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(7)
The one not eating the fruits of the tree, omniscient knows
himself [Himself] as well as the other bird. The one
eating doesn't give it any thought and is always bound, while
the one who is full of knowledge at all times is liberated
[see also B.G. 4:
5].
(8)
An enlightened person does not consider himself the body he
inhabits, just like when a dreamer forgets his dream body when
he rises in the morning. A foolish person though thinks
differently despite of being situated in the body [as its
controller], he thinks like in a dream [he identifies
with, see B.G. 16:
18].
(9)
Free from the contamination of desire an enlightened person
will not consider himself the doer, he rather considers his
actions to be the operation of the by the modes of nature
directed senses that respond to the by the modes created sense
objects [see B.G. 3:
28].
(10)
Because of the actions that factually are called down by the
modes is the ignorant soul, inhabiting the body that is ruled
by destiny, thus bound to [the egotistical notion of]
'I am the one who engages' [see also B.G. 3:
27].
(11)
An intelligent person not attached to outer appearances is in
his resting, sitting, walking, bathing, seeing, touching,
smelling, eating, hearing and so on, thus never bound,
regardless the direction in which he moves with his sensuality.
(12-13)
Even though situated in the material world, he cuts, completely
aloof from its ruling powers, with all doubts with the
assistance of the most expert and by detachment sharpened
vision. Just as the sky, the sun and the wind are aloof, he
has, like having awakened from a dream, turned away from the
separateness of things. (14)
The person of whom the functions of the life breath, the
senses, the mind and the intelligence are not directed by
desires, is completely free, despite of being situated in a
body that is ruled by the senses. (15)
Sometimes is one's body for some reason attacked [by
animals or enemies] and sometimes is one worshiped [by
a lover or a follower], but an intelligent person is never
affected when that happens [see B.G. 14:
22-25].
(16)
With an equal vision having moved beyond the notion of good and
bad a wise man will not praise those who are doing or speaking
very well, nor criticize others who are doing or speaking
poorly [see also B.G. 5:
18].
(17)
One who is satisfied within should not act upon, speak about or
contemplate matters of good and bad. A wise man should with
this way of living wander around like a dull materialistic
person [see also 5.9].
(18)
Someone who is well versed in vedic literature but not that
smart engages with the supreme interest [the Lord],
will as a result of his efforts achieve a result comparable to
the result of a person taking care of a cow that gives no milk.
(19)
O Uddhava, he who takes care of a cow that has given her milk,
an unchaste wife, a body always dependent upon others, unworthy
children, an unworthy recipient while donating, and he who
wants to speak without any knowledge of Me [see also
10.14:
4 and
5.6:
11], suffers one
misery after the other. (20)
A wise person, My best, should not engage in terms of
disrespect for My purifying activities or desired appearances
in the form of the pastime incarnations [the
lîlâ-avatâras]
in service of the maintenance, creation and annihilation of the
world, o Uddhava. (21)
When one sorts this out and thus gives up the misconception of
the material diversity as existing separately from the soul
[**]
should one, with fixing one's purified mind upon Me, the
All-pervading One [see also B.G. 7:
19], put an end
to one's materialistic life [B.G. 18:
55].
(22)
And if you're not able to steady your mind on the spiritual
platform, then dedicate, not deviating [from the regulative
principles], all your actions to Me without expecting
anything in return [B.G. 12:
11, 10:
10, 18:
54].
(23-24)
A person of belief who listens to the narrations about My birth
and activities, that with one's purifying, singing, constant
rememberance and also dramatic expression are all-auspicious to
the world, will, when he under My protection for My sake
regulates his religiosity, sensual pleasure and finances
[the purushârtas],
develop an unflinching devotion unto Me, the Eternal One, o
Uddhava. (25)
By one's devotion for Me as acquired in sat-sanga
[the association with devotees] becomes one My
worshiper. As one can see with My devotees those people reach
My abode easily.'(26-27) S'rî Uddhava said: 'What kind of person would in Your opinion, o Uttamas'loka, be a saintly person, and what sort of worship unto You would carry the approval of Your pure devotees? Please speak about this to me, Your surrendered devotee who loves You as his only shelter, o Master of the Universe, Supervisor of the World and Commander of the Person. (28) You the Supreme God and Spirit alike the sky, the Original Person transcendental to material nature, are with Your incarnation, in which You accepted different bodies, the Supreme Lord according to the desire of the ones belonging to You.'
