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CHINMAYA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

Centre for Sanskrit Research and Indology
Adi Sankara Nilayam, Adi Sankara Marg, Veliyanad, Ernakulam - 682319, Kerala, India.
Phone: +91-484-2749676, 2747307 Fax: +91-484-2749729 Email: gitacourse@chinfo.org Web: www.chinfo.org

LESSON 16

CHAPTER 9, R JAVIDY-RJAGUHYA-YOGA (PART II)

The Path of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret

9.10 Return Ticket to Heaven (9.20,16 9.2117)

Everyone wants to be always happy. We see that earthly life has both joys
and sorrows. The scriptures of all religions talk of a heaven which is full
of subtler and higher forms of pleasures and no pain. With an aim to feast
in heaven, some people fast over here! They live an austere life, do good
actions, perform rituals, special worships and do whatever their scriptures
and religions prescribe. Their actions remove all obstacles (ppa) and endow
them with merits (puya) which makes them eligible for entry into higher
realms of experiences like heaven. They assume celestial bodies and enjoy
the pleasures in heaven that they have paid for on earth. Time flies when we
are happy. Even our long stay in heaven comes to an end all too soon; puya
exhausted, we must return to continue our journey.
Prajpati Raivata once went to Brahma-loka for some work. The Creator,
Brahm was listening to music, so he joined Him. Yugas (centuries) passed
and he thought it was but a few moments when the show ended. He had
completely forgotten his work and later regretted his absorption in pleasure.
Having worked hard throughout the year, a man goes for a vacation to
the Caribbean Islands. However much he may love to stay on and continue
16. Eiv*a ma< saempa> pUtpapa y}Eir:qva SvgRit< awRyNte, te pu{ymasa* sureNlaekmiNt idVyaiNdiv devaegan!.
traividy m somap ptapp yajairiv svargati prrthayante, te puyamsdya surendralokamananti divyndivi devabhogn. (9.20)
17. te t< uKTva SvgRlaek< ivzal< ]I[e pu{ye mTyRlaek< ivziNt, @v< yIxmRmnupa gtagt< kamkama lNte.
te ta bhuktv svargaloka vila ke puye martyaloka vianti, eva traydharmamanuprapann gatgata kmakm labhante. (9.21)
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Bhagavad-gt course

to enjoy, he has to return when his vacation period is over and he runs out of
cash and credit. Similarly, once ones merits are exhausted, the stay in heaven
ends and one has to return to earth or wherever ones fructifying karmas take.
Finite actions can give only finite results! One cannot stay eternally in heaven.

Mantra
]I[e pu{ye mTyRlaek< ivziNt,
ke puye martyaloka vianti. (9.21)
What goes up must come down. When the merits get exhausted,
one returns from heaven to earth.

Also, when heaven itself is impermanent how can our stay over there be
eternal? (ref. 8.16)

9.11 Living in Bliss

Earthly joys are sorrow-ridden. Heavenly bliss is also short-lived. Both are
accompanied with anxiety of getting and retaining. Then where can we
enjoy care-free and eternal Bliss?
The verse 9.2218 is like the centrepiece in an exhibition of masterpieces. It
is like the central jewel of a studded pendant in a priceless necklace. In this
famous verse which is in the centre of the priceless Gt
Gt,, r Ka reveals the
secret of living in Bliss right here and now and always! The following is a
brief summary of the essential thoughts of this verse.
God is Bliss absolute. He is infinite and eternal. When we unite with Him,
connect with Him, become one with Him, we too are in Bliss. How can we
do so? When He alone becomes our means and goal, He alone is our shelter,
support, and strength, He alone is our Master, provider, and nourisher,
18. AnNyaiNtyNtae ma< ye jna> pyuRpaste, te;a< inTyaiyuKtana< yaeg]em< vhaMyhm!.
ananycintayanto m ye jan paryupsate, te nitybhiyuktn yogakema vahmyaham. (9.22)
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Lesson 16

