Bhagavad-gītā 18.78
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
-
yoga - īśvaraḥ
—
the master of mysticism
Compound title. Yoga-īśvara — the Lord of all yoga. Sañjaya's final title for Kṛṣṇa, sealing the Gītā with the name that holds every previous yoga teaching together.
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dhanuḥ - dharaḥ
—
the carrier of the bow and arrow
Compound. Arjuna with bow restored. He had thrown it down in 1.46; now he carries it again, having heard the Gītā. The image itself is the chapter's verdict that the teaching worked.
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śrīḥ
—
opulence
Goddess Lakṣmī herself. Where Kṛṣṇa-and-Arjuna stand, śrī is present — wealth, prosperity, fortune. The verse names her first.
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vijayaḥ
—
victory
Wherever they stand, victory follows. Not probability — *follows*. The verse promises unbroken success to the Kṛṣṇa-devotee alliance.
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bhūtiḥ
—
exceptional power
Extraordinary strength or majesty. The third gift. Distinct from vijaya — bhūti is the *capacity* that produces victory.
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nītiḥ
—
morality
Nīti — moral order. With dhruvā: *certain* morality. The fourth gift: where Kṛṣṇa and the devotee stand, dharma itself is stable. The whole Gītā ends with morality assured.
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matiḥ mama
—
my opinion
Synonyms-list entry. The Gītā's final word — Sañjaya's signature. He stamps his own conviction on the closing verdict. The 18th chapter ends, fittingly, with a settled mati — the disciple's stable conviction.
The Bhagavad-gītā began with an inquiry of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s. He was hopeful of the victory of his sons, assisted by great warriors like Bhīṣma, Droṇa and Karṇa. He was hopeful that the victory would be on his side. But after describing the scene on the battlefield, Sañjaya told the King, “You are thinking of victory, but my opinion is that where Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are present, there will be all good fortune.” He directly confirmed that Dhṛtarāṣṭra could not expect victory for his side. Victory was certain for the side of Arjuna because Kṛṣṇa was there. Kṛṣṇa’s acceptance of the post of charioteer for Arjuna was an exhibition of another opulence. Kṛṣṇa is full of all opulences, and renunciation is one of them. There are many instances of such renunciation, for Kṛṣṇa is also the master of renunciation. The fight was actually between Duryodhana and Yudhiṣṭhira. Arjuna was fighting on behalf of his elder brother, Yudhiṣṭhira. Because Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna were on the side of Yudhiṣṭhira, Yudhiṣṭhira’s victory was certain. The battle was to decide who would rule the world, and Sañjaya predicted that the power would be transferred to Yudhiṣṭhira. It is also predicted here that Yudhiṣṭhira, after gaining victory in this battle, would flourish more and more because not only was he righteous and pious but he was also a strict moralist. He never spoke a lie during his life. There are many less intelligent persons who take Bhagavad-gītā to be a discussion of topics between two friends on a battlefield. But such a book cannot be scripture. Some may protest that Kṛṣṇa incited Arjuna to fight, which is immoral, but the reality of the situation is clearly stated: Bhagavad-gītā is the supreme instruction in morality. The supreme instruction of morality is stated in the Ninth Chapter, in the thirty-fourth verse: man-manā bhava mad-bhaktaḥ. One must become a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, and the essence of all religion is to surrender unto Kṛṣṇa ( sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja ). The instructions of Bhagavad-gītā constitute the supreme process of religion and of morality. All other processes may be purifying and may lead to this process, but the last instruction of the Gītā is the last word in all morality and religion: surrender unto Kṛṣṇa. This is the verdict of the Eighteenth Chapter. From Bhagavad-gītā we can understand that to realize oneself by philosophical speculation and by meditation is one process, but to fully surrender unto Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfection. This is the essence of the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā. The path of regulative principles according to the orders of social life and according to the different courses of religion may be a confidential path of knowledge. But although the rituals of religion are confidential, meditation and cultivation of knowledge are still more confidential. And surrender unto Kṛṣṇa in devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the most confidential instruction. That is the essence of the Eighteenth Chapter. Another feature of Bhagavad-gītā is that the actual truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. The Absolute Truth is realized in three features – impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth means perfect knowledge of Kṛṣṇa. If one understands Kṛṣṇa, then all the departments of knowledge are part