Skip to main content

The Prakriti

 

Week 21, chapter 7, shloka 1-14

As Krishna gets mirror-like Arjuna to listen to Him and understand Him; delighted, Krishna preaches further…

The knowledge of ‘self’ and the knowledge of the physical world. The realm where the intellect doesn’t enter and all the thoughts and reasonings stop is the realm of true knowledge (Gyaan) –rest all is the knowledge of the physical world (Vigyan). And when from this physical understanding, one tries to understand the physical world, that is called ‘Agyaan’- no knowledge/false knowledge.

Like out of millions who enter the flood of desire to attain self-knowledge, there would be one who will attain the pure knowledge of ‘self’. So, one must not consider it an ordinary thing.

The Prakriti

Just like the body casts its shadow, My shadow is ‘Maya' also called ‘Prakriti’, and is the creative force of nature. My nature is visible in eight forms- the earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, reason, and the sense of ‘I’ (the pride). And the integration of these eight forms is ‘Prakriti’- the system of life. It gives life to the inorganic matter and ignites excitation in the nervous system (therefore, is also called ‘Jeevabhoota’). It gives the intellect the power to understand temptation and grief. It’s due to her influence that the knowledge originating in the intellect, and the sense of ‘I’ govern the process of this world.

And so, when this Prakriti in its subtle form integrates with its own gross state, gives birth to a mint producing four kinds of coins (people of four varnas). Having the same composition/caliber of five elements, but different varnas. And in total there are 84 lakh types of these forms and there are various subforms so there is no count as such. A tremendous number of these coins (beings) fill the treasure of the unknown. The Prakriti creates all these coins, creates the expanse, and then destroys (melts) them. Since the Prakriti is my own form, and so, I remain the origin of the world, its state, and its rhythm.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ananya Bhakti (the singularity)

Week 32, Chapter 11, Shloka 32-55 Tremendous form of Krishna, as seen by Arjuna shows everything and every one of the mortal world rushing towards the fire-filled mouth of Shri Krishna- like the moths rushing towards the fire are consumed by the fire, the same way Arjuna can see the warriors of the mortal world and the army of the battlefield rushing towards the tremendous fire of destruction in the mouth of Krishna. Having been witnessed this universal form, trembling with fear, Arjuna requests Krishna to return back to his gentle human form. Says Krishna— The universal form that you saw cannot be attained by studying Vedas or scriptures…nor by charity, penance, sacrifices can the universal form be attained. भक्त्या त्वनन्यया शक्य अहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन | ज्ञातुं द्रष्टुं च तत्त्वेन प्रवेष्टुं च परन्तप || 54 || bhaktyā tv ananyayā śhakya aham eva ṁ -vidho ’ rjuna j ñā tu ṁ dra ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha tattvena prave ṣ h ṭ u ṁ cha parantapa The only way to attain my universal form is...
Post a Comment
Read more

The universal being

Chapter 12, shloka 15-20 The way the ocean remains unaffected if the number of sea creatures increases or decreases nor is it annoyed by their activities…also the sea creatures remain unaffected by the roar of the ocean. In the same way, the one who is unaffected by other people’s behavior; has overcome the ideas of mine and others, has overcome the ideas of pleasure and sorrow, remains devoted to me and so is always the one who is most dear to me. He who has overcome his lust and greed, is a being so full of purity and his company is so auspicious like the rays of the sun –the mere presence is sufficient to remove all the darkness (that lies within). Such a being is fearless and is contained with ‘samadhaan’(the most peaceful state). The one who has assumed his position as a universal being is uninterested in anything other than the joy of the spirit. Does not rejoice nor despair the worldly gains or losses. The one who is equipoised in pleasure and sorrow and considers everyone e...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’)--various arguements

 Chapter 13, shloka 1-4   Kshetragya (the knower of the ‘field’) This body is the ‘kshetra’ (the field/site), and the one who knows the body is the one to be called ‘Kshetragnya’. The Kshetragnya and the one who nourishes all the kshetras is but me only, and to know the kshetra and the kshetragnya is the true knowledge. Tells Krishna; there have been a lot of discussions in scriptures and various arguments among sages about who this kshetra belongs to but there is no unanimity on the same. Gyaneshwara comments on various arguments and discussions about the kshetra; Those who are believers in the theory of karma say that the entire kshetra is under the control of ‘jivatma’(the embodied soul) and is managed by the prana(the life force). The four types of airs- apaana, vyaana, udaana and samaana put a lot of effort into sustaining prana while the mind enquires and supervises them. The five sense organs and five action organs are like tools in the hands of the jivatma,...
Post a Comment
Read more