Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled “Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth,” delves deep into the nature of the Supreme Being, the intricacies of divine manifestation, and the paths to spiritual realization.
Lord Krishna urges Arjuna to cultivate unwavering devotion and practice the discipline of yoga with a focused mind. He promises to impart profound knowledge that leads to the realization of the Supreme Truth. Krishna highlights the rarity of individuals who genuinely seek spiritual perfection and the even rarer few who attain true knowledge of the divine essence. Krishna elucidates the dual nature of reality, consisting of lower material nature (Prakriti) and higher divine nature. He explains that all living beings originate from these two natures, with Himself as the origin and dissolution of the entire universe. Earth, water, fire, air, space, mind, intellect, and ego form the lower nature, while the higher divine nature sustains the cosmos. Krishna reveals Himself as the ultimate truth, the essence behind all existence. He declares His omnipresence in various manifestations, including as the essence in water, the light of the sun and the moon, and the sacred syllable Om. Krishna asserts His role as the source of intelligence, strength, desire devoid of attachment, and the originator of all states of being. Krishna explains that the universe is bewildered by the three modes of material nature—goodness, passion, and ignorance—but He transcends these modes. He describes Maya, His divine power, as difficult to overcome but assures that those who surrender to Him can easily transcend it. However, those attached to demonic nature remain deluded and do not surrender to the divine. Krishna categorizes devotees into four types—distressed, seekers of knowledge, seekers of wealth, and wise. He extols the wise devotees who maintain a profound connection with Him through devotion, considering them the most elevated. He emphasizes that after many births, the wise ultimately surrender to Him, realizing Him as the ultimate reality. Krishna discusses how those with limited understanding worship celestial deities, attributing temporary results to their rituals. He reveals that His unmanifest nature is often misunderstood, and only those with true knowledge perceive His transcendental essence beyond manifestation. He emphasizes His omniscience and the ignorance of the world regarding His true nature. Krishna explains how desires and aversions born from delusion lead to bewilderment among beings. He asserts that those free from dualities and sins worship Him with firm resolve, striving for liberation from old age and death. Those who perceive Him as the governing principle and the performer of all actions attain knowledge of the Supreme Absolute even at the time of departure. In Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna offers profound teachings on the nature of reality, the significance of devotion, and the paths to spiritual enlightenment. Through His dialogue with Arjuna, he elucidates the essence of existence and guides seekers on the journey toward realizing the ultimate truth.