Chapter 7 Shloka 18

उदारा: सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्।

आस्थित: स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्।।१८।।

These four types of devotees who worship Me

are all magnanimous. However, the devotee of wisdom

is My very Self, this is My considered opinion,

for he is in eternal union with Me,

of a noble state and well established in Me.

Chapter 7 Shloka 18

उदारा: सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्।

आस्थित: स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्।।१८।।

Glorifying the Gyani Bhakta, the Lord says, O Arjuna!

These four types of devotees who worship Me are all magnanimous. However, the devotee of wisdom is My very Self, this is My considered opinion, for he is in eternal union with Me, of a noble state and well established in Me.

The Lord places the Gyani Bhakta in the noblest category.

1. For such a one possesses knowledge of the essential Truth.

2. He seeks to become an Atmavaan.

3. He is acquainted with the nature of the Supreme.

4. He can differentiate between the inert and the conscious.

5. He has perceived the truth of equanimity.

6. He has recognised the mysteries of the gunas.

Thereafter:

1. He never forgets the Name of the Lord.

2. His knowledge ever inspires him to progress towards the Supreme and he lives his life by that knowledge.

3. His mind becomes transformed into the intellect.

Thereafter, his very life becomes a constant practice of:

a) the renunciation of doership;

b) the renunciation of enjoyership;

c) the renunciation of the body idea;

d) selfless action;

e) the renunciation of attachment;

f) the annihilation of moha;

g) the eradication of pride;

h) the abolition of desire and craving;

i)  the absence of excessive attachment and repulsion;

j) the elimination of mental aberrations;

k) the absence of resolve and scheming;

l)  the eradication of mental conflicts;

m)  transcendence from the influence of gunas;

n) freedom from mental complexes, reservations and disturbances;

o) the elimination of anger and attachment.

The Gyani Bhakta lives only for the Supreme – Paramaarth – and not for the furtherance of his selfish interests – Swaarth. What does such practice constitute?

The gyani or man of wisdom recognises the Truth:

1. For him, the meaning of Swaarth has changed.

2. For him, Swaarth or personal interest is inherent in Purushaarth or promotion of the other’s interest.

3. He realises that in the service of mankind lies his own betterment and his progress towards the Supreme.

4. The foundation of Paramaarth or living for the Supreme lies in Purushaarth or endeavouring to serve mankind.

In this service, the aspirant receives several opportunities:

a) which endow him with a better understanding of the gunas;

b) which increase his endurance and teach him tolerance;

c) which teach him patience and fortitude;

d) which help him to practice impartiality;

e) which aid him in transcending fame and calumny;

f) which help him to practice non-duality;

g) which engender generosity;

h) which teach him forgiveness;

i)  which help him to transcend reactions to the spoken word or to another’s traits and attributes;

j)  which help him transcend mental turmoil.

The practice of self forgetfulness and absorption in the Supreme is essential for the aspirant. To practice living in the Truth is essential; else knowledge remains mere words.

Incessantly that Gyani Bhakta engages his mind and thoughts in the Supreme. Retaining his thoughts in that sphere of Truth, he conducts himself in accordance with the Supreme code of conduct or Brahm mein acharan.

Wisdom, blended with devotion in ordinary life,

a) enables the practice of duty;

b) helps the aspirant to endure adversity;

c) aids the practice of selfless deeds.

If the aspirant takes pride in his virtue, his spiritual practice is arrested. A true sadhak does not even bring the Name of his Beloved to his lips nor does he brandish his spiritual status or practice. His principal aim is to eliminate the ego. He seeks to transcend fame and humiliation. He therefore dons a shroud over the ‘I’. He never defies anyone nor does he oppose anybody. If you seek to transcend the body idea, renounce all claims over others. But you must not restrain the other’s claims over you. You must encourage the other to have rights over you. You are a traveller on the path of Truth; you love the Lord; and everybody has claims over the Lord. You wish to return to the Lord what is His – your body. Do not let the ‘I’ retain its claim on the body, give that right to others. The only precaution required is to keep the Lord’s Name in your heart and mind at all times. Once your Yoga becomes unshakeable, you will become an example of divine living.

Sadhak, pay heed!

1. Your aim is to establish the other and to eradicate your own entity.

2. Aid the other in his work, yet let the credit for that work be his.

3. Establish him in such a way, that he feels he has done everything himself.

4. When the job is accomplished, recognition for its completion must go to the other.

5. Even if you have to suffer humiliation, do not let it worry you.

6. Even if the one for whom you have done everything turns against you and becomes your enemy, do not worry.

7. You are not the body, therefore the calumny or humiliation cannot be yours.

The sadhak is like a servitor. He never claims the credit for what he does – he is almost afraid of fame and recognition. This is the crux of his spiritual practice.

Little one, I tell you truly, such a sadhak becomes the very embodiment of divinity. This is his innate state.

The Lord says:

1. Such a gyani bhakta is His very Self.

2. Such a gyani bhakta is an embodiment of the Lord.

3. Such a gyani bhakta is the Lord Himself.

The Lord Himself says that this is His considered opinion.

Essential attributes of the bhakta or devotee

Little one, now understand carefully another point made by the Lord in this shloka. He defines here the other qualities that are inherent in all His devotees. He says, “My devotees are all magnanimous.” Therefore it can be concluded that those who are not generous are not devotees of the Lord.

Now understand the meaning of Udaar (उदार):

a) Charitable;

b) Large hearted;

c) Great;

d) With a heart that over flows with generosity;

e) Possessing integrity;

f) Devoid of deceit and duplicity;

g) Possessing endurance and patience.

Little one, he who is devoid of these attributes is not a devotee or bhakta. Such a one takes the Lord’s Name in vain. He is not eligible even to set foot on the Lord’s path.

Little one, the seed of all divine qualities can be found in magnanimity. If you cannot part with your worldly possessions, how can you ever give of yourself? If you do not have a large heart, how can you make place for the Lord therein? The true aspirant only gives. His heart gains in magnanimity day by day. Love intrinsically moulds one in the cast of one’s Beloved. The external evidence of love lies in the giving of oneself.

The meaning of giving of oneself

What does one give of? Not merely this body which is meaningless in any case; one must give of one’s entire world – all one’s abilities, all one’s attributes, all one’s wealth etc.

It is only a magnanimous individual who can give of all these. It is then that he becomes a devotee. At first he may be merely an Arth Arthi or one who seeks some fruit of devotion. He then becomes an Aarat, or a supplicant. After that he ascends to the state of a Jigyasu or seeker and then transcends all to become a Gyani Bhakta.