॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
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This chapter gives me goosebumps. It is the culmination of Bhagavan's teaching to Uddhava, his dear devotee. It distils the essence of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. I give below the audio link for your listening bliss.
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Bhakti Yoga
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
सुदुस्तरामिमां मन्ये योगचर्यामनात्मन: । यथाञ्जसा पुमान् सिद्ध्येत् तन्मे ब्रूह्यञ्जसाच्युत ॥
प्रायश: पुण्डरीकाक्ष युञ्जन्ते योगिनो मन: । विषीदन्त्यसमाधानान्मनोनिग्रहकर्शिता: ॥
T: Uddhava said: "My dear Lord Achyuta, I fear that the method of Yoga (Jnana Marga) described by you is very difficult for the one who cannot control his mind. Therefore please explain to me in simple terms how someone can achieve the goal more easily. Those failing in the Jnana meditations are quite frustrated! अथात आनन्ददुघं पदाम्बुजं हंसा: श्रयेरन्नरविन्दलोचन । Therefore I see that the Paramahamsas take succour through Bhakti to your lotus feet giving the nectarine bliss of liberation!"
Each word is pertinent. Those who embark on the Jnana Marga trusting their minds are frustrated. And those who become arrogant in their mediocre success in Yoga and Jnana are fooling themselves!
Therefore those who are really wise simply surrender to the Lord's feet in Bhakti.
Uddhava gives a great example.
किं चित्रमच्युत तवैतदशेषबन्धोदासेष्वनन्यशरणेषु यदात्मसात्त्वम् ।योऽरोचयत् सह मृगै: स्वयमीश्वराणांश्रीमत्किरीटतटपीडितपादपीठ: ॥
T: "Bhagavan, you are infallible. The wonder of wonders is how much love you shower on those who come to you, regardless of their birth or status! Did you not give your love as Sri Rama to even monkeys who came to you in devotion! Your feet were their shelter, the same feet that gods jostle with their bejewelled crowns to touch their heads on!"
Who then will give up this option of surrender, and in fact who is so stupid to run after worldly achievements when the world is waiting to bury the man in illusion and take him away from Bhagavan!!!
How does Bhagavan shower his grace? Here is a beautiful verse.
नैवोपयन्त्यपचितिं कवयस्तवेश ब्रह्मायुषापि कृतमृद्धमुद: स्मरन्त: ।
योऽन्तर्बहिस्तनुभृतामशुभं विधुन्वन्न आचार्यचैत्त्यवपुषा स्वगतिं व्यनक्ति ॥
T: "Bhagavan, indeed, even the most eloquent of realised masters fail to adequately express in words their gratitude to you and their sense of fulfilment even if we give them eons of time to speak! I have also discovered how you come to their aid. First, as their Guru in human form! And, second, acting within them as the loving Paramatma! "
Sage Shuka narrated how Bhagavan now answered Uddhava. Shuka points out that Bhagavan has indeed made himself into the Trinity of Brahma Vishnu and Shiva to conduct this Leela of creation, and as a part of this grand drama, was giving final instructions to Uddhava with a charming smile.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि मम धर्मान् सुमङ्गलान् । यान् श्रद्धयाचरन् मर्त्यो मृत्युं जयति दुर्जयम् ॥
कुर्यात् सर्वाणि कर्माणि मदर्थं शनकै: स्मरन् । मय्यर्पितमनश्चित्तो मद्धर्मात्ममनोरति: ॥
देशान् पुण्यानाश्रयेत मद्भक्तै: साधुभि: श्रितान् । देवासुरमनुष्येषु मद्भक्ताचरितानि च ॥
पृथक् सत्रेण वा मह्यं पर्वयात्रामहोत्सवान् । कारयेद् गीतनृत्याद्यैर्महाराजविभूतिभि: ॥
मामेव सर्वभूतेषु बहिरन्तरपावृतम् । ईक्षेतात्मनि चात्मानं यथा खममलाशय: ॥
T: Bhagavan said: "Yes, I shall describe to you the principles of Bhakti, by following which a mortal human being will conquer unconquerable death (i.e. the cycle of birth and death).
