विवेचन सारांश

From Knowing to Realizing: The Journey of Jñāna and Vijñāna

Let us understand what Bhagavān is telling in this verse.

He has made this beautiful world using three invisible threads called guṇas—they are like the colours in nature that make everything bright, dull, or mixed. These guṇas also affect how we think, feel, and behave.

• tribhiḥ guṇa-mayaiḥ bhāvaiḥ – These are the three types of moods or feelings that come from the guṇas:

  • Sattva – when we feel peaceful, happy, and kind

  • Rajas – when we feel restless, busy, or full of desire

  • Tamas – when we feel sleepy, lazy, or confused

• ebhiḥ sarvam idaṁ jagat – The entire world, including people, animals, and nature, is affected by these guṇas. They are everywhere!

• mohitaṁ – Because of these guṇas, the world becomes mohitaṁ, meaning confused or trapped—like trying to see clearly through foggy glasses.

• na abhijānāti mām – So, people do not recognise Bhagavān, even though He is always there—just like sunlight hidden behind clouds.

• mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam – Bhagavān reminds us, “I am beyond all these guṇas. I do not get affected or changed by them. I am eternal, unchanging, and always free.”

Imagine walking into a beautiful garden full of flowers. You enjoy the colours, the breeze, the butterflies. You might even take selfies, pick a flower, or run around joyfully. But do you stop to think about the gardener who planted and cared for every plant with love?

Hardly anyone does.

In the same way, we enjoy life—fun, food, games, friends—but often forget about Bhagavān, who lovingly created everything around us.

This forgetfulness is called moha—we enjoy the creation, but forget the Creator.

Why does this happen? How do we get trapped in this illusion again and again?
Bhagavān explains in the next verse why and how this happens. He also shows us the way to come out of this confusion and truly know Him.

Bhagavān is the Creator of the guṇas, but He is not bound by them like we are.
When we live with clean thoughts, selfless action, and loving remembrance of Him, we begin to rise above the guṇas.
That’s when we start to see Bhagavān, feel close to Him, and walk the path of joy and freedom.

In the previous verse, Bhagavān explained how the world becomes confused by the three guṇas—Sattva (goodness), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (ignorance). These guṇas together create Māyā, which hides Bhagavān from our sight.

Now in this verse, Bhagavān tells us:

• daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī mama māyā – “This Māyā of Mine is divine and made up of the three guṇas. It is very subtle and powerful.”

• duratyayā – “It is very difficult to cross on your own.” Like a vast, stormy river that no one can swim across alone.

• mām eva ye prapadyante – “But those who surrender only to Me—who come to Me with trust and love…”

• māyām etāṁ taranti te – “They are the ones who can cross over this Māyā safely.”

Have you seen the mighty flow of Gangā-ji at Rishikesh or Haridwār?
It’s wide, fast, and full of energy. Only expert swimmers would even dare to cross it!

Now imagine—if Gangā-ji is so powerful, and Bhagavān created her, then how powerful must Bhagavān be?
And how powerful would His Māyā be?

So how do we cross this powerful river of Māyā?

Bhagavān has already built a bridge for us.
That bridge is called surrender (prapatti).

Whenever we:

• Study or play for Bhagavān,
• Help someone with love in our heart,
• Do our duty while remembering Him,

…it is like we are walking safely on that bridge.

When we carry Bhagavān in our heart, He carries us through all difficulties.

Let’s think of someone who showed this kind of complete surrender to Bhagavān right from the beginning…

Does anyone know the story of Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s birth?
Where was He born? Was it Gokul?

Indulekha Didi, will you tell?

Indulekha Didi: Didi, Mathurā kī kārāgār meṁ.

Very good! That’s correct!

All of us agree with this, right?

Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa was born in a prison cell in Mathurā, not in Gokul.
His father Vasudeva ji was worried for His safety because Kaṁsa, His cruel uncle, was killing every child born to Devakī.

On that dark, rainy night, Vasudeva ji placed baby Kṛṣṇa in a basket (ṭopālī) and carried Him across the flooded Yamunā river.

Now here’s the amazing part:

Vasudeva ji thought he was carrying Kṛṣṇa across the river.
But in truth, it was Bhagavān who was helping Vasudeva cross the ocean of fear and danger.

The Yamunā’s water rose higher and higher, not to stop him, but because she wanted to touch the tiny lotus feet of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

And when those divine feet touched the water, Yamunā became calm. The storm stopped. The river parted.

Vasudeva ji walked safely to Gokul, carrying not just a baby—but the Supreme Bhagavān.

In the same way, when we surrender to Bhagavān, the powerful flood of Māyā begins to recede.

