Bhagavad Geeta: The Scripture Universal for Perfection Part 1/2

Bhagavad Geeta: The Scripture Universal for Perfection Part 1/2

Certain criteria contribute to make a book universal in its character. The language in which it happens to be couched is not in itself of great consequence. The Bhagavad Gita has come into being in Samskrit, a sacred medium no doubt. But this book does not derive its sanctity and importance from this fact as such. Neither does the fact of its translation into a number of languages add to its merit. With modern facilities it is easily possible for a book to run into an enormous number of impressions in the press and to find a ready market all over the world. On these grounds men of wisdom do not attribute universalism to a book. The fact that thousands or even millions pour over the pages of a particular book day after day does not necessarily establish a claim to universalism for that book. The sanctity of a book does not depend upon a census of its readers. The most extensively read printed matter is the newspaper. Almost every other man reads it, but it becomes a back number then and there. In contrast to this, literature on the path to perfection is studied by hardly a few at a time. What is more, this sacred study is put into practice by a fewer still, while those who attain perfection as a result of such study and practice are very rare indeed. On this ground of fewness and rarity the search after perfection should not be dismissed as something of no import. Its value is at par at all times and with all people. The inviolable law that governs life is that all have to attain perfection at One time or another. That book alone is of universal value which reveals this Path to Perfection.

There are sufficient grounds to grant universalism to the Bhagavad Gita. In unmistakable terms it upholds perfection as the goal of life. Books that point the way to perfection stand on a pedestal of their own. Self-perfection is the acme of human aspirations. Sooner or later all have to pay homage to it and attain it. The Gita is a Clarion Call to this goal.

Self-perfection is the goal in life. Yoga is the means to it. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga get their due place in the Bhagavad Gita. A bird requires two wings and a tail for its flight. The soul is endowed with Bhakti and Jnanam to serve as two wings. Karma Yoga serves as the tail that maintains the balance. All spiritual Practices are part and parcel of these three yogas. Scriptures pertaining to religions are innumerable, but they are seldom all-inclusive in enunciating the Laws that govern life. There are books which, while giving all attention to the life hereafter, ignore our earthly existence altogether. There are yet other books which aim at pinning all our attention to life in this mundane world only. They assume indifference if not antipathy to existence that transcends the senses and the intellect. But the Bhagavad Gita is perfectly balanced in its outlook. It exhorts the aspirant to make the best of the mundane world, and also to prepare himself to draw inspiration from what is beyond. The Gita further contends that proper attunement with the mundane leads to yoga or union with the supermundane; the reverse of it equally holds good; in other words, a spiritual man alone is best equipped for worldly life.

Source: Srimad Bhagavad Geeta-Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda

Swami Chidbhavananda belonged to the Ramakrishna Order of Monks. He was a disciple of Swami Shivananda who was a direct disciple of Parmahamsa Sri Ramakrishna.  Swami Chidbhavanandaji founded the Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam and has written over 125 books, the most famous being his commentary on the Srimad Bhagavad Geeta.