- Remembering me always, the seeker should perform all his duties as an offering to me without haste or waste. With mind and intellect surrendered to me, he should delight within in doing everything in a spirit of offering (then work becomes its own reward).
- The seeker should go to places where my devotees reside, taking guidance from their activities, and such devotees are there among gods, humans and even demons!
- Either being alone or amidst others, the seeker should celebrate the flow of Bhakti with singing, dancing and other acts of joy, which are truly royal in emotion compared to other acts, thus celebrating Bhagavan on every holy occasion and during every festival dedicated to prayer! (Sri Ramanavami, Mahashivaratri, Krishna Janmashtami...)
- With a pure heart, the seeker should see Bhagavan or Paramatma manifest in within all beings and also within oneself, to be immaculate as well as immanent. God is everywhere as much as sky/space is!
So Bhagavan has described the letter and spirit of Upasana and Sarva-Jiva-Samabhava.
इति सर्वाणि भूतानि मद्भावेन महाद्युते । सभाजयन् मन्यमानो ज्ञानं केवलमाश्रित: ॥
ब्राह्मणे पुक्कसे स्तेने ब्रह्मण्येऽर्के स्फुलिङ्गके । अक्रूरे क्रूरके चैव समदृक् पण्डितो मत: ॥
T: "O brilliant Uddhava, The universal vision is a true mark of a Jnani. Nothing else. Such a man sees as equal the Brahmin and the outcaste, the thief and the Dharmic social patron! The sun and the tiny sparks of fire, the beings who are gentle and the cruel, are all the same! For him who constantly meditates upon my presence within all persons, the bad tendencies of rivalry, envy and abusiveness, along with arrogance, "I and Mine", are very quickly destroyed."
"Unmindful of others' ridicule, such a man should give up any sense of body-centred pride or shame, and bow down before all — even the dogs, outcastes, cows and asses — falling flat upon the ground headlong!"
How to achieve this level!!!??? This is much tougher than sitting in Yogic meditation! Bhagavan answers.
यावत् सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्भावो नोपजायते । तावदेवमुपासीत वाङ्मन:कायवृत्तिभि: ॥
T: "Until one has fully developed the ability to see me within all living beings, one must continue to worship me by this process explained as Bhakti Yoga, with all the activities of his speech, mind and body."
"When one sees Bhagavan in all and in everything, his duties, even in Bhakti Yoga, all drop off by themselves."
अयं हि सर्वकल्पानां सध्रीचीनो मतो मम । मद्भाव: सर्वभूतेषु मनोवाक्कायवृत्तिभि: ॥
T: "Uddhava, to all your questions, here is the answer. Indeed, I consider this process — using one’s mind, words and bodily functions for striving to attain that universal vision - realizing me within all living beings — to be the best possible guide to progress towards spiritual enlightenment."
Bhagavan reassures Uddhava that the devotee on the path of Bhakti Yoga never experiences failure or disappointment. Indeed, he goes so far as to say that even lamentations, anxiety and such that are so common in normal life, can be converted into opportunities for prayer and rededication to Bhakti. What can be more efficacious? He then says Bhakti Yoga is the sign of the highest level of human intelligence, not the arid deserts of Jnana debates!!!
यत् सत्यमनृतेनेह मर्त्येनाप्नोति मामृतम् The favourite debates of intellectuals is what is real and unreal in life. The path of Neti and Neti. But Bhagavan says that even in what we call this unreal world of birth-death material cycle, through Bhakti, the seeker attains the Ultimate Truth, Paramatman, Bhagavan, who is the reservoir of Amrita! Isn't this the wonder of wonders!?!
सनातनं ब्रह्मगुह्यं परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति
Bhagavan now concludes his teaching to Uddhava, saying he has elaborately and briefly covered the path to realisation. This path is sacred.
