Bhagavad Gita 2.53

[Paramananda das]

TEXT 53

sruti-vipratipanna te yada sthasyati niscala samadhav acala buddhis tada yogam avapsyasi

SYNONYMS

sruti--Vedic revelation; vipratipanna--without being influenced by the fruitive results of the  Vedas; te--your; yada--when; sthasyati--remains; niscala--unmoved; samadhau--in transcendental consciousness, or  Krsna consciousness; acala--unflinching; buddhih--intelligence; tada--at that time; yogam--self-realization; avapsyasi--you  will achieve.

TRANSLATION

When your mind is no longer  disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas, and when it remains fixed in the  trance of self-realization, then you will have attained the divine  consciousness.

PURPORT

To say that one is in samadhi is  to say that one has fully realized Krsna consciousness; that is, one in full samadhi has realized Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The highest  perfection of self-realization is to understand that one is eternally the  servitor of Krsna and that one's only business is to discharge one's duties in  Krsna consciousness. A Krsna conscious person, or unflinching devotee of the  Lord, should not be disturbed by the flowery language of the Vedas nor be  engaged in fruitive activities for promotion to the heavenly kingdom. In Krsna  consciousness, one comes directly into communion with Krsna, and thus all  directions from Krsna may be understood in that transcendental state. One is  sure to achieve results by such activities and attain conclusive knowledge. One  has only to carry out the orders of Krsna or His representative, the spiritual  master.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

At that time, you will become detached from hearing about all sorts of material and Vedic subjects, because of being adverse to the agitation created by these subjects (niscala). And your intelligence will be fixed in samadhi (samadhau acala), as described in the sixth chapter. At that time, by achieving direct realization, you will achieve the status of jivan mukta (yogam avapsyasi).

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary The Supreme Lord Krishna further explains that when Arjuna's understanding  which is now bewildered by the distraction of various scriptural conclusions  describing actions which lead to heaven and actions which lead to hell, as well  as worldly conceptions of possessing kingdoms and riches will get his mind fixed  in samadhi or transcendental consciousness, then steadfastly focused on  the supreme, not attracted to anything else due to expertise in yoga  permanently is ecstatically enthralled thereby attaining the fruit of yoga which is absolute realisation of the Ultimate Truth.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya Madhvacarya's Commentary Lord Krishna further clarifies the same point in this verse as well. The  intellect that was confused by contradictory arguments in the Vedas becomes  perfectly stabilised by the proper interpretation of the Vedas. Then equanimity  of the mind becomes unshakeable like the resonance of a drum. Then with intense  meditation on the bliss of the supreme one shall attain communion with the  ultimate truth within and succeed in all one's efforts. Now begins the summation. The word nirvedam indicates detachment. When delusion is forsaken and all  other signs of nescience and non-awareness disappears then detachment from the  mundane arises and a living entity acquires the beneficial result from listening  to the Vedas from a self-realised being. Thereafter adhering to the path  established by the Vedas in mind and in conduct the uncompromised meaning  derived thereof is apparent delivering with it an unimaginable experience of  spiritual satisfaction. Thus communion with Lord Krishna will be attained  through liberation by equanimity of the mind developed in wisdom by spiritual  intelligence. Sruti vipraptipanna means not being influenced to act fruitively  by the rewards given in the Vedic scriptures.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary Lord Krishna begins this verse with the word sruti. Sruti refers to  Vedanta which implies sravanam or hearing from them. For it is by the  hearing of transcendental instructions that the mind is evolved as it begins to  reflect and contemplate on the immortal, incomparable and exceedingly subtle  nature of the eternal soul. When this consciousness which is by its very nature  is steadfast and stable is firmly rooted within a mind purified of all dross and  selfish actions, then at that time one shall achieve yoga and realise  enlightenment. The understanding is that by practice in performing activities in  the selfless parameters of karma-yoga with knowledge of the eternal soul as  revealed in the Vedic scriptures develops an illumination in consciousness  called sthita-prajnata and that by sustained effort of this consciousness one is  gradually achieves self- realisation. Hearing this Arjuna next desires to  understand the components of this unique consciousness. Is it achieved by  willpower, by yoga, by knowledge of the soul, by detachment or is it a  combination of all of the above? This Arjuna will question in the next verse.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary If one were to enquire further that after achieving indifference to worldly  topics by performing selfless activities free from desire for reward, will  equanimity manifest. Lord Krishna states that when our minds caught between the  dichotomy of dualities due to hearing throughout our lives conflicting  conclusions and adhering to false conceptions, with little or no knowledge of  the ultimate truth and becomes steadfast. Then unshakeable and fixed in the flow  of all mental aspirations culminating in an unending focus of the soul,  perceiving no other goal. One will immediately be in the state of equanimity as  the fruit of equanimity is the gradual experience of the soul itself. Tus ends the commentary to Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 2, verse 53 by  Keshava Kashmiri.