The Lord said: "I gave this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-God, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan gave it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn gave it to Ikshvaku.
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings received it that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are my devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science".
Arjuna said: "The sun-God Vivasvan is senior by birth to you. How am I to understand that in the beginning you instructed this science to him?"
The Lord said "Many, many births both you and I have passed." I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O subduer of the enemy!
Although I am unborn and My transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all sentient beings, I still appear in every millennium in My original transcendental form.
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion-at that time I descend Myself.
In order to deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent myself millennium after millennium.
One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.
Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, beings fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me-and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
All of them-as they surrender unto Me-I reward accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, Partha.
Men in this world desire success in fruitive activities, and therefore they worship the demigods. Quickly, of course, men get results from fruitive work in this world.
According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.
There is no work that affects Me; nor do I aspire for the fruits of action. One who understands this truth about Me also does not become entangled in the fruitive reactions of work. | |