Û]Im] g]v]t]/ g]it]] s]pt]mç%dyåyù - #Ån]iv]#Ån]yçgù s]pt]mç%dyåyù - #Ån] ivw#ån] yçgù

Û]Im] g]v]t]/ g]it]] s]pt]mç%dyåyù - #Ån]iv]#Ån]yçgù s]pt]mç%dyåyù - #Ån] ivw#ån] yçgù Volume 5 b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ ant]e, #Ån]vÅn]/ må\ p ýp] õtà b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ ante - #Ån]vÅn/ må\ p ýp] õtà vås devù s]v]* \ wit], s] m]h tmå s dul]*b]: 7-19 vås devù s]rv]\ witw - s] m]h tmå s durl]*b]: ä mð: tð: tð: h&t]#ånù, p ýp] õntà any]dev]tå: ä mð: tð: tð: h&t]#ånù - p ýp] õntà% any] dev]tå: t]\ t]\ in]y]m]\ ståy], p ýäëtyå in]y]tå: sv]yå 7-20 t]\ t]\ inwy]m]m ÅsTÅy] - p ýäëtyå inwy]tå: sv]yå yç yç yå\ yå\ t]n \ B] :, Ûõ õyå aic]*t \ wccõit] yç yç yå\ yå\ t]n \ B] a: - Ûõ õ Åircw*t im wccõitw t]sy] t]sy] ac]l]]\ Ûõ \, tåmàv] iv]dõd] my]hõm]/ 7-21 t]sy] t]sy] ac]lå\ Ûõ \ - tåmàv] ivwdõd my]hõm/ s] t]yå Ûõ õyå y :, t]sy] r D]n]\ Whõtà s] t]yå Ûõ õyå y a: - t]sy] r D]n]m Ihõtà l]b]tà c] t]tù ä mån]/, m]yðv] iv]ihõtån]/ ihõ tån]/ 7-22 l]b]tà c] t]tù ä mån/ - m]yðv] ivwihwtån/ ihw tån/ As we saw last time, Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]r B]i w in its mature state is Aäý B]i Aäý B]i w, an]ny] B]i an]ny] B]i w, p]rõm] p m] sv]ðp] B]i p]rõm p m sv]ðp B]i w, p½n]* Wìv]rõ B]i p½rn]* Wìv]r B]i w - uncontaminated, undistracted, absolute and total Love and Devotion for p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]r #Ån]\ in its mature state is b ýàõiv]t]/ b ýàõ#ån]\ b ýàõivwt/ b ýàõ #Ån]\ Realized Knowledge of s]ty]\ #Ån]\ an]nt]\ b ýhõm] #Ån]\ s]ty]\ #Ån]\ an]nt]\ b ýhõm] #Ån]\, p½n]*\ ad p½n]*\ wdõ\ #Ån]\ p½rn]*\ ad p½rn]*\ wdõ\ #Ån]\, ap]roü] p ÎSç ]m] #Ån]\ ap]roü] p ÎSç ]m] #Ån]\. Bhagvat Gita 49 Jun 8, 2015

It is direct and immediate recognition of tmå tmå The b ýàõn]/ b ýàõn/ The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r in oneself as ONESELF Itself, and also the SELF of all existence in this creation and beyond this creation. Such s]vå*tm]äý b ýàõ#ån]\ s]rvå*tm]äý b ýàõ #Ån]\ is p½n]* Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ p½rn]* Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. Such Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]r B]i w and such Wìv]rõ #]]n]\ Wìv]r #Ån]\ are indeed identical, in the sense that only when there is p½n]* Wìv]rõ B]i p½rn]* Wìv]rõ B]i w, p½n]* Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ p½rn]* Wìv]r #Ån]\ is possible, and only when there is p½n]* Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ p½rn]* Wìv]r #Ån]\, p½n]* Wìv]rõ B]i p½rn]* Wìv]rõ B]i w is possible. Wherever there is natural fusion of Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]r B]i w and Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]r #Ån]\, as indicated above, there is natural Wìv]rõ x]rõnåg]it] Wìv]rõ x]rõnåg]itw which means total disappearance of ahõ\ä rõ ahõ\ä r ego, in oneself. That State of Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]r B]i w, Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]r #Ån]\, Wìv]rõ x]rõnåg]it] Wìv]rõ x]rõnåg]itw is the Nature of B]i B]i w of a #ÅnÆ #ÅnÆ. At That State of B]i B]i w, the #ÅnÆ #ÅnÆ is ONE with p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r, which means there is no distinction between a #ÅnÆ #ÅnÆ and p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, even though the #ÅnÆ #ÅnÆ may still remain in the form and name of a human being while the p ý]rõbd] äým]*s p ý]rõbd] äýrm]*s are getting exhausted through a äým]* yçg] äýrm]* yçg] way of life. Now, when does an Wìv]rõ B] Wìv]r B]i a a Devotee, reach the state of a #ÅnÆ #ÅnÆ? B]g]vÅn]/ B]g]vÅn /says: b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ antà #Ån]vÅn]/ må\ p ýp] õtà b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ ante - #Ån]vÅn/ må\ p ýp] õtà