Bhagavad-Gita As It Is

1. Bhagavad-Gita As It Is Chapter 3, Text 31-35.

2. Text 31-32. ye me matam idaà nityam anutiñöhanti mänaväù çraddhävanto 'nasüyanto mucyante te 'pi karmabhiù ye tv etad abhyasüyanto nänutiñöhanti me matam sarva-jïäna-vimüòhäàs tän viddhi nañöän acetasaù “Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions. But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavors for perfection.”

3. Faith in Lord and His potencies. • Many philosophers write comments on the Bhagavad-gétä, but have no faith in Kåñëa. They will never be liberated from the bondage of fruitive action.E.g. Lord Shiva & Parvati coming to Triveni sangam as lepor and testing everyone’s faith.E.g. Narada meeting with brahmana and cobler.

4. Text 33 sadåçaà ceñöate svasyäù prakåter jïänavän api prakåtià yänti bhütäni nigrahaù kià kariñyati “Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?”

5. Grip of three modes of nature. • One under three modes of material nature is like addicted to intoxication, and helplessly acts under the control of three modes. • Academic qualifications cannot help one to surpass the three modes of nature.E.g. Ravana, learned, but under the control of three modes, similarly educated people live nasty and unclean life with bad habits.

6. Text 34. indriyasyendriyasyärthe räga-dveñau vyavasthitau tayor na vaçam ägacchet tau hy asya paripanthinau “There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion pertaining to the senses and their objects. One should not come under the control of such attachment and aversion, because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.”

7. Importance of rules and regulations. • One should not follow rules and regulations focusing on sense enjoyment. • E.g. King Aila becoming attracted to Urvasi, the heavenly girl. Benediction to have her for one day in a year and desperately waiting for that one day every year.E.g. Accidents on interstates.

8. Text 35. çreyän sva-dharmo viguëaù para-dharmät sv-anuñöhität sva-dharme nidhanaà çreyaù para-dharmo bhayävahaù “It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.”

9. Importance of following sva-dharma • Material and spiritual duties for everyone, and following those duties is important. • Do not imitate other’s duties, it is dangerous,e.g. washerman’s dog and ass. • But one situated in transcendental position can act in any capacity without caring for rules of scriptures: e.g. Vishwamitra and Parshuram. • To attain that stage of Krsna Consciousness one advised to chant Hare Krsna.