The Bhagavad Gita Intepreted - Part 14

Krishna said:

—Listen, Arjuna, while I reveal to you My wisdom, the best end of all understanding. Those who know it, depart with the taste of its perfection on their lips. Knowing with My knowledge, they are free from the bondage of life and death.

—In the shelter of My creation, I am mother and father. I have conceived all beings. In the fabric of creation are three threads intertwined: the light of joy, the fire of restless desire, and the darkness of ignorance. All creatures are born, caught in the web of these threads.

—These three qualities bind all creatures, but sometimes one prevails over the others.

—The light of joy binds men to happiness; in goodness and right action they reside. When a man shines with the light of joyous knowledge, we know what quality prevails. In light, he ascends to the heavens of light.

—The fire of restless desire binds men to passion; always in action, they are never satisfied. When a man lusts for possession, the fire of restless desire scorches him. In fire, he is reborn to the anguish of desire.

—The darkness of ignorance clouds vision and binds men to negligence; seeing nothing, they make no offering. When a man resides in negligence, thoughtless delusion envelops him in darkness. In darkness, he descends to the torment of ignorance.

—Yet these three threads are themselves bound to the phenomenal world. They are contingent on the senses even to be perceived. Those who know My way, they see that I am not found among these qualities. They are unencumbered by these qualities and pass beyond all that is, or was, or ever will be. They ascend to Me alone. They are free from the bondage of life and death.

Arjuna said:

—O Lord, how is he known; how does he act; how does he transcend the light of joy, the fire of restless desire, and the darkness of ignorance?

Krishna said:

—He is untroubled, neither seeking nor avoiding these qualities. Perceiving light, perceiving fire, perceiving darkness when they come to him, he sees them as they are. He knows they are bound to nature and cannot reach the inviolable Self. He transcends them when he is firm, unmoved, unperturbed, and disinterested. He does not distinguish between them and is equitable to pleasure and displeasure, praise and censure, honor and disgrace, friend and enemy. He sacrifices the fruit of all actions, undertaking nothing to achieve these qualities. Aspiring only to Me, he transcends these ephemeral qualities. Not straying from My way, he ascends to Me. For I am the changeless shelter of Eternity, the wellspring of Law, and the light of Perfect Bliss, blazing like the sun where night never falls.