Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 18, Verse 78

[Bhagavad Gita Slokas]

	Chapter 18: Conclusion -- The Perfection of Renunciation
	Verse: 78 yatra yogesvarah krishno yatra partho dhanur-dharah tatra srir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama

Translation:
Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.

Explanation:
This is the last verse of the Bhagavad-gita.

The Bhagavad-gita had commenced with Dhrtrastra asking Sanjaya about the occurrence on the battlefield, because he was worried about the fate of his sons. Sanjaya concludes this part of the conversation by indicating to Dhrtrastra that since Krishna and Arjuna are personally present on the battle field, victory, power and opulence are assured. Thus the Pandavas were sure to win and the Kurus headed by Duryodhana were certain to face defeat.

Sanjaya calls Krishna the "master of all mystics," since He brings into motion and maintains all living entities, just by His will. Krishna's father, Vasudeva, and Arjuna mother, Kunti, were both children of King Surasena. Thus Arjuna was the cousin of Krishna. The very same Arjuna, the holder of the mighty Gandiva bow, bound the Supreme Mystic by his ropes of love and made Him his own chariot driver. Earlier, Krishna had incarnated as Narayana rishi and at that time Arjuna had appeared as Nara rishi. Together Nara-Narayana rishi showed the path of perfection. Thus Arjuna was an eternal associate of the Lord, who appeared again and again with Him in different incarnations, to help Him in His mission.

The Bhagavad-gita is the supreme instruction in morality. It is not about Arjuna fighting or winning the war. The Gita is about sambandhya-jnana or the nature of the relationship between the Lord and His devotees. Its essence is in the two verses (18-.65-66) that one much become a pure devotee of the Lord by relinquishing everything but the shelter of Krishna. When one understands his relationship with the Lord, he should immediately surrender to the will of the Lord and take His shelter. In the eighteenth chapter, which bring forth the essence of the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated that of all the methods of devotion, surrender to Krishna with a mood of humility is the most superior, since it quickly attracts the mercy of Krishna. That is also the essence of the Gita.

Srila Prabhupada comments, "From Bhagavad-gita we can understand that to realize oneself by philosophical speculation and by meditation is one process, but to fully surrender unto Krishna is the highest perfection. This is the essence of the teachings of Bhagavad-gita. The path of regulative principles according to the orders of social life and according to the different courses of religion may be a confidential path of knowledge. But although the rituals of religion are confidential, meditation and cultivation of knowledge are still more confidential. And surrender unto Krishna in devotional service in full Krishna consciousness is the most confidential instruction.

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

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