Verse-58
Chapter 18 — Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Verse 58
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
maccitaḥ sarvadurgāṇi matprasādāttariṣyasi
atha cettvamahankārānna śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi
🕉 English Translation
Lagayega mujh mein hee mann ko agar,
Sabhi sankato se tu jayega tarr.
Sunega na ahankar se yeh vachan,
Toh ho jayega isseh tera patan.
📜 Translation
English
In this manner devoting your inner-self to Me, you will by My grace overcome all obstacles and difficulties effortlessly. But if due to self-conceit you do not heed to My words you shall fall.
The Gita's inspirations contain both caution and inspiration. For taking life on the path of Truth, and for the upliftment and elevation of life both are necessary. In the Gita at places there are direct inspirational expressions, and at other places there are clear harsh warnings too. But this verse is such that in one verse is combined both inspiration and warning.
This verse conveys such a message as a father would advise the son that if you concentrate your mind and study well, then you will be able to make something of your life, but if you do not study, if you fall into bad company then it would be detrimental for you. You will regret later on. The warning given by the father to the son is, in fact, for the welfare of the son. The father does not want that the son should fall due to bad influences and therefore by showing him the fear of downfall he is, in fact, providing him with motivation for betterment. The Lord is the Supreme Father; He does not want to see the fall of embodied being under any circumstance. That is why along with the inspiration he resorts to strict warnings. The purpose is to keep the being alert and aware towards his own goal.
'Macchitah sarvadurgani marprasadattarisyasi' dedicating your inner-self to Me you will overcome all perils by My grace. The inner-self should not be plagued with useless thoughts and worries–The Krishna of the Gita appears to be repeatedly warning and explaining the embodied being in this regard. In fact, He desires to see the being in the state of natural joy and not grovelling in sorrows and difficulties. The troubles do arise in the world by getting the mind engrossed in it as the world is the home of sorrows. On devoting the mind to the Lord, one starts experiencing His grace in a natural manner. Just as on joining the electric wires simultaneously as the light appears, the darkness disappears. Similarly on the mind being in contact with the Lord, one simultaneously experiences happiness and freedom from grief. To bestow grace is His very nature. He has to bestow His grace. The human being by engrossing himself in various directions deprives himself of His grace. Once the mind dwells in the thoughts of the Lord, it starts experiencing His grace and due to this grace he is able to attain bliss and is relieved of the sufferings.
The latter part of the verse is astonishing 'atha cettvamahankarana srosyasi vinanksyasi'. If due to arrogance one does pay heed to the words of the Lord then fall is forgone conclusion. For the Lord who says 'Na me bhakt pransyati' (My devotee never perishes) from His mouth to come forth such hard words is naturally stunning. But do not lose heart. The objective is not to lead the being towards fall. Why after all should the Lord wish for the fall of the being! These are the words of caution for the fall and also for the reasons thereof. It is true that if one turns away from the Blessed Lord then egoism will start raising its head. Egoism is the cause for the birth of deformations and distortions; due to them the being does not give preference to the Lord and remains engrossed in the world. Even to the extent that nothing which is associated with the Lord is found appealing. On the excessive increase of arrogance he starts challenging the very existence of the Supreme. Hriranyakashyapu, Ravana, Kans are such examples. Even today there is no dearth of such persons who due to arrogance raise such questions–What is the need of the Supreme, what is the utility of religious congregation, etc. If anyone wants to say or explain anything connected with the Lord then he will not pay heed. For such persons the preacher of the Gita had to say 'na srosyasi vinanksyasi'.