GITA-SHLOKA-4.4, THE ATHEISTS, WHO CONSIDER KRSNA AN ORDINARY MAN, MAY IN THIS WAY COME TO KNOW THAT KRSNA IS SUPERHUMAN, THAT HE IS SAT-CHIT-ANANDA-VIGRAHA—THE ETERNAL FORM OF BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE—THAT HE IS TRANSCENDENTAL, AND THAT HE IS ABOVE THE DOMINATION OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE AND ABOVE THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND SPACE, 19th July

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: The sun-god Vivasvan is senior by birth to You. How am I to understand that in the beginning You instructed this science to him?

PURPORT

Arjuna is an accepted devotee of the Lord, so how could he not believe Krsna's words? The fact is that Arjuna is not inquiring for himself but for those who do not believe in the Supreme Personality of Godhead or for the demons who do not like the idea that Krsna should be accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; for them only Arjuna inquires on this point, as if he were himself not aware of the Personality of Godhead, or Krsna.

AS IT WILL BE EVIDENT FROM THE TENTH CHAPTER, ARJUNA KNEW PERFECTLY WELL THAT KRSNA IS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF EVERYTHING AND THE LAST WORD IN TRANSCENDENCE.

Of course, Krsna also appeared as the son of Devaki on this earth.

HOW KRSNA REMAINED THE SAME SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THE ETERNAL, ORIGINAL PERSON, IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN ORDINARY MAN TO UNDERSTAND.

Therefore, to clarify this point, Arjuna put this question before Krsna so that He Himself could speak authoritatively.

THAT KRSNA IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY IS ACCEPTED BY THE WHOLE WORLD, NOT ONLY AT PRESENT, BUT FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, AND THE DEMONS ALONE REJECT HIM.

ANYWAY, SINCE KRSNA IS THE AUTHORITY ACCEPTED BY ALL, ARJUNA PUT THIS QUESTION BEFORE HIM IN ORDER THAT KRSNA WOULD DESCRIBE HIMSELF WITHOUT BEING DEPICTED BY THE DEMONS WHO ALWAYS TRY TO DISTORT HIM IN A WAY UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE DEMONS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS.

IT IS NECESSARY THAT EVERYONE, FOR HIS OWN INTEREST, KNOW THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA.

THEREFORE, WHEN KRSNA HIMSELF SPEAKS ABOUT HIMSELF, IT IS AUSPICIOUS FOR ALL THE WORLDS.

TO THE DEMONS, SUCH EXPLANATIONS BY KRSNA HIMSELF MAY APPEAR TO BE STRANGE BECAUSE THE DEMONS ALWAYS STUDY KRSNA FROM THEIR OWN STANDPOINT, BUT THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTEES HEARTILY WELCOME THE STATEMENTS OF KRSNA WHEN THEY ARE SPOKEN BY KRSNA HIMSELF.

The devotees will always worship such authoritative statements of Krsna because they are always eager to know more and more about Him.

THE ATHEISTS, WHO CONSIDER KRSNA AN ORDINARY MAN, MAY IN THIS WAY COME TO KNOW THAT KRSNA IS SUPERHUMAN, THAT HE IS SAC-CID-ANANDA-VIGRAHA—THE ETERNAL FORM OF BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE—THAT HE IS TRANSCENDENTAL, AND THAT HE IS ABOVE THE DOMINATION OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE AND ABOVE THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND SPACE.

A devotee of Krsna's, like Arjuna, is undoubtedly above any misunderstanding of the transcendental position of Krsna.

ARJUNA'S PUTTING THIS QUESTION BEFORE THE LORD IS SIMPLY AN ATTEMPT BY THE DEVOTEE TO DEFY THE ATHEISTIC ATTITUDE OF PERSONS WHO CONSIDER KRSNA TO BE AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING SUBJECT TO THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE.

GITA-SHLOKA-4.2 & 4.3 BHAGAVAD-GITA WAS NEVER MEANT FOR THE DEMONIC PERSONS. DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME, 18th July

GITA-SHLOKA-4.2, BHAGAVAD-GITA WAS NEVER MEANT FOR THE DEMONIC PERSONS. DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME, 18th July

TRANSLATION

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

PURPORT

It is clearly stated that the Gita was especially meant for the saintly kings because they were to execute its purpose in ruling over the citizens.

