hare krishna

forget the people.

 

Suppose in Krsna consciousness movement, what we are doing? We are giving Krsna prasadam. We are distributing everyone, without any distinction. We don't make any distinction between daridra-narayana and a rich narayana. We give prasadam to every narayana. Of course, we do not think that everyone is Narayana. That is not our philosophy. Narayana is above. Narayanah avyaktat parah. "Narayana is not of this material world." Narayanah paro 'vyaktat. That is the version of Sankaracarya. So it is a wrong philosophy that because Narayana is everyone's heart.... Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Narayana, or isvara, is situated in everyone's heart. That does not mean that everyone has become Narayana. This is a wrong philosophy. If you make such distinction, then why there should be daridra-narayana? There should be rich narayana. There should be chaga-narayana, matsya-narayana, every narayana. If you have got such vision that "Because Narayana is there in everyone's heart, then everyone should be addressed as Narayana..." But that should not be. That is not be. That should not be. That is insult.
If some big man, if I say, equalize him with some insignificant person, that is insult. In the sastra it is said,

Srila Prabhupada

read the whole lecture:
http://www.prabhupadavani.org/web/text/148.html

 

​

This is one of my favourite stories of Krishna's childhood lila. Taken from 'Krsna - The Supreme Personality of Godhead'


Early in the morning, the gopis used to go to the bank of the Yamuna to take bath. They would assemble together, capturing each other's hands, and loudly sing of the wonderful pastimes of Krsna. It is an old system among Indian girls and women that when they take bath in the river they place their garments on the bank and dip into the water completely naked. The portion of the river where the girls and women take bath was strictly prohibited to any male member, and this is still the system. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, knowing the minds of the unmarried young gopis, benedicted them with their desired objective. They had prayed for Krsna to become their husband, and Krsna wanted to fulfill their desires.

At the end of the month, Krsna, along with His friends, appeared on the scene. Another name of Krsna is Yogesvara, or master of all mystic powers. By practicing meditation, the yogi can study the psychic movement of other men, and certainly Krsna could understand the desire of the gopis. Appearing on the scene, Krsna immediately collected all the garments of the gopis, climbed up in a nearby tree, and with smiling face began to speak to them.

"My dear girls," He said. "Please come here one after another and pray for your garments and then take them away. I'm not joking with you. I'm just telling the truth. I have no desire to play any joke with you, for you have observed the regulative principles for one month by worshiping goddess Katyayani. Please do not come here all at once. Come alone; I want to see each of you in your complete beauty, for you all have thin waists. I have requested you to come alone. Now please comply."

When the girls in the water heard such joking words from Krsna, they began to look at one another and smile. They were very joyous to hear such a request from Krsna because they were already in love with Him. Out of shyness, they looked at one another, but they could not come out of the water because they were naked. Due to remaining in the water for a long time, they felt cold and were shivering, yet upon hearing the pleasing and joking words of Govinda, their minds were perturbed with great joy. They began to tell Krsna, "Dear son of Nanda Maharaja, please do not joke with us in that way. It is completely unjust to us. You are a very respectable boy because You are the son of Nanda Maharaja, and You are very dear to us, but You should not play this joke on us because now we are all shivering from the cold water. Kindly deliver our garments immediately, otherwise we shall suffer." They then began to appeal to Krsna with great submission. "Dear Syamasundara," they said, "we are all Your eternal servitors. Whatever You order us to do, we are obliged to perform without hesitation because we consider it our religious duty. But if You insist on putting this proposal to us, which is impossible to perform, then certainly we will have to go to Nanda Maharaja and lodge a complaint against You. If Nanda Maharaja does not take action, then we shall tell King Kamsa about Your misbehavior."

Upon hearing this appeal by the unmarried gopis, Krsna answered, "My dear girls, if you think that you are My eternal servitors and you are always ready to execute My order, then My request is that, with your smiling faces, you please come here alone, one after another, and take away your garments. If you do not come here, however, and if you lodge complaints to My father, I shall not care anyway, for I know My father is old and cannot take any action against Me."

When the gopis saw that Krsna was strong and determined, they had no alternative but to abide by His order. One after another they came out of the water, but because they were completely naked, they tried to cover their nakedness by placing their left hand over their pubic area. In that posture they were all shivering. Their simple presentation was so pure that Lord Krsna immediately became pleased with them. All the unmarried gopis who prayed to Katyayani to have Krsna as their husband were thus satisfied. A woman cannot be naked before any male except her husband. The unmarried gopis desired Krsna as their husband, and He fulfilled their desire in this way. Being pleased with them, He took their garments on His shoulder and began to speak as follows. "My dear girls, you have committed a great offense by going naked in the river Yamuna. Because of this, the predominating deity of the Yamuna, Varunadeva, has become displeased with you. Please, therefore, just touch your foreheads with folded palms and bow down before the demigod Varuna in order to be excused from this offensive act." The gopis were all simple souls, and whatever Krsna said they took to be true. In order to be freed from the wrath of Varunadeva, as well as to fulfill the desired end of their vows and ultimately to please their worshipable Lord, Krsna, they immediately abided by His order. Thus they became the greatest lovers of Krsna, and His most obedient servitors.

 

continued.............................



Nothing can compare to the Krsna consciousness of the gopis. Actually, the gopis did not care for Varuna or any other demigod; they only wanted to satisfy Krsna. Krsna became very ingratiated and satisfied by the simple dealings of the gopis, and He immediately delivered their respective garments, one after another. Although Krsna cheated the young unmarried gopis and made them stand naked before Him and enjoyed joking words with them, and although He treated them just like dolls and stole their garments, they were still pleased with Him and never lodged complaints against Him. This attitude of the gopis is described by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu when He prays, "My dear Lord Krsna, You may embrace Me or trample Me under Your feet, or You may make Me brokenhearted by never being present before Me. Whatever You like, You can do, because You have complete freedom to act. But in spite of all Your dealings, You are My Lord eternally, and I have no other worshipable object." This is the attitude of the gopis toward Krsna.

Lord Krsna was pleased with them, and since they all desired to have Him as their husband, He told them, "My dear well-behaved girls, I know of your desire for Me and why you worshiped goddess Katyayani, and I completely approve of your action. Anyone whose full consciousness is always absorbed in Me, even if in lust, is elevated. As a fried seed cannot fructify, so any desire in connection with My loving service cannot produce any fruitive result, as in ordinary karma."

There is a statement in the Brahma-samhita: karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam. Everyone is bound by his fruitive activities, but the devotees, because they work completely for the satisfaction of the Lord, suffer no reactions. Similarly, the gopis' attitude toward Krsna, although seemingly lusty, should not be considered to be like the lusty desires of ordinary women. The reason is explained by Krsna Himself. Activities in devotional service to Krsna are transcendental to any fruitive result.

"My dear gopis," Krsna continued, "your desire to have Me as your husband will be fulfilled because with this desire you have worshiped goddess Katyayani. I promise you that during the next autumn season you shall be able to meet with Me, and you shall enjoy Me as your husband."

Taking shelter of the shade of the trees, Krsna became very happy. While walking He began to address the inhabitants of Vrndavana. "My dear Stoka Krsna, My dear Varuthapa, My dear Bhadrasena, My dear Sudama, My dear Subala, My dear Arjuna, My dear Visala, My dear Rsabha--just look at these most fortunate trees of Vrndavana. They have dedicated their lives to the welfare of others. Individually they are tolerating all kinds of natural disturbances, such as hurricanes, torrents of rain, scorching heat and piercing cold, but they are very careful to relieve our fatigues and give us shelter. My dear friends, I think they are glorified in this birth as trees. They are so careful to give shelter to others that they are like noble, highly elevated charitable men who never deny charity to one who approaches them. No one is denied shelter by these trees. They supply various kinds of facilities to human society, such as leaves, flowers, fruit, shade, roots, bark, flavor extracts and fuel. They are the perfect example of noble life. They are like a noble person who has sacrificed everything possible--his body, mind, activities, intelligence and words--in engaging in the welfare of all living entities."

Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead walked on the bank of the Yamuna, touching the leaves of the trees and their fruits, flowers and twigs, and praising their glorious welfare activities. Different people may accept certain welfare activities to be beneficial for human society, according to their own views, but the welfare activity that can be rendered to people in general, for eternal benefit, is the spreading of the Krsna consciousness movement. Everyone should be prepared to propagate this movement. As instructed by Lord Caitanya, one should be humbler than the grass on the ground and more tolerant than the tree. The tolerance of the trees is explained by Lord Krsna Himself, and those who are engaged in the preaching of Krsna consciousness should learn lessons from the teachings of Lord Krsna and Lord Caitanya through Their direct disciplic succession.

