Chapter 4 Text 36-42

Text api ced asi päpebhyaù sarvebhyaù päpa-kåt- tamaù sarvaà jïäna-plavenaiva våjinaà santariñyasi yathaidhäàsi samiddho 'gnir bhasma-sät kurute 'rjuna jïänägniù sarva-karmäëi bhasma-sät kurute tathä “Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries. As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.”

Sinners suffer material existance. Material world compared to ocean or balazing fire. One who lifts the struggling swimmer in ocean and puts him in a boat is the best saver – Guru and transcendental knowledge. Blazing fire – showers of rain – Guru compared to cloud and rain of transcendental knowledge.

Prayer for guru samsara-davanala-lidha-loka- tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatwam praptasya kalyana-gunarnavasya vande guroh sri-charanaravindam “The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a cloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.”

Different kinds of sinful reactions. aprärabdha-phalaà päpaà küöaà béjaà phalonmukham krameëaiva praléyeta viñëu-bhakti-ratätmanäm “There are different stages of dormant reactions to sinful activities to be observed in a sinful life. Sinful reactions may be just waiting to take effect [phalonmukha], reactions may be still further dormant [küöa], or the reactions may be in a seedlike state [béja]. In any case, all types of sinful reactions are vanquished one after another if a person engages in the devotional service of Lord Viñëu.”

Text 38 na hi jïänena sadåçaà pavitram iha vidyate tat svayaà yoga-saàsiddhaù kälenätmani vindati “In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.”

Text çraddhäväl labhate jïänaà tat-paraù saàyatendriyaù jïänaà labdhvä paräà çäntim acireëädhigacchati ajïaç cäçraddadhänaç ca saàçayätmä vinaçyati näyaà loko 'sti na paro na sukhaà saàçayätmanaù A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace. But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

Faithful and faithless Faithful – means believes in Krsna’s existance. Firm faith in scriptures and firm faith that simply by serving Krsna one will achieve highest perfection of life. With faith chants Hare Krsna. Faithless – no faith in scriptures, though learned in scriptures. No happiness for such people in this life or next. E.g.Shiva and Paravati going to triveni sangam to test the faith of people. Faith even in material world in so many authorities.

Text yoga-sannyasta- karmäëaà jïäna-saïchinna- saàçayam ätmavantaà na karmäëi nibadhnanti dhanaïjaya tasmäd ajïäna- sambhütaà håt-sthaà jïänäsinätmanaù chittvainaà saàçayaà yogam ätiñöhottiñöha bhärata One who acts in devotional service, renouncing the fruits of his actions, and whose doubts have been destroyed by transcendental knowledge, is situated factually in the self. Thus he is not bound by the reactions of work, O conqueror of riches. Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bhärata, stand and fight.