We often think, “I have to carry all the burden.”
But Bhagavān gently says, “Just carry Me in your heart… and I will carry you across everything.”

• Māyā is very strong, but Bhagavān is even stronger.
• When we take refuge in Him, He helps us cross every difficulty, fear, or confusion.
• We don’t need to fight Māyā alone.
• We just need to walk the path of surrender—with love, trust, and devotion—and Bhagavān does the rest.

In the last verse, Bhagavān told us that those who surrender to Him can cross over Māyā.

But now He explains that some people never even try to come to Him. Why?

• duṣkṛtinaḥ – Because they do bad actions, not by mistake, but knowingly and repeatedly.

• mūḍhāḥ – Because they are foolish, ignoring the truth and running after temporary pleasures.

• narādhamāḥ – Because although they have human bodies, they behave worse than animals, without compassion or values.

• māyayā apahṛta-jñānāḥ – Because their knowledge is stolen by Māyā—they can no longer see what is right.

• āsuraṁ bhāvam āśritāḥ – Because they live with a demonic nature—full of pride, anger, selfishness, and hatred.

Such people do not surrender to Bhagavān, even though He is ready to accept them with love.

When Śrī Krishna advised him to follow Dharma, Duryodhana proudly said:

जानामि धर्मं न च मे प्रवृत्तिः
जानाम्यधर्मं न च मे निवृत्तिः

“I know what is right, but I don’t want to do it.
I know what is wrong, but I cannot stop myself.”

That is the āsurī bhāva Bhagavān is speaking about.

But we are all good children. Once we learn what is right, we try to follow it.

We love studying the Gītā, listening to stories of Bhagavān, doing puja, speaking kindly, and helping others.

But those with āsurī bhāva do not want to do such things.
They turn away from divine thoughts and stay trapped in Māyā.

We all know that apples fall from trees. Many people must have seen it.
But only one person, Isaac Newton, asked why—and discovered the Law of Gravity.

In the same way, many people see this world, but very few stop to ask:
“Who created all this? Who is running the universe?”

Only a few take that deep step of inquiry—and those are the ones who walk toward Bhagavān.

Let me tell you a real story of one such devotee who truly knew Bhagavān as his best friend.

You’ve heard of Śrī Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the Guru of Swami Vivekananda, right?

When he was a child, his parents passed away early.
His elder brother told him: “Kālī Mā is our Divine Mother. You must speak to Her when you need guidance. She will help you.”

Young Ramakrishna believed this with full faith. His heart was so pure and filled with love, that whenever he wanted to speak to Kālī Mā,
She would actually appear before him and talk to him—just like a mother speaks to her child!

His bhāva (devotional feeling) was so intense, so deep, and so true, that the Divine Mother could not stay away.

He can become so close to us that if we close our eyes, we feel He is right there with us—talking to us, guiding us, loving us.

This has happened in the lives of many Yogis in Bhārat—through love, surrender, and deep connection.

So what about those who are not asuric, but also not fully surrendered yet?
What about those who take even a little step toward Bhagavān?

For such people, Bhagavān gives a beautiful assurance in the next verse—He tells what He does for those who make even a little effort to know Him.

Bhagavān says that not everyone ignores Him—there are some people who turn to Him. These people are called sukṛtinaḥ—noble-hearted and good.

He says they come to Him in four different ways:

When we are sad, afraid, or in pain, we remember Bhagavān.

“He Bhagavān, please bring back the light so my online exam doesn’t fail!”
“Bhagavān, stop the rain—I need to go!”
“Bhagavān, help my mother get well.”

This is ārta bhakti—praying in times of distress.

• It is a good beginning.
• But we should not remember Bhagavān only during problems.

Some people have many spiritual questions:

“Who is Bhagavān?”
“Why did He create this universe?”
“What happens after death?”

They are not in pain—but are searching for truth.
Like Swami Vivekananda, who asked Śrī Ramakrishna, “Have you seen God?”

This is jijñāsā bhakti—wanting to understand.

Many people pray to Bhagavān to get something:

When young: “Bhagavān, give me a bicycle.”

When older: “Bhagavān, help me get a car.”
“Bhagavān, help me win this match!”

Even though they come with wishes, they are still turning toward Bhagavān, which is a good step forward.

This is the most special type of devotee.

The jñānī bhakta has understood who Bhagavān is. He or she does not want anything—only to be with Bhagavān.

They say:

“Bhagavān, I don’t want toys, medals, or money. I want only You!”

Their love is deep, pure, and constant.