vås devù s]v]* \ wit], s] m]h tmå s dul]*bù 7-19 vås devù s]rv]\ witw - s] m]h tmå s durl]*b]: b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ ant]e b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ ante - After passing through many j]nm]s j]nm]s many life-times cultivating God-consciousness. It is only after going through a number of life-times, wherein one has cultivated one s B]i B]i w to p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r through #ÅnÅT]* s]\sä rõ Ûõy] #ÅnÅrT]* s]\sä rõ Ûõy], meaning, through äým]*s äýrm]*s Bhagvat Gita 50 Jun 8, 2015

conductive to gaining Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]rõ B]i w and Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\, such as Wìv]rõ DyÅn]\ Wìv]rõ DyÅn]\, Wìv]rõ ä ýy]* \ Wìv]r ä ýry]\, Wìv]rõ ap]*n]\ Wìv]rõ arp]*n]\, Wìv]rõ B]j]n]\ Wìv]rõ B]j]n]\, etc., all of which are conducive to cultivating Wìv]rõ B]i Wìv]rõ B]i w and Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. Therefore, b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ antà b]hunå\ j]nm]nå\ antà means, after passing through a series of life-times in which one has acquired the necessary physical and mental disposition to commit oneself to the pursuit of Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ #Ån]vÅn]/ må\ p ýp] õtà #Ån]vÅn/ må\ p ýp] õtà - the #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn/ the one who has p]irõpåäý Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ p]irwpåäý Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ the one who has a clear vision of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, free from doubts, vagueness and mental obstructions, such a #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn/ må\ #Ån]vÅn/ må\ (p]rõmàìv]r\õ p]rõmàìv]ram) p ýp] õtà p ýp] õtà seeks ME, approaches ME, and reaches ME The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r here is vås dev] vås dev] which is another name for Sri Krishna. Here the name vås dev] vås dev] is used in a literal sense. vås dev] vås dev] is ONE who is both vås vås and dev] dev]. vås vås means s]và*s B½tàS v]s]it] wit] vås s]rvà*s B½tàS v]s]itw witw vås the ONE who abides in the heart of every being. asè devù c] vås dev]: asè devù c] vås dev]: That vås dev] vås dev] is sv]p ýä xù sv]p ýä xù Self-effulgent. Thus, vås dev] vås dev] is p ýty]g] tmå p ýty]g] tmå The tmå tmå The Self which lights up, and unfolds the nature of oneself as well as others. Ordinarily, a light lights up only objects. The sv]p ýä x] tmå sv]p ýä xa tmå, The p ýty]g] tmå p ýty]g] tmå The vås dev] vås dev], lights up, reveals, both the subject as well as the objects, the subject being ONESELF The b ýàõn]/ b ýàõn/, and the object being all Its måyå måyå-powered im]tyå mwtyå manifestations in the cycle of creation. The #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn/ who has a clear and unobstructed vision of such p ýty]g] tmå vås dev] p ýty]g] tmå vås dev] må\ p ýp] õtà må\ p ýp] õtà seeks, approaches and reaches ME, The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. Bhagvat Gita 51 Jun 8, 2015

How does the #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn / reach p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r? Reaching p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r means what? The #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn reaches p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r by recognizing vås devù s]v]*\ wit] vås devù s]rv]*\ witw. vås dev] vås dev] is Everything. vås dev] vås dev] is All. That p ýty]g] tmå vås dev] p ýty]g] tmå vås dev] is p½n]*\ ad: p½n]*\ wd\õ p½rn]*\ ada: p½rn]\ wdõ\. That vås dev] vås dev] is the content of I and also anything and everything in this creation. Thus, reaching