Srimad-Bhagavad-gita Dhyanam

Meditations on Lord Krishna as the source of the Bhagavad-gita.

 

 

(1)

Om paarthaya pratibodhitaam bhagavata Naaraayanena svayam

Vyaasena grathitaam puraanamuninaa madhye-mahaabhaaratam

Advaitaamritavarshinee bhagavateem ashtaadashaadhyaayineem

Amba tvaamanusandadhami Bhagavad-gita bhavadveshineem

 

Oh blessed Mother, who showerest (upon us) the nectar of philosophy in the form of (these eighteen) chapters. Thou loving mother, destroyer of rebirth. Bhagavad-gita, upon thee I meditate.  

 

(2)

Namostu te Vyasa vishalabuddhe phullara vindaayata patranetra

Yena tvayaa Bharatataila poornah prajvaalito gyaanamayah pradeepaha

 

Oh Vyasa, with lotus eyes and mighty intellect, who has lighted the lamp of wisdom filled with the oil of the Mahabharata. Thee we offer our obeisances.

 

(3)

Prapanna paarijaataaya totravetrai kapaanaye

Gyaanamudraaya Krishnaaya Gitaa-amritduhe namaha

 

Thou who art the refuge of the (ocean born) Lakshmi. Thou in whose right hand is the shepherd’s crook, who art the milker of the divine nectar of the Gita.

 

(4)

Sarvopanishado gaavo dogdhaa Gopala nandanaha

Paartho vatsah sudheer bhoktaa dugdham gitaamritam mahat

 

The Upanishads are even as the heard of cows, the son of the cowherd (Krishna) as the milker, Partha (Arjuna) as the sucking calf, and men of purified intellect the drinkers. Of this, the supreme nectar, is the milk of the Gita.

 

(5)

Vasudevasutam devam kansa chaanoora mardanam

Devaki paramaanandam Krishnam vande jagadgurum

 

Thou son of Vasudeva (Krishna), destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura, the supreme bliss of (Mother) Devaki, Guru of the worlds, Thee, Oh Krishna, as God, we offer our obeisances.

 

(6)

Bhishma-drona-tataa jayadrathajalaa gandhaaraneelotpalaa

Shalyagraahavatee kripena vahanee karnena velaakulaa

Ashatthaama-Vikarna-ghora makaraa Duryodhanaa vartinee

Sotteerno khalu Paandavai rananadee Kaivartakah Keshavaha

 

Of that great river of battle which the Pandavas crossed over, Bhishma and Drona were as the high banks; and Jayadratha as the water of the river; the king of Gandhara the water-lily; Salya as the shark, Kripa as the current; Karna the mighty waves; Asvatthama and Vikarna dread water-monsters; and Duryodhana was the very whirlpool. But thou, Oh Krishna, was the ferryman.  

 

(7)

Paarasharya vachassaroja mamalam Gitaarthagandhotkatam

Naanaakhyaanakakesaram Harikathaa sambhodhanaa bodhitam

Loke sajjana shatpadairaharahah pepeeyamaanam mudaa

Bhooyaada Bhaaratapankajam Kalimalapradhvamsi nah shreyase

 

This spotless product of words of Vyasa (the compiler of the Mahabharata, of which the Bhagavad-gita is a chapter), this lotus of the Mahabharata, with the Bhagavad-gita, as its strong sweet fragrance, and tales of heroes as its full-blown petals, held ever open. By the talk of Hari, of Him who is the destroyer of the taint of Kali-yuga; this lotus to which come joyously day after day the honey-seeking souls. May this produce in us the highest good!

 

(8)

Mukam karoti vaachalam pangum langhayate girim

Yatkripaa tamaham vande paramaananda-madhavam

 

Him whose compassion maketh the dumb man eloquent, and the cripple to cross mountains, Him the all-blissful Madhava, do I offer my obeisances.

 

(9)

Yam brahmaa-varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavaih

Vedaih saangapadakramopanishadair gaayantiyam saamagaaha

Dhyaanaa vasthita tadgatena manasaa pashyanti yam yogino

Yasyaantam na viduh suraasuraganaah devaaya tasmai namaha

 

To that Supreme One who is bodied forth in Brahma, in Varuna, in Indra, in Rudra and the Maruts; that One whom all Divine beings praise with hymns; Him whom the singers of the Sama Veda tell: Him whose glory the Upanishads and Vedas sing in full choir; Him whom the yogis see, the mind absorbed in perfect meditation; Him of whom all the hosts of Devas and Asuras known not the limitations, to Him the Supreme Good. To Him we offer our obeisances, offer our obeisances, offer our obeisances.

 

Bhagavad Gita Mahatmya

by Adi Shankaracharya

 

Text 1

gita-shastram idam punyam, yah pathet prayatah puman

vishnoh padam avapnoti, bhaya-shokadi-varjitah

 

Translation

One who, with a regulated mind, recites with devotion the Bhagavad-gita scripture which is the bestower of all virtue, will attain to a holy abode such as Vaikuntha, the residence of Lord Vishnu, which is always free from the mundane qualities based on fear and lamentation.

 

Text 2

gitadhyayana-shilasya, pranayama-parasya cha

naiva santi hi papani, purva-janma-kritani cha

 

Translation

If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.

 

Text 3

maline mocanam pumsam, jala-snanam dine dine

sakrid gitamrita-snanam, samsara-mala-nashanam

 

Translation

One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.

 

Text 4

gita su-gita kartavya, kim anyaih shastra-vistaraih

ya svayam padmanabhasya, mukha-padmad vinihsrita

 

Translation

Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literature and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

Text 5

bharatamrita-sarvasvam, vishnu-vaktrad vinihsritam

gita-gangodakam pitva, punar janma na vidyate

 

Translation

By drinking the Ganges water of the Gita, the divine quintessence of the Mahabharata, emanating from the holy lotus mouth of Lord Vishnu, one will never take rebirth in the material world again. In other words, by devotionally reciting the Gita, the cycle of birth and death is terminated.

 

Text 6

sarvopanishado gavo, dogdha gopala-nandanah

partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta, dugdham gitamritam mahat

 

Translation

All the Upanishads are like a cow, and the milker of the cow is Lord Shri Krishna, the son of Nanda. Arjuna is the calf, the beautiful nectar of the Gita is the milk, and the fortunate devotees of fine theistic intellect are the drinkers and enjoyers of that milk.

 

Text 7

ekam shastram devaki-putra-gitam

eko devo devaki-putra eva

eko mantras tasya namani yani

karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

 

Translation

There need be only one holy scripture–the divine Gita sung by Lord Shri Krishna; only one worshipable Lord–Lord Shri Krishna; only one mantra–His holy names; and only one duty–devotional service unto that Supreme worshipable Lord, Shri Krishna.

 

 

 

[This is available at: www.stephen-knapp.com]

horizontal rule

[Home] [The Books by Stephen Knapp] [Book Reviews] [The World Relief Network] [Articles to Read] [Seeing Spiritual India] [Introductory and Travel Videos] [A Little Book of Prayers Mantras & Gayatris] [Krishna Darshan Art Gallery] [Vegetarian Recipes and Resources] [Stay in Touch with Us] [Jokes and Anecdotes] [How You Can Help]