -- all creation; pasya- just see; me -- My; yogam aisvaram -- inconceivable mystic power; bhuta-bhrt -- the maintainer of all living entities; na -- never; ca -- also; bhuta-sthah -- in the cosmic manifestation; mama -- My; atma -- Self; bhuta-bhavanah -- the source of all manifestations.

And yet everything that is created does not rest in Me. Behold My powerful mystic opulence! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities and although I am everywhere, I am not a part of this cosmic manifestation, for My Self is the very source of all creation.

yatha- just as; akasa-sthitah -- situated in the sky; nityam -- always; vayuh -- the wind; sarvatra-gah -- blowing everywhere; mahan -- great; tatha -- similarly; sarvani bhutani -- all created beings; mat-sthani -- situated in Me; iti -- thus; upadharaya -- try to understand.

Understand that as the mighty wind, blowing everywhere, rests always in the sky, all created beings rest in Me.

sarva-bhutani -- all created entities; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; prakrtim -- nature; yanti -- enter; mamikam -- My; kalpa-ksaye -- at the end of the millennium; punah -- again; tani -- all those; kalpa-adau -- in the beginning of the millennium; visrjami -- create; aham -- I.

O son of Kunti, at the end of the millennium all material manifestations enter into My nature, and at the beginning of another millennium, by My potency, I create them again.

prakrtim -- the material nature; svam -- of My personal Self; avastabhya -- entering into; visrjami -- I create; punah punah -- again and again; bhuta-gramam -- all the cosmic manifestations; imam -- these; krtsnam -- in total; avasam -- automatically; prakrteh -- of the force of nature; vasat -- under obligation.

The whole cosmic order is under Me. Under My will it is automatically manifested again and again, and under My will it is annihilated at the end.

na -- never; ca -- also; mam -- Me; tani -- all those; karmani -- activities; nibadhnanti -- bind; dhananjaya -- O conqueror of riches; udasina-vat -- as neutral; asinam -- situated; asaktam -- without attraction; tesu -- for those; karmasu -- activities.

O Dhananjaya, all this work cannot bind Me. I am ever detached from all these material activities, seated as though neutral.

maya -- by Me; adhyaksena -- by superintendence: prakrtih -- material nature; suyate -- manifests; sa -- both; cara-acaram the moving and the nonmoving; hetuna -- for the reason; anena -- this; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; jagat -- the cosmic manifestation; viparivartate -- is working.

This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

avajananti -- deride; mam -- Me; mudhah -- foolish men; manusim -- in a human form; tanum -- a body; asritam -- assuming; param -- transcendental; bhavam -- nature; ajanantah -- not knowing; mama -- My; bhuta -- of everything that be; maha-isvaram -- the supreme proprietor.

Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme of all that be.

mogha-asah -- baffled in their hopes; mogha-karmanah -- baffled in fruitive activities; mogha-jnanah -- baffled in knowledge; vicetasah -- bewildered; raksasim -- demonic; asurim -- atheistic; ca -- and; eva -- certainly; prakrtim -- nature; mohinim -- bewildering; sritah -- taking shelter of.

Those who are thus bewildered are attracted by demonic and atheistic views. In that deluded condition, their hopes for liberation, their fruitive activities, and their culture of knowledge are all defeated.

maha-atmanah -- the great souls; tu -- but; mam -- unto Me; partha -- O son of Prtha; daivim -- divine; prakrtim -- nature; asritah -- having taken shelter of; bhajanti -- render service; ananya-manasah -- without deviation of the mind; jnatva -- knowing; bhuta -- of creation; adim -- the origin; avyayam -- inexhaustible.

O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service unto Me because they know The Supreme, original and inexhaustible.

satatam -- always; kirtayantah -- chanting; mam -- about Me; yatantah -- fully endeavoring; ca -- also; drdha-vratah -- with determination; namasyantah -- offering obeisances; ca -- and; mam -- Me; bhaktya -- in devotion; nitya-yuktah -- perpetually engaged; upasate -- worship.

Always glorifying me, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually engage in worship with devotion.

jnana-yajnena -- by cultivation of knowledge; ca -- also; api -- certainly; anye -- others; yajantah -- sacrificing; mam -- Me; upasate -- worship; ekatvena -- in oneness; prthaktvena -- in duality; bahudha -- in diversity; visvatah-mukham -- and in the universal form.

