Gita Summaries: Chapters 1-11 - Vedanta

Swami Paramarthananda on Gita – Summaries of Chaps 1-11
expression and manifestation of God). So to see God, one need not go anywhere else if I
learn to look upon any object in creation as God’s manifestation. To appreciate gold,
where should you go Then you will discover gold in all the ornaments. Actually there is
no ornament without gold.
So, where do you see gold Your answer will be: How can you miss gold
imilarly God is everywhere and not confined to just a place; we need not close our eyes
or stand on one leg to see God. Through this wisdom born out of understanding you can
see God everywhere. A person who understands God as a material cause will see the
Lord everywhere in creation. Therefore learn to appreciate the world as God’s
manifestation. All the glories of the world are only the special manifestation of the Lord.
(Ordinary manifestation –bhuti–, and special manifestations –vibhuti–, categorized as per
the maturity of the seeker).
So whenever you see any glory in creation; one should remember it as Lord’s glory.
Like when you see a great building; you remember the architect. Therefore every special
object in creation becomes a means for worshipping the Lord.
Arjuna asks for all the special manifestation and the Lord enumerates some of them.
However, we shall mention only all the Vedic portions.
The meaning of the word “Vibhuti” is cowdung and it is the abode of Lakshmi. Another
meaning is ash; that which is left after everything has been burnt. What remains after
everything is resolved in creation; the Lord.
a) All the Vedas are manifestations of the Lord; Krishna says that among them I am
Sama. While Rig is in form of poetical verse; Yajur prose, Sama is musical. Since music is
attractive, Krishna identifies himself with Sama Veda.
b) Veda Vidya: Veda Purvah [Earlier Portion of Veda] is the section of Vedas that stems
from the premise: how to manipulate jagat [world] to be happy Here one is trying to
change one’s wife, get a job, house etc. You take your horoscope to various astrologers
and each one will say differently and different appeasement rituals, Adjusting the world
or planets is an unintelligent approach. Even should something change, it will not remain
that way, for the world keeps on changing.
In Vedanta [End Portion of Veda] one does not seek to change the world, but oneself. I
must have the inner strength not to be affected by circumstances. It is like walking
wearing shoes on a pebble pathway.
So, among Veda Purvah and Vedanta, I am Vedanta; being Para Prakriti and Apara
Prakriti, I am Para Prakriti
c) Among Vaidika yagna [Vedic sacrifices], I am japah [practice of unceasing repetition
{of certain words and sounds)]. Why
- Easily accessible to all without discrimination of gender, varna [caste], or ashrama
[stage of life].
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