Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, Verse 20

English Translation

O sinless one, this most secret scripture has thus been uttered by Me. Understanding this, one becomes wise and has his duties fulfilled, O scion of the Bharata dynasty.

Detailed Commentary

।।15.20।। Explanation – Anagha Arjuna is called sinless because he was free from *dosha-drishti* (a censorious attitude, *asuya*). To engage in *dosha-drishti* is a sin; it makes the mind impure. One who is free from *dosha-drishti* alone is worthy of *bhakti*. Confidential matters are revealed only to those who are free from *dosha-drishti*. If a confidential matter is disclosed to someone with *dosha-drishti*, it has an adverse effect. Such a person begins to interpret the confidential statement perversely and starts finding fault in the speaker, thinking, "This one is self-praising, speaking to delude others," and so on. This causes great harm to the person with *dosha-drishti*. The main cause of *dosha-drishti* is *abhiman* (ego-pride). Whatever a person is proud of, that very deficiency exists within them. They then start seeing that deficiency in others. Pride in one's own goodness leads to seeing evil in others, and only by seeing evil in others does pride in one's own goodness arise. If Bhagavan were to declare Himself the supreme *Purushottama* before a person with *dosha-drishti*, that person would not believe it; on the contrary, they would think that Bhagavan is self-praising. Having *dosha-drishti* towards Bhagavan causes them great harm. For this reason, Bhagavan and the *Sant-jan* (saints) do not reveal confidential matters to faithless individuals who have *dosha-drishti*. *Iti Guhyatamam Shastramidam* (This most confidential scripture) – After speaking about *avyabhicharini bhakti* (unswerving devotion) in the twenty-sixth verse of the Fourteenth Chapter, Bhagavan has described a subject from the first verse to the nineteenth verse of the Fifteenth Chapter; the completion of that subject is indicated here by the words *iti idam*. In this chapter, Bhagavan first revealed His unparalleled glory by describing *Kshara* (the perishable world) and *Akshara* (the imperishable *Jivatma*). Then, Bhagavan revealed the confidential truth that He (who is beyond *Kshara* and superior to *Akshara*) is Himself the *Purushottama*. Bhagavan incarnates on this Earth assuming a human form and behaves in such a way that the ignorant cannot recognize Him. In this chapter, Bhagavan, by revealing His true identity, disclosed the most confidential truth that "I am indeed the *Purushottama*." For this reason, this chapter is called *Guhyatama* (the most confidential). In the *Shastras*, there is usually a description of *Samsara* (the worldly existence), *Jivatma* (the individual soul), and *Paramatma* (the Supreme Soul). All three of these have been described in the Fifteenth Chapter, hence it is also called a *Shastra*. In the *Sarvashastramayi Gita* (Gita, which embodies all *Shastras*), only this chapter has been accorded the title of *Shastra*. Because the description of *Purushottama* is central in it, it has been called *Guhyatama Shastra* (the most confidential scripture). In this *Guhyatama Shastra*, Bhagavan has described six means to attain Him: 1. To know *Samsara* in its true essence (*tattva*) (Verse 1). 2. To take refuge in Bhagavan by severing the perceived connection with *Samsara* (Verse 4). 3. To know the *Paramatma tattva* (the essence of the Supreme Self) residing within oneself (Verse 11). 4. To know the *tattva* through the study of the Vedas (*Vedadhyayana*) (Verse 15). 5. To know Bhagavan as *Purushottama* and worship Him in every way (*bhajan karna*) (Verse 19). 6. To know the *tattva* (essence) of the entire chapter (Verse 20). *Etad Buddhva Buddhiman Syat Kritakrityashcha Bharata* (Knowing this, one becomes wise and accomplished, O Bharata) – The words *etat* here refer to the description of the reality of *Samsara*, the nature of the *Jivatma*, and Bhagavan's unparalleled glory and confidential nature, as given by Bhagavan throughout the chapter. A person who truly knows the essence (*tattva*) of this *Guhyatama Shastra* becomes wise (*jnanavan*). Nothing remains for them to know, for they have known the *Purushottama* who is to be known. By knowing the *Paramatma tattva*, a person's delusion (*mudhata*) is destroyed. Without knowing the *Paramatma tattva*, merely knowing all worldly sciences (*vidyas*) does not eradicate delusion. In reality, no one other than Bhagavan Himself can fully know Him. Thus, in the *Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Upanishad*, which embodies *Brahmavidya* and *Yoga Shastra*, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna, with the chanting of the divine names "Om Tat Sat," the Fifteenth Chapter named *Purushottama Yoga* is concluded. (15)