and parcel of that understanding. Kṛṣṇa is transcendental, for He is always situated in His eternal internal potency. The living entities are manifested of His energy and are divided into two classes, eternally conditioned and eternally liberated. Such living entities are innumerable, and they are considered fundamental parts of Kṛṣṇa. Material energy is manifested into twenty-four divisions. The creation is effected by eternal time, and it is created and dissolved by external energy. This manifestation of the cosmic world repeatedly becomes visible and invisible. In Bhagavad-gītā five principal subject matters have been discussed: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, material nature, the living entities, eternal time and all kinds of activities. All is dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. All conceptions of the Absolute Truth – impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā and any other transcendental conception – exist within the category of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although superficially the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity, material nature and time appear to be different, nothing is different from the Supreme. But the Supreme is always different from everything. Lord Caitanya’s philosophy is that of “inconceivable oneness and difference.” This system of philosophy constitutes perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth. The living entity in his original position is pure spirit. He is just like an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa may be compared to the sun, and the living entities to sunshine. Because the living entities are the marginal energy of Kṛṣṇa, they have a tendency to be in contact either with the material energy or with the spiritual energy. In other words, the living entity is situated between the two energies of the Lord, and because he belongs to the superior energy of the Lord, he has a particle of independence. By proper use of that independence he comes under the direct order of Kṛṣṇa. Thus he attains his normal condition in the pleasure-giving potency. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Eighteenth Chapter of the Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā in the matter of its Conclusion – the Perfection of Renunciation.
As for the commentary on the last five verses, which brings out the purport of the whole Gītā, they were written on two pages, which have been taken away by the carrier of Ganeśa (a rat). I have not bothered to write them again. They were a trifling matter. Let that be. Thus the commentaries on the Bhagavad Gītā called Sārārtha Darśinī have been completed. May this shower of meanings of the essence of scripture, which give benefit to the whole world, delight the devotee cātaka birds with its sweetness and may the pleasure they derive from it light up my heart. Thus end the commentaries on the eighteenth chapter of the Gītā for the pleasure of the devotees’ hearts, by the mercy of the ācāryas.
This being so, give up the desire for the victory of your sons. Where there is the master who is related to all beings (yogeśvāraḥ, explained above), who brings into motion and maintains the forms of all other living entities just by His will, where there is Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva, who takes the role of a helper even as the charioteer of Arjuna, and where there is Arjuna, the son of Prthā, your father’s sister, [Note: Kṛṣṇa’s father, Vasudeva, was the sister of Pṛthā. Both were children of king Śūrasena. Pṛthā was adopted by King Kuntibhoja and called Kuntī. She married Pāṇḍu and gave birth to Arjuna.] who is the avatāra of Nara, the pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa, the holder of the bow Gāṇḍīva which cannot be cut (dhanur dharaḥ)—at that place alone, where Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna are situated, siding with Yudhiṣṭhira, there will also be secured the wealth of kings (śrī), victory (vijaya)—great superiority causing the defeat of the enemy, the constant increase of that royal wealth (bhūtiḥ), and the permanent (dhruvā) sense of justice (nītiḥ). One should not worry that this scripture is favoring war. It is not so. The instructions are man-manā bhava mad-bhakta and sarva-dharmān parityajya. It is clear that the prescribed actions according to the four varṇas and āśramas (including fighting) have been delineated for purification of the heart, and for teaching the populace. [Note: These instructions are for the saniṣṭha and pariniṣṭhita devoee.] There are many methods, but among them, surrender (prapatti), along with the attitude of being a servant, quickly pleases Viṣṇū. This is the conclusion of the eighteenth chapter. In the Gītā, the supreme truth Kṛṣṇa, filled with all spiritual qualities, who drunk the breast milk of Yaśodā, who became the charioteer of Arjuna, is glorified. Attaining the fulfillment of my desires, I immersed myself in the milk ocean of the Gītā, but I have not been able to lift the jewel of very wonderul meanings out of the ocean, though I have understood to some degree. In this way, my master, the joyful son of Nanda, with great delight, shows His affection for me. With care Vidyābhūṣana has attended upon this commentary called Śrīmad Gītā Bhūṣaṇa. O devotees who are greedy for the sweetness of prema of Śrī Govinda, filled with mercy, please purify this work.