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A close harmony between the mind and intelligence will mean full solution to all problems and conflicts of life. Sadguru-sānnidhya, the presence of the well-versed Teacher, will alone facilitate the much desired pleasant fruition.

Dear and blessed souls:

Harih Om Tat Sat.

Take refuge under Sadguru

Krishna just made a significant statement (4.34): “To gain that knowledge, go to the Knowers, who have the right vision of Truth; prostrate before them, enquire with humility, serve them fondly. They will instruct true knowledge to you.” By clarifying in this manner, Krishna assures that in our land, at no time will there be any real dearth of the Wise and the Enlightened. Citizens as well as the rulers alike have to approach them, when needed, with humility, piety and persistence. That alone will lead the seeker to felicity (śreyas) and fulfilment.

Now Krishna specifies as to how the Knowers are to be approached by seekers in general. This approach will provide the much-cherished intimacy, wherein you can feel free, open and safe with them. Raising questions and getting answers will be easy, natural and fulfilling in such close intimacy.

Universal vision

Guru will talk to you without any let or hindrance. He will disclose even the rarest of truths about human life, living and the intricacies of world.

Tattva-darśis, those who know the Supreme Truth, will advise you on the knowledge about human personality and the world around, as well as the art and science of interacting with the world. Our interactions, briefly put, are primarily with (i) persons (ii) places and (iii) events. There is nothing the world cannot cause and manifest. Everything from the best to the worst is part of the world complexity and fullness.

The enlightened one alone has true universal vision and gracefulness to assimilate these, displaying as well as enhancing his poise and harmony every time. True harmony consists in the ability and readiness to remain harmonious with the gravest disharmonies as well. It is all a question of the mind displaying the required depth as well as loftiness to feel at home with anything the world displays. Everyone is a product of the world. World is like a parent to everyone. So, why should one have any compunction in the matter of taking to the world and what it manifests and displays?

Guru discloses the hidden truths

Only when the Guru discloses the hidden truths about the world, you will feel like accepting them in fullness. It needs an amazing degree of openness and fullness for the seeker to accept all conflicts as he advances in his sadhana. As Śrīmad Bhāgavatam unequivocally pronounces – the world around is sure to evoke in the human mind the three-fold misery: (i) ādhyātmika – caused by our own mind and intelligence due to immature, constricted thoughts and evaluations (ii) ādhi-bhautika – instances occurring due to the elements of Nature and (iii) ādhi-daivika – caused by Providence itself.

The whole process will be facilitated when you have a loving Knower to talk to and understand matters as related to you, in their true perspectives. Mind sources all problems and intelligence finds solutions to them all. A close harmony between the mind and intelligence will mean full solution to all problems and conflicts of life. Sadguru-sānnidhya, the presence of the well-versed Teacher, will alone facilitate the much desired pleasant fruition.

Enlightenment – and what follows

Krishna now explains what follows the enlightenment the seeker gains in the presence of Knowers of Truth (4.35):

Krishna specifies that the knowledge Knowers impart will be such that “you will no more have this delusion or instability”. Does Krishna imply that Arjuna is likely to encounter delusion and its aftermath again in life? Or is it only as a safeguard and assurance that Krishna speaks like this?

Let us see. The war was yet to begin. Arjuna’s delusion was before commencing the war. Maybe after the colossal war, Arjuna would experience the impact of such a huge massacre, wherein many noble warriors were also to lose their lives. And the scene would have the potential to upset the mind of the winning warriors. Sooner or later, the delusion the world causes might again subdue Arjuna. In that case, spiritual wisdom would still be available for him with the Knowers. And approaching them would surely redress all delusion and grief.

In a way, it proved true. If Arjuna’s grief and delusion were by thinking of its consequences before the war commenced, Yudhishthira lost his heart completely after the war. Mother Kunti came beating her chest while Yudhishthira was stepping into the river, followed by countless women, to perform the post-death rituals for those who fell dead in Kurukshetra. She asked Dharmaputra to “offer pinda and udaka (balls of rice and water) to your elder brother Karna too”. At this thunderous news, Dharmaputra crumbled: “Was Karna, my elder brother? I would have then surrendered all my kingdom to him and avoided this huge bloodshed.” His brothers tried to console him. Krishna too, but his words did not have any effect on Yudhishthira. Krishna, at his request, took him to the grandfather Bheeshma, who was still lying on the bed of arrows, awaiting Uttarayana for shedding his body. Krishna encouraged and led Yudhishthira to the grandfather’s presence, for he was shy and afflicted to approach the grandfather directly. Bheeshma gave a long gospel and redressed Dharmaputra’s aggrievement and despair.

Self as the extensive Universe

Thus, any time whenever anyone feels deeply distressed in heart, the solution lies in approaching the Knowers and seeking their instruction and knowledge. It was equally applicable to Arjuna as well, says Krishna.

