Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 18, Verse 73

[Bhagavad Gita Slokas]

	Chapter 18: Conclusion -- The Perfection of Renunciation
	Verse: 73 arjuna uvaca nashto mohah smritir labdha tvat-prasadan mayacyuta sthito 'smi gata-sandehah karishye vacanam tava

Translation:
Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.

Explanation:
In response to Krishna's question about Arjuna's state of mind, he now answers conclusively in this verse. First, ignorance, which is the opposite of knowledge, has gone. Second, he has understood correctly the nature of things. Third, all this has been possible by the mercy of Krishna. And finally, Arjuna states that he is ready to follow the instructions of Krishna.

These four points in the verse are significant milestones in a devotees journey to spiritual perfection.

First: All living entities, including the mighty devas and men are under the conception of being their body and being independent in their actions. That prakriti or nature is cause of the material world. That there is no god, or that god is with out a form or that "I am god." This is the state of ignorance that marks material existence. The divine teachings of the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita destroy this ignorance.

Second: With the light of knowledge, the illusion gone, things are perceived factually. One understands Krishna as the Lord, possessor of form and powers, an eternal form of knowledge and bliss. The knowledge that Krishna is an ocean of all good qualities, is a true friend to all and is especially affectionate to His devotees. He is the creator of everything material and spiritual, the jiva and the prakriti. He treasure His devotees so much so that He gives His very self to them. And that Lord is none other that Krishna, the son of Devaki.

Third: This realization is only possible by the mercy of Krishna. The Bhagavad-gita as a book may be available for anyone or everyone to read. But realizing the Gita is only possible by the mercy of Krishna and His devotees, the charioteer of Arjuna.

Finally: The result of the removal of ignorance and the dawn of knowledge by the mercy of Krishna is that one immediately surrenders to the will of Krishna. Srila Prabhupada explains, "So to study Bhagavad-gita is to understand Krishna factually. When a person is in full knowledge, he naturally surrenders to Krishna. When Arjuna understood that it was Krishna�s plan to reduce the unnecessary increase of population, he agreed to fight according to Krishna�s desire. He again took up his weapons-his arrows and bow-to fight under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This concludes the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. In the remaining four verses, Sanjaya will share his realization on having heard this sacred conversation.

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

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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
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