Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 716

Episode 716: BG Chap 8

First, the aspirant should firmly restrain the 5 senses. Sarvadvara is interpreted as the 5 senses. Because if they are controlled, the karmendriyas come under control.

The words manas & hrdaya are used in quick succession. Although often they are used to convey the same meaning, it is not so in the Shastras.

With manobala i.e., the mind should be restrained with firm resolve & abhyasa. Then it should be merged into the heart (Self or illumination in the heart-lotus). He must then remain in the Yoga called dhārana. Through this Yoga, he must take his life-force through Sushmna up from the heart until the Brahmarandhra and fix it there. Side by side he must mentally chant OM. Along with it, in the form of dhyana, the dharana in the mind should be placed on the Lord with attributes (Sagunabrahma).

If this sadhana is pursued all life, then he can pursue it even at death. If it is pursued at death he reaches the Saguna-brahmaloka which is beyond all worlds. From there he does not fall. Over time he directly attains liberation from there. Through this sadhana, he leaves his body but not his original form. So he attains Brahma-loka.

Meditation on Om does not directly grant liberation. Only Jnana can give liberation. If he adopts only OM upasana, he will get liberation but after very long. Based on the period for which he pursued OM meditation, he will obtain the appropriate world. But if he pursues OM upasana in the manner now taught he will directly reach Brahmaloka. From there he will quickly obtain liberation.

He will teach that with abhyasa one quickly attains liberation.

ananyacetā ssatataṁ yomāṁ smarati nityaśaḥ
tasyāhaṁ sulabhaḥ pārtha! nityayuktasya yoginaḥǁ14

I am easily attained by the Dhyana-yogi who, with a mind that does not run towards other objects, thinks of Me every moment.

Satata means without any break. Nitya means very long. Once begun, this sadhana must be continued till death without break. Then he is Nityayukta. One who constantly thinks only of Him without other thoughts obtains Him easily.

What do we gain by attaining Him?

māmupetya punarjanma duḥkhālaya maśāśvatam
nāpnuvanti mahātmānaḥ samsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥǁ15

Mahatmas who have obtained the highest siddhi obtain Me. They do not get the impermanent birth which is the storehouse of all sorrow.

They attain oneness with Him & do not have rebirth. As all sorrow exists in birth, it is duhkhālayam (storehouse of sorrow). Also, it is impermanent. Supreme Yatis obtain this.

Does rebirth exist for those who instead of obtaining Him obtain other worlds? This is answered.

ābrahmabhuvanāllokāḥ punarāvartinorjuna
māmupetyatu kaunteya punarjanma navidyateǁ16

All worlds including Brahma-loka have the quality of giving rebirth. O son of Kunti! But if I am obtained, there is no rebirth.

That from which all beings are born is bhuvana. Brahmabhuvana is Brahmaloka. All worlds including Brahmaloka have the quality of generating rebirth. The person who has reached them will again take birth. But he who reaches Vāsudeva has no rebirth.

Hence instead of striving for heavens & other meritorious planes that cause rebirth, it is better to increase bhakti, jnana & vairagya & merge into Paramatma through Self-enquiry. Once oneness is attained, the question of rebirth does not exist.

Why are Brahmaloka & other worlds subject to return? Because they are controlled by time.

sahasrayuga paryantam aharyadbrahmaṇo viduḥ
rātriṁ yuga sahasrāntāṁ tehorātravido janāḥǁ17

Those who understand Brahma’s day is 1000 mahāyugas and his night is another 1000 mahāyugas, will understand the real meaning of day & night.


Brahma’s day is of 1000 Maha-yugas and night is of equal duration. Which people know that it is 1000 maha-yugas? Maharishis Vasishtha, Vamadeva and others.

Kali yuga is 432000 years. Twice this period i.e. 864000 years is Dwapara yuga. 3 times Kali yuga i.e. 1296000 is Treta yuga. 4 times Kali yuga i.e. 1728000 years is Krta yuga. These 4 collectively are 1 Mahāyuga. At times, mahāyuga is also called yuga. 1000 such yugas are a day for Lord Brahma. This is called Kalpa.

1 day of Hiranyagarbha or Brahma has 2 kalpas. 360 such days is 1 year for Brahma. He has a lifespan of 100 years. This is called Brahmakalpa. Half this period is Parārtha. We are presently in the 2nd half (dviteeya parartha). Brahma is now 51 years old. Once his lifespan ends, he will merge into Paramatma.

In the Brahmaloka, those who get initiated into Brahma-jnana & meditate upon the Nirguna brahma merge into the Supreme.

Based on the balance of their merit the other beings again return to take births. So He says that even Brahma-loka is subject to return.

Now He informs what happens during Brahma’s night & day.