Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 - Karma Yoga - Sloka 38

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Chidbhavananda's translation of The Bhagavad Gita, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

The origin of sin - 36-43
1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 3 -Karma Yaoga - Sloka 38
Melkote Tirunarayana Perumal
Dhumena avriyate vahnir yatha adarshah malenacha I
Yatha ulbena avrutah garbhah tatha ten idam avrutam II sloka 38
धूमेन आव्रियते वह्निर यथा अदर्शः मलेनाच ।
यथा उल्बेन आवृतः गर्बः तथा तेन इदं आवृतं ।। श्लोक ३८ 

As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, as an embryo by the womb, so is this covered by that.

The resplendent Atman is veiled by desire, which is in 3 grades corresponding to the 3 gunas. Desire dominated by sattva guna   is like fire being choked by smoke. A little blowing will set it ablaze and the smoke will disappear. Discrimination likewise drives out the thin cloud of sattvic desire adn reveals the atman as it is.   Some effort is required to remove the dust from the mirror. Even so rajasic desire demands strenuous effort for its removal. Lastly tamasic desire is compared with an embryo in the womb. Time and regulated living are the factors for the embryo to develop and be delivered as a baby.  Time and self-preparations  are necessary to eliminate the deep rooted tamasic desire. 
As a patch of cloud hides the balzing sun, the true form of desire hides Iswara. When the cloud disappears the sun becomes visible. When desire disappears Atma reveals himself
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

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