This can be considered as THE CLOSING VERSE of the Geeta discourses on the battle-field of Kurukshetra. The word “thus” (Iti) is generally used in Sanskrit to indicate what we mean nowadays, by the phrase “quotation closes.” The Lord has ended His discourses here.
A GREATER SECRET THAN ALL SECRETS (Guhyaat-Guhyataram) — A secret can be so called only as long as it is not divulged. The moment we come to know of a thing it is no longer a secret at all. The spiritual truth and the right way-of-living as discussed in the Geeta are termed as “THE SECRET OF ALL SECRETS” in the sense that it is not easy for one to know the Geeta way of dynamic life and the Geeta vision-of-Truth, unless one is initiated into them. Even a subtle intellect, very efficient in knowing the material world, both in its arrangement of things and their mutual interaction, must necessarily fail to feel the Presence of this Subtle, Eternal and Infinite Self.
Guhyam — This is a term that has gone into much misuse and abuse in India in our recent past. The term was misconstrued to mean that the spiritual knowledge, which is the core of our culture, is a great secret to be carefully preserved and jealously guarded by the privileged few against anybody else coming to learn it. This orthodox view has no sanction in the scriptures if we read them with the same large-heartedness of the Rishis who gave them to us. No doubt, there are persons who have not the intellectual vision, nor the mental steadiness, nor the physical discipline to understand correctly this great Truth in all its subtle implications, and therefore, this is kept away from them lest they should come to harm themselves by falsely living a misunderstood philosophy.
REFLECT OVER IT ALL — Any amount of listening cannot make one gain in “wisdom.” The knowledge gained through reading or listening must be assimilated and brought within the warp and the woof of our understanding; then alone can knowledge become wisdom. Therefore, Arjuna is asked not to tamely accept Krishna’s Song of Life as truth, but he has been asked to independently think over all that the Lord has declared. To put the ideas between the mind and the intellect and to chew them properly is “reflection.” Each one will have to get his own individual confirmation from his own bosom.
HEREAFTER ACT AS YOU PLEASE — Krishna ultimately leaves the decision to act, the will to live the higher life, to Arjuna’s own choice. Each one must reach the Lord by his own free choice. There is no compulsion; for, spontaneity is an invaluable requisite for all new births. Having placed before him all the facts and figures of life, principles and methods of living, Krishna rightly invites Arjuna to make his own independent decision after considering all these points. Spiritual teachers should never compel. And in India there has never been any form of indoctrination.
DEVOTION TO THE LORD IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS IN “KARMA YOGA.” THIS IS EXPLAINED IN THE FOLLOWING:
