PLATFORM OF KNOWLEDGE – KNOWING THE THREE DOERS (5.13 – 5.16)

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

(a) Living entities as one of the energies – It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

(b) Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial
Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions
In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result.

(c) Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)
He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body
Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

(d) Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil: Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Text 5.15

Role of the Lord

THEME: One in Knowledge sees material nature as being under Lord’s control and thus the Lord as the ultimate performer and the cause of all actions

But this theme raises a question that “Doesn’t that make Him responsible for all good and bad things done in this world?”
Text 5.15 answers this: “He simply sanctions, the soul initiates by desire and therefore living entity is responsible for all good and bad reactions.

Learnings from Purport 5.15

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

(a) Living entities as one of the energies – It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

(b) Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial
Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions
In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result.

(c) Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)
He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body
Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

(d) Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil: Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Text 5.15

Role of the Lord

THEME: One in Knowledge sees material nature as being under Lord’s control and thus the Lord as the ultimate performer and the cause of all actions

But this theme raises a question that “Doesn’t that make Him responsible for all good and bad things done in this world?”
Text 5.15 answers this: “He simply sanctions, the soul initiates by desire and therefore living entity is responsible for all good and bad reactions.

Learnings from Purport 5.15

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

(a) Soul placed in body

Lives in the city of nine gates
Nine gates – Two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, the anus and genitals
The soul has a choice – Although subjecting oneself to the conditions of the body, one can be beyond those conditions if he so desires

(b) Cause of soul’s suffering – Owing to the forgetfulness of his superior nature and identifying with the material nature

(c) Solution to the soul’s suffering – By Krishna consciousness one revives his real position and comes out of the embodiment because by Krishna consciousness

One becomes completely aloof from bodily activities
In such a controlled life one deliberations are changed and he lives happily within the city of nine gates.

(d) Supporting reference – Svetasvatara Upanisad

When the living entity identifies with the Lord within Himself, he becomes just as free as the Lord, even while in the body.
Therefore a Krishna conscious person is free from both the outer and inner activities of the material body.

Text 5.14

Role of modes

THEME: One in Knowledge perceives, therefore the material nature as the cause of worldly actions.

Learnings from Purport 5.14

(a) Living entities as one of the energies – It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

(b) Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial
Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions
In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result.

(c) Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)
He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body
Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

(d) Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil: Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Text 5.15

Role of the Lord

THEME: One in Knowledge sees material nature as being under Lord’s control and thus the Lord as the ultimate performer and the cause of all actions

But this theme raises a question that “Doesn’t that make Him responsible for all good and bad things done in this world?”
Text 5.15 answers this: “He simply sanctions, the soul initiates by desire and therefore living entity is responsible for all good and bad reactions.

Learnings from Purport 5.15

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

(a) Soul placed in body

Lives in the city of nine gates
Nine gates – Two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, the anus and genitals
The soul has a choice – Although subjecting oneself to the conditions of the body, one can be beyond those conditions if he so desires

(b) Cause of soul’s suffering – Owing to the forgetfulness of his superior nature and identifying with the material nature

(c) Solution to the soul’s suffering – By Krishna consciousness one revives his real position and comes out of the embodiment because by Krishna consciousness

One becomes completely aloof from bodily activities
In such a controlled life one deliberations are changed and he lives happily within the city of nine gates.

(d) Supporting reference – Svetasvatara Upanisad

When the living entity identifies with the Lord within Himself, he becomes just as free as the Lord, even while in the body.
Therefore a Krishna conscious person is free from both the outer and inner activities of the material body.

Text 5.14

Role of modes

THEME: One in Knowledge perceives, therefore the material nature as the cause of worldly actions.

Learnings from Purport 5.14

(a) Living entities as one of the energies – It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

(b) Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial
Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions
In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result.

(c) Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)
He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body
Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

(d) Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil: Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Text 5.15

Role of the Lord

THEME: One in Knowledge sees material nature as being under Lord’s control and thus the Lord as the ultimate performer and the cause of all actions

But this theme raises a question that “Doesn’t that make Him responsible for all good and bad things done in this world?”
Text 5.15 answers this: “He simply sanctions, the soul initiates by desire and therefore living entity is responsible for all good and bad reactions.

Learnings from Purport 5.15

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

PLATFORM OF KNOWLEDGE – KNOWING THE THREE DOERS (5.13 – 5.16)

LINK WITH PREVIOUS SECTION : Chapter 5 addresses the ‘topic of action’. While discussing action, one must of course refer to the ‘performer of action’. Krishna explains 3 performers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THIS SECTION
Acting in Knowledge of Texts 5.13 – 5.16 (Knowledge of the Supersoul as the ultimate controller of activities) reaps two substantial fruits:

1. Detachment from material events

One who understands that he is not the material body or senses is not concerned with their satisfaction
He appreciates that he has no direct control over material phenomena, so attachment to them is useless
He is too busy serving the Lord in blissful Krishna consciousness to take to mundane sense-gratification

2. Surrender to Supersoul: Devotionally fixes his consciousness (mind, intelligence, faith and refuge) on Supersoul

And thus one gets fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge attains liberation (5.17)

Text 5.13

Establishes the role of Jivatma

THEME: One in knowledge sees the body, not the self as the performer and cause of work. Activities of body are conducted automatically by its modes.

Purpose of discussion is to convince the embodied living entity that ‘I am not the only doer’
Embodied living entity resides happily in the city of nine gates, neither working nor causing work to be done, when he
⇒ Controls his nature and
⇒ Mentally renounces all actions

Learnings from Purport 5.13

(a) Soul placed in body

Lives in the city of nine gates
Nine gates – Two eyes, two nostrils, two ears, one mouth, the anus and genitals
The soul has a choice – Although subjecting oneself to the conditions of the body, one can be beyond those conditions if he so desires

(b) Cause of soul’s suffering – Owing to the forgetfulness of his superior nature and identifying with the material nature

(c) Solution to the soul’s suffering – By Krishna consciousness one revives his real position and comes out of the embodiment because by Krishna consciousness

One becomes completely aloof from bodily activities
In such a controlled life one deliberations are changed and he lives happily within the city of nine gates.