Example:

• Sant Tukārām,
• Mirābai,
• Sant Dnyāneshwar—

They all sang, remembered, and worshipped Bhagavān with deep love,
not asking for any worldly thing.

Also, Śrī Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a jñānī bhakta.
He saw Kālī Mā with his own eyes. But his bhakti didn’t stop there—he kept loving Her more and more.

That’s the heart of a true jñānī—one who knows Bhagavān and continues to love Him endlessly.

Bhagavān now says:
“All four types of devotees are dear to Me.”

But… among them, which one is My favorite?

That answer is coming in the next verse.

Earlier, Bhagavān told us that there are four kinds of good people who come to Him:

1. The ārtaḥ – one who prays in pain

2. The jijñāsuḥ – one who wants to know

3. The arthārthī – one who prays for something

4. And the jñānī – one who knows Bhagavān and wants only Him

Now Bhagavān says:
"Among all these, the jñānī is the most special to Me."

Why?
Because the jñānī:

• is always connected to Me (nitya-yukta),
• has exclusive devotion—no second thought (eka-bhakti),
• and sees Me in everything.

Suppose our mother is the principal of our school.

What a lovely thought! Everyone's face lights up with a smile

All other students need to:

• Take an appointment,
• Wait in line,
• Follow school rules just to meet the principal.

But we can go directly to her anytime, even to tell her small things like:

“Mummy, I forgot my tiffin.”
“Mummy, I got a small scratch.”

Why?

Because she’s not just the principal—she’s our mother.

And since we live in the same house, we see her every day, not just in office hours!

In the same way…

For Bhagavān, all bhaktas are equal—He loves them all.

But the jñānī bhakta is like the child living in Bhagavān’s house—
always connected, always close, and always welcome.

We have heard the story of Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

His heart was so pure, his bhāva so clean, that whenever he wanted to speak to Kālī Mā,
She would appear and talk to him like a real mother.

He didn’t ask for gifts—he just opened his heart like a child.

Bhagavān became accessible to him because he lived in constant love and awareness.

He was only five years old, but so determined!

And then what happened?

Bhagavān appeared before him, shining like a thousand suns.

So, how long will it take us to see Bhagavān?

Bhagavān says, “I am not partial to anyone. But I become accessible when your bhāva (feeling) becomes clean and deep.”

As we remove anger, jealousy, laziness, and selfishness…
As we fill our hearts with love, purity, and surrender,
Bhagavān becomes easier to reach.

Just like a clear mirror reflects our face—
A clean heart reflects Bhagavān.

• nitya-yuktaḥ – The jñānī is always connected to Him, not just once a day.
• eka-bhaktiḥ – The jñānī loves only Him, not divided between the world and God.
• ahaṁ sa ca mama priyaḥ – Bhagavān says: and the jñānī is extremely dear to Me.”
• “I am extremely dear to the jñānī,

It is not a one-sided love—it is a two-way bond, just like between mother and child, or best friends forever.

Bhagavān loves all who come to Him.

But the one who:

• seeks only Him,
• sees Him in everything,
• and stays connected always—

…becomes the one Bhagavān keeps closest to His heart.

In the previous verse, Bhagavān said that the jñānī bhakta is the dearest to Him.

Now, He goes even further and says something very deep and very loving:

"All four kinds of devotees are noble (udārāḥ)
But the jñānī—he is not just close to Me…
He is My very Self!"
Imagine that!
Bhagavān is saying:
“I see Myself in the jñānī bhakta!”
That means the love is so deep…
the connection is so strong…
that there is no difference left between Bhagavān and His devotee!

āsthitaḥ sa hi yuktātmā – The jñānī is firmly established, completely united in heart and mind with Bhagavān.

mām eva anuttamāṁ gatim – And he sees Bhagavān alone as the highest goal, not wealth, not fame, not pleasure—just Bhagavān.

Just like a river wants to merge into the ocean,
the jñānī wants to merge his thoughts, love, and life into Bhagavān alone.

In the last verse, Bhagavān said:

“The jñānī is extremely dear to Me, and I am extremely dear to him.”

Now He says:

“He is not separate from Me at all—He is My very Self.”

This is the deepest form of love, where there is no 'I' and 'You'—only Us.

Yes, all bhaktas—ārtaḥ, jijñāsuḥ, arthārthī, and jñānī—are noble.
Bhagavān appreciates every step we take toward Him.

But we should try to become like the jñānī—the one who:

• Is always united with Bhagavān
• Loves Him without asking anything
• Sees Bhagavān as the only goal

Then, one day, Bhagavān will say to us too:

“You are not just dear to Me…
You are My very Self.”

