BHAKTI YOGA
(Chapters 7-12)
Chapter 7
Knowledge of the Absolute: Hearing reveals knowledge about Krishna material and spirtual energies. Four types of pious people worship Krishna and Four type of impious people don’t. Some worship devtas and some become impersonalists. One who is free from sins can do determined bhakti.
In 7.29 – 7.30, Krishna mentions severaal items starting from Brahman. He elaborates them in Chapter 8.
Chapter 8
Attaining the Supreme : Whoever remember Krishna at the time of death attains Him. Jnanis and yogis attain liberation by path of light and karmi comes back to material world. But a bhakta quits this material world full of miseries and attain Krishna’s spiritual abode by pure bhakti.
Having described the glory of an anaya-bhakta, Krishna describes how to become such an ananya-bhakta.
Chapter 9
Most confidential knowledge is the knowledge of pure bhakti. Krishna creates, maintains and destroys this world by His majestic powers. Fools and jnanis approach Krishna in different ways. But direct bhakti to Krishna is the best. Krishna is specially inclined to a devotee and forgives him for accidental mistakes.
In 9.34, Krishna instructed to fix one’s mind in Him. In chapter 10, Krishna describes His opulence’s on which one can fix his mind and remember Him.
Chapter 10
Opulences of Krishna are unlimited. He is the origin of everything and is especially merciful to His devotees. Arjuna accepts Krishna’s supreme position and at his request Krishna describes all His opulences (vibhutis) which are just a spark of His splendor. He is the all-pervading Supersoul of everything in the cosmos.
In 10.42, Krishna said that He pervades and supports the entire universe. In 11.1 – 11.4, Arjuna desires to see that all-pervasive universal form.
Chapter 11
The Universal form (visva-rupa) of Krishna consists of everything withing the universe. Frightened upon seeing the form of time (kala-rupa) that devoured everything. Arjuna offered prayers and requests Krishna to manifest His pleasing two-handed form.
In 11.55, Krishna established the supremcay of bhakti-yoga unto His personal form. So, in 12.1 Arjuna inquires about personalists and impersonalists.
Chapter 12
Devotional service is the highest of all spiritual paths. Krishna differentiates between the personalists and impersonalists and gives the progressive levels of bhakti that enable people at various stages to connect with the Supreme. A devotee possess several glorious qualities that ender him to Krishna..
Having describes bhakti-yoga in six chapters, Krishna describes Jñāna-yoga in the last six chapters.