अश्रद्दधाना: पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप |
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि || 3||
aśhraddadhānāḥ puruṣhā dharmasyāsya parantapa
aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛityu-samsāra-vartmani
aśhraddadhānāḥ—people without faith; puruṣhāḥ—(such) persons; dharmasya—of dharma; asya—this; parantapa—Arjun, conqueror the enemies; aprāpya—without attaining; mām—Me; nivartante—come back; mṛityu—death; samsāra—material existence; vartmani—in the path
Translation:
People who have no faith in this dharma are unable to attain Me, O conqueror of enemies. They repeatedly come back to this world in the cycle of birth and death.
Commentary:
Whether in worldly or spiritual life, faith and devotion to an ideal is the key to success. The degree of success depends on the intensity of one’s faith. Man becomes that which he aims at, the time taken depending on the intensity of the effort, and the strength of the obstructing forces. Sooner or later, it is certain that man achieves what he yearns for with single-minded devotion.
The Lord declares here that without faith no one could attain Him, and without attaining Him no one can get immortality. Let the seekers understand that much diligence is needed even in small things and common affairs of life. This being so, one can understand what care and caution are needed to realise the highest state. So, the Lord emphasises the efficacy of faith throughout His teaching.
According to the Lord, this Samsara is a world of death. Death is stalking everywhere and yet blinded by the veil of avidya, man imagines that life is beautiful and pleasant. He has missed the true end of life. He has bartered away his birthright of immortality and eternal bliss to a mess of pottage. The Lord knows this, and out of compassion, he warns mankind not to come under the shadow of death and destruction. Without understanding the Truth, whatever other enjoyments man may try to have, all these are only the decoration of a corpse. The wise shall strive to know the Lord and transcend the ills of life and death.
The word ‘nivartante‘ may also be interpreted as Nitaram Vartante (i.e) assuredly pass through the path of death.
Question: Who can attain Paramatma?
Answer: Those who have faith in Brahmajnana.
Question: What is the fate of those who have no faith?
Answer: Without attaining the Lord, they are caught in the whirlpool of samsara.
Question: What is the nature of this samsara?
Answer: It is death.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9 🔻 (34 Verses)