• All sincere devotees are good.
• But the jñānī bhakta, who seeks nothing but Bhagavān Himself, becomes so close that there is no gap between them.
• Bhagavān and the devotee become like mirror and reflection, river and ocean, mother and child—inseparable.

Bhagavān is telling us something very deep and beautiful.

• bahūnāṁ janmanām ante – After many lives,

• jñānavān māṁ prapadyate – A wise person finally surrenders completely to Me, with understanding.

Not out of fear or asking for something—but with pure love and deep realization.

“Everything is Vāsudeva. Everything is Bhagavān.”

• The air we breathe
• The food we eat
• The sky above
• The people we meet

—all are forms of Bhagavān.

“Such a mahātmā is very rare (sudurlabhaḥ).”

They are called mahātmā—a great soul.
Not because they are famous or clever, but because they have understood the highest truth:

“There is nothing apart from Bhagavān.”

• This verse shows how great and rare it is to reach the understanding that Bhagavān is everything.

• The person who reaches this point becomes fully devoted to Him, not just with words—but with their whole heart.

Bhagavān explains here how desires can affect a person's spiritual path.

• kāmaiḥ taiḥ taiḥ hṛta-jñānāḥ – When someone has many desires (like wanting toys, marks, success, gifts), their true understanding gets covered.
  They forget to ask:

  “Who am I? Who is Bhagavān?”

• prapadyante anya-devatāḥ – So they turn to other deities, praying not out of love, but just to get something quickly.

• taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya – They follow the specific rituals of that deity.

• prakṛtyā niyatāḥ svayā – They do this because their own nature pulls them toward it.

Bhagavān accepts all forms of worship, but He gently reminds us:

Bhakti is not magic. Bhakti is transformation.

Here’s a simple example to understand this:

If someone wants a driving license, can they just go to the police station and demand it?

No.

They have to go to the RTO office.
And they must be above 18 years old.

Even if they’re at the right office, if they’re too young, they won’t get it.

Why?

Because there are rules and readiness required.

Bhakti also needs this readiness.
You don’t get everything just by asking.
You have to grow inside.

सद्गुणों की साधना में, ध्येय-ज्योति नित जले।

In the pursuit of noble values, the flame of your goal must keep burning.

Imagine your school bag is full of:

• Crumpled papers
• Old wrappers
• Unused junk

Is there space left for your textbooks?

No!

You have to clean your bag.

Just like that, our mind and heart must be cleaned of negative emotions:

• Anger
• Jealousy
• Laziness
• Fear

And slowly fill it with:

• Love
• Truth
• Patience
• Gratitude

As the "maṅgalatā" (goodness) increases, the "amaṅgalatā" (negativity) disappears.

Bhagavān becomes happy and our Bhakti becomes pure.

• Desires can mislead us, but they can also be the starting point.
• Bhagavān is compassionate—He guides us no matter where we begin.
• But we must grow from “asking for things” to “longing for Him”.

Let us now understand what Bhagavān is telling us in this beautiful verse.

• yo yo yāṃ yāṃ tanuṃ bhaktaḥ śraddhayā arcitum icchati

  • Whoever wishes to worship Me in any specific form with faith and devotion,

  • Be it Gaṇeśa, Śiva, Durgā, Sūrya, or any personal form like Kṛṣṇa or Rāma,

  • If they do it with a true heart, Bhagavān recognizes that faith.

• tasya tasyācalāṃ śraddhāṃ tām eva vidadhāmi aham

  • Bhagavān personally strengthens that very devotion.

  • He makes their faith firm and unwavering.

  • Even if their worship begins with worldly desires, Bhagavān helps them grow through it.

A Heartwarming Assurance:

• Bhagavān says: "Let people come to Me in any form.
• If their heart is full of love and faith, I will help them."
• This shows how compassionate and inclusive Bhagavān truly is.

A Beautiful Truth About Us:

• All of us here are studying Bhagavad Gītā.
• That means, in some previous birth, we had a desire to know Bhagavān just a little more.
• That small desire was enough for Bhagavān to respond: "Come! I will show you the way."
• And that is how we came to Geeta Pariwar, began listening, chanting, and reflecting.
• Memorizing the Gītā deepens our understanding.
• When understanding grows, it starts shaping our daily life.
• And then something magical begins:
  • We start experiencing victory and confidence at every step.
  • We feel Bhagavān’s presence guiding us.

Key Insight:

• Bhagavān accepts all sincere forms of devotion.
• When someone truly wants to know Him, He clears the path.
• He walks with us through every stage of our spiritual journey.
• Living the Gītā brings us closer to His heart.