Certainly Bhagavad-gita was never meant for the demonic persons, who would dissipate its value for no one's benefit and would devise all types of interpretations according to personal whims.

As soon as the original purpose was scattered by the motives of the unscrupulous commentators, there arose the need to reestablish the disciplic succession.

Five thousand years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the Gita appeared to be lost.

In the same way, at the present moment also there are so many editions of the Gita (especially in English), but almost all of them are not according to authorized disciplic succession.

There are innumerable interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, although they make a good business on the words of Sri Krsna.

THIS SPIRIT IS DEMONIC, BECAUSE DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME.

Since there is a great need of an edition of the Gita in English, as it is received by the parampara (disciplic succession) system, an attempt is made herewith to fulfill this great want.

BHAGAVAD-GITA—ACCEPTED AS IT IS—IS A GREAT BOON TO HUMANITY; BUT IF IT IS ACCEPTED AS A TREATISE OF PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS, IT IS SIMPLY A WASTE OF TIME.

Gita Shloka 4.3

TRANSLATION

That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.

PURPORT

There are two classes of men, namely the devotee and the demon.

The Lord selected Arjuna as the recipient of this great science owing to his becoming the devotee of the Lord, but for the demon it is not possible to understand this great mysterious science.

There are a number of editions of this great book of knowledge, and some of them have commentaries by the devotees, and some of them have commentaries by the demons.

Commentation by the devotees is real, whereas that of the demons is useless.

Arjuna accepts Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and any commentary on the Gita following in the footsteps of Arjuna is real devotional service to the cause of this great science.

The demonic, however, concoct something about Krsna and mislead the public and general readers from the path of Krsna's instructions.

One should try to follow the disciplic succession from Arjuna, and thus be benefitted.

GITA SHLOKA 4.1, GITA WAS SPOKEN AT LEAST 120,400,000 YEARS AGO BY LOD TO SUN GOD; AND IN HUMAN SOCIETY IT HAS BEEN EXTANT FOR TWO MILLION YEARS. IT WAS RESPOKEN BY THE LORD AGAIN TO ARJUNA ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, 17th July

GITA SHLOKA 4.1, GITA WAS SPOKEN AT LEAST 120,400,000 YEARS AGO BY LORD TO SUN GOD; AND IN HUMAN SOCIETY IT HAS BEEN EXTANT FOR TWO MILLION YEARS.  IT WAS RESPOKEN BY THE LORD AGAIN TO ARJUNA ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, 17th July

TRANSLATION

The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the 

father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku.

PURPORT

Herein we find the history of the Bhagavad-gita traced from a remote time when it was delivered to the royal order, the kings of all planets. This science is especially meant for the protection of the inhabitants and therefore the royal order should understand it in order to be able to rule the citizens and protect them from the material bondage to lust. 

HUMAN LIFE IS MEANT FOR CULTIVATION OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE, IN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF ALL STATES AND ALL PLANETS ARE OBLIGED TO IMPART THIS LESSON TO THE CITIZENS BY EDUCATION, CULTURE AND DEVOTION. 

IN OTHER WORDS, THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF ALL STATES ARE INTENDED TO SPREAD THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SO THAT THE PEOPLE MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT SCIENCE AND PURSUE A SUCCESSFUL PATH, UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE.

In this millennium, the sun-god is known as Vivasvan, the king of the sun, which is the origin of all planets within the solar system. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated:

yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam

raja samasta-sura-murttir asesa-tejah

yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kalacakro

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

"LET ME WORSHIP," LORD BRAHMA SAID, "THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, GOVINDA [KRSNA], WHO IS THE ORIGINAL PERSON AND UNDER WHOSE ORDER THE SUN, WHICH IS THE KING OF ALL PLANETS, IS ASSUMING IMMENSE POWER AND HEAT. THE SUN REPRESENTS THE EYE OF THE LORD AND TRAVERSES ITS ORBIT IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS ORDER."

THE SUN IS THE KING OF THE PLANETS, AND THE SUN-GOD (AT PRESENT OF THE NAME VIVASVAN) RULES THE SUN PLANET, WHICH IS CONTROLLING ALL OTHER PLANETS BY SUPPLYING HEAT AND LIGHT. HE IS ROTATING UNDER THE ORDER OF KRSNA, AND LORD KRSNA ORIGINALLY MADE VIVASVAN HIS FIRST DISCIPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF BHAGAVAD-GITA. 

THE GITA IS NOT, THEREFORE, A SPECULATIVE TREATISE FOR THE INSIGNIFICANT MUNDANE SCHOLAR BUT IS A STANDARD BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE COMING DOWN FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL. 

In the Mahabharata (Santi-parva 348.51-52) we can trace out the history of the Gita as follows:

treta-yugadau ca tato vivasvan manave dadau

manus ca loka-bhrty-artham sutayeksvakave dadau

iksvakuna ca kathito vyapya lokan avasthitah

"IN THE BEGINNING OF THE TRETA-YUGA [MILLENNIUM] THIS SCIENCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME WAS DELIVERED BY VIVASVAN TO MANU. MANU, BEING THE FATHER OF MANKIND, GAVE IT TO HIS SON MAHARAJA IKSVAKU, THE KING OF THIS EARTH PLANET AND FOREFATHER OF THE RAGHU DYNASTY IN WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA APPEARED. THEREFORE, BHAGAVAD-GITA EXISTED IN THE HUMAN SOCIETY FROM THE TIME OF MAHARAJA IKSVAKU."

AT THE PRESENT MOMENT WE HAVE JUST PASSED THROUGH FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF THE KALI-YUGA, WHICH LASTS 432,000 YEARS. BEFORE THIS THERE WAS DVAPARA-YUGA (800,000 YEARS), AND BEFORE THAT THERE WAS TRETA-YUGA (1,200,000 YEARS). THUS, SOME 2,005,000 YEARS AGO, MANU SPOKE THE BHAGAVAD-GITA TO HIS DISCIPLE AND SON MAHARAJA LKSVAKU, THE KING OF THIS PLANET EARTH. 

The age of the current Manu is calculated to last some 305,300,000 years, of which 120,400,000 have passed. Accepting that before the birth of Manu, the Gita was spoken by the Lord to His disciple, the sun-god Vivasvan, a rough estimate is that the Gita was spoken at least 120,400,000 years ago; and in human society it has been extant for two million years. 

It was respoken by the Lord again to Arjuna about five thousand years ago. That is the rough estimate of the history of the Gita, according to the Gita itself and according to the version of the speaker, Lord Sri Krsna. It was spoken to the sun-god Vivasvan because he is also a ksatriya and is the father of all ksatriyas who are descendants of the sun-god, or the surya-vamsa ksatriyas. 

BECAUSE BHAGAVAD-GITA IS AS GOOD AS THE VEDAS, BEING SPOKEN BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THIS KNOWLEDGE IS APAURUSEYA, SUPERHUMAN. 

SINCE THE VEDIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE ACCEPTED AS THEY ARE, WITHOUT HUMAN INTERPRETATION, THE GITA MUST THEREFORE BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT MUNDANE INTERPRETATION. THE MUNDANE WRANGLERS MAY SPECULATE ON THE GITA IN THEIR OWN WAYS, BUT THAT IS NOT BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS. THEREFORE, BHAGAVAD-GITA HAS TO BE ACCEPTED AS IT IS, FROM THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, AND IT IS DESCRIBED HEREIN THAT THE LORD SPOKE TO THE SUN-GOD, THE SUN-GOD SPOKE TO HIS SON MANU, AND MANU SPOKE TO HIS SON IKSVAKU.

GITA SHLOKA 3.43 KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.16TH JULY

GITA SHLOKA 3.43 KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.

TRANSLATION

THUS KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.

PURPORT

THIS THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA IS CONCLUSIVELY DIRECTIVE TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS BY KNOWING ONESELF AS THE ETERNAL SERVITOR OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, WITHOUT CONSIDERING IMPERSONAL VOIDNESS AS THE ULTIMATE END.

