Bhagvad Gita - Chapter: 9 Raja Vidya Yogah

Chapter 9

Raja Vidya Yogah

श्रीभगवानुवाच इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे |
ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ||1||

The Blessed Lord said: I shall now explain to you this most secret knowledge, along with direct realization, knowing which you shall be freed from inauspiciousness.

Guhyatama: The most confidential knowledge.
Vijnana: Knowledge with realization.
Anasuya: One free from envy.

Krishna introduces the confidential knowledge that transcends ordinary understanding. By sharing it with one who is free from envy, Krishna ensures it reaches a worthy recipient. This establishes the importance of a receptive attitude in spiritual learning and paves the way for profound teachings.

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Raja Vidya Yogah - This knowledge is the king of sciences, the king of secrets, most sacred, directly realizable, in accordance with dharma, easy to practice, and eternal.

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् |
प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ||2||

This knowledge is the king of sciences, the king of secrets, most sacred, directly realizable, in accordance with dharma, easy to practice, and eternal.

Rajavidya: The king of sciences.
Rajaguhya: The supreme secret.
Avagaman: Direct experience or realization.

This shloka elevates the status of knowledge as both a royal science and a royal secret, highlighting its transformative potential. Krishna underscores its practicality, purity, and permanence, emphasizing how knowledge, when applied, leads to spiritual liberation and fulfillment.

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अश्रद्दधाना: पुरुषा धर्मस्यास्य परन्तप |
अप्राप्य मां निवर्तन्ते मृत्युसंसारवर्त्मनि ||3||

Men who lack faith in this dharma, O Parantapa, without attaining Me, return to the path of death and worldly existence.

Ashraddha: Lack of faith.
Samsara: The cycle of birth and death.
Parantapa: A title for Arjuna meaning subduer of enemies.

Faith is essential in spiritual progress. Krishna contrasts the fate of the faithful and the faithless, showing how doubt can lead one back to the cycles of birth and death. This sets up the narrative for why faith in Krishna’s words and teachings is paramount.

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मया ततमिदं सर्वं जगदव्यक्तमूर्तिना |
मत्स्थानि सर्वभूतानि न चाहं तेष्ववस्थित: ||4||

By Me, this entire world is pervaded in My unmanifest form. All beings reside in Me, but I am not in them.

Avyakta: Unmanifested or unseen.
Jagat: The material world.
Matsthani: All beings situated in Me.

Krishna’s unmanifest form pervades all of creation, yet He remains detached. This paradox illustrates the divine’s transcendence and immanence, challenging the material perception of reality and urging the seeker to reflect on the nature of existence.

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न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् |
भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावन: ||5||

And yet, the beings do not reside in Me. Behold My divine yoga! My Self sustains all beings, but is not present in them.

Yoga: Union or divine power.
Bhuta-bhavana: The originator of all beings.
Bhutani: Living beings.

Here Krishna reveals the mystery of divine yoga—He sustains all beings but remains unaffected by them. This teaching deepens the understanding of God’s impartiality and omnipotence, inviting reflection on how creation is both dependent on and independent of Him.

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यथाकाशस्थितो नित्यं वायु: सर्वत्रगो महान् |
तथा सर्वाणि भूतानि मत्स्थानीत्युपधारय ||6||

As the mighty wind, moving everywhere, eternally rests in space, so do all beings rest in Me.

Akash: Sky or ether.
Vayu: Wind or air.
Upadharaya: Comprehend or understand.

The metaphor of wind resting in space emphasizes the seamless integration of all beings within Krishna. By using relatable imagery, Krishna gently guides Arjuna to understand the unity of the divine and the cosmos, building a foundation for devotion.

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