In the 20th chapter, Uddhava tells the Lord that he is bewildered, since it is by His word (the Vedas) alone that the distinction between good and evil is to be determined; and again it is by His word that the distinction is negatived. How then is an aspirant to attain liberation (moksha) without taking into consideration this distinction?
Continue reading Chapter 20. Jnana yoga, karma yoga and bhakti yoga – an analysis.
The 21st chapter is a continuation of the discourse started in the 20th chapter. The Lord tells Uddhava that those who abandon all the three paths of jnana, karma and bhakti, and enjoy the trifling pleasures of senses undergo transmigration.
In the 22nd chapter Uddhava asks the Lord as to the number of categories or fundamental principals (tattvas) involved in creation. The Lord himself referred to 28 categories (in chapter 19); some say it is 26,others 25,some others 7,9,6 and 4,while others mention 11,17,16,13,etc. Why this confusion in numbers,? asks Uddhava. In reply, the Lord says that whatever brahmins, well versed in the Vedas, declare, is right.
In the 23rd chapter, the Lord concedes that there is scarcely any pious soul in this world who can remain calm and composed in mind when agitated by abusive words uttered by the wicked, which wrankle in his heart and torment him. The Lord then narrates the story of a rich brahmin who lived in Avanthi and who was very miserly.
In the 24th chapter the Lord instructs His dear devotee Uddhava, in the doctrine of Sankhya, realizing which a man bids fair to shed at once the delusion occasioned by false knowledge. In Krita Yuga, there was complete concordance between the understood meaning of and the words of the Vedas; people living in that age being prescient and wise understand the Vedas as they are.
The 25th chapter is an exposition by the Lord to Uddhava, on how men are affected by the three gunas, individually as well as in conjunction with one another; and how one can get over the effects. The individual as well as the combined traits of sattva, rajas and tamo guna are enumerated.
In the 26th chapter, the Lord instructs Uddhava on the pitfalls in the path of one who is still to overcome the false identification with the body. Such a seeker or sadhaka should on no account cultivate the fellowship of unworthy men given to the gratification of the palate and the sexual urge. If they do so, they will surely fall into the darkest region of perdition (andha tamas).
In the 27th chapter the Lord explains to Uddhava, (responding to his question about the same), the course of discipline consisting of formal worship of the Lord, called Kriya Yoga, intended to propitiate the Lord, in all its detail. Uddhava recalls that this course of discipline was originally imparted by the Lord, first to Brahma and thence to his sons Bhrigu and Lord Siva, and thence to Parvati and so on.
The 28th chapter is a lucid exposition of the Supreme Sovereignty of the Lord, the total dependence of the jiva who experiences the transmigration being bound by the Gunas which are under the control of the Lord, and the manifested world.
In the 29th chapter, the Lord concludes the instructions to Uddhava, which commenced in Chapter 7. Uddhava submits to the Lord that the yogic discipline recommended by the Lord is extremely difficult for one who has not been able to control the mind. Therefore he begs the Lord for explicit and simple instructions through which a man may easily attain perfection.