when He alone becomes the love of our life, the object of all our desires,
the fulfilment of all our dreams, we live in Bliss. His thought becomes the
most valuable possession and His work our only duty. Then all our actions
physical, verbal, and mental become His worship ((parita
parita upsate)
upsate) we are in
Bliss. This is called ananyat love without otherness, that is unswerving
love. Then His joy becomes our joy and we are in Bliss. The Gops of Vrindavan
sang for Him, danced for Him, waited for Him, made butter for Him and, to
put it simply, lived for Him.
After r Ka had left Vrindavan, once r Uddhava went to Vrindavan.
When he saw the Gops in intense pain at the separation from the Lord,
he told them, Why dont you forget Him and worship someone else. He
so heartlessly left you all. They replied, We would do so if we could.
Unfortunately we have one mind and that has been stolen by r Ka. With
what then shall we worship anyone else?
But what about our worldly needs? Who will worry about our childrens
education, parents health, cost of living, social commitments, car loans,
and mortgages!
If we dedicate our lives to Him, God promises to take care of all our needs.

Mantra
yaeg]em < vhaMyhm !,
yogakema vahmyaham. (9.22)
I will take care of your needs.
I will carry the responsibility for your well-being.
You do your best and leave the rest to Me.

Not for God!

A person asked Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda, We hear that God provided
food to great saints, who went for penance in dense forests. If I go to the forest,
will God also give me food?
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Pjya Gurudev replied, No! Because you are going for food, not for God!

Man spends time worrying about getting what he does not have (yoga)
and maintaining what he does have (kema). It takes a lifetimes earning
to build a house and the rest of the life goes in maintaining it. Marriages
may be made in heaven, but maintaining them is a tough responsibility.
Employers are always worried about getting the right employees and
more worried about how to retain them. Spiritual seekers are worried
about getting virtues like endurance and dispassion and equally worried
about maintaining them. It is not work that tires us, but the burden of
responsibility and the loads of worries that we carry within us. r Ka
urges us to have faith and not worry. Some feel that if we do not worry
for our family, then who will do so. The Lords assurance is not heeded.
Therefore, since two people are not needed to do the same tasks, the Lord
steps back and leaves it all to them!

My Contract with God

A woman was always cheerful as she went about performing her worldly
duties despite facing tough financial challenges. She said, I have a contract
with God. I do the work, he does the worrying!

Is not the Lord taking good care of us right from our birth? For example,
when we are born, we have no teeth. Then the milk teeth come one by one
and go one by one without our knowing. A new set of strong teeth replace
them, which last through our life. Imagine if we are born with all our teeth
or if all the milk teeth came at one time or fell out all together!
When the Lord appeared before the five-year old Dhruva and granted
him a boon, Dhruva said, "O Lord! I am but a child with little knowledge.
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Lesson 16

You have graced me with your vision; now provide me with words to praise
you." The Lord touched his cheek with His divine conch and beautiful words
flowed out. The Lord always provides what we need! (Bhgavatam,
(Bhgavatam, Canto 4.9)

He Takes Care
A devotee complained to God. I always saw two sets of footprints behind me as
You accompanied me through the happy times of my life. But I saw only one set
when I went through the bad times. Where were You then?
The Lord said, "I carried you on my shoulders through your bad times, so
you saw only My footprints."
Be assured He always takes care of us.

Even a company takes care of the employees needs and provides company
quarters, special loans, and medical facilities at company expense. Then
what shall we say about the ever-compassionate, all-capable Lord! He not
only provides for our physical needs but also takes care of our emotional,
intellectual, and spiritual needs. Has not a Guru always appeared in the life
of a true seeker?
The Lord promises to take care of our needs, but not our greed. Also,
He knows best what we need and what we dont. So He provides for us and
also makes sure it remains. He provides what He knows is good for us like a
mother who does not give ice-cream to her sick child even when he screams
for it. She appears heartless when she gives away his play station to someone
else when she realises that it distracts him in his studies.
Nrada once fell in love with the beautiful deluding damsel, Vivamohin
Vivamohin..
He asked the Lord to give him a handsome face so she would choose to
marry him. The Lord, contrary to his wishes, made him monkey-faced.
When Vivamohin saw him she laughed at him and spurned him. Nrada
felt insulted and got angry with the Lord. But later when his delusion was
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destroyed he thanked God for saving him from the deluding damsel. (ref.
Rmacaritamnasa, Blaka
Blaka,, Doh 129-139)
It is interesting to note that the Lord gives for free all that we need to live,
like water, light, air, and food; whereas things like jewels and luxuries that
we can well live without are costly.
But is not God alone the provider of all, be it the believer or the nonbeliever, the good or the bad? True. God alone provides for all. However, the
one who does not know is burdened and stressed with work and worry.

