Bhagwad Gita - Post 136

Verse 48

Na vedayajnaadhyayanairna daanair

Na cha kriyaabhirna tapobhirugraih;

Evam roopah shakya aham nriloke

Drashtum twadanyena karupraveera.

Neither by the study of the Vedas and sacrifices, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities, can I be seen in this form in the world of men by any other than thyself, O great hero of the Kurus (Arjuna)!

“This form, this Viratsvarupa, this Universal Spirit, in which form you have beheld Me — this cannot be beheld by any kind of ritual, by study of the Vedas, by teaching, by charity,

by ritualistic performances, by tapas or austerity of any kind. Whatever be the intensity and ferocity of that tapas, nothing of the kind can touch Me.”

In most cases, we see people ardently take up different techniques of worship, penance, study and so on, but tend to get so attached to those techniques that they lose sight of the real goal which is liberation. They go so far as to claim the efficacy of one technique versus the other.

Human action cannot touch Eternity, because all action is in the process of time. All action is in space and in time. This Eternal terror which was beheld by Arjuna is not in space, not in time. Therefore, our studies of the Vedas, our tapasyas, our charities, our philanthropies, our deeds — whatever their merit, they are, after all, like performances in the dream world.

When we wake up, the merits of all our good deeds in dream disappear. Similarly, in the quality of the perception of the Supreme Being, actions of the human being in the world of space and time bear no relevance. No action which is conditioned by time can take us to the Unconditioned Reality, which is not in time.

Explaining why Arjuna deserves a special congratulation for having gained this extra-ordinary experience, the Lord says that none can 'SEE' this Universal-Form merely because of one's study of the Vedas, or on the strength of one's sacrifices. Nor can one gain it by the merits gained through the distribution of  gifts, or through performing rituals, or even through constant practice of severe austerities. 

These are, no doubt, necessary and always helpful in preparing the seeker to realize the essential unity beneath the perceived plurality, but neither a mere book-study, nor empty ritualism, nor physical tapas in themselves will, as an effect of them, bring about this understanding and the Final Experience. It can come only when the mind is steady. This "Vision" can be illumined only in the clear light of an integrated 'in-turned intellect.'

In thus making light of the study of the Vedas, performance of sacrifices, distribution of gifts, practice of rituals and a life of grim penance, Lord Krishna should not be misunderstood as ridiculing these great prescriptions of the Vedas. He merely means to say that although these are means, preparatory to the final end, they are not to be confused with the goal. 

Katha Upanishad says,

“The Imperishable, Eternal Reality cannot be contacted through the instrumentality of perishable deeds.”

Actions, deeds that we perform in this world have a beginning and an end. They are not eternal. How could we have the vision of that Eternal, contact with the Eternal or attain realization of that Eternal, which is timeless, when the instruments that we are using for that purpose are in time?

Dear All,

This is in perfect sync with what was explained in last week satsangh with respect to upasana, taking the reference of a verse from Kenopanishad which says:

“That by which the eyes / ears / prana / mind / intellect are able to function, know THAT to be the real essence, not the one which you have been worshipping otherwise.”

Explaining this drastic declaration by shrutis, he said, Upasanas, ritual worships etc. are by themselves very important in the sense, they prepare us for evolving, channelizing our higher intellect to the ultimate Goal of Self-realization. 

The sadhaka must not start and end his life in Glorifying the Rama nama, roopa but he must start and proceed in his spiritual journey from Nama and Roopa of his chosen God to ultimately experience the Essence, i.e., The Tattwa of that God, within the cave of his heart.

Love.