First of all, let me give you the good news that I’ve finally completed my first reading of Bhagavad Gita!! It’s been a really long journey – around 6-7 years. Yes it surprises me too that it took me so long; but what makes me happy is that I’d the perseverance to pursue it. It has so much of knowledge that with every chapter I was more and more engrossed. I never realized that I’d been reading it for years! People always think that scriptures are for your old age but I don’t think that applies to Bhagavad Gita. I see so many blogs/books these days on the art of living, simplifying your life and other topics to that tune. When I read them I realize that I’d read all the substance is what I’ve already read in Gita. That’s when I realized that the knowledge contained in Gita is ageless – it’ll always be applicable irrespective of the changes in this world. Maybe that’s what spiritual really means. And the sooner you read and attempt to understand it, the more appreciative, happy and understanding you would be in life.
This shloka is very interesting. I never thought God would ever say that it’s not good to share Gita with anybody. I would’ve thought that it’s good for one and all. However that’s not true. And rightly so.
He says that one should not share the secrets of Gita with a person who has given up on his duties, is deep into the temptations of this world and has sacrificed his religion in pursuit of those temptations. Such a person is so mesmerized by worldly temptations that he wouldn’t be able to absorb the essence and influence of God. Thus it would be a disrespect to the scripture as well as God.
It should also not be shared with anyone who doesn’t believe in God. One who doesn’t have faith and love for God; and doesn’t worship Him; who thinks that he is everything; he who is an atheist. Such a person wouldn’t be able to understand what feelings portrayed by the scripture.
It should not be shared with anyone who doesn’t want to listen to it. He will get bored listening to it and will not be able to absorb it.
It should not be shared with one who maligns God. He would only find more reasons to malign Him. Hence would increase his sins.
Thus, if a person doesn’t have any of the above qualities then he deserves to read/listen to Gita.
If a person doesn’t follow his religion but has none of the other three qualities then he too is deserving.
If a person doesn’t follow his religion and doesn’t believe in God but has a desire to learn Gita then he too is deserving.
However, if a person finds faults in God then irrespective of what other qualities he does/does not possess, he’s not deserving of Gita.
2 comments:
Wow Smriti! kuddos to you for finishing the holy scripture.Would be great to learn more about what caught you as its true essence and what parts touched you the most spiritually.
I think the best commentary on Bhagavad Gita is the one written by Swami Prabhupada. I think the title is Bhagavad Gita As It is. You should read that, it's above and beyond anything out there and used as text in many US and UK colleges.
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