In the previous verse, we learned that people worship different forms because of their desires.
Now, Bhagavān explains what happens next:

• sa tayā śraddhayā yuktaḥ – The person becomes full of faith in their chosen deity. They believe: “This Devī or Devatā will surely help me.”

• tasyārādhanam īhate – So they worship with devotion and follow rituals sincerely.

• labhate ca tataḥ kāmān – As a result, they get their desired things—success, health, wealth, etc.

• mayaiva vihitān hi tān – But Bhagavān reveals a secret: “Even those things… I am the one who grants them!”
  Even if someone prays to another Devatā, the blessing still comes through Bhagavān—because He is the one running everything.

Even Here, Eligibility Matters
Even here, the important thing is to enhance our eligibility.
Just like in the RTO, you won’t get a driving license if you’re under 18,
similarly—if we are not spiritually mature or ready, our desires may not be fulfilled immediately.
Bhagavān checks:

• Are you growing in good values?
• Are you doing selfless actions?
• Are you trying to connect with Me with love?
• If yes, then even desires can lead you closer to Him.

Key Insight:

• Faith is powerful.
• Bhagavān is the source of all blessings.
• Desires may be fulfilled, but the greater goal is to know and love Him directly.
• We must grow our eligibility by improving our character and Bhakti.

In the earlier verse, Bhagavān said He gives the results even when people worship other Devatās.
Now He says something even deeper:

• antavat tu phalaṁ teṣām – The reward these people get is temporary.
  It might make them happy for some time—but it doesn’t last.

• alpa-medhasām – These people have less wisdom because they aim for short-term gains and forget the eternal truth.

• devān deva-yajo yānti – Those who worship Devatās with different desires go to those Devatās and receive their blessings.

• mad-bhaktā yānti mām api – But those who worship Me—Bhagavān Śrī Krishna—come to Me alone. I give them something much bigger: Myself.

Why Do We Say “Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu”?
At the end of every good action, we say:
“Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu” – May this be offered to Śrī Krishna.

But let’s ask ourselves:
Do we really offer it to Him? Or do we quietly wish in our hearts:
“I hope I get good marks” or “I hope my wish comes true.”

If such desires do not come up—that is wonderful!
But often, they do.

So why offer the action to Bhagavān if the result is anyway going to come?

• Because it keeps our mind and heart clean.
• It helps us remove ego and say: “Bhagavān, I did this for You, not to show off or gain praise.”
• Offering the result to Him frees us from stress and pride.

People with many desires often forget:
These rewards are short-lived.
They are like bubbles—here now, gone in a moment.

Key Insight:

• Temporary goals give temporary happiness.
• Worship done with true love for Bhagavān takes us to Him—forever.
• When we offer every action to Him, we stay humble and peaceful inside.
• Let’s train our hearts to say “Śrī Kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu” and mean it truly.

At this point in Chapter 7, Śrī Bhagavān is helping us understand why many people, even those who hear His stories or pray to Him, still fail to grasp His true nature. Despite all the devotion, something crucial may be missing—the clarity of understanding.

Let us now understand what Śrī Bhagavān is telling in this verse:

• avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ – Bhagavān says, “I am originally formless and beyond perception, but when I lovingly take form to come close to My devotees, people think I am just another human being.”

• manyante mām abuddhayaḥ – Those who lack proper understanding see Me as a limited being, not recognizing My divinity.

• paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ – They do not understand My supreme nature—that I am the origin, maintainer, and dissolver of the universe.

• mamāvyayam anuttamam – I am imperishable, eternal, and the highest of all. But those whose understanding is limited cannot realize this truth.

Because of lack of clear understanding, many devotees stay in the earlier three categories—Ārta, Arthārthī, or Jijñāsu—but do not reach the level of a Jñānī bhakta, who sees Bhagavān in everything.

They often focus on the form of Bhagavān and their personal desires, but do not realize His true nature—unlimited, eternal, beyond all forms.

Bhagavān has said:

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते ।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ (9.22)

“To those who constantly worship Me with one-pointed devotion, I personally take care of their needs and protect what they have.”

Bhagavān has given such a great promise.
Based on our action, Bhagavān is going to provide us the results.
Then why worry so much?

Despite such a divine promise, various worldly desires (kāmas) trap us.
They pull us away from the path of jñāna and complete surrender to Bhagavān.

Instead of trusting Him, we start chasing small results—like marks in exams, gifts, or name and fame.

Even after reading one adhyāya of the Gītā, many of us unconsciously think,
“Let me get good marks,” or
“May I get this thing I prayed for.”

There’s nothing wrong in praying during difficult times—like when power goes out during an online exam or rain disturbs travel plans.

