THE HOLY GITA
CHAPTER NUMBER 09
RAJAVIDYA RAJAGUHYA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF THE SOVEREIGN SCIENCE AND SOVEREIGN SECRET:
VERSE NUMBER 30
Text in Transliteration:
Api chet suduraachaaro bhajate maam ananyabhaak
Saadhur eva sa mantavyah samyag vyavasito hi sah
Text in English:
Even if a man of the most sinful conduct worships Me with undeviating devotion, he must be reckoned as righteous, for he has rightly resolved.
Sanskrit words and phrases and their meaning:
api = even; chet = if; suduraachaarah = a very wicked person; bhajate = worships; maam = me; ananyabhaak = with devotion to none else; saadhuh: = righteous; eva = verily; sah: = he; mantavyah: = should be regarded; samyak = rightly; vyavasitah: = resolved: hi = indeed; sah: = he;
COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:
The dirtiest water can be brought back to its original pure state through distillation. Even while in dirt its innate element is not lost. Man’s case is much more definite than that of water. There is no such thing as eternal damnation to the sinner as some religions would have it. The unpardonable sin is a misnomer. Salvation of mankind is the supreme plan of the Divine. The more man turns to God the purer he becomes. His mind gets action then follows in the trail of his purified thought. He emerges as one reclaimed in virtue.
SRI RAMAKRISHNA AS QUOTED BY SRIMAT SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:
How to wean people from worldliness to godliness, thought the twin saints—Nityananda and Gourenga. They struck upon the plan of preaching that the chanting of the Lord’s name would bring in to them more of wealth and earthly enjoyments. Attracted by the offer, people in large numbers joined the saints in singing and chanting the glory of God. The divine ecstasy that emanated from that holy act made people forget all vulgar pleasures and turned their minds more Godward. God is the divine talisman for all worldly evils.
COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:
“By abandoning evil ways in his external life and by the power of his internal right resolution.” Shankara. Cp. also “If he repents after he commits the sin, he is freed from sin; if he resolves that he will never commit the sin again, he will be purified.” The evil of the past deeds cannot be washed away except by his turning to God with undivided heart. Cp. Baudhaayana Dharma Sutra: “Lit one feel daily repentant in mind, reflecting over misdeeds committed and practising austerity and vigilance. By this will he be freed from sin.” Karma never binds completely. The sinner in the lowest depths of degradation has the light in him which he cannot put out, though he may try to stifle it and turn away from it utterly. God holds us, fallen though we be, by the roots of our being and is ready to send His rays into our dark and rebellious hearts. The very consciousness of our imperfection and sin betrays the pressure of the Divine on our hearts. Cp. Tukaram: “Fallen and fallen, thrice fallen I am; but do Thou raise me by Thy power. I have neither purity of heart nor a faith firmly set at Thy feet. I am born of sin. How often shall I repeat it? Says Ruka.” Again: “I am void of understanding, needy and worse than needy. I cannot steady my mind; I cannot stay my wayward senses. I have exhausted effort; peace and rest are far from me. I have offered Thee perfect faith; I have laid my life at Thy feet. Do now as Thou wilt, I can only look to Thee. O God, I trust in Thee, I cling firmly to Thy feet. Tukay says, It is for Thee to deal with my efforts.” The publican, in the parable, prays from the depth of his heart, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
This verse does not mean that there is an easy escape from the consequences of our deeds. We cannot prevent the cause from producing its effect. Any arbitrary interference with the order of the world is not permitted. When the sinner turns to God with undistracted devotion, a new cause is introduced. His redemption is conditional on his repentance. Repentance, as we have noticed, is a genuine change of heart and includes contrition or sorrow for the past sin and a decision to prevent a repetition of it in the future. When once the resolution is adopted, the transformation of the lower into the higher is steadily effected. If we believe in human effort, the growth may be hard. Error, imperfection and self-will are difficult to overcome, but when the soul gives up its ego and opens itself to the Divine, the Divine takes up the burden and lifts the soul into the spiritual plane. Tulsidas says: “A piece of charcoal loses its blackness only when fire penetrates it.” There are no unforgivable sins.
COMMENTARY BY SRIMAT SWAMI SIVANANDA:
Even if the most sinful worships Him with undivided heart, he too must indeed be deemed righteous for he has made the holy resolution to give up the evil ways of his life. Rogue Ratnakar became Valmiki by his holy resolution. Jagal and Madhai also became righteous devotees. Mary Magdalene, a woman of ill-fame became a pious woman. Sin vanishes when thoughts of God arise in the mind. Chandrayana and Kricchra Vratas will remove only certain particular sins but the remembrance of the Lord, thoughts of the Supreme Being, Japa and meditation, and Abheda Brahma Chintana (contemplation of Brahman with a non-dualistic or Aham Brahmasmi or I am the Absolute attitude) will destroy the sins committed by a person even in hundred crores of Kalpas or ages.
By abandoning the evil ways in his external life and by the force of his internal right resolution, he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace. (Cf. IV.36)
Comments by the blogger:
As we have seen many times, Samskara is the minute unit of measurement in God’s hands. The action of the whole universe is can be measured by the Lord. It is automatic. God need not necessarily exert Himself. He can easily tell how many hairs we have individually on our heads. Or He can tell how many grains of sands are there on a particular beach. Even the passing thought and imagination are factored in. While a person of horrendous sin takes to God and glorification of Him after a period of utter repentance the heavily loaded negative Samskara units are first, over a period of time, neutralized, and then the continuous prayer and repentance and glorification of the Lord and chanting His all purifying Name starts the accumulation of the positive samskaras. Thus the past sinner has turned into a great soul.
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