Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 18, Verse 55

[Bhagavad Gita Slokas]

	Chapter 18: Conclusion -- The Perfection of Renunciation
	Verse: 55 bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah tato mam tattvato jnatva visate tad-anantaram

Translation:
One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.

Explanation:
So far Krishna has spoken about advancement through the process of karma and jnana. Beginning from this verse, for the next eleven verses Krishna speaks about bhakti directly.

In this verse Krishna emphasizes that by bhakti alone can He be known. The reason karma and jnana are also considered as paths leading to Him is because they have a slight component of bhakti in them, which successively purifies the person to the ultimate state of perfection. Srila Prabhupada gives the example, "After attainment of the brahma-bhuta stage of freedom from material conceptions, devotional service begins by one�s hearing about the Lord. When one hears about the Supreme Lord, automatically the brahma-bhuta stage develops, and material contamination - greediness and lust for sense enjoyment - disappears. As lust and desires disappear from the heart of a devotee, he becomes more attached to the service of the Lord, and by such attachment he becomes free from material contamination. "

Thus we see that the process of jnana or karma may lad one to the state of brahma-bhuta or freedom from material conceptions. However at this stage bhakti needs to appear to lead the devotee to Krishna. On the other hand, a person who is not even at the brahma-bhuta state, can begin the process of bhakti and will automatically acquire both things simultaneously: material detachment (by experiencing a higher taste) and spiritual attachment (the direct result of bhakti). Thus the expediency and superiority of the process of bhakti is demonstrated.

Srila Prabhupada also cautions against mis-interpreting this verse. "One should not mistakenly think that the word visate, "enters into Me," supports the monist theory that one becomes homogeneous with the impersonal Brahman. No. Visate means that one can enter into the abode of the Supreme Lord in one�s individuality to engage in His association and render service unto Him. For instance, a green bird enters a green tree not to become one with the tree but to enjoy the fruits of the tree. impersonalists generally give the example of a river flowing into the ocean and merging. This may be a source of happiness for the impersonalist, but the personalist keeps his personal individuality like an aquatic in the ocean. We find so many living entities within the ocean, if we go deep. Surface acquaintance with the ocean is not sufficient; one must have complete knowledge of the aquatics living in the ocean depths."

Please read the Sanskrit Verse and the Prabhupada's Purport.

---

You can view the previous verses at the following address:http://groups.google.com/group/bgdailyverses


Sent-by: ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple of Washington DC
10310 Oaklyn Dr., Potomac, MD 20854
(301) 990-2100
http://www.iskcondc.org