“If someone is fortunate enough to understand the Bhagavad-gītā in that line of disciplic succession, without motivated interpretation, then he surpasses all studies of Vedic wisdom, and all scriptures of the world.”
Let’s analyse this sentence:
- “If someone is fortunate enough to understand the Bhagavad-gītā in that line of disciplic succession…”: We understand it is rare to understand Bhagavad-gita as Arjuna did, but if one does, one’s destiny will be very bright.
- “…surpasses all studies of Vedic wisdom, and all scriptures of the world.” We understand that whatever benefits we can gain from studying the Vedas, the Bible, the Torah, the Koran, etc., we can attain and more by properly understanding the Gita’s teachings.
Question: What benefit can we gain from understanding the Vedas and other world scriptures?
Our light: All the other scriptures teach dharma, artha, kama and moksha; how to behave morally in this world, to achieve wealth and sensory satisfaction, and finally liberation. Understanding Bhagavad-gita’s teachings will enable us to attain all these four (dharma, artha, kama and moksa). However, we will also attain bhakti, or in other words, prema.
“So dharma-artha-kāma-mokṣa. People are busy, at least those who are human beings, dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ, beginning with dharma. Economic development, artha. Dharma-artha-kāma, sense gratification. And at the end, mokṣa. Above mokṣa is bhakti.” Lecture 1976
“People generally think that liberation is the ultimate goal, or the full achievement. But liberation is a very insignificant thing in the presence of devotional service. Therefore Bhāgavata says, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavaḥ atra. Dharma artha kāma mokṣa, Cc. Ādi 1.90]. Mokṣa means liberation. So Bhāgavata says that dharma artha kāma mokṣa, they are thrown away from the study of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. And Śrīdhara Swami confirms it = atra mokṣa-vāñcāḥ-paryantaṁ nirastam. A devotee is above the point of liberation. The devotional service is called pañcama-puruṣārtha [Cc. Ādi 7.85]. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given His opinion = premā pumartho mahān. Not dharma is pumarthaḥ. Our ultimate goal of life is neither dharma nor artha, religiosity, economic development; kāma, sense gratification; and mokṣa, liberation.” Lecture 1972
“This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is an art of living by which you will feel your senses are fully satisfied, but you are going to be free next life. This is the nice process. And artificially if you want to stop your senses, you will fail.” Lecture 1968
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