While passing through the forest of Vrndavana on the bank of the Yamuna, Krsna sat down at a beautiful spot and allowed the cows to drink the cold and transparent water of the Yamuna. Being fatigued, the cowherd boys, Krsna and Balarama also drank. After seeing the young gopis taking bath in the Yamuna, Krsna passed the rest of the morning with the boys.

Thus ends the Bhaktivedanta purport of the Twenty-second Chapter of Krsna, "Stealing the Garments of the Unmarried Gopi Girls."

​

 

cool! thanks

 

I like what I have read of that book a lot so far. That's a cute story... Thank you for sharing it...one day I'm going to get that book...I have it online...but I like books better, you can take 'em with you whereever you go

 

So this problem, attachment for this material world, gradually we have to cut it. That is the Vedic civilization. If you want to go back to home, back to Godhead, then at the same time, if you remain attached to this material world, so-called society, friendship and love, then it is not possible. So long you will have a pinch of attraction with this material world, there is no possibility of being transferred to the spiritual world. This is the position. Therefore by training, by education, we have to become detached. Detached, this society, friendship and love. We have to understand the falsity of this so-called society, friendship and love. Because we are being carried away by the waves of maya. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, mayar bose, jaccho bhese, Khaccho habudubu bhai. Just like we see sometimes in rainy season, so many plants and creepers and vegetables and so many other things are floating in the river, going. Similarly, we also, all floating in the waves of maya. Mayar bose, jaccho bhese, khaccho habudubu. Sometimes drowned, sometimes on the surface, sometimes on the other shore, sometimes on this shore. This is going on. So long we are in this material world, we are being tossed by different currents, and sometimes I am here as the master of some kingdom, and sometimes I am dog of somebody else. This is my position. The same thing. Very good example, that we are being carried away by the waves of maya. Sometimes we are gathering together. So many straws and vegetables, they gather together. And sometimes the same vegetables and straws are thrown asunder. One is there, one is here. So here also, we assemble here as society, friendship and love exactly like that. In the waves of maya. Then nobody is your father, nobody is your mother, nobody is your sister, nobody. It is simply mayic, illusory combination. Illusory combination, temporary combination. And we are so much attached to this combination that we are refusing to go back to home, back to Godhead. This is our position.
Therefore we have to meet them in the battlefield of Kuruksetra, and if required, we have to kill them and execute the order of Krsna. This is our position. If we are thinking that "In this material existence I shall be safe, assisted by my society, friendship, love, country, and politics and sociology," "No, no, sir, it is not possible." It is not possible. You have to take care of yourself. Your so-called society, friendship, love, country, nation, and this, never will be able to help you. Because you are under the clutches of maya. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14].

read and listen to the whole lecture here:
http://www.prabhupadavani.org/web/text/017.html

 

I got 2 new George Harrison albums yesterday at a junk-type shop and I thought I might share with you the lyrics to a song I particuarly like from each album...

This one is from Somewhere In England:

“That Which I Have Lost”

He's fighting the forces of darkness limitation
Falsehood and mortality which bar him
The way back into the higher world
While his whole being is bewildered
He does not know - no law of action
Taking refuge inside himself and he's saying

I need someone to show me
Illumine my consciousness
Remove the dark from in me
And give me that which I have lost

As all had seemed lost a light from Heaven
breaking
A flash - inward illumination
Enriched his life more than any words can tell
He stood there, life renewed fresh as rain
Scales were falling from his eyes again
The bolts of his prison opening - he's saying

I found someone who showed me
Illumined my consciousness
Removed the dark from in me
And given me that which I have lost

You people don't have time to listen to him
You're too busy fighting revolutions
That keep you back down in the lower world
Your mirrors of understanding they need
cleansing
Polish away the dust of desire
Before pure light will reflect in them

You need someone to show you
Illumine your consciousness
Remove the dark from in you
And give you that which you have lost.

and this one is from Living In the Material World (this album has a picture of Krishna and Arjuna in a chariot on the sticker so when you play it...they ride the chariot round and round... ):

"Living In the Material World"

I'm living in the material world
Living in the material world

can't say what I'm doing here
But I hope to see much clearer,
after living in the material world

I got born into the material world
Getting worn out in the material world
Use my body like a car,
Taking me both near and far
Met my friends all in the material world

Met them all there in the material world
John and Paul here in the material world
Though we started out quite poor
We got 'Richie' on a tour
Got caught up in the material world

From the Spiritual Sky,
Such sweet memories have I
To the Spiritual Sky
How I pray
Yes I pray
that I won't get lost
or go astray

As I'm fated for the material world
Get frustrated in the material world
Senses never gratified
Only swelling like a tide
That could drown me in the
material world

From the Spiritual Sky,
Such sweet memories have I
To the Spiritual Sky
How I pray
Yes I pray
that I won't get lost
or go astray

While I'm living in the material world
Not much 'giving' in the material world
Got a lot of work to do
Try to get a message through
And get back out of this material world

I'm living in the material world
Living in the material world
I hope to get out of this place
by the LORD SRI KRSNA'S GRACE
My salvation from the material world

And one more...this was inspired by Srila Prabhupada...