Others, who engage in sacrifice by the cultivation of knowledge, worship the Supreme Lord as the one without a second, as diverse in many, and in the universal form.

aham -- I; kratuh -- Vedic ritual; aham -- I; yajnah -- smrti sacrifice; svadha -- oblation; aham -- I; aham -- I; ausadham -- healing herb; mantrah -- transcendental chant; aham -- I; aham -- I; eva -- certainly; ajyam -- melted butter; aham -- I; agnih -- fire; aham -- I; hutam -- offering.

But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering.

pita -- father; aham -- I; asya -- of this; jagatah -- universe; mata -- mother; dhata -- supporter; pitamahah -- grandfather; vedyam -- what is to be known; pavitram -- that which purifies; om-kara -- the syllable om; rk -- the Rg Veda; sama -- the Sama Veda; yajuh -- the Yajur Veda; eva -- certainly; ca -- and.

I am the father of this universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable om. I am also the Rg, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas.

gatih -- goal; bharta -- sustainer; prabhuh -- Lord; saksi -- witness; nivasah -- abode; saranam -- refuge; suhrt -- most intimate friend; prabhavah -- creation; pralayah -- dissolution; sthanam -- ground; nidhanam -- resting place; bijam -- seed; avyayam -- imperishable.

I am the goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness, the abode, the refuge, and the most dear friend. I am the creation and the annihilation, the basis of everything, the resting place and the eternal seed.

tapami -- give heat; aham -- I; aham -- I; varsam -- rain; nigrhnami -- withhold; utsrjami -- send forth; ca -- and; amrtam -- immortality; ca -- and; eva -- certainly; mrtyuh -- death; ca -- and; sat -- spirit; asat -- matter; ca -- and; aham -- I; arjuna -- O Arjuna.

O Arjuna, I give heat, and I withhold and send forth the rain. I am immortality, and I am also death personified. Both spirit and matter are in Me.

trai-vidyah -- the knowers of the three Vedas; mam -- Me; soma-pah -- drinkers of soma juice; puta -- purified; papah -- of sins; yajnaih -- with sacrifices; istva -- worshiping; svah-gatim -- passage to heaven; prarthayante -- pray for; te -- they; punyam -- pious; asadya -- attaining; sura-indra -- of Indra; lokam -- the world; asnanti -- enjoy; divyan -- celestial; divi -- in heaven; deva-bhogan -- the pleasures of the gods.

Those who study the Vedas and drink the soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, worship Me indirectly. Purified of sinful reactions, they take birth on the pious, heavenly planet of Indra, where they enjoy godly delights.

te -- they; tam -- that; bhuktva -- enjoying; svarga-lokam -- heaven; visalam -- vast; ksine -- being exhausted; punye -- the results of their pious activities; martya-lokam -- to the mortal earth; visanti -- fall down; evam -- thus; trayi -- of the three Vedas; dharmam -- doctrines; anuprapannah -- following; gata-agatam -- death and birth; kama-kamah -- desiring sense enjoyments; labhante -- attain.

When they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasure and the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they return to this mortal planet again. Thus those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the three Vedas achieve only repeated birth and death.

ananyah -- having no other object; cintayantah -- concentrating; mam -- on Me; ye -- those who; janah -- persons; paryupasate -- properly worship; tesam -- of them; nitya -- always; abhiyuktanam -- fixed in devotion; yoga -- requirements; ksemam -- protection; vahami -- carry; aham -- I.

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form -- to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

ye -- those who; api -- also; anya -- of other; devata -- gods; bhaktah -- devotees; yajante -- worship; sraddhaya anvitah -- with faith; te -- they; api -- also; mam -- Me; eva -- only; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; yajanti -- they worship; avidhi-purvakam -- in a wrong way.

Those who are devotees of other gods and who worship them with faith actually worship only Me, O son of Kunti, but they do so in a wrong way.

aham -- I; hi -- surely; sarva -- of all; yajnanam -- sacrifices; bhokta -- the enjoyer; ca -- and; prabhuh -- the Lord; eva -- also; ca -- and; na -- not; tu -- but; mam -- Me; abhijananti -- they know; tattvena -- in reality; atah -- therefore; cyavanti -- fall down; te -- they.

