Chapter 18Final Revelations of the Ultimate TruthVerse 59

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Sanskrit Vocal

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Anvaya

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Commentaries of the Four Authorized Vaisnava Sampradayas

as confirmed in the Garga Samhita Canto 10, Chapter 61, Verses 23, 24, 25, 26
Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:


Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

In a chastising mood the Supreme Lord Krishna states that indulging in ideas not sanctioned by the Vedic scriptures is egotistic vanity and disregarding the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures is delusion. As confirmed earlier the jiva or embodied being is not a free agent. It is subject to the three gunas or modes of material nature which are governed by prakriti the material substratum pervading physical existence. A ksatriya or warrior is situated in raja guna the mode of passion. The influence of raja guna is so strong that by its potency a ksatriya will be compelled to fight by their own volition.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:


Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

Lord Krishna is referring to the powerful influence of three gunas or modes of material nature that manifests from prakriti or the material substratum pervading physical existence which is the external potency of the brahman or spiritual substratum pervading all existence. The brahman is the impersonal aspect of the Supreme Lord Krishna. So in this way the Supreme Lord is the absolute power behind all actions.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:


Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

Lord Krishna in a chastising mood reinforces the theme that if out of ahankara or egoism the delusion of ignoring His instructions is entertained and assumption of independence is embraced and one decides to artificially oppose their own natural path disregarding His mandate to the contrary. Such independent resolve will end in disappointment due to the reality that the predominant guna or mode of material nature will compel one to act in spite of all resistance. The mode itself will coerce one to acquiescence beyond their control.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:


Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Lord Krishna gives the caution that one should not be deluded and think that they are in any way independent of the Supreme Lord. If due to false ego one thinks that they are the independent doer of their actions and take the decision to go against their own natural propensity it would be in vain. Lord Krishna's external energy is prakriti the material substratum pervading physical existence. From prakriti arises the three gunas or modes of material nature which adjusts itself automatically to the karma or reactions to actions acquired by the different activities a jiva or embodied being performs in countless lifetimes. Changing to the appropriate guna based on such actions the guna itself will compel one to act according to its dictates and any opposition will be futile.

Thus ends commentaries of chapter 18, verse 59 of the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita.

Verse 59


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