Being Connected to Him

A woman carried her vegetable basket on her head whilst travelling in the train
as she felt she should carry her own burden. Others put down their baskets and
enjoyed the journey.
One who knows that God provides does not worry, is at peace, and enjoys
all he has. Being connected to Him, he lives in Bliss.

9.12 Worshipping the Finite

We worship according to our understanding. People in good faith with
limited understanding, seeking limited results worship limited power
centres very elaborately (9.23)19 (ref. 7.20). Also we worship according to what
we value and according to our inherent nature or qualities. The good value
and worship deities of knowledge and divine virtues, the ambitious worship
deities of wealth and power, and the ignoble worship negative deities and
forces (9.25)20 (ref. 17.4). Some spend time worshipping deities (devats), some
19. ye=PyNydevta Kta yjNte yaiNvta>, te=ip mamev kaENtey yjNTyivixpUvRkm!.
yepyanyadevat bhakt yajante raddhaynvit, tepi mmeva kaunteya yajantyavidhiprvakam.
(9.23)
20. yaiNt devta devaiNptNyaiNt ipt&ta>, Utain yaiNt UteJya yaiNt m*aijnae=ip mam!.
ynti devavrat devnpitnynti pitvrat, bhtni ynti bhtejy ynti madyjinopi mm.
(9.25)
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Lesson 16

believe in serving their parents and keeping the family traditions alive (pitbhakta), some others are nature lovers or some, like scientists, seek to know
the secrets of nature (bhtejy).
God is all-powerful and He alone through the deities accepts the worship
and gives the results. The satisfaction that the donor and the receiver get are
both His alone (9.24).21 Not knowing this, we worship the finite and get finite
results. Efforts remaining the same, those who worship God get infinite
results God Himself.

Where Lies True Satisfcation?

The learned sages living in the Druka forest spent years performing rituals
and worshipping deities for extraordinary powers (siddhis). They believed that
it was their efforts alone which brought results. They did not believe in the
infinite God. The ever compassionate Lord iva appeared before them in the
form of a young handsome mendicant as they were performing rituals. The
wives of the is got attracted and followed the mendicant. This disturbed the
is who in anger tried to kill the mendicant with their extraordinary powers
and weapons. Naturally they could not harm the immortal Lord. Finally they
recognised His greatness, and surrendered at His feet. They realised that
getting more and more powers would never give them true satisfaction and
thus sought to know God.

9.13 Worshipping the Infinite

What was talked about earlier in the language of knowledge is spoken of by
r Ka in this and the following chapters in the language of devotion.
It is more difficult to please the petty-minded than the great. A big man in
a small town or a small-minded person in a big position both have big egos
21. Ah< ih svRy}ana< aeKta c urev c, n tu mamijaniNt tvenatZCyviNt te.
aha hi sarvayajn bhokt ca prabhureva ca, na tu mmabhijnanti tattventacyavanti te.
(9.24)
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which are difficult to satisfy. They are very demanding and must be shown
respect and worshipped with words and actions if we want them to favour
us. The finite power centres, or deities, similarly have to be worshipped duly
for us to get results. They get easily offended and can withdraw their favour
with the slightest mistake on our part. If not happy, they can even harm.
God on the other hand, is infinite, compassionate, loving, and forgiving.
He is easily pleased and is therefore easy to please. He accepts anything,
however insignificant, that is offered to Him (9.26)22 be it a leaf or fruit or
plain water!

Reflect
God does not see what you offer, but with what feelings you offer.