स पूयेताहरहर्मां ज्ञानदीपेन दर्शयन्
It should be taught to the deserving, as that is the highest duty of a realised master. Also, this should be preserved from contamination by protecting this sacred teaching from miscreants, hoaxes and evil men.
अपि ते विगतो मोह: शोकश्चासौ मनोभव:
Dear Uddhava, are your doubts dispelled? Have you got out of your anxiety and distress?
Sage Shuka says that Uddhava was overwhelmed, and laid his head on Bhagavan's feet, with tears streaming and unable to speak. He was immersed in the final bliss of clarity.
Then, he said:
श्रीउद्धव उवाच
विद्रावितो मोहमहान्धकारो य आश्रितो मे तव सन्निधानात् । विभावसो: किं नु समीपगस्य शीतं तमो भी: प्रभवन्त्यजाद्य ॥
T: Uddhava said: "O unborn, primaeval Lord, I had fallen into the great darkness of illusion, my ignorance has now been dispelled by your merciful association. Indeed, how can cold, darkness and fear exert their power over one who has approached the brilliant sun?"
प्रत्यर्पितो मे भवतानुकम्पिना भृत्याय विज्ञानमय: प्रदीप: ।
"Bhagavan, with your infinite compassion, you have lit the infinite lamp of insight and wisdom in your servant, i.e. me. It is only your Leela that you also made me a part of the Yadus and Vrishnis with various functional duties before bestowing your grace. I now have only one question. How can I stay in this state of undeviating devotion to you?"
श्रीभगवानुवाच
गच्छोद्धव मयादिष्टो बदर्याख्यं ममाश्रमम् । तत्र मत्पादतीर्थोदे स्नानोपस्पर्शनै: शुचि: ॥
ईक्षयालकनन्दाया विधूताशेषकल्मष: । वसानो वल्कलान्यङ्ग वन्यभुक् सुखनि:स्पृह: ॥
Bhagavan directs Uddhava to go directly to Badarikashrama and live there in the most austere Yogic way of life. The sacred Alakananda, having washed Bhagavan's feet, flows there. Dipping himself in those holy waters, Uddhava should begin to spend the remaining days of his mortal existence in prayer and meditation, far removed from this world of dualities.
कृच्छ्रं ययौ मूर्धनि भर्तृपादुके बिभ्रन्नमस्कृत्य ययौ पुन: पुन:
The blessed devotee, Uddhava, circumambulated Bhagavan, shedding copious tears at the thought of going away, and took Bhagavan's Padukas on his head, and walked away towards Badarinath.
तप: समास्थाय हरेरगाद् गतिम्
Living exactly as the Lord had instructed, Uddhava cast off his mortal coil and united with Bhagavan.
Sage Shuka concludes, and we can feel a choking feeling in his voice, overcome with Bhakti.
य एतदानन्दसमुद्रसम्भृतं ज्ञानामृतं भागवताय भाषितम् ।
कृष्णेन योगेश्वरसेविताङ्घ्रिणा सच्छ्रद्धयासेव्य जगद् विमुच्यते ॥
भवभयमपहन्तुं ज्ञानविज्ञानसारं निगमकृदुपजह्रे भृङ्गवद् वेदसारम् ।
अमृतमुदधितश्चापाययद् भृत्यवर्गान्पु रुषमृषभमाद्यं कृष्णसंज्ञं नतोऽस्मि ॥
T: Thus Sri Krishna, whose lotus feet are served by all the great Yogis, taught to his devotee Uddhava this nectarean knowledge, which comprises the entire ocean of spiritual bliss. Anyone within this universe who receives this narration with great faith is assured of liberation. I (Shuka) offer my obeisances to that Bhagavan, the original and greatest of all beings, Lord Sri Krishna. He is the author of the Vedas, and just to destroy his devotees’ fear of material existence, like a bee he has collected this nectarean essence of all knowledge and self-realization. Thus he has graciously delivered to his many devotees this nectar from the ocean of bliss, and by his mercy, they have drunk it.
Whoever has read with devotion these chapters of Uddhava Geeta is bound to be liberated.
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