In the Bhagavad-gita (04.35), Krishna describes the fruit of acquiring spiritual knowledge. First, he assures that spiritual knowledge will act as insurance from the kind of lamentation Arjuna is presently in. Second, he states the kind of vision that results from spiritual knowledge: “You will see all living beings as souls and as mine.” 

This verse is the Gita’s fourth indirect self-revelation of Krishna’s divinity, but with an additional revelation of his relationship with us: we all are his. Later (15.07), the Gita explains the sense of that belonging to Krishna: we all are his parts; if we act apart from him, we will court duress and distress. Krishna is our greatest well-wisher (05.29) and he wants the best for us. How can we have the best life? Only when we willingly and lovingly harmonize with him; otherwise, we as parts can’t thrive without being connected with the Whole.

Those like Duryodhana who regularly and rigidly refuse to harmonize with him can find no happiness within themselves. Therefore, they feverishly search for pleasure outside and end up doing bad karma. Despite such actions, Krishna still remains their well-wisher; he lets them get the karmic reactions necessary to jolt them out of their materialistic delusion and toward spiritual awakening.  In contrast, those like Arjuna who occasionally and circumstantially refuse to harmonize with him are guided through spiritual knowledge toward wiser choices that lead them to devotional harmony. 

The fruit of spiritual knowledge mentioned here is demonstrated in the Gita’s conclusion (18.73): Arjuna becomes free from all lamentation and hesitation; and he resolves to wholeheartedly do Krishna’s will, knowing that this choice will be the best for everyone. 

One-sentence summary:

Assimilate spiritual knowledge and we will gain the vision to become free from lamentation in all situations. 

Think it over:

  • What is the fruit of spiritual knowledge?
  • How is Krishna the well-wisher of both those who harmonize with him and those who don’t?
  • How does the Gita demonstrate what it teaches in 04.35?

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04.35: Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.

To know more about this verse, please click on the image