-4th chapter: verses 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
-The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on May 1, 2020.
-6th verse: “Though I am unborn, and beyond all changes – yet, without being subject to the regulation of prakriti and the three gunas, keeping prakriti under control, I incarnate.”
-“I” does not refer to Lord Krishna as a limited human being. Rather it refers to the eternal dimension of His personality as Atman. As Atman, He is beyond the six changes: birth, existence, growth, evolution, degeneration and death.
-Highly spiritually elevated men are called Satya-Sankalpa (सत्य-सङ्कल्प). They are capable of assuming any human form at their own divine will. They only appear to take the human form – actually, they are established in their true identity as Atman, and are beyond any human weakness.
-Avatara (incarnation) is endowed with three qualities. (1) As Atman, He is unborn (2) He is devoid of any changes (3) He is the lord of all beings - and present everywhere, in everything,
-Avatara is endowed with six Bhagas (great spiritual characteristics). (1) Great effulgence (2) Great prosperity (3) Great power (4) Great knowledge (5) Great renunciation and (6) Great reputation.
-Avatara emerge in all cultures. When we look beyond the diversity of language and culture, we find universality in their teachings and a cosmic unity. In their everyday life, activities, and teachings, there is always a visible transcendental connection.
-7th and 8th verses: “Whenever there is a decline of dharma (धर्म) and increase of adharma (अधर्म), then this incarnation takes place to preserve dharma (धर्म), to protect virtuous people, to remove their obstacles and to punish evil doers.”
-Ritam (ऋतम्) is the central principle of inherent harmony that exists in nature. Satyam means truth – a person will not deviate from the path of harmony if he practices Satyam (सत्यम्). Dharma (धर्म) refers to the ethical and moral principles through which one practices Satyam (सत्यम्). For example, it is immoral to pollute the earth and therefore against Dharma (धर्म).
-Avataras are epoch makers and different from ordinary saints and prodigies. They are not affected by prarabdha-karma (प्रारब्ध–कार्म) – karmas that are responsible for present life. They are born with inherent, highest spiritual realization. With time, their spiritual stature grows; their teachings become more relevant; they continue to inspire for thousands of years.
-9th verse: “He who knows My divine nature, My birthless dimension, will not be born again. He becomes a Brahma-jnani (ब्राह्म–ज्ञानि, knower of Brahman).
-Avatara is a synthesis of divine and human. His birth and actions are only relative, at the empirical plane. His true identity is divine only, as Atman. Human form comes and goes. The spiritual ideal represented by the Avatara is eternal – one who understands this mystery of impersonal behind the personal, attribute-less behind attributes, birthless behind birth, becomes a Brahma-jnani (ब्राह्म-ज्ञानि).
-When we pray to a deity, we should always invoke the infinite, transcendental reality represented by that deity and pray to Him. We should do so in every word and every minute of our meditation and prayer.
-10th verse: “Those seekers - who are free from attachment, fear and anger – who are always dependent on Me only – who become purified by Tapas(तपस्) – they reach the highest spiritual realization.”
-God is the only real friend, and worth depending upon. Every other object of dependence only leads to misery.
-In 12th chapter (Bhakti Yoga), Lord Krishna describes the characteristics of an ideal devotee. He is never miserable, knows everything other than God is relative only, is always contented, and is always connected with the transcendental reality with his mind and senses under control.