DAIVASURA SAMPATH VIBHAGA YOGA

In this interesting chapter of the Gita, Lord Krishna gives a list of divine  and diabolic qualities that exist in Man and distinguish him! Divine traits are described in the first three slokas. Man is neither divine entirely nor is he diabolic or asuric completely! He is a mixture of both the divine and monstrous qualities. Appearances are deceptive and we cannot conclude if one is good or bad by a mere look at him or her. It is only their conduct  and character that reveal their inner traits. Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna what  these demonaic qualities are from the fourth sloka to the 24th sloka.
      People blessed with divine qualities have 26 sterling qualities of character. They are, according to the Lord 1 fearlessness or abhaya 2 mental purity or sathwa, manas suddhi 3 acquisition of knowledge as an ideal 4 charity or dana 5 control over the mind or dama 6 following the stages of life or Varnasrama dharma 7 spiritual study or swadhyaya 8 control over the indriyas or tapas 9 unity of thought, word and deed 10 nonviolence or ahimsa 11 truth or satya 12 peacefulness or angerless state 13 self sacrifice or thyaga 14 patience 15 not carrying tales or apaisunam 16 kindness to men, animals and vegetables 17 non indulgence in sensual pleasures or alolatvam 18 gentleness or mardavam 19 modesty 20 non wavering tendency or achapalam 21 effulgence or tejas 22 forbearance or kshama 23 perseverance or fortitude 24 cleanliness both external and internal 25 adroha or non betrayal and 26 absence of vanity or conceit.
    " Oh Partha! the qualities of demonaic character are arrogance, ostentation, insolence, wrath or anger, coarseness and ignorance" said krishna. Continuing, the Lord said,," There are two sorts of nature, divine and diabolical. You need not be afraid because your nature is divine! Those of diabolical nature break all rules do prohibited activities,and are liars.They are not clean and are of rank materialism. They are atheists and do not believe in funeral rites. They are violent, abusive,and forge documents.

.Arjuna! they are slaves of unfulfilled desires! They are arrogant, and disillusioned. They resort to black magic to gain control over women and wealth. They are corrupt and build castles in the air. They don't bother about their means to reach their ends!
       " Arjuna! They blow their own trumpet and pride over the murders and destruction they have perpetrated. They are vain and believe they are the greatest in strength and luxury". According to Sankara the diabolic person is always steeped in misery and sorrow. "Oh Dhananjaya! Those of diabolic nature never reach me. They progressively fall downward into abysmal regions. They are reborn as birds and animals. They become the slaves of the inner enemies-- arishadvargas-- kama, krodha and others. Those who disrespect the sasthras and disobey the elders and are full of lust have no happiness in both the worlds.They do not enjoy either bodily or mental or spiritual happiness"

 

 

PURUSHOTTAMA PRAPTI YOGA PART TWO

Continuing His discourse, Lord krishna asserts that he has brought His effulgence to the earth. It is because of His divine light that the earth is able to bear many things. Divine consorts like Lakshmi, Bhudevi,and Niladevi are energizing deities. The king of snakes Adisesha is said to bear the burden of the entire cosmos! It is the divine quality that permeates through every creature including fauna and flora. " Perhaps a fool sayeth in his heart that there is no God! Why is it that the mangoes are so sweet? Is it due to the owner of the garden or the gardener? Neither of the two, but it is due to God!" says Swami Vivekananda.
    The Lord points out that He is in the form of " JATARAGNI" the digestive fire in the stomach of every living being. He is in the form of " BADABANALA" in the sea merging into itself all the rivers of the world.Things that fire cannot burn are burnt, digested and assimilated into the body by divine fire. The five kinds of food are easily digested in the stomach through divine grace.Sri Ramakrishna says that Paramatma is the divine architect under whom the Jiva labours.  Paramatma is the supplier of needed materials and desires as per His whims and fancies. He is the real DIRECTOR. It is He who converts food into blood, flesh,urine,semen and faeces and brain!
     " I am in thehearts of all beings and perform certain acts," said the Lord to Arjuna and continued, ' I am responsible for one's scholarship, forgetfulness, remembrance and all other activities! I dispense justly  everything according to one's Karma in the previous birth! It is only through the VEDAS  that I can be realized!
     " Among the Purushas there are two types. They are 1 KSHARA PURUSHA-- representing all worldly objects existing in name and form. They are all perishable and full of defects. They are subject to the eternal cycle of birth and death! 2 The second type is called AKSHARA PURUSHA.These are entities which in spite of losing physical bodies retain the essence of life. That is ATMA the imperishable and eternal spirit. Atma remains changeless while the body changes and is lost. There is one transcedent being above these two kinds of Purushas! He is otherwise called as PURUSHOTTAMA! The body is PURI-- the place. The occupant of this puri is the ATMA. The greatest of all the atmas is PURUSHOTTAMA! He is the Paramatma or the Absolute Parabrahman! The Jiva or the Individual soul is atomic. Paramatma is omnipresent  AKSHARA PURUSHA is greater than the KSHARA PURUSHA. Paramatma isgreater than Akshara Purusha! Hence He is called PURUSHOTTAMA!
       Lord Krishna continued, " Arjuna!  the Gita is the most mysterious of all the sasthras! By reading this you read all the sasthras and their quintessence! You have been instructed  by Me in this! Those who read the Gita, specially the 15th Chapter or hear or tell others shall surely be absolved of  all their sins! It is only by realizing these things and worshipping Me one can find fulfilment in life,enjoy happiness and reach Me finally and attain eternal bliss!!" krishna concluded.
       Swami Vivekananda says, '"  The Gita is unique and unrivalled. If at all there is one universal scripture it is Gita and Gita alone!" Sri Ramakrishna says, " The value of JIVA is cipher. A combination of Jivas is also the same. It is only when the cipher is preceded by a digit it gets the value! That digit is the Paramatma."

