BHAGAVAD GITA – SYNOPSIS 18 CHAPTERS:CHAPTER SEVEN

The Bhagavad Gita : Chapter SEVEN. [compiled by Kamini Khanna. Mombasa, Kenya. Africa

The Seventh chapter points out the nature of the Lord. He proclaims Himself as the Creator of the universe.

He manifests as para prakriti and apara prakriti, matter and the consciousness expressing in matter.

Both these make up the whole. Everything has emerged from these two prakritis. He is consciousness expressing as life. He expresses as creation, sustenance and dissolution – srsti, sthiti and laya. God is the One who gives, and the One who sustains and nourishes the whole world. The entire world has emerged from Him. In the Scriptures we have a graphic depiction of Lord Vishnu lying on the sesanag or a thousand hooded serpent. A lotus emerges from His naval and from the lotus emerges Lord Brahma –the Creator.

Sri Bhagavan said: Arjuna now listen…The mind that is attached to me, through exclusive love, and practice of Yoga with complete dependence on Me, is bound to feel my strong presence, and I will free that person from all doubts. Of thousands of men, some rare souls strive to realize Me; of those striving yogis, there is that rare one, who is exclusively devoted to Me, who will know Me in reality. Arjuna, I am the source of the entire creation, and in me everything dissolves. There is nothing else besides me Arjuna. I am the sapidity in water, and the light of the moon and the sun. I am the sacred syllable Om in all the Vedas, sound in ether, and manliness in men. Worship Me in the pure fragrance of the earth and in the brilliance of fire; I am life in all beings, and austerity in ascetics.Worship me in the life of the living and worship Me in self- control.

The word “Worship” means to value things. To worship is to value as the manifestation of the Lord; to value the five elements, to respect nature, to nurture one’s health, to honor one’s intelligence and desires, as the manifestation of the Lord. True worship is more in the form of an attitude, outlook and feelings, and may not involve any action. Arjuna, know me as the eternal seed in all beings. I am the intelligence of the intelligent and the glory of the glorious. I am the might of the mighty, free from passion and desire. Men of evil deeds do not worship me. Four types of virtuous men worship Me, Arjuna. – The seeker of worldly objects, the sufferer, the seekers of knowledge, and the man of wisdom. Of these, the best is the man of wisdom, constantly established in identity with me, and possessing complete devotion for Me. For extremely dear am I to the wise man, who knows Me in reality, and thus, he is extremely dear to Me. All these are noble, but the man of wisdom is truly My own self; this is My view. This devotee, who has his mind and intellect merged in Me, is firmly established in Me which is the highest goal.

Bhagavan goes on to say, that different people worship Me in various forms. They worship not the forms but Me the Lord, through those forms. When they have faith and trust in Me, I nurture the trust to grow and also give them the results they seek. The thrust and action of Bhagavan’s teachings here is in the direction of asking man to exploit the law of Karma (action) for his redemption from endless struggle. This can be achieved through knowledge. Using prayer merely for gaining material things amounts to under utilization of the power of prayer.

A person endowed with faith in the law of Karma, (action) prays to God in a given form called a devta or a deity. His prayers bring him results, meaning- the fulfillment of his desires.

It must be understood that effort leads to success. When man combines effort with prayer, Bhagavan states, then He brings them success in response to their prayers. The fruit gained by these people of meager intelligence, however, is perishable. Whereas My devotee, who has complete devotion towards Me, in the end, attains Me alone.

Chapter 7 is the Lord’s navel, or nabhi, the centre of the physical body, and the whole cosmos in a way. He nourishes the world. The navel is where the child draws its nourishment in the mother’s womb. The world is like the child of the Lord, who nourishes it like the mother.