Chapter 8 Text 2628

1
Chapter 8 Text 26-28

• Passing away in light and darkness!
• Devotee not afraid of passing away in either
  light or darkness.

2
Text 26

• çukla-kåñëe gaté hy ete
• jagataù çäçvate mate
• ekayä yäty anävåttim
• anyayävartate punaù
• According to Vedic opinion, there are two ways of
  passing from this worldone in light and one in
  darkness. When one passes in light, he does not
  come back but when one passes in darkness, he
  returns.

3
Passing away in light and darkness.

• Light means knowledge knowledge means
  knowledge of spirit and matter and controller of
  both.
• Darkness means ignorance ignorance means no
  knowledge of spirit and matter and controller of
  both and in addition cultivate knowledge for
  sense gratification.
• Result of passing in light and darkness.

4
Text 27

• naite såté pärtha jänan
• yogé muhyati kaçcana
• tasmät sarveñu käleñu
• yoga-yukto bhavärjuna
• Although the devotees know these two paths, O
  Arjuna, they are never bewildered. Therefore be
  always fixed in devotion.

5
Devotee is not affraid

• Concern over either of these two paths is
  troublesome.
• The best way to be absorbed in Kåñëa
  consciousness and this will make ones path to
  the spiritual kingdom safe, certain and direct.
• Therefore the devotee is not disturbed by these
  descriptions, because he knows that his passage
  to the supreme abode is guaranteed by devotional
  service.

6
Bhisma is perfect example.

• Bhagavad-Gita spoken in month of Margashirsha
  (December).
• Sun starts travelling to north from Makara
  Sankranti (Jan.14).
• Bhisma waiting for Krsna to come and not Makara
  Sankranti.

7
Text 28

• vedeñu yajïeñu tapaùsu caiva
• däneñu yat puëya-phalaà pradiñöam
• atyeti tat sarvam idaà viditvä
• yogé paraà sthänam upaiti cädyam
• A person who accepts the path of devotional
  service is not bereft of the results derived from
  studying the Vedas, performing austere
  sacrifices, giving charity or pursuing
  philosophical and fruitive activities. Simply by
  performing devotional service, he attains all
  these, and at the end he reaches the supreme
  eternal abode.

8
Purpose of Varnashram following

• Study of the Vedas is not meant for the
  recreation of armchair speculators, but for the
  formation of character.
• By carrying out the orders of brahmacarya,
  householder life, vänaprastha and finally
  sannyäsa, one becomes elevated to the
  perfectional stage of life.
• Perfection by either going to heavenly planets or
  more perfect by liberation and going to
  Brahmajyoti or Vaikuntha Lokas.
• By engaging in devotional service, one can
  surpass all the rituals of the different orders
  of life.

9
Understanding of Bhagavad-Gita

• Middle six chapters of Bhagavad-Gita are like
  cream and 1st six chapters and last six chapters
  to protect the essence.
• One should try to understand these chapters not
  by scholarship or mental speculation but by
  hearing them in association with devotees.
• If one is fortunate enough to understand
  Bhagavad-gétä especially these middle six
  chapters in the association of devotees, then his
  life at once becomes glorified beyond all
  penances, sacrifices, charities, speculations,
  etc., for one can achieve all the results of
  these activities simply by Kåñëa consciousness.

10
Association of devotees

• One who has a little faith in Bhagavad-gétä
  should learn Bhagavad-gétä from a devotee.
• By advancement in the association of the devotee
  one is placed in devotional service, and this
  service dispels all ones misgivings about Kåñëa,
  or God, and Kåñëas activities, form, pastimes,
  name and other features.
• In the advanced stage, one falls completely in
  love with Kåñëa.