Importance of Bhakti in the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita is about Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti, but Bhakti is more important.
Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. They are His own words which He confirms by stating that He previously gave the knowledge to Vivasvan, and He is now repeating it to Arjuna because it has become lost. He doesn’t say that He learned this science from someone else, or that He is speaking on behalf of someone else.
Within the material world, everyone has to learn or somehow acquire the knowledge they have, only the Supreme Lord is exempted from this.
This indicates that Krishna is that person. He declares Himself to be the highest truth, the source and maintenance of whatever exists including the impersonal Brahman. He declares that all living entities are eternally individual fragmental parts of Him, and to back up His words, He manifests His universal form.
So we can take it that Krishna says what He means, that His words are authoritative, and we should accept them as He spoke them.
At the beginning of chapter 5, Arjuna asks Krishna which is better. Detachment or working with devotion (bhakti)
Krishna’s answer is clear.
Later Krishna explains that the result of actual knowledge is surrender to Krishna because He is the cause of all causes.
Krishna encourages the cultivation of knowledge, silent meditation, and performing prescribed activities. These are explained as different yoga processes. Jnana yoga, dhyana yoga, karma yoga and so on, but He gives His opinion on which of these is the highest.
He says that it is He who is to be known by all the Vedas. That means He is the object of all jnana and all karma.
Krishna speaks elaborately about cultivating knowledge and detachment and performing bhakti, and in Chapter nine He says that whoever you may be, and whatever birth you may have taken, it doesn’t matter, simply…
Here, bhakti once again is recommended for achieving Krishna.
Then Krishna explains His opulences and exhibits His universal form and then Arjuna asks which is better, to worship the Lord in His personal form or to worship His impersonal aspect. Krishna replies that it’s better to worship Him in His personal form. Not just better but the best.
After discussing the three modes of nature, and all the different variations that arise in the material world, Krishna gives His concluding words
It is a repeat of His previous instruction in chapter 9, that should tell us that it’s important.
As long as we are here in the material world we will be forced by nature to act. We may cultivate knowledge, but then what will we do with that knowledge? We may know that we are atma, that we are spiritual, but what will we do? Any material activity will simply keep us entangled by the reaction. No one can remain inactive even for a moment. We have senses and our senses demand gratification, as long as we remain absorbed in senses-gratification our suffering will be prolonged.
Performing activities for the pleasure of Krishna instead of ourselves, or our extended selves, frees us from this dilemma and unites us with Krishna. This is the essence of bhakti and it is what Krishna recommends as the highest, the easiest, the most practical, and, the conclusion of all jnana.
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Karma, Vikarma, Karma Yoga, Akarma in the Bhagavad Gita
Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. They are His own words which He confirms by stating that He previously gave the knowledge to Vivasvan, and He is now repeating it to Arjuna because it has become lost. He doesn’t say that He learned this science from someone else, or that He is speaking on behalf of someone else.
Within the material world, everyone has to learn or somehow acquire the knowledge they have, only the Supreme Lord is exempted from this.
This indicates that Krishna is that person. He declares Himself to be the highest truth, the source and maintenance of whatever exists including the impersonal Brahman. He declares that all living entities are eternally individual fragmental parts of Him, and to back up His words, He manifests His universal form.
So we can take it that Krishna says what He means, that His words are authoritative, and we should accept them as He spoke them.
At the beginning of chapter 5, Arjuna asks Krishna which is better. Detachment or working with devotion (bhakti)
Krishna’s answer is clear.
The Personality of Godhead replied: The renunciation of work and work in devotion are both good for liberation. But, of the two, work in devotional service is better than renunciation of work. Bg 5.2
Later Krishna explains that the result of actual knowledge is surrender to Krishna because He is the cause of all causes.
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. 7.19
Krishna encourages the cultivation of knowledge, silent meditation, and performing prescribed activities. These are explained as different yoga processes. Jnana yoga, dhyana yoga, karma yoga and so on, but He gives His opinion on which of these is the highest.
And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me -- he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion. Bg 6.47
He says that it is He who is to be known by all the Vedas. That means He is the object of all jnana and all karma.
By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas. Bg 15.15
Krishna speaks elaborately about cultivating knowledge and detachment and performing bhakti, and in Chapter nine He says that whoever you may be, and whatever birth you may have taken, it doesn’t matter, simply…
Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. Bg 9.34
Here, bhakti once again is recommended for achieving Krishna.
Then Krishna explains His opulences and exhibits His universal form and then Arjuna asks which is better, to worship the Lord in His personal form or to worship His impersonal aspect. Krishna replies that it’s better to worship Him in His personal form. Not just better but the best.
Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect. Bg 12.2
After discussing the three modes of nature, and all the different variations that arise in the material world, Krishna gives His concluding words
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. Bg 18.65
It is a repeat of His previous instruction in chapter 9, that should tell us that it’s important.
As long as we are here in the material world we will be forced by nature to act. We may cultivate knowledge, but then what will we do with that knowledge? We may know that we are atma, that we are spiritual, but what will we do? Any material activity will simply keep us entangled by the reaction. No one can remain inactive even for a moment. We have senses and our senses demand gratification, as long as we remain absorbed in senses-gratification our suffering will be prolonged.
Performing activities for the pleasure of Krishna instead of ourselves, or our extended selves, frees us from this dilemma and unites us with Krishna. This is the essence of bhakti and it is what Krishna recommends as the highest, the easiest, the most practical, and, the conclusion of all jnana.
Related post:
What is Meaning of Life according to Bhagwad Gita?
The Significance of Chapter 1 in the Bhagwad Gita
What does it means to surrender to God according to Bhagavad Gita?
What does Lord Krishna says about death in Bhagwad Gita?
Karma, Vikarma, Karma Yoga, Akarma in the Bhagavad Gita
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