किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणा: पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा |
अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् || 33||
kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣhayas tathā
anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām
kim—what; punaḥ—then; brāhmaṇāḥ—sages; puṇyāḥ—meritorius; bhaktāḥ—devotees; rāja-ṛiṣhayaḥ—saintly kings; tathā—and; anityam—transient; asukham—joyless; lokam—world; imam—this; prāpya—having achieved; bhajasva—engage in devotion; mām—unto Me
Translation:
How much more, then, if they be holy brāhmins or royal seers devoted to God! Having come into this transitory, joyless world, worship Me.
Commentary:
If people of sinful birth, as well as women and sudras are competent to attain Brahmajnana, how much easier it should be for the holy Brahmins and royal saints? The attributes ‘punyah’ and ‘bhaktah’ are used to emphasise the need for the possession of these qualities which alone entitle a man to reach the highest state. Mere birth cannot take any man anywhere. It is not a passport to God-realisation. Purity and devotion are absolutely essential.
Rajarshayah: Self-control is the attribute of a saint (Rishi). Kings who attained self-mastery are Rajarshis. Entangled in the day-to-day complications of earthly rule, if the Kings could acquire purity and perfection, will it not be possible for humble house-holders who have lesser burdens and greater freedom to attain the supreme goal?
Anityam asukham lokam: This world or this birth or the body is impermanent and unhappy. Unless a man is blind or demented, he would naturally realise by observation and experience that the Lord’s description of the world is perfectly true. The impermanent nature of the world is an everyday fact, and all that is matter shall disintegrate sooner or later. The earthen pot shall go back to the earth. The bodies made up of the five elements shall go back to the elements. Nothing can stop it. What then? The wise man should hold on to the Lord. “Worship Me” is the Lord’s command. Since death is stalking the world the immediate need for the worship of the Lord is explained. Before the body falls, the Lord should be realised. This is the most urgent aim. All other things come and go according to one’s karma (Prarabdha). Worship of the Lord is the very essence of life.
The world is not only momentary but it is full of misery, devoid of happiness (asukham).
There is no real joy in little earthly things, Joy is only in the infinite Atma. Man discovers this truth after a long experience. The pain that poisons all earthly enjoyments is slowly and gradually understood by discrimination, observation, and experience. Then the man turns away from the world and takes refuge in the Lord,
‘Worship Me’ is the Lord’s command. The world is impermanent and painful. Worship of the Lord who is real and who is the very ocean of bliss is the only way to rise above the painful dream of the world. The unreal is rejected by taking refuge in the Real, and the unhappy should be given up by discovering that which is truly the embodiment of joy (i.e) the Lord. Therefore let no man be tempted by the superficial attractions of the shadowy world, but let him seek the source of all that is Truth, Beauty, and Peace (Satyam, Sivam, Sundaram).
Question: What qualities are needed for God-realisation?
Answer: Purity and devotion.
Question: What is the nature of the world?
Answer: It is unreal and unhappy.
Questions: What is the way to overcome samsara?
Answer: Devotion to the Lord.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 9 🔻 (34 Verses)
