In this article our topic is the 22nd verse of the 6th chapter of Bhagavad Gita.
In philosophy, literature, religion and poetry human life and all activities associated with it have been described as a “search”. They say that whatever we are doing, we are actually searching something or someone.
Now, is this search endless or infinite? In Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, verse 22 we find Lord Krishna is saying that there is something or someone, which, having obtained, one feels that his search has finally come to an end. There is not and can not be anything greater or better than that. When someone reaches such a stage or finds this object, nothing in the universe can disturb or move him.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter VI, Verse: 22
The verse is—
The meaning if the verse is—
Now let’s see meaning of every word—
- यं/Yam = Which
- लब्धा/Labdha = Having obtained
- च/Cha= And
- अपरं/Aparam = Another
- लाभं.Labham = Gain
- मन्यते/Manyate = Thinks
- न/Na = Not
- अधिकं/Adhikam= Greater
- ततः/Tatah = Than that
- यस्मिन्/Yasmin = In which
- स्थितः/Sthitah= Established
- न/Na = Not
- दुःखेन/Duhkhena = By sorrow/misery
- गुरुणा/Guruna = Heavy
- अपि/Api= Even
- बिचाल्येत/Bichalyet = Is moved
Here is an audio recording of the verse. Artist: Piusha Singh. Recording and sound mixing: Swami Vivekananda Quotes.
Swami Vivekananda’s comments
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| Image source: Wikimedia Commons |
In the beginning of 1894, Swami Vivekananda wrote a letter to Swami Ramakrishnananda from 541 Dearborn Avenue, Chicago, United States. In that letter he quoted the last part of this verse—[Source]
“यस्मिंस्थितौ न दुःखेन गुरुणापि विचाल्यते” — नैषः प्राप्तवान् तत्पदवीमिति मत्वा करुणादृष्ट्या द्रष्टव्योऽयमिति — “Established in which state a man is not moved even by great misfortune” (Gita) — that state he has not reached; think of this and look upon him with pity. Through the Lord’s will, the desire for name and fame has not yet crept into my heart, and I dare say never will. I am an instrument, and He is the operator. Through this instrument He is rousing the religious instinct in thousands of hearts in this far-off country. Thousands of men and women here love and revere me. . . . “मूकं करोति वाचालं पङ्गुं लङ्घते गिरिम् — He makes the dumb eloquent and makes the lame cross mountains.” I am amazed at His grace. Whichever town I visit, it is in an uproar. They have named me “the cyclonic Hindu”. Remember, it is His will — I am a voice without a form.