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with Acarya Commentaries First Canto Creation Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Canto 1: "Creation" Preface Introduction 1. Questions by the Sages • Translations 1-23 2. Divinity and Divine Service • Translations 1-34 3. Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations • Translations 1-44 4. The Appearance of Śrī Nārada • Translations 1-33 5. Nārada's Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva • Translations 1-40 6. Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva • Translations 1-38 7. The Son of Droṇa Punished • Translations 1-58 8. Prayers by Queen Kuntī, and Parīkṣit Saved • Translations 1-52 9. The Passing Away of BhCīṣmadeva in the Presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa • Translations 1-49 10. Departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa for Dvārakā • Translations 1-36 11. Lord Kṛṣṇa's Entrance into Dvārakā • Translations 1-39 12. Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit • Translations 1-36 13. Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home • Translations 1-60 14. The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa • Translations 1-44 15. The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely • Translations 1-51 16. How Pariksit Received the Age of Kali • Translations 1-36 17. Punishment and Reward of Kali • Translations 1-45 18. Mahārāja Parīkṣit Cursed by a Brāhmaṇa Boy • Translations 1-50 19. The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī • Translations 1-40 Dedication To Śrīla Prabhupāda Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Mahārāja My Spiritual Master On the 26th Annual Ceremony of His Appearance Day
He lives forever by his divine instructions and the follower lives with him.
There, Sanjaya is speaking to Dhrtarastra, who is wandering what is going to happen in this battle, who is going to win? are the Kauravas going to defeat the Pandavas?, despite the fact that they are opposing Krsna. And Dhrtarastra was so eager, (if we remember way back from the beginning of Bhagavad‑gita) when Sanjaya informed him that Arjuna had put down his Gandiva bow and his arrows and was standing in the middle of the battlefield perplexed, and now after hearing the entire Bhagavad‑gita, Dhrtarastra being informed by Sanjaya that there is no hope for his sons to win. Because wherever there is Krsna there will be victory and all opulence and extraordinary power and morality. That is the opinion of Sanjaya. Srila Prabhupada says in his Purport: " From Bhagavad‑gita we can understand that to realize oneself by philosophical speculation and by meditation is one process, but to surrender unto Krsna is the highest perfection. This is the essence of the teachings of Bhagavad‑gita. The path of regulative principles according to the orders of social life and according to the different courses of religion may be a confidential path of knowledge. But although the rituals of religion are confidential, meditation and cultivation of knowledge are still more confidential. And surrender unto in devotional service in full Krsna consciousness is the most confidential instruction. That is the essence of the Eighteenth Chapter." And then by the end: "In Bhagavad‑gita five principal subject matters have been discussed: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, material nature, the living entities, eternal time and all kinds of activities. All is dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. All conceptions of the Absolute Truth‑‑impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma and any other transcendental conception‑‑exist within the catego understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although superficially the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the l entity, material nature and time appear to be different, nothing is different from the Supreme. But the Supreme is always different from everything. Lord Caitanya's philosophy is th ``inconceivable oneness and difference.'' This syst philosophy constitutes perfect knowledge of the Absolute Truth. The living entity in his original position is pure spirit. He is just like an atomic particle of the Supreme Spirit. Thus Lord Krsna may be compared to the sun, and the living entities to sunshine. Because the living entities are the marginal energy of Krsna, they have a tendency to be in contact either with the material energy or with the spiritual energy. In other words, the living entity is situated between the two energies of the Lord, and because he belongs to the superior energy of the Lord, he has a particle of independence. By proper use of that independence he comes under the direct order of Krsna. Thus he attains his normal condition in the pleasure‑giving potency."
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Purports to the Eighteenth Chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad‑gita in the matter of its Conclusion‑‑the Perfection of Renunciation.