"The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord)"
The Lord loves the one that loves
the Lord
And the law says if you don't give,
then you don't get loving

Now the Lord helps those that help
themselves
And the law says whatever you do
is going to come right back on you

We all making out
Like we own this whole world
While the leaders of nations
They're acting like big girls
With no thoughts for their God
Who provides us with all
But when death comes to claim them
Who will stand,
and who will fall?

The Lord loves the one that loves
the Lord
And the law says if you don't give,
then you don't get loving

Now the Lord helps those that help
themselves
And the law says whatever you do
is going to come right back on you

We all move around,
with objectives in mind,
to become rich or famous,
With our reputations signed,
But the few that can reach,
to this coveted slot,
don't escape old age creeping,
through their bodies,
like a rot

While the Lord loves the one that loves
the Lord
And the law says if you don't give,
then you don't get loving
Now the Lord helps those that help
themselves
And the law says whatever you do
is going to come right back on you

Ok...I'm done...just thought I'd share...

you can find more lyrics here: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/g/georgeharrison1635.html

 

Two great albums there! One of George's I like a lot is the one simply called 'George Harrison'. I would definitely add it to your list if you haven't already got it.

Srila Prabhupada once said that George has done more to promote Krishna Consciousness in the west than many who went more deeply into it... I'm sure he was right!

First time I heard the chanting of the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, was on 'top of the pops' on tv, courtesy of Gerge's production of the record, which got high in the charts - possibly no1 - I can't recall. But I do recall that even at age 10, I could feel an energy there...it was to be many years though before I came to understand more clearly what that was!

Jai Govinda.

 

I do want to get that one...I've heard "Blow Away" from that one...I really like that song

From George is when I first heard the maha mantra as well...I heard it in "My Sweet Lord"...but this was at the beginning of this year...about Feb or so... and I got curious as to who "Hare Krishna" was and someone lead me to an ISKCON faq sight...and I don't know how it went from there...but it did...

 

George was so clever! He was so great! haribol!

 

He was. I he was pretty funny about it too...

Met them all there in the material world
John and Paul here in the material world
Though we started out quite poor
We got 'Richie' on a tour
Got caught up in the material world

I think that is just brilliant...hehe...I was laughing so hard when I heard it...

 

Here's my mini rant...


How can a very very large book store not carry one copy of any book by Srila Prabhupada?! The man wrote sooo many...even my dinky library had a copy of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. I was soo upset or rather bewildered when I dragged my friend all over the story only to find copies of those improper translations of the Bhagavad-Gita. I just couldn't understand it...she must've thought I was crazy because I kept staring at the book shelf saying..."...but he wrote so many...I can't believe it..." I did end up buying Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahanda Yogananda, but I still really wanted the first canto of theSrimad Bhagavatam or the the Krsna: Supreme Personality of Godhead book...::sigh:: Oh well...I guess I'll either read them online or I'll order them online...

So that was my rant...or more like my amazing disbelief...

 

Have you considered looking on Ebay? Often there are numbers of Srila Prabhupadas books for sale at very low prices.

 

[size=+3]1008 Ways to Remember Srila Prabhupada
[/size][size=+1]by Govinda dasi ACBSP[/size]

Dedicated to our Eternal Master - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada



Story # 22 - December 14th, 1967


In late October, the exciting news came. Swamiji would be returning soon to San Francisco. His health had improved and his travel arrangements were being made. Gaurasundara and I immediately began planning our trip to meet him in California. The first snow had fallen in Montreal, so we were eager to go West anyway. We packed our meager belongings, mostly the contents of our art studio and a few clothes, a couple of saris that I had gotten and took a bus to New York City. There we found a drive away car, one that was to be delivered to the West Coast. Gargamuni and his new wife, Karunamayi and Gaurasundara and I sat out on a hazardous winter journey to San Francisco. Anxious over the perils of winter driving we chanted the whole way. In Colorado we ran off the road in a blizzard and it seemed to us that our chanting brought a big snowplow to rescue us almost immediately. We were so focused on greeting our beloved Swamiji that all obstacles seemed to melt like snow in the sunshine of our love for him. The mood was simple, direct and sweet. When we arrived in San Francisco, Gaurasundara and I rented a small room two blocks from the Frederick Street temple. We were situated there about a week or two before Swamiji's arrival on September 14th, 1967. Daily, my prayers intensified as I looked forward to his arrival. Arrangements were made for Swamiji to stay at Jayananda's large flat and our good friend Upendra was going to cook for him. I began to study Upendra's cooking techniques avidly. Finally, the big day came. Swamiji was arriving. We went to the San Francisco airport and we chanted wildly in the waiting area. I remember walking up a hallway and seeing him through some big glass doors. He turned to us and waved, he gave us a long loving glance and a friendly wave. It meant everything to us. Our kirtan intensified and tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. I felt as if my very life had been returned to me. It was the most joyful day in the history of America: Swamiji had returned. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for taking the trouble to come back to us. You had an ideal situation in India, in Vrindavana, you could have stayed in your beloved Vrindavana but out of divine compassion for all souls you chose to fly back into the Kali-yuga cities of America to spread the message of Lord Caitanya. You are the most exemplary preacher of the Lord, always concerned for the welfare of all living entities for the suffering of all the souls in this world. We must never forget that without you we would simply continue turning on the rotating wheel of samsara, from king to beggar, elephant to ant, our gratitude must never wane for you alone came to our rescue. We are eternally indebted. No one had heard of Krsna in the West. You were the emissary, the pioneer, the divine agent sent by Lord Caitanya to awaken the Western world from the sleep of ignorance.







Story # 23 - Govind dasi - you have taken your sari?

Joyfully we escorted Swamiji to his flat on (I don't remember the name of the Street); there like a rose surrounded by bees he sat in our midst, carefully unpacking his trunk and smiling at everyone. He spoke with each devotee, asking about his or her welfare, smiling and enchanting everyone with his sweetness. His big Indian trunk was full of goodies. He pulled out all sorts of things we'd never seen before. It was better than Christmas. He showed us a strange metal contraption and explained it was for grating coconut. He showed us a finely carved conch shell and some excellent kartals. He gave Gaurasundara and I pictures of him dancing in front of his Calcutta Deities and asked us to paint them with color. On the back he wrote "Swami Prabhupada dancing in front of his Deities" (I have to look that up). Then he began to pull out gifts for all the devotees. Two disciples, Acyutananda and I think Ramanuja, were in India and had sent saris and gifts for the devotees in San Francisco. I sat, watching Swamiji, totally mesmerized by his spiritual beauty. He carefully unpacked all the saris, each one had a small slip of paper and a devotees' name pinned on it. Then he carefully removed all the pins and placed the pins in a little pile and then placed all the saris in one pack and then all the slips of paper in another stack. Then he began to hand out saris to each of the ladies as he chose, totally disregarding the slips of paper pinned on them. I did not expect to receive a sari as I had not sent money or anything nor did I even know Ramananda. The conversation drifted to items needed by Swamiji with different devotees volunteering for various services or purchases. Swamiji needed some house slippers. I immediately volunteered to buy him some new house slippers and he smilingly nodded and told me he wore size A. He added that they should be made of all synthetic or man-made materials. Swamiji later said: "The only advancement the modern scientists have made is this: to make non-leather shoes". His opinion of material science was encapsulated in this statement. After each devotee was given a project and gift and we all happily bowed and left Swamiji to rest from his journey. Gaurasundara and I were bowing down to leave when Swamiji asked me: "Oh, Govind dasi? You have taken your sari?" Already standing I stopped short and replied: "No, Swamiji, I didn't know there was one for me". Swamiji carefully thumbed through the stack of saris and selected one, a pale lavender cotton sari with a simple border. Beaming, he held it up to me and I reached over and received it. He smiled in a fatherly and loving way and I happily bowed down as I received it. How can he know that lavender is my favorite color, I thought; and then I remembered his quote in the letter: "I know your mind". Knowing everything about me he loved me anyway. Krsna had sent me a wonderful spiritual father. Later I searched for the most perfect house slippers. At one shop I found all man made materials stamped on all the slippers so I chose a nice black slipper with red furry lining. The red furry lining, I thought would match his reddish lotus feet. I purchased the slippers and quickly took them to his apartment. Smilingly, he thanked me and tried them on. "Oh, perfect fit he exclaimed. Very nice, thank you very much". "What a pleasure", I thought. Swamiji wore these slippers for the entire year or more that Gaurasundara and I lived with and traveled with him. The sound of him shuffling down the hall in those slippers is still fresh in my mind. Then as those slippers became worn, I purchased another pair from the same shop in San Francisco; this time a sandy mustard color with tan for relining, and a back which he quickly flattened with his heals. Having been accustomed to his back-less previous slippers, these were also stamped "all man made materials". Those black and red slippers well worn, well loved, he gave to me when I brought him the new sandy colored slippers. Those slippers are worshipable even by devas. Thank you, Srila Prabhupada for giving me the opportunity to serve you with those slippers and in every other way. I pray those shoes will remain enthroned in my heart through all eternity and that I shall always hear you shuffling about, wearing those slippers in the halls of my mind, guiding me, loving me and leading me to Krsna.






