Chapter 7. Knowledge of
the Absolute
Chapter 7, Verse 1.
 Now hear,
O son of Prtha [Arjuna], how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of
Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.
Chapter 7, Verse 2.
I shall
now declare unto you in full this knowledge both phenomenal and noumenal,
by knowing which there shall remain nothing further to be known.
Chapter 7, Verse 3.
Out of
many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those
who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.
Chapter 7, Verse 4.
Earth,
water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego--all together
these eight comprise My separated material energies.
Chapter 7, Verse 5.
Besides
this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy
of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material
nature and are sustaining the universe.
Chapter 7, Verse 6.
Of all
that is material and all that is spiritual in this world, know for certain
that I am both its origin and dissolution.
Chapter 7, Verse 7.
O conqueror
of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests
upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
Chapter 7, Verse 8.
O son
of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the
moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and
ability in man.
Chapter 7, Verse 9.
I am
the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the
life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics.
Chapter 7, Verse 10.
O son
of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence
of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men.
Chapter 7, Verse 11.
I am
the strength of the strong, devoid of passion and desire. I am sex life
which is not contrary to religious principles, O Lord of the Bharatas [Arjuna].
Chapter 7, Verse 12.
All states
of being--be they of goodness, passion or ignorance--are manifested by
My energy. I am, in one sense, everything--but I am independent. I am not
under the modes of this material nature.
Chapter 7, Verse 13.
Deluded
by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does
not know Me who am above the modes and inexhaustible.
Chapter 7, Verse 14.
This
divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature,
is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily
cross beyond it.
Chapter 7, Verse 15.
Those
miscreants who are grossly foolish, lowest among mankind, whose knowledge
is stolen by illusion, and who partake of the atheistic nature of demons,
do not surrender unto Me.
Chapter 7, Verse 16.
O best
among the Bharatas [Arjuna], four kinds of pious men render devotional
service unto Me--the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive,
and he who is searching for knowledge of the Absolute.
Chapter 7, Verse 17.
Of these,
the wise one who is in full knowledge in union with Me through pure devotional
service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.
Chapter 7, Verse 18.
All these
devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge
of Me I consider verily to dwell in Me. Being engaged in My transcendental
service, he attains Me.
Chapter 7, Verse 19.
After
many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto
Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great
soul is very rare.
Chapter 7, Verse 20.
Those
whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods and
follow the particular rules and regulations of worship according to their
own natures.
Chapter 7, Verse 21.
I am
in everyone's heart as the Supersoul. As soon as one desires to worship
the demigods, I make his faith steady so that he can devote himself to
some particular deity.
Chapter 7, Verse 22.
Endowed
with such a faith, he seeks favors of a particular demigod and obtains
his desires. But in actuality these benefits are bestowed by Me alone.
Chapter 7, Verse 23.
Men of
small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and
temporary. Those who worship the demigods go to the planets of the demigods,
but My devotees ultimately reach My supreme planet.
Chapter 7, Verse 24.
Unintelligent
men, who know Me not, think that I have assumed this form and personality.
Due to their small knowledge, they do not know My higher nature, which
is changeless and supreme.
Chapter 7, Verse 25.
I am
never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered
by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the deluded world knows
Me not, who am unborn and infallible.
Chapter 7, Verse 26.
O Arjuna,
as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I know everything that has happened
in the past, all that is happening in the present, and all things that
are yet to come. I also know all living entities; but Me no one knows.
Chapter 7, Verse 27.
O scion
of Bharata [Arjuna], O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born
into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.
Chapter 7, Verse 28.
Persons
who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful
actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of
delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.
Chapter 7, Verse 29.
Intelligent
persons who are endeavoring for liberation from old age and death take
refuge in Me in devotional service. They are actually Brahman because they
entirely know everything about transcendental and fruitive activities.
Chapter 7, Verse 30.
Those
who know Me as the Supreme Lord, as the governing principle of the material
manifestation, who know Me as the one underlying all the demigods and as
the one sustaining all sacrifices, can, with steadfast mind, understand
and know Me even at the time of death.
  
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