He does not eat the food you offer, but the love with which you offer it. The
mother does not see the cost or the quality of the present the child gifts to
her, but the love with which it is given melts her heart. r Ka went to the
houses of the Gops, not to steal butter He had plenty in His own house
but to partake of their soft and tender love signified by the butter they
prepared each day for Him. In India, a wet coin is placed along with the cash
or things offered to great men as a gift daki. This signifies the feelings:
Please accept our love soaked offering. And what can we offer to the Lord
anyway? Does not everything belong to Him alone? The devotee therefore
offers with the feeling: I offer to you with love, what belongs to you anyway.
Please accept my token of love. ((ter
ter tujhako arpaa
arpaa,, ky lge mer
mer))
Are there not prescribed ways (pj-vidhi) of worshipping God? Should
they not be followed? Yes, there are ways and they should be followed.
22. p< pu:p< )l< taey< yae me KTya yCDit, tdh< KTyuptmaim ytaTmn>.
patra pupa phala toya yo me bhakty prayacchati, tadaha bhaktyupahtamanmi
prayattmana. (9.26)
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Lesson 16

However, the important factor behind the worship is love (bhva); hence
the steps of worship (oaa(oaa-upacra) should be done with love. But when
love is overwhelming the method of worship is immaterial. What etiquette
is followed by a child to approach and please the parents? Nothing! He
just runs to his parents and hugs them. The tribal woman abar tasted the
berries before offering them to Lord Rma which is strictly against scriptural
injunctions. The Lord, however, happily ate them. (ref. Rmacaritamnasa,
Arayaka, Doh 34)
In fact, r Ka says that no special or separate acts of worship are
required to please Him. If we perform all our worldly duties, daily routine,
special duties, social obligations, or religious activities as a dedication to God
it becomes His worship alone (9.27).23 The Saint Svt Mli from Maharashtra
(a state in India) was a gardener and considered gardening itself as His
worship. The Lord was so pleased with Him that He promised to appear as
the vegetables in his garden.
With this attitude eating, bathing, or sleeping too become His worship. He
is indeed easily pleased! The Lord is pleased even by a small gesture from us,
then just imagine the result of offering all our actions to Him. Infinite indeed is
the result of worshipping the infinite Lord (9.28). 24 A saint exclaims: The Lord
has provided leaves and flowers in the wild, sweet water flowing perennially
in the rivers, and hands to pick and carry them and legs to take us to the
temple. Then what excuse can man have for not worshipping the Lord?25

23. yTkraei; ydais yJjuhaei; ddais yt!, ypSyis kaENtey tTk:v mdpR[m!.
yatkaroi yadansi yajjuhoi dadsi yat, yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkuruva madarpaam. (9.27)
24. zuazu)lErev< maeyse kmRbNxnE>, syasyaegyuKtaTma ivmuKtae mamupE:yis.
ubhubhaphalaireva mokyase karmabandhanai, sannysayogayukttm vimukto mmupaiyasi. (9.28)
25. Ar{ye siNt pai[ n*a< SvadUdkain c, siNt padaE c hStaE c kw< naraXyte hir>.
araye santi patri nady svddakni ca, santi pdau ca hastau ca katha nrdhyate hari.
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9.14 Is God Partial?

God is impartial to all. The Lord digests food and showers rains in the fields
of the believer and the non-believer, the sinner and the saint, the rich and the
poor, or the materialist and the spiritual person. Such is His all-encompassing
grace (smnya-kp). Parkit was killed by Avatthm whilst in the womb
of Uttar. When prayed to, Lord r Ka said, If I have partiality towards
none, may this child come alive. Parkit came back to life, grew up to be a
devotee of the Lord and finally merged with Him.

Mantra
smae=h< svR tU ;e u,
samoha sarvabhteu. (9.29)
I am impartial towards all.

However, special feelings have special results. Love-filled actions have

special results.

Mantra
miy te te; u Aip c Ahm !,
mayi te teu api ca aham. (9.29)
They are in Me and I am in them.
Love unites the Lord and the devotee.