But if our only connection to Bhagavān is for solving problems or gaining objects, we remain stuck in earlier stages of Bhakti.

• People who don’t recognize Bhagavān’s supreme nature stay bound to limited forms and desires.

• Desire is what pulls us away from jñāna.

• But if we seek true understanding, see Bhagavān in everything, and surrender to Him with love, we rise to the state of a jñānī bhakta.

• Bhagavān is ready to help—we must keep the lamp of understanding and surrender burning.

Continuing from the previous verse, Śrī Bhagavān explains why many people still fail to recognize His divinity, even though He is always present.

Let us understand the meaning of this verse:

• nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya – "I do not reveal Myself to everyone." Not everyone can see or understand the true nature of Bhagavān.

• yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ – Bhagavān is covered by Yogamāyā, His divine power that hides His true form from those not yet ready to perceive it.

• mūḍhaḥ ayam na abhijānāti – Those who are confused or lacking right understanding (called mūḍhaḥ) do not truly know Him.

• loko mām ajam avyayam – People fail to recognize that He is unborn (ajam), unchanging, and indestructible (avyayam).

Bhagavān gently reminds us not to forget Him.

We listen to Gītā-vivechan sessions with great interest. But the very next day, we may go back to our old habits—asking our parents, “I want this... I want that...” We forget the deeper truths we just heard.

• Who gave us the ability to speak and recite the Gītā verses?
  It is Bhagavān who gifted us the power of speech.

• Who gave us the eyes to see beautiful things?
  It is He who made our vision possible.

• Who gave us the ability to smell fragrance, think, move, and feel joy?
  All of it is due to the energy and resources provided by Bhagavān.

Yet, when people forget this and think “I did this,” “This is mine,” “I want more”, Bhagavān uses the word "mūḍhaḥ"—meaning deluded or unwise.

They are not bad people, but they miss the truth behind everything—they fail to see Bhagavān working through all.

• Bhagavān doesn’t hide Himself to punish us. His divine Yogamāyā works like a filter—it only lifts when we are ready to see Him with a pure heart.

• When we remain selfish, distracted by desires, or driven by ego, we remain veiled.

• But when we develop bhakti, humility, and the longing to know Him, that veil slowly lifts.

Bhagavān is now sharing something very amazing about Himself. Unlike us, He is not limited by time.

We remember what happened yesterday or last year. We might even remember some events from when we were little. But do we remember anything from before we were born? Or what will happen in the future? No, right?

But Bhagavān knows everything:

• vedāham samatītāni – "I know everything that happened in the past." Every story of every person, every action—they’re all known to Him.

• vartamānāni ca arjuna – "I know what’s going on right now." In every house, every heart, every mind—He sees it all.

• bhaviṣyāṇi ca bhūtāni – "I know what is going to happen in the future." The good days, the tough times, the choices—we may not know, but He does.

• mām tu veda na kaścana – "But no one can fully understand Me unless I help them." Our minds are small, and He is so great!

We’ll see this even more clearly in Chapter 11, when Bhagavān shows Arjuna His amazing, cosmic form. Arjuna sees everything—past, present, and future—happening together! And guess what? We’ll see it too when we reach that chapter.

Even earlier, in Chapter 4, Verse 5, Bhagavān had lovingly said:

बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन |
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप || 4.5||

"Both you and I have had many births, O Arjuna. I remember all of them. But you don’t."

Why don’t we remember? Because of Māyā—the illusion that makes us forget who we truly are. But Bhagavān is beyond Māyā. He remembers everything.

• Bhagavān is Sarvajña – the one who knows everything.

• He knows every little and big thing from all time—before, now, and ahead.

• We may not understand Him fully, but that’s okay. What we can do is love Him and keep learning about Him.

• With love and devotion (bhakti), He slowly helps us understand more and more about Him.

Bhagavān is explaining why people are unable to recognize Him easily.

As soon as a soul takes birth in this world, it enters into the confusion of opposites—this is called dvandva-moha.

• We like something and call it good.
• We dislike something and call it bad.
• We run behind what we desire (icchā).
• We try to avoid what we hate or fear (dveṣa).

These pairs of feelings trap us into a constant cycle of choosing, rejecting, being happy, being sad.

Bhagavān says:

• icchā-dveṣa-samutthena – this confusion is born from desires and dislikes.

• dvandva-mohena – opposites like success/failure, praise/blame, pleasure/pain.

• sarvabhūtāni saṁmohaṁ yānti – all beings fall into this confusion.

• sarge – this happens right from birth.

When a baby is born, it already starts expressing what it likes and dislikes. This shows how deeply desire and aversion are tied to our nature.

