In the seventh chapter, while giving a discourse upon the “Higher” and “Lower” natures of the Eternal, Krishna declared that the FOOLISH, in their ignorance of the Supreme State of the Higher Self, as Immutable and Transcendental, regard the “Unmanifest” as having come into manifestation. In this chapter while claiming to be the Self in all, Krishna uses the same strong word, ‘fools,’ to condemn those who cling to the form and lose the essence. “UNAWARE OF MY HIGHER NATURE, FOOLS REGARD ME” as dwelling in a particular form only!
To mistake the idol for God, or the form of the Guru for the Infinite, is to mistake the container for the contents. An idol is only a symbol (Pratika) for an imperceptible and subtle Truth. To play with the milk-bottle is not to feel refreshed when one is hungry or thirsty; playing with a spoon and fork over an empty plate is no satisfaction when one is really hungry. To mistake the idol to be itself the goal is to mistake the means for the end. And such a misunderstanding alone breeds fanatics, who sow seeds of rivalry and jealousy, to reap, in time, a harvest of death and disaster, all in the name of their stone-deities, wooden-symbols, or brass-gods! Three tiny bits of coloured khadi-cloth may make the national-flag, but that is not my mother-land; but when I bow my head as my country’s flag goes up, I am adoring my nation; the flag is the sacred symbol of my country’s culture and its aspirations.
With this idea in mind, if we read the stanza it becomes very vivid and clear. The Lord says: “ordinary devotees are unaware of My real status ‘AS THE GREAT LORD OF ALL BEINGS’,” and adds that these deluded “FOOLS SCORN ME WHEN I DWELL IN HUMAN FORM,” meaning, when they consider Him, the Self, as merely a human-form, which He may take for Himself, to bless a particular generation.
WHY ARE THE FOOLS RENDERED INCAPABLE OF RIGHT UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT JUDGEMENT REGARDING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE SELF?
