Gita shloka 4.42, THE DOUBTS OUT OF IGNORANCE SHOULD BE SLASHED BY THE WEAPON OF KNOWLEDGE, 22nd Aug

Gita shloka 4.42, THE DOUBTS OUT OF IGNORANCE SHOULD BE SLASHED BY THE WEAPON OF KNOWLEDGE. SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES INVOLVES UNDERSTANDING OF ONE'S OWN SELF (OR ONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION), AND THE TRUTH REGARDING THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. ONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE REAL NATURE OF THE LORD AS THE ETERNAL, BLISSFUL, ALL-KNOWING PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, IS CERTAINLY FOOL NUMBER ONE.

TRANSLATION

Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight.

PURPORT

The yoga system instructed in this chapter is called sanatana-yoga, or eternal activities performed by the living entity.

 This yoga has two divisions of sacrificial actions: one is called sacrifice of one's material possessions, and the other is called knowledge of self, which is pure spiritual activity.

 If sacrifice of one's material possessions is not dovetailed for spiritual realization, then such sacrifice becomes material.

 But one who performs such sacrifices with a spiritual objective, or in devotional service, makes a perfect sacrifice.

 When we come to spiritual activities, we find that these are also divided into two: namely, understanding of one's own self (or one's constitutional position), and the truth regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 One who follows the path of the Gita as it is can very easily understand these two important divisions of spiritual knowledge.

 For him there is no difficulty in obtaining perfect knowledge of the self as part and parcel of the Lord.

 And such understanding is beneficial for such a person who easily understands the transcendental activities of the Lord.

 In the beginning of this chapter, the transcendental activities of the Lord were discussed by the Supreme Lord Himself.

 One who does not understand the instructions of the Gita is faithless, and is to be considered to be misusing the fragmental independence awarded to him by the Lord.

 In spite of such instructions, one who does not understand the real nature of the Lord as the eternal, blissful, all-knowing Personality of Godhead, is certainly fool number one.

 Ignorance can be removed by gradual acceptance of the principles of Krsna consciousness.

 Krsna consciousness is awakened by different types of sacrifices to the demigods, sacrifice to Brahman, sacrifice in celibacy, in household life, in controlling the senses, in practicing mystic yoga, in penance, in foregoing material possessions, in studying the Vedas, and in partaking of the social institution called varnasrama-dharma.

 All of these are known as sacrifice, and all of them are based on regulated action.

 But within all these activities, the important factor is self-realization.

 One who seeks that objective is the real student of Bhagavad-gita, but one who doubts the authority of Krsna falls back.

 One is therefore advised to study Bhagavad-gita, or any other scripture, under a bona fide spiritual master, with service and surrender.

 A bona fide spiritual master is in the disciplic succession from time eternal, and he does not deviate at all from the instructions of the Supreme Lord as they were imparted millions of years ago to the sun-god, from whom the instructions of Bhagavad-gita  have come down to the earthly kingdom.

 One should, therefore, follow the path of Bhagavad-gita as it is expressed in the Gita itself and beware of self-interested people after personal aggrandizement who deviate others from the actual path.

 The Lord is definitely the supreme person, and His activities are transcendental.

 One who understands this is a liberated person from the very beginning of his study of the Gita.

Gita shloka 4.41:- ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE FRUITS OF HIS ACTION, WHOSE DOUBTS ARE DESTROYED BY TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE, AND WHO IS SITUATED FIRMLY IN THE SELF, IS NOT BOUND BY WORKS, 21st Aug

Gita shloka 4.41:- ONE WHO HAS RENOUNCED THE FRUITS OF HIS ACTION, WHOSE DOUBTS ARE DESTROYED BY TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE, AND WHO IS SITUATED FIRMLY IN THE SELF, IS NOT BOUND BY WORKS

TRANSLATION

Therefore, one who has renounced the fruits of his action, whose doubts are destroyed by transcendental knowledge, and who is situated firmly in the self, is not bound by works, O conqueror of riches.

PURPORT

One who follows the instruction of the Gita, as it is imparted by the Lord, the Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental knowledge.

He, as a part and parcel of the Lord, in full Krsna consciousness, is already established in self-knowledge.

As such, he is undoubtedly above bondage to action.

Gita shloka 4.40:- PERSONS WHO ARE ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS HAVE NO FAITH IN, OR KNOWLEDGE OF, THE STANDARD REVEALED SCRIPTURES. FOR THE DOUBTING SOUL THERE IS HAPPINESS NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR IN THE NEXT, 20th Aug

Gita shloka 4.40:- PERSONS WHO ARE ALMOST LIKE ANIMALS HAVE NO FAITH IN, OR KNOWLEDGE OF, THE STANDARD REVEALED SCRIPTURES. FOR THE DOUBTING SOUL THERE IS HAPPINESS NEITHER IN THIS WORLD NOR IN THE NEXT

TRANSLATION

But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

PURPORT

Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the Bhagavad-gita is the best.

Persons who are almost like animals have no faith in, or knowledge of, the standard revealed scriptures; and some, even though they have knowledge of, or can cite passages from, the revealed scriptures, have actually no faith in these words.

And even though others may have faith in scriptures like Bhagavad-gita, they do not believe in or worship the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna.

Such persons cannot have any standing in Krsna consciousness.

They fall down.

Out of all the above mentioned persons, those who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress at all.

Men without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in the next.

For them there is no happiness whatsoever.

One should therefore follow the principles of revealed scriptures with faith and thereby be raised to the platform of knowledge.

Only this knowledge will help one become promoted to the transcendental platform of spiritual understanding.

In other words, doubtful persons have no status whatsoever in spiritual emancipation.

One should therefore follow in the footsteps of great acharyas who are in the disciplic succession and thereby attain success.

Gita shloka 4.39:- A PERSON WHO IS FAITHFUL TO KRSNA AND WHO CONTROLS THE SENSES CAN EASILY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT DELAY, 19th Aug

Gita shloka 4.39:- A PERSON WHO IS FAITHFUL TO KRSNA AND WHO CONTROLS THE SENSES CAN EASILY ATTAIN PERFECTION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT DELAY

TRANSLATION

A faithful man who is absorbed in transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.

PURPORT

Such knowledge in Krsna consciousness can be achieved by a faithful person who believes firmly in Krsna.

One is called a faithful man who thinks that, simply by acting in Krsna consciousness, he can attain the highest perfection.

This faith is attained by the discharge of devotional service, and by chanting "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare," which cleanses one's heart of all material dirt.

Over and above this, one should control the senses.

A person who is faithful to Krsna and who controls the senses can easily attain perfection in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness without delay.

Gita shloka 4.38:- IN THIS WORLD, THERE IS NOTHING SO SUBLIME AND PURE AS TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE. IGNORANCE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR BONDAGE, AND KNOWLEDGE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR LIBERATION, 18th Aug

Gita shloka 4.38:- IN THIS WORLD, THERE IS NOTHING SO SUBLIME AND PURE AS TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE. IGNORANCE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR BONDAGE, AND KNOWLEDGE IS THE CAUSE OF OUR LIBERATION

TRANSLATION

In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has achieved this enjoys the self within himself in due course of time.

PURPORT

When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of spiritual understanding.

 As such, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge.

 Ignorance is the cause of our bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation.

 This knowledge is the mature fruit of devotional service, and when one is situated in transcendental knowledge, he need not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within himself.

 In other words, this knowledge and peace are culminated in Krsna consciousness.

 That is the last word in the Bhagavad-gita.