Canons of a Perfect Life: (END): 9. Swami Krishnananda.

 

===================================================================================

Thursday 10, July 2025, 05:00.
Books 
Bhagavadgita & Hinduism
Canons of a Perfect Life: 9 (Chapter & Slokam no in brackets)
Swami Krishnananda
Being comprehensive selections from the Bhagavadgita
END.

=====================================================================================

63.The Universe Is Like a Widespread Tree with Its Ramifications Below and Its Roots in God, Who Is Its Goal:

*They (the wise) speak of the Indestructible Peepul Tree having its roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the sacred hymns; he who knows it is a knower of the Vedas. (XV.1)

*Then, (after having cut asunder this metaphorical tree of Samsara), That goal should be sought for, whither having gone none returns again: 'I seek refuge in That Primeval Purusha Whence streamed forth the ancient activity or energy.' (XV.4)

*Two Beings (Purushas) there are in this world, the perishable and the imperishable. All created beings are the perishable, and the unchanging being is called the imperishable.

#But distinct and above both is the Supreme Person, called the Highest Self, the indestructible Lord Who, pervading the three worlds, sustains them. (XV.16-17).

=========================================================================================

64.Qualities of a Divinely Oriented Hero in the Adventure of Life:

*Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and Yoga, almsgiving, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness,

*Harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness,

#Vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride-these belong to the one born for a divine state, O Arjuna. (XVI.1-3).

==========================================================================================

65.Characteristics of Demoniacal Elements:

*They (the demoniacal) say, "this universe is without truth, without (moral) basis, without a God, brought about by mutual union, with lust for its cause; what else?"

#Holding this view, these ruined souls of small intellect and fierce deeds come forth as the enemies of the world for its destruction. (XVI.8-9).

#(They say) "That enemy has been slain by me; and others also I shall slay. I am the lord. I enjoy. I am perfect, powerful and happy." (XVI.14).

#Given over to egoism, power, haughtiness, lust and anger, these malicious people hate Me in their own bodies and those of others. (XVI.18).

=========================================================================================

66.The Three Gates to Hell:

#Triple is this gate to hell, destructive of the self – lust, anger and greed; therefore one should abandon these three propensities. (XVI.21).

=============================================================================================

67.Pure, Impure and Harmful Food:

*The foods which increase life, purity, strength, health, joy and cheerfulness, which are savoury and oleaginous, substantial and agreeable, are dear to the Sattvic (pure) people.

*The foods that are bitter, sour, saline, excessively hot, pungent, dry and burning, are liked by the Rajasic and are productive of pain, grief and disease.

#That which is stale, tasteless, putrid, rotten, refuse and impure, is the food liked by the Tamasic. (XVII.8-10).

========================================================================================

68.The Three Types of Self-discipline:

*Worship of the gods, the twice-born, the teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury are called the austerity of the body.

*Speech which causes no excitement, truthfulness, pleasant and beneficial, the practice of study of the Vedas, are called the austerity of speech.

#Serenity of mind, good-heartedness, silence, self-control, purity of nature are called mental austerity. (XVII.14-16).

===============================================================================

69.Duty to God, World and Human Beings:

#Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; sacrifice, gift and also austerity are the purifiers of the wise. (XVIII.5).

==========================================================================================

70.Renunciation Not to Be Motivated by Fear of Hardship Involved in the Performance of Duty:

#He who abandons action on account of the fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not obtain the merit of renunciation by doing such Rajasic renunciation. (XV1II.8).

================================================================================================

71.Action Is a Collective Result of Cosmic Operations and Not Done Individually by Any Single Being:

*The seat of action (body), the doer, the various senses, the different functions of various kinds, and the presiding deity as the fifth (are the causative factors of all action).

*Whatever action a man performs with his body, speech and mind-whether right or the reverse, these five are its causes.

#Now, such being the case, verily he who, owing to untrained understanding, looks upon his self alone as the agent – he of perverted intelligence, sees not (the truth). (XVIII.14-16).

=========================================================================================

72.Spiritual Wisdom, Rational Knowledge arid Emotional Attachment Distinguished:

*That by which one sees the one indestructible Reality in all beings, not separate even in all the separate beings – know thou that knowledge to be Sattvika (pure).

*But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as different from one another – know thou that knowledge to be Rajasika.

#But that which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without foundation in Truth, and trivial – that (understanding) is declared to be Tamasika. (XVIII20-22).

======================================================================================

73.Three Kinds of Happiness:

*That which is like poison at first but in the end like nectar – that happiness is declared to be Sattivaka, born of the purity of one's own mind due to Self-realisation.

*That happiness which arises from the contact of the sense-organs with the objects, which is at first like nectar, and in the end like poison – that is declared to be Rajasika.

#That happiness which at first as well as in the sequel deludes the self, and which arises from sleep, indolence and heedlessness – that is declared to be Tamasika. (XVIII.37-39).

==============================================================================================

74.Perfection Is Attained by Performance of One's Own Duty Without Interfering with Another's:

#He from whom all the beings have evolved and by whom all this is pervaded – worshipping Him with one's own duty, one attains perfection. (XVIII.46).

=============================================================================================

75.Resort to God Is the Solution of All the Ills of Life.

#Abandoning all duties, take refuge in Me alone; I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not. (XVIII.66).

=========================================================================================

76.Success Is Certain Where Man and God Act in Unison:

#Where is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga; where is Arjuna, the wielder of the bow, (acting together in harmony); there shall be prosperity, victory, happiness and firm polity; this is my conviction. (XVIII.78).

*****

END.

=============================================================================================