As in the case of the sun, those who open the doors of their heart, experience
His light within. Fire is the same to all. Those who come closer receive its
warmth and those who remain far, shiver. Arjuna and Duryodhana both
went to r Ka before the Mahbhrata war seeking His help. The Lord

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Lesson 16

said, To one side I shall give one armed battalion (akauhi) of My army.
The other side gets Me, but I shall not fight. Choose whatever you wish.
Duryodhana chose the army and lost. Arjuna chose the Lord and won! We
too have a choice to receive His special blessings or not.

9.15 Can I Improve? Am I Qualified to Know God?

God?
When we look at ourselves all our pettiness, half-hearted efforts, indulgent
lifestyle, wrong habits, restless mind, our weakness, and limitations we
often wonder if we can ever improve. Realising God seems far away. As one
saint puts it: O Lord, how can I come to Your door wearing my filthy cloak
(mind)? I, therefore, hesitate to approach you.
However, r Ka assures us that even the worst sinner (sudurcra)
can transform when he decides to do so. His resolve to change for the better,
to follow the path of good, and to turn towards God, itself qualifies him to
be called a good person (sdhu) (9.30).26 Is not even the fresher in a medical
college called a doctor when he dons a coat and a stethoscope? Once he has
entered college, in due course he will become a doctor.
The fire of deep regret burns the negativities and the strength of the right
resolve soon initiates good thoughts and conduct. The sacred flow of good
thoughts and conduct purifies and transforms us completely. In the process of
transformation the devotee may fall a hundred times, but the Lord assures us
that if we take one small step towards Him, He takes ten big ones towards us.
His grace is vividly experienced by the devotee at every step of his spiritual
progress. Ere long the devotee attains peace and Bliss. (9.31)27

26. Aip ceTsuracarae jte mamnNyak, saxurev s mNtVy> sMyGVyvistae ih s>.

api cetsudurcro bhajate mmananyabhk, sdhureva sa mantavya samyagvyavasito hi sa.
(9.30)
27. i]< vit xmaRTma zCDaiNt< ingCDit, kaENtey itjanIih n me Kt> [Zyit.
kipra bhavati dharmtm avacchnti nigacchati, kaunteya pratijnhi na me bhakta praayati. (9.31)
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Mantra
n me Kt> [Zyit,
na me bhakta praayati. (9.31)
My devotee never perishes.

It is seen that time and time again the materialists have tried to destroy
spirituality, but have never succeeded. Great saints have been crucified, but
their name and spirit have become immortal. The evil spirit (kty) that
aa and Amarka sent to kill the great devotee Prahlda, rebounded to kill
them. The devotee is always protected by the Lord. ((Bhgavatam,
Bhgavatam, Canto 7)

Right Resolve
A thief stole the kings necklace. He was followed by the king into the forest.
He saw a monks hut and entered, hoping to hide from the king. Since the
monk was not there, he wore his clothes, smeared his forehead with ashes, and
pretended to meditate. The king entered the hut and saw a monk meditating.
He fell prostrate and sat before him in silence. This touched the thief somewhere
deep inside. He thought: If wearing the robe of a good person makes the most
powerful man of the land fall at my feet and attain peace, what if I actually
became good. He confessed to the king who he was and asked to be punished
for his crime. The king being a good man himself, recognised his resolve to
change and set him free to walk the path of Truth. (ref. 4.36)

9.16 Uniqueness of the Path of Devotion

Are there not people who are more qualified than others by birth? Surely knowing
God requires special qualification. Are all equally qualified to realise God?
Irrespective of the caste, creed, colour, education, family, religion or
nationality, all can realise God. But then, all are not equally qualified to
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Lesson 16