 

 

 

 

PURUSHOTTAMA PRAPTI YOGA PART ONE

This chapter is of special significance as Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna without his asking a question! The few slokas of this chapter are of very highly suggestive nature. The Chapter has key letters of invocation otherwise called " Beejaksharas" in Sanskrit!! Poetic fervour is visible in the slokas and philosophy and poetry go hand in hand. This chapter can be considered greater than the other chapters of the Gita! Lord Krishna has simplified  things to Arjuna as well as for the readers of the Gita!
   The Lord compares worldly and material existence or Samsara to a tree! Says the Lord, " the world is like a tree. It is a matter of great wonder that its roots are pointing to heaven! The branches are below going downward."  Normally the tree has its roots in the soil and branches above the soil spreading in different directions. This bestows happiness to every one. The tree upside down is an impediment for all. Similarly the tree of Samsara or worldly life is an obstacle for reaching the goal of life, namely God! The word " ASWATTHA" means that which is ephemeral.like the world. The body,wife,and children and relations are of transitory nature. According to another commentator, it is permanent like the river with running water. Men may come and disappear but the world continues to stay. One should not forget that God is the real entity and the world is unreal. A few branches pointing upwards are like the heavenly regions that do not offer everlasting happiness. Hence you have to worship the Paramatman to get rid of the cycle of birth and death. The tree is watered by the three gunas, satwa, rejas and thamas. Its tender shoots are the Jnanendriyas----sabda, sparsa, rupa, rasa and gandha! Earth or soil is the root. Paramatma is intracosmic as well as extracosmic! We should never imagine that He is some where beyond the clouds!
   As we realize that all the world is a stage and we are all actors discharging our duties with a sense of detachment, the fetters of samsara do not bind us. The Jiva has taken the body because of his karma in the previous birth! Time has no beginning! Things that have no beginning are six in number. They are 1 The Vedas 2 Karma 3 Paramatma 4 Jivatma 5 Maya or Illusion and 6 Time. There is no point in arguing which is the origin- the tree or the seed. Even the immortals are enjoying or suffering the results of their Karma !In fact they aspire for human birth.Sri Ramakrishna says that God is playing kites with his creation overwhelming them with the thread of Maya! Though Maya is part and parcel of God it does not affect Him The Vasanas or tendencies linger long enough and are too thick for us to come out of them!
   Moksha or emancipation cannot be achieved from outside.It has to be manifested from within.Illumination of Jnana is essential for achieving it! Lord Krishna says that people do not realize the benefits of worshipping God. He elaborates on the benefits that he bestows on all his creatures. He is the primum mobile, the motivator, and propeller of all Jivas. The impressions of our Karma affect the subtle body or suksma sareera. The Jiva carries the impressions of his previous birth while he takes another body! Moksha is nothing but the annihilation of the subtle body and the Jiva! Jiva is the king and manas is the minister.The Jiva enjoys and suffers through the body. Mind has to be kept under control for attaining " atma Jnana." After all JIva is the chip of the same block. namely Paramatma who is the fountainhead of all light and effulgence The Sun, Moon and all other objects radiate the light of the Paramatma! They have no light of their own. They are all His office bearers executing their duties in strict obedience to the dictates of Paramatma!