Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 312

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-10 Vibhūti Yogaḥ

yo mām ajam anādiṃ ca vetti loka-maheśvaram | asamūḍhaḥ sa martyeṣu sarva-pāpaiḥ pramucyate || 3 || 3. One who knows Me as unborn and without a beginning; the great Lord of the worlds — is undeluded among mortals and is liberated from all negative acts. Commentary He who, unlike other beings, exists ‘without being born’ at any particular time is ‘unborn’ in the sense of being eternal. This attribute denotes a unique state essentially different from both inorganic things which are subject to modifications, and from the Jiva involved in Samsara and conjoined with insensible matter. In this state of material involvement the birth of the Jiva is caused by Karma. The term ‘Anādi’, or without beginning, is used to distinguish the state of the Lord, which is distinct from that of the liberated Self. Although the liberated Self is in fact also eternal, it can be said to have a beginning from the point of view that the state of liberation has a beginning. Previously the Self had been trapped in material nature, a state from which it had to be liberated. Hence the term ‘Anadi’ implies that the Lord is without such involvement and does not deserve the same description. The Veda also says: — ‘He who is stainless’ . Thus, an undeluded person understands that Krishna’s nature is totally contrary to any association with negativity. The term ‘delusion’ refers to the error of regarding Krishna simply as one among other divinities of the same kind. To be free of this delusion is to be ‘undeluded’ — such a person is released from all reactions of negative acts which obstruct the rise of Bhakti. The gist of what is said is this: — In this world, the king who rules over others is only like all other men. He has become a ruler by virtue of some good Karma. Such is also the case with the king of the gods (Indra). Even the Creator (Brahma) of the World (Brahmanda) is of the same class as other beings involved in Samsara, because he too is a created being, coming within the threefold classification of beings according to the three innate tendencies for growth. The Veda also says;— He who creates Brahma’ . [which indicates that Brahma is a created being]. The same is the case with all those who have acquired the eight supernatural psychic powers. But I, the Supreme Being, am the great Lord of the worlds. The un-deluded person knows Me as essentially different from insentient matter in its sequential state of cause and effect, and also from the Jivatman whether conjoined with material nature or liberated from it, and from everything else, because everything in the universe is subject to My control.