When we sit for dhyān (meditation), within a minute, so many different thoughts pop up in our mind. Has that happened to you? Just when you try to meditate, suddenly the idea of making your favorite food pops up! Or you remember something else you want or don’t want. That’s how strong this dvandva-moha is.

This duality in the mind—constantly swinging between likes and dislikes—prevents us from becoming jñānī (truly wise).

Bhagavān wants us to recognize this cycle so that we can rise above it.

• Everyone is born with likes and dislikes. But they can blind us from the truth.
• We must become aware of these opposites, and slowly go beyond them.
• The more we get caught in pleasure/pain, like/dislike, the more we forget Bhagavān.
• With practice, we can calm these impulses and stay focused on Him.

In the previous verse, Bhagavān explained how all beings get caught in dvandva-moha (the delusion of opposites like joy and sorrow, gain and loss) as soon as they are born. Now, He tells us who can rise above this.

Bhagavān says:

• yeṣāṁ tv antagataṁ pāpaṁ – those whose past wrong actions (pāpa) have ended.

• janānāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām – those who have done good deeds in the past and continue to do so.

• te dvandva-moha-nirmuktāḥ – they become free from the confusion of opposites.

• bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ – such people worship Me with a steady and strong resolve.

Bhagavān is telling us that the path to devotion becomes easy when our heart is purified by good actions. When the mind is no longer pulled by constant likes and dislikes, it becomes steady.

• Good actions (puṇyakarma) help clean our inner mind.

• When the mind becomes calm and pure, it naturally turns towards Bhagavān.

• Such devotees are called dṛḍha-vratāḥ – firm in their determination and devotion.

This is like cleaning a dirty mirror. Only when the mirror is clean can we see our own face clearly. In the same way, only when our heart is clean, can we see Bhagavān clearly.

When we make a resolve to study two adhyāyas today, we should be firm in our resolve and not compromise it with play time or other distractions. Many reasons will arise—like guests coming over or an outing being planned—that can tempt us away from our goal.

Even if we set aside the goal of attaining Bhagavān, we know that even for scoring well in an exam, we must have firm resolve and dedicated effort. To achieve even a small goal, determination is essential.

And here, we are aiming to know Bhagavān! That requires even greater firmness.

We have great examples of dṛḍha-vratī bhaktas:

• Bhakta Prahlāda, who stood by his faith despite immense challenges.
• Nachiketā, who insisted on knowing the eternal truth and would not be tempted by distractions.

• When we do good actions and avoid wrongdoings, our mind becomes clean.
• A clean mind is not confused by pairs like pain/pleasure or success/failure.
• With a clear and steady mind, we can worship Bhagavān with true love.
• Purity leads to clarity, and clarity leads to unwavering devotion.
• With firm resolve, we too can walk the path of these great devotees and make Bhagavān the goal of our life.

This verse is very encouraging for those of us who want to go beyond the cycle of birth and death. Bhagavān tells us that such people:

• jarā-maraṇa-mokṣāya – Wish to become free from old age and death. That means they don’t want to keep coming back again and again into this world.

• mām āśritya yatanti ye – They strive (put efforts) by taking refuge in Me—that is, they fully depend on Bhagavān and walk the path of devotion and knowledge.

• te brahma tad viduḥ kṛtsnam – They come to know the Supreme Truth (Brahman) completely—not just in words, but as a living experience.

• adhyātmaṁ karma cākhilam – They also understand the soul (Adhyātma) and all aspects of karma—what causes actions, what its results are, and how it binds or frees us.

Once a Bhakta becomes jñānī, taking birth in this world again does not become a problem. The jñānī is always with Bhagavān. For example:

• Thakur Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a jñānī, yet he took birth to guide others on the path.

• Sant Jñāneshwar Maharaj was also a jñānī, and he appeared to uplift the world.

So, even if a jñānī appears in this world, he is never away from Bhagavān. He works for the good of others.

Let’s take an example:

Suppose we want to join a Zoom meeting. We need to know how to install the app, enter the meeting ID, start the video, and use the microphone. Without this knowledge, we can’t join the meeting.

In the same way, to reach the state of a jñānī, Bhagavān tells us the things we need to know:

• What is the soul?
• What is Brahman?
• What is Karma?
• How does everything connect back to Bhagavān?

Knowing these answers begins with taking refuge in Bhagavān, just like starting Zoom begins with downloading the app!

• Freedom from birth and death comes from true effort guided by surrender to Bhagavān.
• Such seekers don’t just read about spiritual truths—they experience them.
• They come to know Brahman, the Self, and the law of karma fully.
• This path begins with refuge in Bhagavān and continues through steady effort and devotion.