[size=-1]next set of stories[/size][size=+1]Govinda dasi [/size]
P.O. Box 954 Hauula, Hawaii 96717-0871
govindadasi@hotmail.com



Contents of this website are copyright [size=-1](c) Bonnie McElroy[/size]

 

oh, thanks ChiefCowPie How beautiful you are, have you seen? That's how I like you. haribol!

 

praise the lord brother sleeping jiva...i have seen the light

 

what was wrong with them?...no "bhakyah mam abhajhayanti, mam ekam saranam vraja..."

 

Do you think this would be an appropriate space to introduce some discussion of other translations of the Gita? It might be interesting.....


(by 'other' I mean other than Srila Prabhupadas Translation)

 

yes
...one of my favorites is Song Celestial aka Bhagavad Gita as translated by Edwin Arnold... i like Arnold for his sense of a poetic style

from chapter 18

"Learn from me, Son of Kunti! also this,
How one, attaining perfect peace, attains
BRAHM, the supreme, the highest height of all!
Devoted- with a heart grown pure, restrained
In lordly self-control, forgoing wiles
Of song and senses, freed from love and hate,
Dwelling 'mid solitudes, in diet spare,
With body, speech, and will tamed to obey,
Ever to holy meditation vowed,
From passions liberate, quit of the Self,
Of arrogance, impatience, anger, pride;
Freed from surroundings, quiet, lacking nought-
Such an one grows to oneness with the BRAHM;
Such an one, growing one with BRAHM, serene,
Sorrows no more, desires no more; his soul,
Equally loving all that lives, loves well
Me, Who have made them, and attains to Me.
By this same love and worship doth he know
Me as I am, how high and wonderful,
And knowing, straightway enters into Me.
And whatsoever deeds he doeth- fixed
In Me, as in his refuge- he hath won
For ever and for ever by My grace
Th' Eternal Rest! So win thou! In thy thoughts
Do all thou dost for Me! Renounce for Me!
Sacrifice heart and mind and will to Me!
Live in the faith of Me! In faith of Me
All dangers thou shalt vanquish, by My grace;
But, trusting to thyself and heeding not,
Thou can'st but perish! If this day thou say'st,
Relying on thyself, "I will not fight!"
Vain will the purpose prove! thy qualities
Would spur thee to the war. What thou dost shun,
Misled by fair illusions, thou wouldst seek
Against thy will, when the task comes to thee
Waking the promptings in thy nature set.
There lives a Master in the hearts of men
Maketh their deeds, by subtle pulling-strings,
Dance to what tune HE will. With all thy soul
Trust Him, and take Him for thy succour, Prince!
So- only so, Arjuna!- shalt thou gain-
By grace of Him- the uttermost repose,
The Eternal Place!
Thus hath been opened thee
This Truth of Truths, the Mystery more hid
Than any secret mystery. Meditate!
And- as thou wilt- then act!

Nay! but once more
Take My last word, My utmost meaning have!
Precious thou art to Me; right well-beloved!
Listen! tell thee for thy comfort this.
Give Me thy heart! adore Me! serve Me! cling
In faith and love and reverence to Me!
So shalt thou come to Me! I promise true,
For thou art sweet to Me!
And let go those-
Rites and writ duties! Fly to Me alone!
Make Me thy single refuge! will free
Thy soul from all its sins! Be of good cheer!"