I am the only enjoyer and master of all sacrifices. Therefore, those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.

yanti -- go; deva-vratah -- worshipers of demigods; devan -- to the demigods; pitrn -- to the ancestors; yanti -- go; pitr-vratah -- worshipers of ancestors; bhutani -- to the ghosts and spirits; yanti -- go; bhuta-ijyah -- worshipers of ghosts and spirits; yanti -- go; mat -- My; yajinah -- devotees; api -- but; mam -- unto Me.

Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.

patram -- a leaf; puspam -- a flower; phalam -- a fruit; toyam -- water; yah -- whoever; me -- unto Me; bhaktya -- with devotion; prayacchati -- offers; tat -- that; aham -- I; bhakti-upahrtam -- offered in devotion; asnami -- accept; prayata-atmanah -- from one in pure consciousness.

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

yat -- whatever; karosi -- you do; yat -- whatever; asnasi -- you eat; yat -- whatever; juhosi -- you offer; dadasi -- you give away; yat -- whatever; yat -- whatever; tapas yasi -- austerities you perform; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; tat -- that; kurusva -- do; mat -- unto Me; arpanam -- as an offering.

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform -- do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.

subha -- from auspicious; asubha -- and inauspicious; phalaih -- results; evam -- thus; moksyase -- you will become free; karma -- of work; bandhanaih -- from the bondage; sannyasa -- of renunciation; yoga -- the yoga; yukta-atma -- having the mind firmly set on; vimuktah -- liberated; mam -- to Me; upaisyasi -- you will attain.

In this way you will be freed from bondage to work and its auspicious and inauspicious results. With your mind fixed on Me in this principle of renunciation, you will be liberated and come to Me.

samah -- equally disposed; aham -- I; sarva-bhutesu -- to all living entities; na -- no one; me -- to Me; dvesyah -- hateful; asti -- is; na -- nor; priyah -- dear; ye -- those who; bhajanti -- render transcendental service; tu -- but; mam -- unto Me; bhaktya -- in devotion; mayi -- are in Me; te -- such persons; tesu -- in them; ca -- also; api -- certainly; aham -- I.

I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders transcendental service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.

api -- even; cet -- if; su-duracarah -- one committing the most abominable actions; bhajate -- is engaged in devotional service; mam -- unto Me; ananya-bhak -- without deviation; sadhuh -- a saint; eva -- certainly; sah -- he; mantavyah -- is to be considered; samyak -- completely; vyavasitah -- situated in determination; hi -- certainly; sah -- he.

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination.

ksipram -- very soon; bhavati -- becomes; dharma-atma -- righteous; sasvat-santim -- lasting peace; nigacchati -- attains; kaunteya -- O son of Kunti; pratijanihi -- declare; na -- never; me -- My; bhaktah -- devotee; pranasyati -- perishes.

He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

mam -- of Me; hi -- certainly; partha -- O son of Prtha; vyapasritya -- particularly taking shelter; ye -- those who; api -- also; syuh -- are; papa-yonayah -- born of a lower family; stri yah -- women; vaishyah -- mercantile people; tatha -- also; sudrah -- lower-class men; te api -- even they; yanti -- go; param -- to the supreme; gatim -- destination.

O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth -- women, vaishyas [merchants] and sudras [workers] -- can attain the supreme destination.

kim -- how much; punah -- again; brahmanah -- brahmanas; punyah -- righteous; bhaktah -- devotees; raja-rsayah -- saintly kings; tatha -- also; anityam -- temporary; asukham -- full of miseries; lokam -- planet; imam -- this; prapya -- gaining; bhajasva -- be engaged in loving service; mam -- unto Me.

How much more this is so of the righteous brahmanas, the devotees and the saintly kings. Therefore, having come to this temporary, miserable world, engage in loving service unto Me.

mat-manah -- always thinking of Me; bhava -- become; mat -- My; bhaktah -- devotee; mat -- My; yaji -- worshiper; mam -- unto Me; namaskuru -- offer obeisances; mam -- unto Me; eva -- completely; esyasi -- you will come; yuktva -- being absorbed; evam -- thus; atmanam -- your soul; mat-parayanah -- devoted to Me.

Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.