Let’s imagine you are solving a puzzle, and someone tells you, “Here’s the trick—look for the hidden pattern.” Suddenly, everything makes sense!

Bhagavān now gives us the key to the biggest puzzle of all—life, death, and what lies beyond. He says, some people—after a lot of learning and love—understand Him in all forms:

• sādhibhūta-adhidaivaṁ māṁ – They know Bhagavān is present in all the physical world (Adhibhūta), like trees, animals, stars, and also as the divine forces (Adhidaiva), like the sun, rain, wind, and gods who support nature.

• sādhiyajñaṁ ca ye viduḥ – They also know Bhagavān is the one who receives all offerings and efforts in any Yajña (Adhiyajña)—even simple prayers or good actions.

• prayāṇakāle'pi ca māṁ – Even at the moment of death, these rare people keep Bhagavān in their heart.

• te viduḥ yukta-cetasaḥ – Their mind is totally focused, like a steady flame. They truly know Bhagavān!

This isn’t something that happens by chance. It takes a whole life of love, remembrance, and faith. It’s like practicing for years so you can play your favorite song perfectly—even in front of a big audience.

Such a devotee can think of Bhagavān even in their final moment. That’s a sign of deep connection!

In this verse, Bhagavān uses some special words: Adhibhūta, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajña. Even Arjuna feels, “I don’t fully understand these!”

So in the next chapter, the first thing Arjuna does is ask Bhagavān: “What do these mean?” We’ll explore those answers together in the next level.

• A bhakta who sees Bhagavān in nature, in rituals, and in the universe—has a deep understanding.
• Even at the time of death, their mind is calm and connected to Bhagavān.
• We too can grow this connection day by day—by remembering, loving, and learning about Him with faith and joy.

The session concluded with Harinām Sankīrtan, followed by a joyful and thoughtful Question & Answer Session.

Question & Answer Session

Sonali Kunte Didi 

Q: How can we perform any activity with firm resolve (Dṛḍha Niścaya)? 

A: First, understand clearly what your goal is, and then plan the steps to reach it. For example, if you want to wake up early, you must sleep early. If your goal is to study better, ask yourself:

• What subjects should I focus on?

• How many hours should I study each day?

• How can I avoid distractions?
  Also, don’t take on too much at once. Start small and stay consistent. Like a baby learning to walk, step-by-step is the way to go!

Pranika Didi 

Q: Can we gain some divine qualities in this birth and the rest in the next? 

A: Yes, absolutely! Look at yourself—you’re studying Gītā at such a young age. That’s not ordinary—it’s the fruit of your good deeds from earlier lives. Many people start reading Gītā at 70 or 80 years of age. But you’ve started early! Think of our past karma like soot on a glass lamp. When we do good deeds, we slowly clean that soot, and then the light of jñāna (knowledge) starts shining through. This cleaning takes time—sometimes several lifetimes.

Q: How do we know where we were in our past life? 

A: We don’t need to worry about that. Bhagavān knows everything! He has already given you the right family, the right environment, and connected you to Gītā study. So instead of looking back, ask yourself:

• What can I do now?

• How can I best use this birth?
  Leave the past and future to Bhagavān—focus on what you can do today.

Ambika and Arnav 

Q: You mentioned cleaning happens over many lives. When will we finally get jñāna? 

A: It’s a beautiful and gradual journey. Think about how we make close friends. On the first day of school, we meet many students, but over time—through shared experiences—a best friend emerges. Getting jñāna (true knowledge of Bhagavān) is like that. We slowly grow closer to Him—by remembering, loving, and living with Him in our heart. It takes time, but every step brings us nearer.

Gauri Kulkarni Didi 

Q: How to calm the mind? I feel confused and can’t take decisions. 

A: That’s a common feeling. We get caught between likes and dislikes—this is called dvandva-moha (delusion from duality). Trying to solve everything only through logic sometimes makes it worse. The best solution? Surrender to Bhagavān. Say from your heart: “Bhagavān, I trust You. Please guide me.” When we surrender with love, clarity comes and the mind becomes peaceful.

Indulekha Didi 

Q: Why is Chapter 7 called “Jñāna-Vijñāna-Yoga”? 

A: This name was given by Sage Ved Vyāsa. As Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna talked, Ved Vyāsa listened carefully and saw that this chapter teaches us two things:

• Jñāna – Spiritual wisdom about Bhagavān

• Vijñāna – Deep, personal understanding and living that wisdom in real life
  So, he beautifully named this chapter “Jñāna-Vijñāna-Yoga”—the path of connecting to Bhagavān through knowledge and realization.