"The power to promote and reward, as also to demote and punish the individual and his fate in this world, lies within his mind, its thoughts and feelings. No external agency is necessary to bring this infallible fruition. As the growth and development of a seed, an embryo, or a cell designed and preserved by its own inner makeup, here too the causal forces for what one rightly deserves lurk within one’s own invisible bosom."

The Guiding force of Narayanashrama Tapovanam & Center for Inner Resources Development

Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

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<< Chapter 8 Verse 11 >>
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यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति
विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति
तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ।। ८.११ ।।

yad-akṣaraṁ veda-vido vadanti
viśanti yad-yatayo vīta-rāgāḥ |
yad-icchanto brahma-caryaṁ caranti
tat-te padaṁ saṅgraheṇa pravakṣye || 8.11 ||

  Audio-BG-8.11
 

In the next few verses Krishna blends religiosity with philosophy and describes how the contemplation on the Supreme should be done. Devotion is the primary help in all these contemplations. He makes the following assertion, bringing in the yogic contemplation which is the gist of all religion, philosophy and spirituality. The statement thus becomes conclusive and supreme:

यदक्षरं वेदविदो वदन्ति विशन्ति यद्यतयो वीतरागाः ।
यदिच्छन्तो ब्रह्मचर्यं चरन्ति तत्ते पदं सङ्ग्रहेण प्रवक्ष्ये ।।

What the Vedic Knowers hold as Indestructible, which those free of desires succeed in entering, and seeking which people take to life-long austerity of celibacy, I shall briefly explain to you.

This verse reflects the words of Kathopanishad, as some of the verses in the second chapter also do, making it clear that Krishna is not presenting any new thought or philosophy of his own, but is restating and expounding the age-old vision that our Knowers have disclosed and propagated.

What is that supreme abode? Krishna’s words are very significant and wholesome. Keeping all the senses (that perceive the external objects) under check and restraining the mind within, strive to remember the Lord all the time, and then leave the world, with no other thought or fascination (8.13). No possession, acquisition or attachment is ultimately rewarding. Nothing from the world can redeem the human soul. Instead, it is the readiness and strength to dispossess everything and all, that verily helps fulfillment of human life.

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