realise God through the Path of Knowledge (jna-yoga). Some are by birth
more qualified due to their past sa
saskras
skras (impressions) and these evolved
souls can walk the Path of Knowledge with ease. This Path of Knowledge
does need special qualification like subtle discrimination (viveka) and
strong dispassion (vairgya).
But the Path of Devotion (bhakti-yoga) is unique. r Ka assures us
that even the most unqualified or spiritually underprivileged too can walk
the Path of Devotion and attain Him (9.32).28 Devotion is supreme Love.
Even infants, the mentally challenged, animals and plants understand the
language of love. We all have an infinite potential of love and an available
capital of it. Anyone who invests this love in God gains supreme love and
becomes one with Him. The Rmyaa and the Bhgavatam abound with
stories of ordinary people and even animals and birds gaining the Supreme.
Kevaa was a simple boatman, abar a tribal woman, and Jayu a vulture.
The Gops were uneducated village girls, Kliya a poisonous serpent, while
Yamala and Arjuna were trees. They were all liberated by the Lord.
It should not be understood that only the unfit and underprivileged walk
the Path of Devotion. Great sages, scholars, siddhas, and yogs too have taken
to this path and attained the Supreme. The Path of Devotion is indeed an
enchanting highway.

9.16.1 Resolving Confusion

Gt mentions women, vaiyas, and dras and associates them with the word
ppayonaya those born of sinful wombs, and brhmaa and katriya
with the word puy meritorious births. Misunderstanding this is likely
to cause adverse reactions.
Ppa or sin is that which prevents us from knowing the Truth and puya
or merit is that which helps us to know the Truth. Animals are referred to
as ppayonaya as they cannot learn, study, understand, or progress. As
28. ma< ih pawR VypaiTy ye=ip Syu> papyaeny>, iyae vEZyaStwa zUaSte=ip yaiNt pra< gitm!.
m hi prtha vyapritya yepi syu ppayonaya, striyo vaiystath drstepi ynti par
gatim. (9.32)
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already explained earlier (ref. Lesson 7, The Caste System

System)) the caste (vara)
of a person was based on his mental makeup (guas) and profession and
not his birth. Certain mental qualities are definitely disadvantages and some
advantageous for gaining the Truth. Womanly qualities like attachment,
dependency, and emotional nature; vaiya qualities of manipulating,
calculating, and profit-making; and dra characteristics of herd-mentality,
dullness, and lethargy are disadvantageous for gaining knowledge. Qualities
of brhmaa and katriya like brightness, subtle thinking, peace, dynamism,
and daring are advantageous for knowing the Truth. However, irrespective
of any advantage or disadvantage, all can love God and attain Him and
therefore r Ka urges us to seek, know, and love God.

Mantra
AinTyms o
u < laekimm< aPy jSv mam !,
anityamasukha lokamima prpya bhajasva mm. (9.33)
Having come to this world, which is impermanent and without joy,
seek, love, worship, and know Me.

One who ignores the Eternal and runs after the impermanent, does not enjoy
the impermanent as it gets destroyed anyway and also loses the Eternal too!29
He is left empty-handed.

9.17 Management Tips from Gt (9.34)30

Success in any endeavour is guaranteed when you think about it (tan-mana),
put your heart into it (tad-bhakta), consider achieving it greater than anything
29. yae uvai[ pirTyJy Auv< pirsevte, uvai[ tSy nZyiNt Auv< nmev c.
yo dhruvi parityajya adhruva parisevate, dhruvi tasya nayanti adhruva naameva ca.
30. mNmna v mKtae m*ajI ma< nmSk, mamevE:yis yuKTvEvmaTman< mTpray[>.
manman bhava madbhakto madyj m namaskuru, mmevaiyasi yuktvaivamtmna
matparyaa. (9.34)
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else (tat-paryaa), are ready to put all efforts to achieve it (tad-yj), and
dedicate all you have with humility towards achieving it (tan-namas-kuru).

9.18 r Kas Concluding Assurance

r Ka has assured us that He shall take care of our needs; that He is easy
to please and worship, that He is impartial and accepts all and that all are
qualified to attain Him. So what should we do? r Ka assures us thus: If
you think of Me (man-mana), put your heart in Me (mad-bhakta), consider
nothing else to be greater than Me (mat-paryaa), are ready to do anything
for Me (mad-yj), and dedicate all to Me ((m
m namaskuru
namaskuru),
), then you shall
doubtlessly attain Me the infinite supreme God (mm
(mm eva eyasi asaaya).
asaaya).