Right in the end a very nice point was made by Srila Prabhupada, how the living entity is marginal. If he associates with matter he will become wet, he will become 'matter‑conscious'. But yet on the other hand, if he associates with the spiritual energy, we will become elevated in Krsna consciousness. This is the secret of Krsna consciousness ‑ it is association. If one drips away, like a riven cloud, one will dissipate ‑ but not really because whatever one gains it will be always his benefit.
THUS ENDS THE STUDY OF CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
Śrīla Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa ends his Gītā-bhūṣaṇa, “the ornament of the Bhagavad-gītā,” with the
following words: “Having obtained the boat of the Lord’s desire, I have submerged myself in the
sea of Bhagavad-gītā, where I have collected many very wonderful gems of its purports. Due to my
great feelings of joy, I cannot raise myself out of this sea. I only hope that the cunning son of
Nanda is pleased with me. I, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, have with great effort compiled this commen-
tary named Śrī-gītā-bhūṣaṇa. May the saintly devotees correct any faults it contains. They are al-
ways eager to taste the sweetness of pure love for Śrī Govinda, and their hearts are always melting
with compassion.”
Appendix
VERSE
ITEM
MODE OF GOODNESS
MODE OF PASSION
MODE OF IGNORANCE
14.6
to 14.8
Binding Force
Sense of:
14.11
to 14.13
Symptoms
14.14
to 14.15
Destination at
death
14.16
to 14.18
Results of
action
17.4
Worship
17.8
to 17.10
Food
Type of foods:
Effect of such foods:
Type of foods:
Effect of such foods:
Type of foods:
Effect of such foods:
Appendix
VERSE
ITEM
MODE OF GOODNESS
MODE OF PASSION
MODE OF IGNORANCE
17.11
to
17.13
Sacrifice
17.17
to
17.19
Austerity
17.20
to
17.22
Charity
18.7
to
18.9
Renunciation
18.20
to
18.22
Knowledge
Appendix
VERSE
ITEM
MODE OF GOODNESS
MODE OF PASSION
MODE OF IGNORANCE
18.23
to
18.25
Action
18.26
to
18.28
Performer of
action (worker)
18.30
to
18.32
Understanding
18.33
to
18.35
Determination
18.37
to
18.39
Happiness
18.78 यत्र wherever? योगेश्वरः the Lord of Yoga? कृष्णः Krishna? यत्र wherever? पार्थः Arjuna? धनुर्धरः the archer? तत्र there? श्रीः prosperity? विजयः victory? भूतिः happiness? ध्रुवा firm? नीतिः policy? मतिः conviction? मम my.Commentary This verse is called the Ekasloki Gita? i.e.? Bhagavad Gita in one verse. Repetition of even this one verse bestows the benefits of reading the whole of the scripture.Wherever On that side on which.Yogesvarah The Lord of Yoga. Krishna is called the Lord of Yogas as the seed of all Yogas comes forth from Him.Dhanurdharah The wielder of the bow called the Gandiva. There On the side of the Pandavas.Thus in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita? the science of the Eternal? the scripture of Yoga? the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna? ends the eighteenth discourse entitledThe Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation.OM SHANTIH SHANTIH SHANTIH ,,
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- Recognize the formula: Kṛṣṇa + sincere devotee = victory.
- Trust this conclusion in your own situation.
- End the Gītā with this confidence.
- Where have I doubted that Kṛṣṇa + sincere effort wins?
- What does Sañjaya's final verdict allow me to do today?
Wherever the Lord and the devoted soul stand together — Kṛṣṇa with His flute, Arjuna with his bow — the air around them carries opulence, victory, exceptional strength, and unbreakable morality. The Gītā's final word: this is where to stand.
Sañjaya's verse is, in part, his explanation of why Dhṛtarāṣṭra's side has been losing despite numerical superiority. Wherever Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna stand together, śrī, vijaya, bhūti, and nīti are guaranteed. The other side has neither.
The verse is not abstract: it is Sañjaya pointing to the actual battlefield and saying, this is why your son cannot win. The Lord and the surrendered devotee in alliance constitute an unbreakable side.
My note
Source: vedabase.io