Inane Interpolations In Bhagvad-Gita - 9 books and stories free download online pdf in English

Inane Interpolations In Bhagvad-Gita - 9

PART 9

Chapter – 7:  Gjnāna Vigjnāna Yoga

This chapter of 30 verses is about understanding the nature of the Supreme through knowing and meditation. However, v20-v23 besides breaking the continuity in the character of the discourse, advocate worship of gods for boon seeking that Krishna, as already seen, has chastised in Ch2, v42-v44. In order to  appreciate that v20-v23 are interpolations, one my see how the original narrative runs, prior to their insertion, and subsequently thereafter.

Ch7, V14

If thee forsake well and true                                   
To Me then thou come ’n grasp
Natures these Mine illusions.

daivī hyeṣhā guṇa-mayī mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te

Ch7, V18

Noble as all worship Me   
The knower true is selfsame Me.

udārāḥ sarva evaite jñānī tvātmaiva me matam
āsthitaḥ sa hi yuktātmā mām evānuttamāṁ gatim

Ch7, V19

Once in a while
Births after many, 
Born who knows 
I pervade worlds.

bahūnāṁ janmanām ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate
vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ

Then appear these inanities

V20

kāmais tais tair hṛita-jñānāḥ prapadyante ’nya-devatāḥ                              
taṁ taṁ niyamam āsthāya prakṛityā niyatāḥ svayā

Those whose knowledge has been carried away by material desires surrender to the celestial gods. Following their own nature, they worship the devatās, practicing rituals meant to propitiate these celestial personalities.

V21

yo yo yāṁ yāṁ tanuṁ bhaktaḥ śhraddhayārchitum ichchhati
tasya tasyāchalāṁ śhraddhāṁ tām eva vidadhāmyaham

Whatever celestial form a devotee seeks to worship with faith, I steady the faith of such a devotee in that form.

V22

sa tayā śhraddhayā yuktas tasyārādhanam īhate
labhate cha tataḥ kāmān mayaiva vihitān hi tān

Endowed with faith, the devotee worships a particular celestial god and obtains the

objects of desire. But in reality, I alone arrange these benefits.

V23

antavat tu phalaṁ teṣhāṁ tad bhavatyalpa-medhasām
devān deva-yajo yānti mad-bhaktā yānti mām api

But the fruit gained by these people of small understanding is perishable. Those who worship the celestial gods go to the celestial abodes, while my devotees come to me

Now back to good sense with

Ch7, V24

Unmanifest Am State Supreme 
But saddle Me with form uncouth.

avyaktaṁ vyaktim āpannaṁ manyante mām abuddhayaḥ
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto mamāvyayam anuttamam

Ch7, V25

Dull in delusion won’t perceive 
Me that’s unborn veiled from them.

nāhaṁ prakāśhaḥ sarvasya yoga-māyā-samāvṛitaḥ
mūḍho ’yaṁ nābhijānāti loko mām ajam avyayam

Hence, undoubtedly v20 –v23 can be taken as inane interpolations.