Toward the end of the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna promises Arjuna of protection if he becomes devotionally conscious (18.58). What does this promise signify?
To understand, let’s consider the preceding passages. Krishna has just outlined a spiritual pathway from karma-yoga (18.41-48) through jnana-yoga (18.49-53) to liberation through bhakti-yoga (18.54-55). Then he offered an alternative pathway to liberation through bhakti-yoga practice alone (18.56-58). Lest some find unbelievable Krishna’s recommendation of bhakti-yoga as a single path sufficient by itself for liberation, Krishna backs that recommendation with a categorical assurance.
What does all this mean for Arjuna? Krishna’s contextual concern is that Arjuna fight to protect dharma. Krishna’s universal concern is that Arjuna progress on the path of spiritual evolution toward ultimate liberation. Both karma-yoga and bhakti-yoga can serve these purposes: get Arjuna to fight and help him evolve spiritually.
At the Gita’s start, Arjuna had been thinking in terms of two polar options: work and be entangled in a fratricidal war or renounce and abandon his duty as a kshatriya. In the first six chapters, Krishna integrated these two poles of engagement and disentanglement through karma-yoga, which involves working in a renounced mood. In the subsequent chapters Krishna integrated the two at a higher level through bhakti-yoga, which involves working in a devotional mood.
Why is bhakti-yoga a higher-level integration? Because it offers a stronger motivation for the external duty of fighting and a faster pathway for spiritual evolution. Why a stronger motivation? Because bhakti-yoga helps Arjuna see the fighting not just as his social duty, but as an opportunity to directly do the divine will (11.33). Why a faster pathway? Because Krishna personally intervenes to deliver those who devote themselves to him (12.06-07).
By following his description of bhakti-yoga (18.56-57) with a promise of protection (18.58), Krishna gives additional impetus to Arjuna to adopt the bhakti-yoga way.
Think it over:
Because bhakti-yoga is the integration of engagement and disentanglement that Krishna recommends, he follows his description of it with a reassuring promise.
One-sentence summary:
- How does Krishna integrate engagement and disentanglement?
- Why is bhakti-yoga a higher-level integration?
- What does Krishna’s promise of protection mean for Arjuna?
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18.58: If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.
To know more about this verse, please click on the image
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