(d) Supporting reference – Svetasvatara Upanisad

When the living entity identifies with the Lord within Himself, he becomes just as free as the Lord, even while in the body.
Therefore a Krishna conscious person is free from both the outer and inner activities of the material body.

Text 5.14

Role of modes

THEME: One in Knowledge perceives, therefore the material nature as the cause of worldly actions.

Learnings from Purport 5.14

(a) Living entities as one of the energies – It is a superior energy as compared to matter which is the inferior energy (Ref. Bg. 7.5)

(b) Ignorance is the cause of suffering

Soul is in contact with the material nature since time immemorial
Temporary body is the cause of varieties of activities and resultant reactions
In ignorance one identifies with the activities of the body and suffers the result.

(c) Living entity is not the ‘so-called’ master

As long as he is in the city of the body, he appears to be master of it (indicated by the word “prabhuh”)
He is neither the proprietor nor the controller of the actions and reactions of the body
Analogy: Waves of material ocean are simply tossing him in the struggle for existence

(d) Best solution to save living entities from all turmoil: Get out of the water by transcendental Krishna consciousness.

Text 5.15

Role of the Lord

THEME: One in Knowledge sees material nature as being under Lord’s control and thus the Lord as the ultimate performer and the cause of all actions

But this theme raises a question that “Doesn’t that make Him responsible for all good and bad things done in this world?”
Text 5.15 answers this: “He simply sanctions, the soul initiates by desire and therefore living entity is responsible for all good and bad reactions.

Learnings from Purport 5.15

(a) Supreme Lord is vibhu (omniscient) – This means He is full of all six opulences

He is always satisfied in Himself, undisturbed by sinful or pious activities
He does not create a particular situation for any living entity

(b) Living entity is anu (atomic) –

Prone to ignorance – He is prone to ignorance because of limited power, although he is full of knowledge and bliss
Free will to desire – As a part of the Supreme Lord he has the capacity to desire by his free will
Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity
Misuse of desire – Under ignorance living entity desires to be put into a certain condition of life
o Therefore his chain of actions and reactions begin
o Under ignorance the living entity claims that the Lord is responsible for his conditional existence.

(c) Supreme Lord as the witness and permitter – The desires of the living entities are fulfilled only by the omnipotent Lord

Analogy of flower: Lord is the constant companion as Supersoul and He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the fragrance of a flower by being near to it.
Does Lord fulfill all desires – He fulfills the desires as one deserves; Man proposes, God disposes.

(d) The Lord is neutral to everyone – He does not interfere with the desires of the minute, independent living entities

When the living entity is bewildered the Lord allows him to fulfill those desires, but the Lord is never responsible for the particular situation created
When the living entity desires Krishna, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.
References for Lord’s neutrality (study purport)
o Ref. Vedic hymns / Kausitaki Upanisad
o Ref. Vedanta Sutra 2.1.34 “vaisamya-nairghrnya…”

SUMMARISED THEME 5C

COMPARING THE SOUL AND SUPERSOUL (5.13 – 5.16)
S No	SOUL	SUPERSOUL
1	Eternal	Eternal
2	Blissful, but suffers when covered by maya	Blissful, above the modes
3	Cognizant of his body	Cognizant of all bodies
4	Anu, atomic	Vibhu, omniscient
5	Has minute independence to desire but is dependent upon Supersoul to fulfil desires	Complete independence

SUMMARISED THEME 5D

CONCLUSION: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUL, SUPERSOUL AND THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE

Those desires that the soul deserves, Lord is the director of the choreography who causes activities to be done through material nature.

Carry out actions to fulfil those desires, body and actions are choreographed by the modes.

Supersoul not to be held responsible for all actions, because all initiated by desires of the living entity (5.13)
Living entity is responsible for his own good and bad actions and is thus responsible for the consequensces
Supersoul is the ultimate controller of the activities, but not the initiator and modes of nature are the agents of the Lord

It leads to “A state of perfect knowledge”

When one surrenders unto the Lord (7.19)
Happiness and Real Peace

Text 5.16

THEME: Knowing the relations between the three (Supersoul, Soul, material nature as explained above) allows one to be detached from all fruits

“A state of perfect knowledge” is achieved when one surrenders unto the Lord (Ref. Bg. 7.19)
One attains full enlightenment, peace and happiness
Finally attains real liberation
Analogy: Sun lights up and reveals everything in daytime (rising of sun: knowledge), similarly knowledge destroys the nescience and reveals everything.

Learnings from Purport 5.16

(a) Transcendental knowledge in Krishna consciousness removes all bewilderment

Ref. Bg. 4.36-4.38 – Glorifies transcendental knowledge
What is that knowledge – Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krishna (Ref. Bg. 7.19) and surrender in Krishna consciousness reveals everything as sun lights up everything in daytime
Two parts of perfect knowledge
⇒ To know oneself different from the body
⇒ To know that one can never become God and thus the soul is eternally different from Supersoul – “identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge” (Ref. Bg. 2.12)

(b) Two categories of bewilderment

To identify oneself with the matter
To think oneself as God – When the living entity unceremoniously thinks himself God, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience
⇒ Our refutation: If a living entity is God then how can be become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan is greater than God

(d) Who is a perfect representative of God – One who never claims that he is God, although he is paid all respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.