(29-32) The Supreme Lord said: 'When someone is merciful, causes no harm, is tolerant towards all embodied beings, is firmly anchored in the truth and an irreproachable soul; when someone is equal-minded, always acting for the better, of an intelligence that is not disturbed by material desires, is of restraint, is soft-natured, pure-hearted, non-possessive, not worldly, eating little and peaceful; when someone is steady, has Me for his shelter, is thoughtful, vigilant, a profound soul, is keeping respect, has conquered the shath-guna [the different forms of material misery], offers respect and invigorates; when someone is friendly, compassionate and learned and thus knows the qualities and shortcomings as taught by Me, is such a person, even when he gives up his own religious preferences [see also B.G. 18: 66] in his worship of all that belongs to Me, the best of the truthful ones [see also 5.18: 12, B.G. 12: 13-20]. (33) They who, whether they know it or not as to who I am and how I am, worship Me with unalloyed devotion, are by Me considered the best devotees. (34-41) Seeing, touching and worshiping My appearance in this world My devotees render personal service and offer prayers of glorification and obeisance, to which they regularly sing about My qualities and activities. In hearing the topics about Me they always with faith meditate upon Me, o Uddhava, and offer as servants in defense of the Soul all that they acquire. Discussing My birth and activities they take great delight in engaging with musical instruments and songs and dance, organizing to the order of the moon [at sundays or lunar phases] meetings and festivals in My [God's] houses. Sacrificing at all celebrations and annual festivities as mentioned in the vedic literatures and their tantras, they observe vows and are of initiation in relation to Me. With the installation of My deity they are faithfully attached and endeavor for themselves as well as for others in working for flower gardens, orchards, playgrounds, cities and temples. Straightforward as servants they serve for My sake in thoroughly cleaning and dusting the house [the temple], washing with water [and cow-dung, see also 10.6: 20*], sprinkling scented water and making mandalas. Modestly without pride, not advertising one's devotional service and not reserving for oneself the light of the lamps presented to Me, one should offer Me the thing most dear to oneself or anything else that is most desired in the material world. With such offering one qualifies for immortality.
(42) The sun, the fire, the brahmins, the cows, the Vaishnavas, the sky, the wind, the water, the earth, the soul and all living beings, My dearest, all constitute a medium for My worship. (43-45) In the sun one can find Me by selected verses [like the Gâyatrî], with the help of worship and with obeisances [like with the Sûrya-namskar]. In fire one finds Me with offerings of ghee. One can find Me as the best among the learned when one worships Me by being hospitable to them. In the cows, My dear, you reach Me by means of offerings of grass and such. In the Vaishnava one finds Me by honoring him with loving friendship. I am found in the heart by being fixed in meditation on one's inner nature. In the air one finds Me by considering Me the life giving principle [represented in the prâna, by means of prânâyâma see B.G. 4: 29]. In water one can find Me using articles of worship that deal with water [see B.G. 9: 26]. In the earth [one finds Me] by offering food grains, applying sacred mantras from the heart [see e.g. Prasâda Sevâya and Bhoga-ârati]. And within the embodied self one can find Me as the knower of the field [see paramâtmâ and B.G. 13: 3] by worshiping Me with a balanced mind [see niyama]. (46) Devoutly absorbed in Me thus meditating these different ways one must be of worship for My transcendental form that is equipped with the conchshell, the disc, the club and the lotus flower [see picture]. (47) Thus fully fixed upon Me being of worship with the desired and good works, one obtains by the fine quality of the service thus delivered durable bhakti and the remembrance of Me [see also B.G. 5: 29].
(48) O Uddhava, generally speaking there are, apart from the bhakti-yoga that is realized through the association with devotees, no means that actually work, because I am the true path of life for the ones of virtue [see also 4.31: 12]. (49) Thus o child of the Yadus, I will speak to you, who are willing to listen, even about the most confidential highest secret [of intimate association with Me], since you are My servant, well-wisher and friend.
