|| Shri Hari ||
Taking Refuge in Gita
continued....
Moving forward in the eighteenth chapter, the Lord said -
yadahankaarmaashritya na yotsya iti manyase |
mithyaish vyavasaayaste prakrutistvaam niyakshyati ||
(Gita 18/59)
“Taking the support of your ego, if you accept that I will not fight, then this decisions of yours is false (illusion); because your nature will engage you in war.”
The meaning of Lord’s words is that the decision “I am not going to fight” - this is in fact taking refuge in your egoism, not taking refuge in the Lord. If he had taken refuge in the Lord, then “I will do this and I will not do this” - such would not happen at all. Taking refuge in “egoism” is a great obstacle. Taking the support of caste, stage in life, race, knowledge, ancestry, abilities, position (post) etc. and thinking that “I too am something” - such pride, does not let one take refuge. Therefore God said to Arjuna, you do, as you wish - “yathecchasi tathaa kuru” (Gita 18/63).
Listening to this, Arjuna became scared that the Lord is giving up on him! Seeing this the Lord said, you are most dear to Me, therefore I am sharing with you the highest secret of all, for your eternal good -
“Sarvaghyuyatamm.”
In Gita, the word “Sarvaghyuyatam” comes only once (Gita 18/64). After this, the Lord relayed two verses -
Manmanaa bhava mad bhakto, madhyaajee maam namaskuru |
Maamevaishyasi satyam te, pratijaane priyosi me || (Gita 18/65)
"Fix thy mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, prostrate thyself before Me. On doing so, you will attain Me - I share this truth in front of you, since you are most dear to Me."
Sarvadharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraj |
Aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa suchah || (Gita 18/66)
“Give up dependence on all duties and surrender completely to Me. Seek refuge in Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sins, grieve not.”
(continued....)
From book in hindi “Jit Dekhu Titi Tu” by Swami Ramsukhdasji