Chapter 9, Rja-vidy-rja-guhya-yoga
This chapter continues with the theme of the seventh chapter knowledge
(jna) and wisdom (vijna) about God and His Creation. r Ka praises
this knowledge as the king of all knowledges and the highest secret and hence
the name of the chapter. This chapter talks about the special relationlessrelationship between God and His creation and how He creates the world.
It also talks about the wasteful life one leads when away from God, the finite
results one gets from worshipping finite power centres and the great loss in
considering the Infinite to be finite and ignoring the Infinite.
The chapter explains in the language of devotion how God being all takes
various roles in our life, takes care of all our needs, is easy to please and
worship, is impartial, and how He accepts all. r Ka finally assures us
again that those who turn to Him in love will surely attain Him.

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Phone: +91-484-2749676, 2747307 Fax: +91-484-2749729 Email: gitacourse@chinfo.org Web: www.chinfo.org

Questionnaire 16
(Covers Lesson 16, Rjavidy-rjaguhya-yoga, part ii)
Answer without referring to the lesson.
All sections except Q VIII, Reflect, are to be answered at one stretch.

Duration: 3 Hours
I. State True or False.

Marks: 100
Marks 5 (5x1)

1. One can stay eternally in heaven enjoying pleasures.

2. It is not work that tires us, but the burden of responsibility and the loads
of worries that we carry within us.
3. God is partial to his devotees.
4. Even the worst sinner can transform when he decides to do so.
5. Only the unfit and underprivileged walk the Path of Devotion.

I. Fill in the Blanks.

Marks 5 (5x1)

1. The Lord promises to take care of our __________________, but not our
__________________.
2. The important factor behind the worship is __________________
3. The __________________ is always protected by the Lord.
4. __________________ indeed is the result of worshipping the infinite Lord!

III. Match the Following.

Marks 5 (5x1)

1. Ananyat

Subtler and higher forms of pleasures

2. God

Can get easily offended and withdraw favour

3. Heaven

Sorrow ridden

4. Finite deities

Bliss Absolute

5. Earthly joys

Love without otherness, unwavering love

Chinmaya International Foundation 2011

Bhagavad-gt Course

IV. Answer in Brief (two-line answers).

Marks 10 (5x2)

1. One cannot be in heaven eternally. Why?

2. What is Gods promise to those who dedicate their lives unto Him?
3. What does a wet coin placed along with the cash or things offered as gift
(daki) to great men signify?
4. Differentiate yoga and kema.
5. What are the factors that guarantee success in any endeavour?

V. Write Short Notes (small paragraphs of 3-4 lines each). Marks 15 (5x3)
1. Qualities disadvantageous for gaining knowledge
2. Qualities advantageous for gaining knowledge
3. Ananyat of the Gops of Vrindavan
4. No excuse for not worshipping the Lord
5. Resolve to change for the better

VI. Write Short Answers (5-10 lines).

Marks 30 (5x6)

1. Why do people worship finite entities? What is the shortcoming of such

worship?
2. Justify how the Lord is impartial to all even though some people receive
His special blessings.
3. How can even a sinner progress spiritually if he resolves to change for the
better?
4. Explain how the Path of Devotion is unique.
5. What are the salient thoughts covered by r Ka in Chapter 9?

VII. Answer in Detail.

Marks 20 (2x10)

1. Why is worry unnecessary? Explain how the Lord takes care of us.
2. How does one worship the infinite Lord?

VIII. Reflect!

Marks 10 (1x10)

Tomorrow from the moment you wake up till the time you go for dinner,
function merely as an instrument in the hands of the Lord, with no insistence
2

Questionnaire 16

on (1) the type of actions that reach you, and (2) the results of action that
accrue. With these anxieties removed, your quality of execution of tasks
undertaken will be better but this would just be a corollary. The chief gain
will be in the state of your mind.
Send us a note on what was the state of your mind, as well as qualitative
gains in your tasks. Now that you have seen the blessing that acting as an
instrument in the hands of the Divine bestows, how do you propose to make
this the all encompassing factor determining your way of life?