travels to Me is My path. . . . All paths lead to Me.”
1 Krishna then says, “I taught these same eternal truths to Surya (the Sun God), Arjuna. He passed them on to his son Manu, the very earliest man, and he to his son Ikshvaku, who was the first king, so that he could better handle his worldly duties.
2-3 “Handed down in this way through the ages, eminent sages learned these great secrets. But through time, the right type of people became scarce, and the practice of this knowledge dwindled. I use the word secrets not because these truths are hidden but because so few people are prepared to hear them today. I’m giving thesetruths to you now, Arjuna, because I love you and you are worthy to receive this grace.”
4 Arjuna looks puzzled, and interrupts, “But Krishna, how can a modern man instruct an ancient one? We have been close friends for many, many years, and I love you dearly, Krishna, but you are only five or six years older than I am. You were born ages, eons after Surya and those others. They are from a past so distant it is beyond imagination. Why do you say it was you who taught this in the beginning? And please don’t just tell me it was you in an earlier life! That makes it even more strange.”
5 Krishna laughs within Himself, knowing the right moment has come. “Arjuna,” He says, “people say the sun rises and sets, but it does not ‘rise’ or ‘set,’ it is merely out of their sight. I am like that. I am not born nor do I die, but ordinary mortals, seeing me ‘coming’ and ‘going,’ think that I am born many times. For the sake of simplicity, let me say that you and I have both passed through many, many births. In this present lifetime you have forgotten them while I remember them all. I am aware of the continuity of My existence as Atma down through the countless ages, but you are unaware of your Atma, your lasting reality. That is the difference between us.”
Krishna’s Declaration
6 “And know also, Arjuna, that as the Divinity in all creatures and all of nature, I am birthless and deathless. And yet, from time to time I manifest Myself in worldly form and live what seems an earthly life. I may appear human but that is only My maya (power of illusion), because in truth I am beyond humankind; I just consort with nature, which is Mine.
7-8 “Whenever goodness and dharma (right action) weaken and evil grows stronger, I make Myself a body. I do this to uplift and transform society, reestablish the balance of goodness over wickedness, explain the sublime plan and purpose of life, and serve as the model for others to follow. I come age after age in times of spiritual and moral crisis for this purpose.
9 “Strange? Yes. It is difficult for most people to comprehend that the Supreme Divinity is actually moving about in human form. But for those few who dare to learn the secret that it is I, Divinity, who is the Operator within them, their own Self, My coming in human form is a rare opportunity to free themselves from the erroneous belief that they are their bodies.
10 “Thus freed from this delusion these special ones seek refuge in Me, the Atma. They become absorbed in Me, always thinking and remembering the Divinity within themselves. Purified of their selfishness, fear, and anger by the fire of this great knowledge, they, as many before them, reach the Supreme goal. For all intents and purposes these special ones become one with Me. This is absolutely true; give up any doubts.
11 “You may think this is partiality, but I have no favorites. Whatever path a person travels to Me is My path. In whatever way a person approaches Me, I return like for like. If they treat Me as father or mother, I treat them as My children. If they serve Me as master, I accept their services as their Lord. If they worship Me as a child, I approach them as a child. Those who pine for Me, I pine for. To those who see Me as friend I
1 Krishna then says, “I taught these same eternal truths to Surya (the Sun God), Arjuna. He passed them on to his son Manu, the very earliest man, and he to his son Ikshvaku, who was the first king, so that he could better handle his worldly duties.
2-3 “Handed down in this way through the ages, eminent sages learned these great secrets. But through time, the right type of people became scarce, and the practice of this knowledge dwindled. I use the word secrets not because these truths are hidden but because so few people are prepared to hear them today. I’m giving thesetruths to you now, Arjuna, because I love you and you are worthy to receive this grace.”
4 Arjuna looks puzzled, and interrupts, “But Krishna, how can a modern man instruct an ancient one? We have been close friends for many, many years, and I love you dearly, Krishna, but you are only five or six years older than I am. You were born ages, eons after Surya and those others. They are from a past so distant it is beyond imagination. Why do you say it was you who taught this in the beginning? And please don’t just tell me it was you in an earlier life! That makes it even more strange.”
5 Krishna laughs within Himself, knowing the right moment has come. “Arjuna,” He says, “people say the sun rises and sets, but it does not ‘rise’ or ‘set,’ it is merely out of their sight. I am like that. I am not born nor do I die, but ordinary mortals, seeing me ‘coming’ and ‘going,’ think that I am born many times. For the sake of simplicity, let me say that you and I have both passed through many, many births. In this present lifetime you have forgotten them while I remember them all. I am aware of the continuity of My existence as Atma down through the countless ages, but you are unaware of your Atma, your lasting reality. That is the difference between us.”
Krishna’s Declaration
6 “And know also, Arjuna, that as the Divinity in all creatures and all of nature, I am birthless and deathless. And yet, from time to time I manifest Myself in worldly form and live what seems an earthly life. I may appear human but that is only My maya (power of illusion), because in truth I am beyond humankind; I just consort with nature, which is Mine.
7-8 “Whenever goodness and dharma (right action) weaken and evil grows stronger, I make Myself a body. I do this to uplift and transform society, reestablish the balance of goodness over wickedness, explain the sublime plan and purpose of life, and serve as the model for others to follow. I come age after age in times of spiritual and moral crisis for this purpose.
9 “Strange? Yes. It is difficult for most people to comprehend that the Supreme Divinity is actually moving about in human form. But for those few who dare to learn the secret that it is I, Divinity, who is the Operator within them, their own Self, My coming in human form is a rare opportunity to free themselves from the erroneous belief that they are their bodies.
10 “Thus freed from this delusion these special ones seek refuge in Me, the Atma. They become absorbed in Me, always thinking and remembering the Divinity within themselves. Purified of their selfishness, fear, and anger by the fire of this great knowledge, they, as many before them, reach the Supreme goal. For all intents and purposes these special ones become one with Me. This is absolutely true; give up any doubts.
11 “You may think this is partiality, but I have no favorites. Whatever path a person travels to Me is My path. In whatever way a person approaches Me, I return like for like. If they treat Me as father or mother, I treat them as My children. If they serve Me as master, I accept their services as their Lord. If they worship Me as a child, I approach them as a child. Those who pine for Me, I pine for. To those who see Me as friend I
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