p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r is recognizing The ONENESS in everything that exists; recognizing the s]vå*tm] BÅv] s]rvå*tm] BÅv] of p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r, p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r as vås dev] vås dev] is The SELF of all that exists. The one who recognizes vås dev] vås dev] in that manner, sù m]h tmå m]h tmå - That #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn is indeed a m]h tmå m]h tmå. A m]h tmå m]h tmå is one who recognizes tmå tmå as b ýàõn]/ b ýàõn/, one who recognizes b ýàõn]/ b ýàõn /in oneself. Thus a b ýàõiv]t]/ b ýàõivwt /is a m]h tmå m]h tmå. sù m]h tmå s dul]*b]: sù m]h tmå s durl]*b]: - Such a m]h tmå m]h tmå is very rare to find. It is very difficult to find such a Self-Realized #Ån]vÅn]/ #Ån]vÅn such a m]h tmå m]h tmå. Why is it so difficult for an Wìv]rõ B] Wìv]rõ B] a to recognize vås dev]: s]v]*m]/ wit] vås dev]: s]rv]*m/ witw - vås dev] vås dev] is everything? The difficulty is not in the knowledge itself. The difficulty is in gaining antù äýrõn] x i õ antù äýrõn] x i w in overcoming one s own internal forces of obstruction to gaining Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. Therefore, B]g]vÅn]/ B]g]vÅn /says: ä m]e: tð: tð: h&t]#ån]ù p ýp] õntà any]dev]tå: ä mð: tð: tð: h&t]#ånù - p ýp] õntà% any] dev]tå: t]\ t]\ in]y]m]\ ståy] p ýäëtyå in]y]tå: sv]yò}] 7-20 t]\ t]\ inwy]m]m ÅsTÅy] - p ýäëtyå inwy]tå: sv]yå tð: tð: ä mð: tð: tð: ä mð: - Each in one s own way, overpowered by the forces of one s own desires Bhagvat Gita 52 Jun 8, 2015

h&t]#ånå: h&t]#ånå: - People have been robbed away of their power of discrimination. People lose their ability to discriminate between tmå tmå and anåtmå ]n tmå Self and non-self. People are unable to recognize tmå tmå as p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. People are unable to reach p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r in oneself. Therefore, people feel themselves remote from, separate from, p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r. People have no clear understanding of p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]rõ, nor do they understand what they really need. Consequently p ýp] õntà any] dev]tå: p ýp] õntà any] dev]tå: - People approach and seek the Grace of other dev]tås dev]tås, the aid]sq n] dev]tås aidwsq n] dev]tås, seeking fulfillment of their desires. The Presiding Deities responsible for different specific and limited aspects of Life and Nature are called aid]sq n] dev]tås aidwsq n] dev]tås. They are countless in number, each endowed with limited powers over specific aspects of Life and Nature. The function of each aid]sq n] dev]tå aidwsq n] dev]tå is only to maintain The Eternal Order under The Law of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. We may recall here the Vedic quotation from the Taittiriya Upanishad, which says: BÆSÅsmÅ t]: p]v]tà BÆSçdeit] s½yù* BÆSÅsmÅ t]: p]v]tà BÆSçdeitwi s½ryù* BÆSÅsmÅdõig ]xc]en õxc] m³ty DÅ*v]it] p]vc]m] wit] (te] -2-8) BÆSÅsmÅdõig wixcen õxc] m³ty rdå*v]itwi p]vc]m] witwi Because of the Fear of p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r, which means under the Unchanging Laws of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, the wind blows, the sun rises, Agni, Indra and all the other Devtas do their respective jobs unerringly. All natural changes in this creation are taking place spontaneously and unerringly, only according to the never-changing Laws of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, which are Eternal. To disobey the eternal laws of Nature results in unwelcome consequences, and that is the BÆSÅ BÆSÅ the Fear, the Upanishad talks about in the above Vedic quotation. Thus all the dev]tås dev]tås like aig ] aig w, våy våy, v]în] v]în], wn õ wn õ, etc. and also the many other dev]tås dev]tås we are familiar with, all of them are not independent of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. All of them operate only under the lordship of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. Those who do not understand the nature of p]rõmàìv]r Bhagvat Gita 53 Jun 8, 2015

p]rõmàìv]rõ, look upon the dev]tås as the Wìv]rõ Wìv]rõ to be worshipped to satisfy the needs of their D]m]* D]rm]*, at]* art]*, ä m] ä m] pursuits. Consequently, p ýp] õntà any] dev]tå: p ýp] õntà any] dev]tå: - they approach, they worship other dev]tås dev]tås seeking fulfillment of their desires. How do they worship them? t]\ t]\ in]y]m]\ ståy] t]\ t]\ inwy]m]\ ståy] - ståy] ståy] - following t]\ t]\ in]y]m]\ t]\ t]\ inwy]m]\ the stipulated prayers and rituals appropriate for the particular objects to be achieved. There are prescribed forms of prayers, rituals etc. to approach and seek the Grace of specific dev]tås dev]tås for gaining specific objects of their desire. One can gain the same objects of desire by worshipping with Ûõ Ûõ and B]i B]i w, any wsqõ dev]tå wsqõ dev]tå in any Form and name. When that is the case, why does one choose a particular dev]tå dev]tå and a particular form of worship to get what one wants? That is because, p ýäëty]] in]y]tå: sv]yå p ýäëtyå inwy]tå: sv]yå - people are impelled by their own innate tendencies and mental dispositions, established through their own previous s]\sä r s s]\sä r s previous experiences of such worship either in this or in their past lives. Thus, robbed of their iv]vàäý b i õ ivwvàä b i w power of tm]-anåtm] tm]- anåtm] discrimination by the forces of their worldy desires, and driven by their particular mental dispositions, people propitiate different dev]tås dev]tås through prescribed prayers, rituals etc. in their D]m]* D]rm]*, at]* art]*, ä m] ä m] pursuits. Being content with such pursuits, they do not seek ME The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r says Sri Krishna. In the next verse, Sri Krishna says, in whatever form people worship, in that form, I bless them. yç yç yå\ yå\ t]n \ B] : Ûõ õyå aic]*t \ wccõit] yç yç yå\ yå\ t]n \ B] a: - Ûõ õya Åircw*t im wccõitw t]sy] t]sy] ac]lå\ Ûõ \, tåmàv] iv]dõdåmy]hõm]/ 7-21 t]sy] t]sy] ac]l]]\ Ûõ \ - tåmàv] ivwdõd my]hõm/ yù yù B] : yù yù B] a: - Whoever be the B] B] a the Devotee, whether one is in distress seeking help, or one is seeking fulfillment of one s at]*-ä m] art]*- Bhagvat Gita 54 Jun 8, 2015

ä m] pursuits, or one is merely seeking clarity of mind and b i õ b i w for gaining Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\, whoever be the B] B] a yå\ yå\ t]n \ yå\ yå\ t]n \ (t]n \ t]n \ means dev]tå Ðp]\ dev]tå Ðp]\) what ever be the dev]tå Ðp]\ dev]tå Ðp]\ the Form and Name of dev]tå dev]tå to which one is devoted, primarily or exclusively, Ûõ õyå aic]*t \ wccõit] Ûõ õyå aircw*t \ wccõitw - if the B] B] a desires to worship That dev]tå dev]tå with Ûõ Ûõ - unqualified faith and devotion t]sy] t]sy] t]sy] t]sy]- for that B] B] a, for each and every one of them, ahõ\ iv]dõdåim] tå\ Ûõ \ Av] ahõ\ iv]dõdåim] tå\ Ûõ \ Av] - I make that Ûõ Ûõ itself that faith and devotion itself ac]lå\ Ûõ \ ac]lå\ Ûõ \ - as unshakable faith and devotion as unshakable Ûõ õ] Ûõ. I make their Ûõ Ûõ more firm. The important thing here is Ûõ Ûõ unqualified faith and devotion, not the form and name of the dev]tå dev]tå invoked in the worship. Earlier, Sri Krishna said Ûõ vån]/ l]b]tà #Ån]\ Ûõ vån/ l]b]tà #Ån]\ the one who has Ûõ Ûõ gains Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. In this verse, Sri Krishna says: whatever Ûõ Ûõ a B] B] a has, I make that Ûõ Ûõ even more firm for him. How? By being the äým]* ýl] d tå äýrm]* ýl] d tå * by giving the result he seeks through his y]#] äým]* y]#] äýrm] done with Ûõ Ûõ. A does an appropriate y]#] äým]* y]#] äýrm] with Ûõ Ûõ unqualified faith and devotion through worship of a dev]tå dev]tå of his choice and he gets also the äým]* ýl] äýrm]* ýl] the results he has been seeking. Thereby, his Ûõ Ûõ his faith in himself, in his y]#] äým]* y]#] äýrm],* and in the dev]tå dev]tå whose Grace he invokes, all get strengthened. How does that help in gaining Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\? With continued strengthening of one s Ûõ Ûõ - faith and devotion in some dev]tå dev]tå of one s own choice, one s antù äýrõn] antù äýrõn] mind and b i b i w õ ultimately matures into seeing all forms and all names, including oneself, in That dev]tå dev]tå, and, such vision of That dev]tå dev]tå is indeed Vision of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. That is why Sri Krishna says: Bhagvat Gita 55 Jun 8, 2015

t]sy] t]sy] ac]lå\ Ûõ \ tå\ Av] iv]dõdåim] ahõ\ t]sy] t]sy] ac]lå\ Ûõ \ tå\ Av] ivwdõdåimw ahõ\ - By being the äým]* ýl] d tå äýrm]* ýl] d tå, I strengthen the Ûõ Ûõ of everyone, whatever be the Form and Name of the dev]tå dev]tå one worships. We must understand the connection between the dev]tå dev]tå and p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. No dev]tå dev]tå is separate from p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r but p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r is more than the dev]tås dev]tås. p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r being ONE, every Form being His Form, every Name being His Name, in any Form and any name one worships, p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r õis worshipped. This concept of Worship of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r is ingrained in Vedic culture: s]v]* dev] n]m]sä rõ: ÛIä x]v]\ p ýit] g]ccõit] s]rv]* dev] n]m]sä rõ: ÛI ä x]v]\ p ýitw g]ccõitw All worship of any dev]tå dev]tå goes towards ÛI ä x]v] ÛI ä x]v]\ The vås dev] vås dev] the p]rõmàìv]rõ: p]rõmàìv]rah. This is part of Basic Vedic Education. We usually remind ourselves this Basic Vedic Teaching during s]ndyåv]ndõn]\ s]ndyå v]ndõn]\, our daily prayers: ä xåt]/ p]it]t]\ tçy]\ y]tå g]ccõit] såg]rõm]/ ä xåt/ p]itwt]\ tçy]\ y]tå g]ccõitw såg]rõm/ s]v]*dev] n]m]sä r: ÛI ä x]v]\ p ýit] g]ccõit] } s]rv]* dev] n]m]sä rõ: ÛI ä x]v]\ p ýitw g]ccõit} Just as every drop of rain ultimately reaches the ocean, every prayer to any dev]tå dev]tå ultimately reaches ÛI ä x]v] ÛI ä x]v] The vås dev] vås dev] - The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r is All-vÅs devù s]v]*\ vås devù s]rv]*\. One can worship p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r in any form. Any dev]tå dev]tå every dev]tå dev]tå is only p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. As p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, there is no separation of one dev]tå dev]tå from any other dev]tå dev]tå. Then, what is dev]tå dev]tå? If one looks upon p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r through a limited phenomenon in this creation, then p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r becomes a dev]tå dev]tå a Presiding Deity limited to that phenomenon, with corresponding limited powers. Bhagvat Gita 56 Jun 8, 2015

