Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Introduction (end)

 

 

To compare the two published versions of this text with what Srila Prabhupada originally spoke, listen to the audio file and read along.

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Hear Srila Prabhupada Speak

 

 

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Regular text = text appearing in both the First and Second Editions

Bold text = unique to the Second Edition

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. . . In conclusion, Bhagavad-gita is a transcendental literature which one should read very carefully. It is capable of saving one from all fear.

 

nehabhikrama-naso ’sti

pratyavayo na vidyate

svalpam apy asya dharmasya

 trayate mahato bhayat

 

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Bg. 2.40). Gita-sastram idam punyam yah pathet prayatah puman: if one properly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, one can be freed from all the miseries and anxieties of life. Bhaya-sokadi-varjitah. One will be freed from all fears in this life, and one's next life will be spiritual. (Gita-mahatmya 1)

     There is also a further advantage:

 

gitadhyayana-silasya

pranayama-parasya ca

naiva santi hi papani

purva-janma-krtani ca

 

“ If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and seriously with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord all of the reactions of his past misdeeds will not react upon him.” (Gita-mahatmya 2) The Lord says very loudly In in the last portion of Bhagavad-gita (18.66):

Sri Krsna proclaims:

 

sarva-dharman parityajya

 mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

 moksayisyami ma sucah

 

“Give up Abandon all varieties of religionusness, and just surrender unto Me.; and in return I shall protect deliver you from all sinful reactions. Therefore, you have nothing to Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66) Thus the Lord takes all responsibility for one who surrenders unto Him, and He indemnifies such a person against all the reactions of sin.

 

maline mocanam pumsam

jala-snanam dine dine

sakrd gitamrta-snanam

samsara-mala-nasanam

 

“One may cleanses himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one who takes his a bath even only once in the sacred Ganges water of the Bhagavad-gita, for him cleanses away all the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished. (Gita-mahatmya 3)

 

gita su-gita kartavya

kim anyaih sastra-vistaraih

ya svayam padmanabhasya

mukha-padmad vinihsrta

 

Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, mankind is people are so absorbed with in mundane activities that it is not possible to read all of the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Gita-mahatmya 4)

     As it It is said:

 

bharatamrta-sarvasvam

visnu-vaktrad vinihsrtam

gita-gangodakam pitva

punar janma na vidyate

 

that one “One who drinks the water of the Ganges certainly gets attains salvation, but so what to speak of one who drinks the waters nectar of Bhagavad-gita? GitaBhagavad-gita is the very essential nectar of the Mahabharata, and it is spoken by Visnu Himself, for Lord Krsna Himself, is the original Visnu.”(Gita-mahatmya 5) It is nectar emanating Bhagavad-gita comes from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to be emanateing from the lotus feet of the Lord. Of course, there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but in our position from an impartial study we can appreciate that the Bhagavad-gita is even more important than the water of the Ganges.

 

sarvopanisado gavo

dogdha gopala-nandanah

partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta

dugdham gitamrtam mahat

 

“This Gitopanisad, The Bhagavad-gita, the essence of all the Upanisads, is just like a cow, and Lord Krsna, who is famous as a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. The milk is the essence of the Vedas, and Arjuna is just like a calf., and learned scholars The wise men, the great sages and pure devotees, are to drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gita.” (Gita-mahatmya 6)

 

ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam

eko devo devaki-putra eva

eko mantras tasya namani yani

karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

         (Gita-mahatmya 7)

 

In this present day, man is people are very eager to have one scripture, one God, one religion, and one occupation. So Therefore, ekam sastram devaki-putra-gitam: let there be one scripture only, one common scripture, for the whole world—Bhagavad-gita. And Eko devo devaki-putra eva: let there be one God only for the whole world—Sri Krsna. Eko mantras tasya namani: And and one hymn, one mantra, one prayer only—the chanting of His name: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva: And and let there be one work only—the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

[end]