The final knowledge to be gained by the seeker is so great and comprehensive that “you will begin to see the whole creation as reigning within you, in your own Self, and thereupon in Me, the supreme Reality.” The goal of Spirituality is to realize one’s own Universal Identity, wherein one’s Self and the extensive Universe become the same – the one indivisible eternal Universal Presence, the supreme Sentience, Consciousness, which can only be realized in one’s own heart, mind and intelligence! Seeing the whole existence as inhering in the Self and equally in the Guru or God marks the fullness of Self-realization.

Sin and sinfulness in human mind

In the next four verses (4.36-39), Krishna evaluates the supreme merit and status of spiritual wisdom, describing in very clear terms its powers and possibilities. Sin and sinfulness have a definite place in human mind. They denote the sense of degeneration and downfall the mind is led to feel about anything thought, said or done. In a way, it is a very deep and strong sense of guilt one comes to feel. The adverse notes such guilt causes in the mind and intelligence are too powerful and deep that one finds it extremely hard to deal with. Imagine the havoc it works in human life!

It is in this context that we have to relate and assess the meaning, relevance and effect of Krishna’s evaluation that even the worst sinner will be able to dissolve his sinfulness by the merit and grace of jñāna, spiritual wisdom. If the sinfulness is like a huge ocean, jñāna is like a raft to take the sinner across safely.

The war-dialogue is, no doubt, extremely spiritual, philosophical and yogic. Yet it is fully a dialogue, and Arjuna, the illustrious seeker, does raise a number of questions and enquiries during the dialogue. That is how it gets extended. In this, it strikes a very personal note both from Arjuna’s, the seeker’s, and Krishna’s, the instructor’s, sides. As part of this personal note, Krishna makes some promises, assurances. Though Krishna is making this assurance, it is specifying the power spiritual wisdom has in delivering even the most sinful person. In other words, it is not Krishna who is going to redeem anyone, but the power, majesty and magnificence of spiritual wisdom that does the magic. (4.36). What a great relief is this assurance!

Krishna’s promises and assurances

In the 2nd chapter (2.50) Krishna spoke that by the merit of samatva-buddhi-yoga, one abandons virtue as well as vice altogether. He transcends the entire dvandvas and attains full freedom. A great statement indeed!

Here he strikes a different note. The sinner does overcome all the sinful impact by the power and grace of spiritual wisdom. Later Krishna asks Arjuna: “O Arjuna, swear on My behalf that My devotee (one devoted to the Supreme) never perishes.” These promises, assurances, have great psychological effect for devotees and seekers. They may or may not understand Bhagavad Gita in full. But they are greatly fond of the dialogue and really depend upon its message fully. In such a background, these promises and assurances go a long way to pacify and assure seekers in the matter of their expectation, dispelling all doubts, if any, in the process.

Jñāna as blazing fire burns all sinful effects

In the next verse (4.37) Krishna explains, citing an example, as to how jñāna redresses all the effects of sin. Fire, when made to blaze well, burns away all the faggots fed to it without any trouble or delay. Likewise, jñāna (wisdom), acting as blazing fire, burns all the effects of actions, including sinful ones, turning them uniformly and wholesomely into ash.

The sin committed may be old or recent, also huge or done repeatedly. All that matters not. If spiritual wisdom is pursued in all intensity, it will straightaway burn all sins, like blazing fire does faggots put into it. But for such a wholesome redress, what will sinners as well as sadhakas, who suffer from the fear of sin they have incurred in the past, do?

Krishna redresses Arjuna’s grief and redeems him

Remember, Kurukshetra dialogue began from what Arjuna told Krishna: “My whole skin is being scorched by the grief of my heart. I am not able to find any one or anything to assuage it. Therefore, Krishna, redress my grief and redeem me.”

Krishna began his dialogue in response to such a severe plight of Arjuna. Arjuna’s concern and fear were too huge. Would he not be the cause of such a huge destruction on both sides? Slaughter of almost 4.5 million warriors was by no means a small sin! It was tremendously huge. And Krishna had the onerous task of instantly redressing all the grief and sin plundering Arjuna’s mind. Naturally, the assurance Krishna gives is quite in place, nay indispensable to the scene Arjuna was facing.

Jñāna reveals immortal Self, the inner Presence

Krishna pointedly adds (4.38) that there is nothing so purifying as jñāna, spiritual wisdom, which reveals the impersonal and immortal Self, the inner Presence in our body. All that Arjuna received and gained from the 2-hour dialogue in the battlefield, is undoubtedly knowledge alone. For, that alone was revealed and conveyed through Krishna’s words. There was nothing else in the whole interaction between them. Every word and phrase Arjuna was hearing and assimilating had the sole effect of removing his ignorance and delusion, and instilling pure knowledge, wisdom.