Sharanagati

The first part of six chapters of the “Gita” explains what is the nature of the soul, what are the time periods of creation, what about reincarnation, eternity and relative existence; action, karma, reaction, etc. And at the end finally we come to the conclusion – meditation. This first block of the “Gita” ends with the chapter about meditation. So, we can say that the conclusion of the first six chapters is meditation. Meditate! Of course we get a key to the perfection of meditation, because everything is surcharged with bhakti, with devotion. It is said that “From among all the different yogis, those, who are connected with Me in a loving contact, they are the best, I consider them the best.”[1] So Krishna always gives the key to the perfection of topic that He discusses. This is about the first block – from the basic information, like eternity of the soul, etc. – to meditation as a spiritual practice.

The second part, the second six chapters are like the core – the most important knowledge is contained in the middle part, in the middle six chapters. There you will find how to reach the Supreme, the most confidential information, the glories of the Supreme. And the conclusion of this second part is the Twelfth Chapter, and this is about devotional service, bhakti. You see, the conclusion of the first part was: “Meditate!” The conclusion of the second is: “Love Me.”

And finally the third block of six chapters comes, when again we return to some analytical information – like the working of the gunas, the human nature – divine and materialistic or demoniac. Again a little back to basic information, so to say. But at the end of this third period we find the conclusion of the “Gita”.

So let’s try to pick some important verses from these three blocks of the “Gita”. Beyond those that we read already – about the section points and the most important focuses – let’s find some more other verses. I’ll give you suggestions and please, you also find your favorite verses in the “Gita”.

My suggestion from the first block, which contains the basic information, is two verses. The first one is from the Second Chapter, verse number seven. This is the verse of disciple. Before that Krishna gives some very general remarks about the situation of the Kali-Yuga, the conflict of Arjuna, etc. So He gives some very general advice before that. And here in this verse, 2.7, Arjuna says: “I am perplexed. I don’t know what is good for me. Please, help me! Tell me! I am a surrendered soul, I am your disciple, please, instruct me!” So, if we have doubts or if we have any inner conflicts, this is the best attitude – to find an authority and to submit ourselves there. “I don’t know what is good for me, please, help me, instruct me, because You see my position.” I think we all can give advice on the lives of others. It’s so obvious what he should do! But it’s so difficult to know what we should do ourselves. Therefore we need someone to consult.

So this verse is like a turning point. Arjuna admits: “I need help.” This is the verse, the ideal verse of a disciple. If you want to be real disciples, please, study and memorize this verse and inscribe that in your hearts. And whenever you feel: “I need some further guidance,” this verse you can remember. “Ah, my dear Krishna, I don’t know what is good for me, please, help me, instruct me!” Of course if we think that we know, it’s very difficult to pray like this. So, in order to learn something, to receive some instruction, we need a natural kind of humility – to admit our need. And this natural kind of humility is not a humiliation. Because humiliation means you are inferior. But this humility is an expression of our respect to a higher source. Without that we cannot learn.

So this is our basic ideal – the verse of surrender, the verse of the disciple.

And another verse from this first block of the “Gita” is the guru-verse. Chapter Four, verse number thirty-four. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti te jñanam jñaninas tattva-darsinah. The divine truth you should try to approach by research, by surrender and by service. And the great souls, those, who have seen the truth, they will help you to realize what you have understood so far. So if there is a verse for disciples, there must be a verse for gurus, right? Do they exist one without the other? Is there any disciple without a guru? Not so much. The ornament of a disciple is his master and the ornament of a master is a good disciple. So, please qualify yourselves to be a very nice ornament of your spiritual masters, very precious one.

[1] Bhagavad Gita 6.47