We will see what is absolute truth and how is it described by Shri Krishna.
Lets look at the following verse:
manuṣyāṇāṁ sahasreṣu
kaścid yatati siddhaye
yatatām api siddhānāṁ
kaścin māṁ vetti tattvataḥ
In this verse Shri Krishna explains that only one out of many thousand men desire to seek perfection. Further on he says that out of the thousands who have achieved perfection there is only one who knows me in truth. This verse explains that there are many people who endeavour for achieving perfection by indulging in various yogas, but there are only some who are successful in recognising the impersonal brahman and only few who can seek the universal truth i.e. Shri Krishna.
Let’s look at another verse:
bhūmir āpo ‘nalo vāyuḥ
khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca
ahaṅkāra itīyaṁ me
bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā
This verse tells us that earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego are 8 different material energies of the Lord. There are 3 different plenary expansions of the Lord.
- Maha-Vishnu- The total material energy.
- Garbhodakshyayi Vishnu- Who creates diversities among everyone.
- Kshirodakshayayi Vishnu- Who is the supersoul in all the universes.
apareyam itas tv anyāṁ
prakṛtiṁ viddhi me parām
jīva-bhūtāṁ mahā-bāho
yayedaṁ dhāryate jagat
In this verse Shri Krishna explains that apart from his inferior nature which includes matter which is manifested in different forms using elements such as fire, earth, water, ether, air, mind, intelligence and false ego, there is also another side which is his superior energy which controls all the matter and the entire cosmos. Without his superior energy the cosmos cannot function.
Another verse explains this idea further:
etad-yonīni bhūtāni
sarvāṇīty upadhāraya
ahaṁ kṛtsnasya jagataḥ
prabhavaḥ pralayas tathā
In this verse the great lord tells to Arjun that anything that is present in this universe whether materialistic or spiritual has it’s origin as well as dissolution in him. Everything comes out of him and at last goes into him.
Let’s look at the next verse:
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañjaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva
In this verse he explains that there is no truth superior to Lord Krishna. Everything is present in him like the pearls are strung on a thread. He tells that there is nothing superior to him and everything exists upon him.
Lets look at the next verse:
raso ‘ham apsu kaunteya
prabhāsmi śaśi-sūryayoḥ
praṇavaḥ sarva-vedeṣu
śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu
In this verse he tells that he is the taste in water, the light in the Sun and the Moon, he is OM in the Vedic hymns. He is the all pervading sound and he is the ability in a man. It is due to him that the sun and the moon have light. OM is the representation of Shri Krishna which is spoken before every Vedic mantra(hymn).
Let’s look at the next verse:
puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca
tejaś cāsmi vibhāvasau
jīvanaṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
tapaś cāsmi tapasviṣu
In this verse Shri Krishna explains that he is the aroma of the earth as well as the heat in the fire. It’s due to him that life exists within every living being and he is the penance of ascetics.
Stay tuned for part 2.