IN THE MATERIAL EXISTENCE OF LIFE, ONE IS CERTAINLY INFLUENCED BY PROPENSITIES FOR LUST AND DESIRE FOR DOMINATING THE RESOURCES OF MATERIAL NATURE.

DESIRE FOR OVERLORDING AND SENSE GRATIFICATION ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES OF THE CONDITIONED SOUL; BUT BY THE STRENGTH OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE CAN CONTROL THE MATERIAL SENSES, THE MIND AND THE INTELLIGENCE.

ONE MAY NOT GIVE UP WORK AND PRESCRIBED DUTIES ALL OF A SUDDEN; BUT BY GRADUALLY DEVELOPING KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE CAN BE SITUATED IN A TRANSCENDENTAL POSITION WITHOUT BEING INFLUENCED BY THE MATERIAL SENSES AND THE MIND—BY STEADY INTELLIGENCE DIRECTED TOWARD ONE'S PURE IDENTITY.

THIS IS THE SUM TOTAL OF THIS CHAPTER.

IN THE IMMATURE STAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE, PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS AND ARTIFICIAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL THE SENSES BY THE SO-CALLED PRACTICE OF YOGIC POSTURES CAN NEVER HELP A MAN TOWARD SPIRITUAL LIFE.

HE MUST BE TRAINED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS BY HIGHER INTELLIGENCE.

Bhagvat THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS,15th July

Bhagvat THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

TRANSLATION

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King Parikshit, when Bali Maharaja was thus advised by his spiritual master, Shukracarya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows.

PURPORT

Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura remarks that Bali Maharaja remained silent at a critical point. How could he disobey the instruction of Shukracharya, his spiritual master? It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Maharaja to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual master had advised. BUT BALI MAHARAJA ALSO CONSIDERED THAT SHUKRACHARYA WAS NO LONGER TO BE ACCEPTED AS A SPIRITUAL MASTER, FOR HE HAD DEVIATED FROM THE DUTY OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER. 

ACCORDING TO SHASTRA, THE DUTY OF THE GURU IS TO TAKE THE DISCIPLE BACK HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD. IF HE IS UNABLE TO DO SO AND INSTEAD HINDERS THE DISCIPLE IN GOING BACK TO GODHEAD, HE SHOULD NOT BE A GURU. Gurur na sa syat (Bhag. 5.5.18). ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A GURU IF HE CANNOT ENABLE HIS DISCIPLE TO ADVANCE IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. 

THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna). THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Now Shukracarya has advised Bali Maharaja to deny the promise to Vamanadeva. 

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEREFORE, BALI MAHARAJA THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FAULT IF HE DISOBEYED THE ORDER OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. HE DELIBERATED ON THIS POINT—SHOULD HE ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND SHOULD HE INDEPENDENTLY DO EVERYTHING TO PLEASE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD? HE TOOK SOME TIME. Therefore it is said, tüshnim bhütva kshanam rajann uvacavahito gurum. AFTER DELIBERATING ON THIS POINT, HE DECIDED THAT LORD VISHNU SHOULD BE PLEASED IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, EVEN AT THE RISK OF IGNORING THE GURU'S ADVICE TO THE CONTRARY.

ANYONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GURU BUT WHO GOES AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE OF VISHNU-BHAKTI CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS GURU. IF ONE HAS FALSELY ACCEPTED SUCH A GURU, ONE SHOULD REJECT HIM. Such a guru is described as follows (Mahabharata, Udyoga 179.25):

SHRILA JIVA GOSVAMI HAS ADVISED THAT SUCH A USELESS GURU, A FAMILY PRIEST ACTING AS GURU, SHOULD BE GIVEN UP, AND THAT THE PROPER, BONA-FIDE GURU SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.

"A SCHOLARLY BRAHMANA EXPERT IN ALL SUBJECTS OF VEDIC KNOWLEDGE IS UNFIT TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER WITHOUT BEING A VAISHNAVA, BUT IF A PERSON BORN IN A FAMILY OF A LOWER CASTE IS A VAISHNAVA, HE CAN BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER." (Padma Purana)