Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 38

English Translation

Swami Gambirananda did not comment on this sloka

Detailed Commentary

।।6.38।। Explanation: The inquiry Arjuna made in the previous verse is discussed in detail in this verse. 'Apraṭiṣṭho mahābāho vimūḍho brahmaṇaḥ pathi' – This individual is devoid of worldly prestige, meaning he has relinquished desires for worldly pleasures, comforts, and renown. He abandoned the refuge of the world and began treading the path of attaining the Supreme Being, but could not attain the Supreme Being during his lifetime, and at the end, became deviated from his spiritual practice, meaning he lost remembrance of the Supreme Being. 'Kaccin nobhayavibhraṣṭaśchinnābhramiva naśyati' – Does such a *sādhaka*, deprived of both worldly and spiritual attainments, not perish like a scattered cloud? Just as a piece of cloud, separated from its own cloud, fails to reach another cloud and is dispersed midway by the wind. In this verse, Arjuna's question is that the *jīva* (individual soul) cannot cease to exist because it is a *Paramātma anśa* (a part of the Supreme Being). If it had a worldly objective within it, it would go to various *lokas* (realms), but would remain in the world. It abandoned the refuge of the world, and its sole objective became the attainment of the Supreme Being, but at the end of its life, it did not attain the Supreme Being and fell from its spiritual practice. So, what fate will such a *sādhaka* attain? Special Point: Here, if we consider it as falling from the attainment of the Supreme Being or from *sādhana*, it is not entirely correct, as it does not align with the example of the cloud. A piece of cloud leaves its initial cloud and moves towards another, but is dispersed in the air before reaching it. The *sādhaka* has not yet attained the Supreme Being; how can he be said to have fallen from it? Once the goal (*sādhya*) is attained, the *sādhaka* does not separate from it. Yes, due to loss of remembrance at the time of death, he can be called 'Sādhanabhraṣṭa' (fallen from *sādhana*), but not 'Ubhaya-vibhraṣṭa' (fallen from both). According to the cloud example, only one who has deliberately renounced the world and eventually deviated from *sādhana* can be called 'Ubhaya-vibhraṣṭa'. Arjuna has also indicated that he is 'deviated from Yoga' and 'Apraṭiṣṭha' – he abandoned the world and lost remembrance of the Supreme Being. Connection: Arjuna prays to the Lord to resolve the aforementioned doubt.