Bhagavad Gita -Srila Prabhupada 441

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is -Shri Shrimad A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Prev.png
The Opulence of the Absolute
Chapter 10: Verse-11

tesam evänukampärtham aham ajnäna-jam tamah
näsayämy ätma-bhäva-stho jnäna-dipena bhäsvatä [1]

TRANSLATION

To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.


PURPORT

When Lord Caitanya was in Benares promulgating the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna,krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma Räma, Hare Hare, thousands of people were following Him. Prakäsänanda Sarasvati, a very influential and learned scholar in Benares at that time, derided Lord Caitanya for being a sentimentalist. Sometimes philosophers criticize the devotees because they think that most of the devotees are in the darkness of ignorance and are philosophically naive sentimentalists. Actually that is not the fact. There are very, very learned scholars who have put forward the philosophy of devotion. But even if a devotee does not take advantage of their literatures or of his spiritual master, if he is sincere in his devotional service he is helped by krsna Himself within his heart. So the sincere devotee engaged in krsna consciousness cannot be without knowledge. The only qualification is that one carry out devotional service in full krsna consciousness.

The modern philosophers think that without discriminating one cannot have pure knowledge. For them this answer is given by the Supreme Lord: those who are engaged in pure devotional service, even though they be without sufficient education and even without sufficient knowledge of the Vedic principles, are still helped by the Supreme God, as stated in this verse. The Lord tells Arjuna that basically there is no possibility of understanding the Supreme Truth, the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, simply by speculating, for the Supreme Truth is so great that it is not possible to understand Him or to achieve Him simply by making a mental effort.

Next.png

References

  1. tesam=for them; eva=certainly; anukampä-artham=to show special mercy;
    aham=I; ajnäna-jam=due to ignorance; tamah=darkness; näsayämi=dispel; ätma-bhäva=within their hearts; sthah=situated; jnäna=of knowledge; dipena=with the lamp; bhäsvatä=glowing.

Related Articles