It's crucial to grasp that at this point in the Holy Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Lord Krishna was possessed by God Kaal. Kaal subtly entered into Lord Krishna's body and then imparted the remaining knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita. Readers must understand who Kaal is. Kaal is a deity above Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in hierarchy, also known as Brahm. He is the father of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Only by understanding Kaal's position can one comprehend the Bhagavad Gita in its entirety.
Verses 1 – 3: Observing Arjuna's distress, Shri Krishna admonishes him, asserting that his current timidity won't lead to heaven or renown. Instead, he urges Arjuna to shake off his cowardice and prepare for battle.
Verses 4 – 6: Arjuna expresses his reluctance to engage in battle, fearing the sin of killing respected elders and kin. He suggests living on alms would be preferable to ruling over a kingdom tainted by bloodshed.
Verses 7 – 9: Pledging his discipleship, Arjuna seeks counsel from Shri Krishna, expressing his inability to make a decision. Even the offer of kingship over the entire Earth wouldn't sway him from avoiding the sin of war. Arjuna retreats, unwilling to fight.
Verses 10 – 16: Shri Krishna consoles Arjuna, reminding him that death is inevitable for all beings, and sorrow is futile. He urges Arjuna to embrace his duty and accept life's ups and downs.
Verses 17 – 30: The core message of Chapter 2, verses 17-25 of the Holy Bhagavad Gita is that all living beings undergo birth and death. However, recognize the Supreme God as eternal and immortal, from whom the entire world emanates. No one can destroy this Eternal God, who dwells with the soul like fragrance in the air.
The virtuous soul is akin to fragrance, while the wicked soul is like foul odor. However, just as fresh, pure air remains detached, it still maintains an inseparable relationship with both. Similarly, the soul shares the same qualities as God but undergoes the consequences of its actions. Like shedding worn-out clothes for new ones, consider the body similarly transient. The soul is immortal—it cannot die, be cut, burnt, drowned, or dried by air. It experiences happiness and suffering based on its deeds, traversing realms of heaven, hell, and 8.4 million species of life. Yet, God remains unaffected by suffering. Hence, do not despair.
Verse 31 – 37: In these verses, Shri Krishna admonishes Arjun, stating that it is against the duty of a Kshatriya (a member of the warrior class) to behave like a coward. He assures Arjun that if he dies in battle, he will ascend to heaven, and if he emerges victorious, he will enjoy rulership over the kingdom of Indraprasth.
Verse 38: Shri Krishna advises Arjun to regard victory and defeat, joy and sorrow, gain and loss as equal. By adopting this mindset, Arjun can avoid incurring sin.
Verse 39 – 45: Shri Krishna instructs Arjun that those with wavering minds never attain success. Therefore, one should renounce worldly attachments, transcend the three gunas (modes of material nature), and surrender to the Supreme God. Souls who cling to Vedic mantras and view heaven as their ultimate goal remain trapped in the cycle of birth and death. Such individuals lack steadfastness in their devotion to the Supreme God.
Verses 46 – 53: These verses emphasize the importance of immersing oneself in the worship of the Supreme God, transcending concerns about sin and virtue.
The wise devotees, relinquishing the fruits of their actions, attain liberation from the cycle of birth. When you detach yourself from worldly desires, you will achieve the same freedom from attachment. As your mind becomes focused on the singular True Knowledge, rather than being confused by conflicting scriptures, you will become a true yogi. Just as a small pond loses its allure when one finds a larger reservoir of water, similarly, upon recognizing the Supreme God, the mind loses interest in lesser deities such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others. Through worship of the Supreme God, one becomes fully liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Therefore, become a devoted follower of the Supreme God, and you will indeed become a true yogi.
In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Verse 54, Arjuna inquires about the attributes of a devotee who is wholly reliant on the Supreme God. Specifically, he seeks to understand how such a devotee conducts themselves in speech, action, and posture.
Verses 55-68 of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 emphasize the state of a devoted yogi who, detached from desires, finds contentment in destiny, thereby achieving mental steadfastness. Such a yogi views pleasure and pain with equanimity, transcends feelings of attachment and aversion, and masters the senses.
Desires stem from impure thoughts, leading to anger, confusion, and ultimately, loss of wisdom. However, a true knower of the truth remains unaffected by sensory influences, maintaining composure even during scripture based worship. By disciplining the mind, he attains inner peace and liberation from suffering.
True happiness eludes those entangled in desires, akin to a boat tossed by the wind. Only when the senses are under control can one experience true stability of mind.
Verses 69-72 of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 delineate two types of individuals who stay awake at night.
Firstly, those driven by worldly desires, consumed by lust or greed, remain sleepless, treating the night as if it were day. Conversely, the second type consists of devotees immersed in devotion to God, utilizing the night for spiritual practices.
Just as rivers naturally flow into the sea, these two types of individuals are destined for their respective outcomes based on their actions—either to hell or heaven. Those enlightened about the nature of God transcend sensual pleasures, remaining equanimous amidst life's fluctuations. Like rivers merging into the sea without disturbing its tranquility, they find inner peace, liberated from desires, attachments, and ego.