Arjuna, since you are so patient with me, I shall impart the most esoteric knowledge, spiritual as well as worldly, knowing which you will be free from all bad influences.
It is the most important of all learnings, deepest of all secrets, the most sacred, easy to comprehend, easy to practise, and conforming to righteousness.
Not paying attention to this philosophy, people return to the mortal cycle of life and death, without ever reaching ME.
This entire world is covered by MY invisible form; all beings are contained in ME, and I am in none of them. And they are however not a part of ME.
Look, Arjuna, owing to the powerful magic of MINE: though I bear and protect the world, I am not present really in this world.
Please understand that, in the same way as the air, spreading everywhere and limitless, exists in space, so are all the beings in ME.
At the time of final dissolution, all the beings merge into MY Nature and at the beginning of creation I release them. Through the power of MY Nature, I release again and again multitudes of beings, all helpless under its grip.
And these actions do not bind ME, Arjuna, since I remain neutral as if indifferent to them. With ME presiding, Nature gives birth to animate and inanimate objects; it is due to this that the world turns around, Arjuna.
Foolish people however think that I am in this mortal body; ignorant of MY true nature, which is all-powerful and unparalleled.
These mindless people, with their futile hopes, futile deeds, futile knowledge, remain bound to their numbing demoniac and asuric nature.
The mahatmas of angelic nature, on the other hand, worship ME and ME alone, knowing that I am the source of all life. Constantly chanting MY praises, striving firmly and observing the disciplines, submitting to ME with full devotion, they worship ME, with perseverance.
Others worship ME through the sacrifice of knowledge, as the only One,or as many, or as the all-pervading, in very many different ways.
I am the Vedic Sacrifice; I am that of the Smrithis, the funeral rites for dead ancestors; I am the medicinal herbs; I am the hymns; I am the ghee; I am the fire; I am the offering.
I am the father of all worlds, the mother, grandfather, and the creator. I am all that is worth knowing, the sacred symbol OM, I am the Rik, Sama and Yajur vedas.
I am the Goal, the Nourisher, the Lord, the Witness, the Abode, the Protector, the Retreat, and the Friend. I am the Source, the Support, and the End. I contain everything, and I am the Eternal Seed.
I heat the earth, I cause the rain, and stop it; I sustain and destroy. I am the good and the bad.
Those who study the Vedas, pray for entry into the heaven, purified by partaking of the sacred soma juice offered in sacrifice to ME.
Those attaining the holy abode of gods experience all the divine enjoyments available there. After enjoying all the luxuries of the world of gods, when their accumulated merit is exhausted, they return to the world of men.
Thus those who, desirous of material enjoyments, follow the teachings of the Vedas, end up in the birth-and- rebirth cycle. Those who worship ME, dedicated to nobody else, I will look after their welfare
Even those who worship other gods, Arjuna, with devotion and faith, worship Me alone though not in the prescribed way.
It is I who accept all sacrifices, and reward them. They do not know ME truly, and so fall.
Those who worship the gods go to the gods; those who worship the ancestral spirits go to them; those who worship the demons go to them. And those who worship me come to ME.
Leaf, flower, fruit, water, whatever, if one, with devotion and purity of thought, offers, that I accept. Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you give, whatever you sacrifice, whatever penance you do, make it an offering to ME.
Thus, liberated by the true spirit of sanyas, you would be free of consequences, good and bad, of all deeds. To ME all are same; I have no hatred or partiality to anyone, whoever worships ME with devotion, is in ME, and I in them.
Even a sinner should be considered good, if he worships ME alone, and not others. Is he not on the right path!
Quickly his mind turns to righteousness, and he attains perennial peace. Arjuna, be assured, MY devotee will never perish.
Even those, of unprivileged birth, who depend on ME attain the highest state, be they women, traders, or workers. Then what to say about the pious brahmins, and devoted philosopher-kings!
Born into this ephemeral unhappy world, devote yourself to ME. Have ME in mind always, be devoted to ME, worship ME.
Composing the mind thus in full faith, you will attain ME.
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