Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 7, Verse 19

[Bhagavad Gita Slokas]

	Chapter 7: Knowledge of the Absolute
	Verse: 19 bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah

Translation:
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.

Explanation:
This verse stresses the rarity of pure devotion. Those approaching the Lord for relief from distress, wealth or inquisitiveness must spend several life times purifying themselves of their material desires before they attain the level of the nishkama jnanis. This is also the clear message in the third and fifth chapters of the Bhagavad-gita. Material desires must be given up to make spiritual advancements. From sakama (with desires) one must rise to the platform of nishkama (without desires) and then, from that level to that of full surrender. Even among the jnanis, who are at a truly exalted stage, bhakti is rarely achieved. Thus Krishna adds the emphasis that "such a soul is very rare."

In these 4 verses (7.16-7.19) Krishna introduces the concept of mixed devotion and talks briefly about pure devotion. Since this is an important concept, the predecessor acaryas have also explained more about the types of bhakti and their results. There are three predominant types of bhakti:

1. Kevala-bhakti is pure devotional service. This is bhakti that is not tinged by even traces of any desires for material things, knowledge, mystic oppulences or anything else. This is the highest form of bhakti, executed solely for the pleasure of Krishna, without expecting anything in return. The consequence of this is that the devotee gets personal association of Krishna in one of the higher mellows like dasya (servitorship), sakhya (friendship), vatsalya (parenthood) or madurya (conjugal). Kevala bhakti is rarely achieved, because in this stage Krishna gives Himself completely to His devotee. At this stage Krishna considers the devotee to be superior to even Himself. In the middle six chapters (7-12) Krishna talks about this form of bhakti in 7.1, 8.14, 9.13 and 9.22.

2. Pradhana-bhuta bhakti: This is the type of devotion described in the verse 7.16, where devotion is mixed with desires, but the major component is bhakti. Krishna talks about four types of desires: relief from distress, desire for wealth, inquisitiveness and the sincere seeker of the Absolute. The first three are of the sakama-karma misra bhakti since their devotion is tinged with material desires. As is mentioned in this verse, for such devotees, Krishna fulfills their desires and over many life times purifies their desires. After many lifetimes they reach the stage of the nishkama jnanis or they achieve salokya mukti in which the soul enjoys the oppulences of living on the same planet as Krishna, but does not get any personal association of Krishna.

The nishkama jnanis are already at the stage of executing devotion without material desires. The fact that they are searching indicates that they still lack the complete surrender that is manifested by the kevala bhaktas. The destination of such a person is shanta bhava or association with Krishna in the mode of neutrality. The grass, trees and animals in Vrindavana are said to be in this mood. Some times the first three kinds of people (sakama karma misra bhaktas) graduate to jnana (nishkama jnana misra bhakti) and thus reach its destination of shanta rati.

Even though bhakti is rare, it can be easily achieved by the mercy of the devotees. Pure devotees of the Lord are so powerful that they can take any one from any stage and place them in the state of pure devotional service. The prema bhakti they achieve is in one of the higher mellows but typically in the mood of awe and reverence (aishwarya).

3. Guru Bhuta Bhakti: This is when bhakti is a minor component of the practice. People following the path of karma, jnana or astanga without much emphasis on bhakti fall into this category. The sakama karmi gets elevation to higher planets (svarga loka). The nishkama karmi get purified and elevated to the stage of jnana. The jnana and astanga attain brahma-nirvana or impersonal liberation. These people do not reach the spiritual world since the essential component � devotion to Krishna is missing in their practices.

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

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Sent-by: ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple of Washington DC
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