For example, SUN - s½y]* s½ry] *is a blessing in this creation. If one looks upon p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r as s½y]* s½ry] then p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r becomes s½y]* dev]tå s½ry] dev]tå. Since s½y]* s½ry] the SUN is not everything in this creation, by identifying p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r with s½y]* dev]tå s½ry] dev]tå one limits p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r to a particular phenomenon only in this creation. On the other hand, if one wants to worship s½y]* dev]tå s½ry] dev]tå as p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, then one invokes all Forms, all Names including oneself and all phenomenon, known and unknown, in s½y]* dev]tå s½ry] dev]tå. Then the worship of s½y]* dev]tå s½ry] dev]tå becomes the worship of p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r. In the absence of such vision of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, each dev]tå dev]tå becomes different from every other dev]tå dev]tå, and also remote from oneself, and there would seem to be countless dev]tås dev]tås, each with specific and limited powers. Continuing, B]g]vÅn]/ B]gavÅn/ says: s] t]yå Ûõ õyå y :, t]sy] r D]n]\ Whõtà s] t]yå Ûõ õyå y a: t]sy] r D]n]m Ihõtà l]b]tà c] t]tù ä mån]/, m]yðv] iv]ihõtån]/ ihõ tån]/ 7-22 l]b]tà c] t]tù ä mån/ m]yðv] ivwihwtån/ ihw tån/ sù B] : sù B] a: - the devotee who worships some wsqõ dev]tå wsqõ dev]tå as the Presiding Deity of some aspect of creation, the B] B] a who worships such a dev]tå dev]tå seeking some objects of desire t]yå Ûõ õyå y : t]yå Ûõ õyå y a: - supposing that B] B] a is endowed with Ûõ Ûõ õ - faith and devotion already strengthened by ME The p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, though his previous s]\sä rs s]\sä rs - through his previous acts of devotion t]sy] r D]n]\ Whõtà t]sy] r D]n]\ Whõtà - if such a B] B] a continues to engage himself in the worship of his wsqõ dev]tå wsqõ dev]tå, dev]tå dev]tå of this choice, appropriately in the pursuit of his desires t]tù ä mån]/ l]b]tà c] ihõ t]tù ä mån/ l]b]tà c] ihw - as a result of his worship, he certainly gains his objects of desire. That is the efficiency of prayer and worship. Bhagvat Gita 57 Jun 8, 2015

How does he gain them? Who gives him his objects of desire? B]g]vÅn]/ B]gavÅn/ says, m]yå Av] iv]ihõtån]/ tån]/ m]yå Av] ivwihwtån/ tån/ (ä mån]/ ä mån) - he gains those objects of desire as ordained by ME The p]rõýmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. People perform rituals, or offer prayers with Ûõ Ûõ, and certainly obtain the desired results, but such results are determined by p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r only. Whatever be the dev]tå dev]tå worshipped, the äým]* ýl] d tå äýrm]* ýl] d tå - the ONE who gives the results is only p]rõmàìv]r p]rõmàìv]r. But people think that the results come from the dev]tå dev]tå, because they do not recognize p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r. Such thinking really does not matter for the time being. The prayer has given the result, and thereby their Ûõ Ûõ faith and devotion becomes even more firm, more strong. Therefore, next time, the prayer will be better, the results also will be better, and their mind and b i õ b i w will also get more mature, and their power of discrimination will progressively improve, and such improvement will contribute to their gaining clarity of understanding, leading ultimately to Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. That is how a Ûõ vån]/ l]b]tà #Ån]\ Ûõ vån/ l]b]tà #Ån]\ one who has Ûõ Ûõ ultimately gains Wìv]rõ #Ån]\ Wìv]rõ #Ån]\. For, aiv]vàiäýnù B] ]: aivwvàiäýnù B] ]: - for those Wìv]rõ B] s Wìv]rõ B] as who are still immature, who do not yet have tm] iv]vàäý tm] ivwvàä an appreciation of the true nature of p]rõmàìv]rõ p]rõmàìv]r, the worship of an aid]sq n] dev]tå aidwsq n] dev]tå Presiding Deity for gaining one s objects of desire, is nothing more than ant]v]t]/ såd]n] vyåpårõ ant]v]t/ såd]n] vyåpår - a worldly transaction involving a limited means to achieve a limited end. Sri Krishna elaborates on this message in the next verse, which we will see next time. Bhagvat Gita 58 Jun 8, 2015