�r�mad Bhagavad-g�t� Da�a-M�la

�r�la Bhaktivinoda æh�kura's Ten Essential Principles of G�t�

I. Pram�Ãa Ñ The Proof or Criteria for Determination

"vedyaµ pavitram oµk�ra ¨k s�ma yajura eva ca""tasm�c ch�stram pram�naµ te k�ry�rya-vyavasthitau

j��tva ��stra-vidh�noktaµ karma kartum ih�rhasi"G�t� 9.17,16.24

"I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable oµ. I am also the åk, S�ma andYajura Vedas."

"Therefore, ��stras are the praµ�na, or criteria for determining what is duty and what is notduty. Knowing �astra-vidh�na, the rules and regulations of scripture, or bhakti to be thepurport of all scriptures, one should lead an active devotional life."

II. Prameya Ñ Principles of the Proof (2-10)III. Sambandha Ñ Eternal Relationship with The Supreme (2-8)

2) K¨§Ãa-tattva

mattah parataraµ n�nyat ki�cid asti dhana�jayamayi sarvam idaµ protaµ s�tre maÃi-gaÃ� iva

G�t� 7.7

"O Dhana�jaya! There is no one equal to or greater than Me; everything rests on Me andcan never exist independently, just as a cluster of pearls are strung on a thread."

3) K¨§Ãa-�akti

bh�mir �po' nalo v�yuú khaµ mano buddhir eva caahaºk�ra it�yam me bhinn� prak¨tir a§ adh�

apareyam itas tv any�µ prak¨tiµ viddhi me par�mj�va-bh�t�µ mah�-b�ho yayedaµ dh�ryate jagat

etad yon�ni bh�tani sarv�Ãity upadh�rayaahaµ k¨tsnasya jagataú prabhavaú pralayas tath�

G�t� 7.4-7.6

" Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false egoÑthese eight belong to MyMah�-m�y� or separated material energies."

"O Mighty-armed Arjuna! Besides this apar� prak¨ti, there is the par� prak¨ti, or superiorenergy, which also consists of the ta astha-j�va potency, that is, all living entities within thismaterial world."

"Of these two potencies, the par� and apar� prak¨tis, know for certain that I am both thecause of their creation, the sustenance and dissolution of the world."

4) K¨§Ãa-rasa

avyaktaµ vyaktim �pannaµ manyate m�m abuddhayaúparaµ bh�vam aj�nanto mam �vyayam anuttam

avaj�nanti maµ m�¶h� m�nu§�m tanum ��ritamparaµ bh�vam aj�nanto mama bh�ta-mahe�varam

G�t� 7.24, 9.11

"The ignorant impersonalits think that I am first the unmanifest Brahman and then becomemanifest afterwards in the human form and personality. They do not know my supreme,transcendental, eternal form."

"Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form, not knowing My divine nature or Meas the Supreme Lord of the universe."

5) J�va-tattva Ñ The Living Entities

mamaiv�µ�o j�va-loke j�va-bh�taú san�tanaúG�t� 15.7

"The j�vas in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmented parts."

6) Baddha-J�va Ñ Conditioned Souls

�ar�raµ yad av�pnoti yac c�py utkr�mat��varaúg¨h�tvait�ni saµy�ti vayur gandh�n iv��ayat

na m�m du§k¨tino m�¶h�ú prapadyante nar�dham�úm�yay�pah¨ta-j��n� �suraµ bh�vam ��rit�ú

G�t� 15.8, 7.15

"As the j�va accepts a material body or departs from it, he carries his different conceptionsfrom one body to another like the wind carrying the fragrance of flowers."

"Those worldly-minded persons who are m�¶h�s or grossly foolish, nar�dhamas or lowestamong mankind, m�yay�pah¨ta-j��n� or whose knowledge is stolen by illusion, and who are�suric or demoniac by nature, do not surrender to Me."

7) Mukta-j�va Ñ Liberated Souls

m�m upetya punar janma duúkh�layam a�a�vatamn�pnuvanti mah�tm�tm�naú saµsiddhiµ param�µ gat�ú

daiv� hy e§� guÃamay� mama m�y� duratyay�m�m eva ye prapadyante m�y�m et�µ taranti te

G�t� 8.15, 7.14

"After attaining Me, the mahatmas who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporaryworld full of misery, because they have attained eternal service to Me."

"This daiv� prak¨ti, or divine energy, consists of the three modes of material nature and isimpossible to cross over; but those who surrender to Me easily cross beyond it."

8) M�y�, J�va and é�vara's Mutual Relationship

may� tatam idaµ sarvaµ jagad avyakta-m�rtin�mat-sth�ni sarva-bh�t�ni na c�ham te§v avasthitaú

na ca mat-sth�ni bh�t�ni pa�ya me yogam ai�varambh�ta-bh¨n na ca bh�ta-stho mam�tma bh�ta bh�vanaú

G�t� 9.4, 9.5

"By Me, in My eternal unmanifest principle or param�tma, this whole universe is pervaded.All beings, sentient and insentient, exist in Me, but I do not exist in them because I amentirely different and independent of them."

"Yet everything that is created does not rest on Me. Behold My mystic and sovereign pow-ers! Although I am the maintainer of all living entities, and I am everywhere, still Myparam�tma is the source of everything created."

9) Abhidheya-tattva Ñ Principles of How a Devotee Worships

mah�tm�nas tu m�µ p�rtha daiv�µ prak¨tiµ ��rit�úbhajanty ananya-manaso j��tv� bh�t�dim avyayam

satataµ k�rtayanto m�µ yatanta� ca d¨¶ha-vrat�únamasyanta� ca m�µ bhakty� nitya-yukt� up�sate

G�t� 9.13, 9.14

"O P�rtha! The mah�tm�s, or great souls that are not deluded, worship Me as the originaland inexhaustible source. They are fully engaged in bhajana or service with single-mindeddevotion."

"Always engaged in k�rtana, chanting my glories, firm in their vratas and vows, submittingthemselves wholeheartedly, these mah�tm�s worship Me with eternal devotion."

10) Prayojana-tattva Ñ The Ultimate Goal

anany�� cintayanto m�µ ye jan�ú paryup�satete§�µ nity�bhiyukt�n�µ yoga-k§emaµ vah�my aham

samo'haµ sarva-bh�te§u na me dve§yo' sti na priyaúye bhajanti tu m�µ bhakty� mayi te te§u c�py aham

G�t� 9.22, 9.29

"Those who worship Me with single-minded devotion, meditating constantly on My lotusfeet and divine form, for them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have."

"I am equally disposed to everyone, from the highest to lowest, so I have neither enemy norfriend, being impartial. But whoever renders service with loving devotion ardently and sin-cerely, then I also love them." á