Sri Ramakrishna and Bhagavad Gita -7

 

                                             PURUSHOTHAMA YOGA

                                  THE YOGA OF THE SUPREME SELF

                                                       श्रीभगवानुवाच |

                              BG 15-1    ऊर्ध्वमूलमध:शाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् |

                                                छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || 1||

BG 15.1: The Supreme Divine Personality said: They speak of an eternal  Aśhvath tree with its roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the Vedic hymns, and one who knows the secret of this tree is the knower of the Vedas.

Sri Ramakrishna :

A man standing outside a market place hears a general buzz; nothing is distinct. But his perspective changes as soon as he enters into the market. The transactions are all clearly heard and understood. Similarly when a man is away from Iswara, his inquiry is all in confusion. There is no end to his search into the cause and effect, to his cogitating over the why and how of the things, to his debates, to his arguments and counter- arguments and to his theorizing. But on realization of Iswara all these speculations and conjectures come to an end. The mystery of Nature becomes an open book to him.

                       B G 15-3  न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यते नान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा |

                                       अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा || 3||

BG 15-3 Its form is not here perceived as such, neither its end, nor its origin, nor its existence .Having cut asunder this firm rooted Avastha with strong axe of non -attachment.

Sri Ramakrishna :

The silkworm gets engaged in the cocoon spun by itself. Similarly the worldly man gets entangled in the meshes of his own desires. But when the silk worm develops into butterfly, it breaks open its nest and comes out to enjoy the light and air outside. Similarly when the man is bondage cuts asunder his attachment to Maya he is able to behold Brahman.

                       BG 15-10  उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम् |

                               विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुष: || 10||

BG 15.10: The ignorant do not perceive the soul as it resides in the body, and as it enjoys sense objects; nor do they perceive it when it departs. But those who possess the eyes of knowledge can behold it .

Sri Ramakrishna :

The human beings are all like pillows varying in their external appearances. One is red, another blue and a third yellow or black. But the stuff inside all of them is the same silk cotton. Similarly some men are fair in color while others are ugly; some are good tempered and others are bad tempered. Still the same Iswara resides in the hearts of all of them.

                       BG15-11    यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् |

                                          यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतस: || 11||

BG 15.11: Striving yogis too are able to realize the soul enshrined in the body. However, those whose minds are not purified cannot cognize it, even though they strive to do so.

Sri Ramakrishna :

All water leaks away even if there be a a minute hole in a water pot. In that manner , even if there be a trace of earthly attachment in the mind of a sadhaka, all his spiritual practices comes to a naught.

                       BG 15-16  द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च |

                                       क्षर: सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते || 16||

BG 15.16: There are two kinds of beings in creation, the kṣhar (perishable) and the akṣhar (imperishable). The perishable are all beings in the material realm. The imperishable are the the liberated beings.

Sri Ramakrishna :

The skin, the pulp, the nut and everything else in a fruit have come all from the same seed. Similarly , the sentient, the insentient and all forms of existence have come from the same Iswara .

                        BG 15-20  इति गुह्यतमं शास्त्रमिदमुक्तं मयानघ |

                               एतद्बुद्ध्वा बुद्धिमान्स्यात्कृतकृत्यश्च भारत || 20|

BG 15.20: I have shared this most secret principle of the Vedic scriptures with you, O sinless Arjun. By understanding this, a person becomes enlightened, and fulfills all that is to be accomplished.

Sri Ramakrishna :

The human birth is rare to obtain. After having obtained it, if man does not aspire for the realization of Iswara, he is born in vain .

                                 DAIVASURA SAMPAD VIBHAGA YOGA

              THE YOGA OF DIVISION BETWEEN THE DIVINE AND THE DEMONICAL

                        BG 16-4   दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोध: पारुष्यमेव च |

                      अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम् || 4||

BG 16.4: O Partha, the qualities of those who possess a demoniac nature are hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness, and ignorance.

Sri Ramakrishna :

Rice cakes have their exterior coating made of rice flour. But their inner contents are of different edibles. Similarly in external appearance all are human beings. But in their mental make up they vary  from the divine to the devilish.

              BG 16-11  चिन्तामपरिमेयां च प्रलयान्तामुपाश्रिता: |

                        कामोपभोगपरमा एतावदिति निश्चिता: || 11||

BG 16.11: They are obsessed with endless anxieties that end only with death. Still, they maintain with complete assurance that gratification of desires and accumulation of wealth is the highest purpose of life.

Sri Ramakrishna :

The earth bound people do not learn a lesson even when overcome with acute pain, disappointments, failures and  misfortunes in life. They are like camels which go on biting off thorny  shrubs unmindful of the bleeding caused by their lips.

A dearly loved wife dies or deserts; the man forgets all about it and remarries. The sudden passing away of a beloved child brings in isolation. But in a few days he brushes it aside and gets absorbed in life. The mother weeps and wails over the death of her baby. The next moment she is busy arranging her jewels and costly clothing, scrupulously attending to her toilet as well. The parents are driven into penury because of the marriages of two or three daughters. Still begetting continues as usual! In litigation of property is drained away; but on that ground further litigation does not stop. Though there is no wherewithal to maintain the existing brood of children, new additions do not fail to come in year after year, How strange !

                                    SRADHATRAYA  VIBHAGA YOGA

                              THE YOGA OF THE THREEFOLD SRADHA

             BG17-8    आयु:सत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धना: |

                  रस्या: स्निग्धा: स्थिरा हृद्या आहारा: सात्त्विकप्रिया: 

BG 17.8: Persons in the mode of goodness prefer foods that promote life span, and increase virtue, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, succulent, nourishing, and naturally tasteful.

Sri Ramakrishna :

Eat as much as you require in the day time; but reduce the food as much as you can at night.