Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Verse 18.71
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च श्रृणुयादपि यो नरः।सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम्।।18.71।।
śhraddhāvān anasūyaśh cha śhṛiṇuyād api yo naraḥ so ‘pi muktaḥ śhubhāl lokān prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām
Word Meanings
śhraddhā-vān—faithful; anasūyaḥ—without envy; cha—and; śhṛiṇuyāt—listen; api—certainly; yaḥ—who; naraḥ—a person; saḥ—that person; api—also; muktaḥ—liberated; śhubhān—the auspicious; lokān—abodes; prāpnuyāt—attain; puṇya-karmaṇām—of the pious
Translation · English
Also, the man who hears this, full of faith and free from malice, shall attain to the happy worlds of those of righteous deeds, and be liberated.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna concludes the formal instruction of the Gita by highlighting the transformative power of a receptive heart. He emphasizes that the divine wisdom shared throughout these eighteen chapters is not reserved exclusively for the perfected saint or the profound ascetic; rather, it is accessible to any seeker who approaches the teachings with faith (shraddha) and a heart free from the bitterness of envy (anasuya). Faith here is not blind acceptance, but an active, vital trust that the wisdom is liberating, while the absence of envy signifies the humility required to internalize truths that may challenge one's ego. By stating that even such an individual attains the auspicious realms of the virtuous, Krishna suggests that the mere act of hearing—when coupled with the correct internal disposition—acts as a catalyst for spiritual purification. In the Advaita context, this underscores that the seeker's inherent nature is already divine, and the removal of the veils of jealousy and doubt allows that light to manifest. From a Bhakti perspective, this verse is an invitation to grace; it teaches that the 'yoga of listening' (sravana) is a potent form of devotional practice. Even if one cannot immediately practice total renunciation, by reverently listening to the dialogue between the Atman and the Jiva, one begins to detach from the cycle of worldly strife and ascends toward higher states of consciousness.
True spiritual progress begins not with complex rituals, but with a humble, non-envious heart capable of receptive listening.
Connected Verses
Warns against sharing the profound truths with those who lack devotion or harbor envy, emphasizing the recipient's qualifications.
Highlights the necessity of faith as the foundational requirement for the path of dharma.
Discusses the importance of a humble approach and the act of serving the teacher to acquire divine knowledge.
Connects to Arjuna's initial state of seeking and his surrender, serving as the prototype for the 'faithful listener'.
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