Chapter 18: Conclusion-The Perfection of Renunciation
Bg 18.67
TEXT 67
idam te natapaskaya
nabhaktaya kadacana
na casusrusave vacyam
na ca mam yo 'bhyasuyati
SYNONYMS
idam—this; te—you; na—never; atapaskäya—one who is not austere; na—never; abhaktäya—one who is not a devotee; kadäcana—at any time; na—never; ca—also; açuçrüñave—one who is not engaged in devotional service; väcyam—to be spoken; na—never; ca—also; mäm—unto Me; yaù—anyone; abhyasüyati—envious.
TRANSLATION
This confidential knowledge may not be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
PURPORT
Persons who have not undergone the austerities of the religious process, who have never attempted devotional service in Kåñëa consciousness, who have not tended a pure devotee, and especially those who are conscious of Kåñëa as a historical personality or who are envious of the greatness of Kåñëa, should not be told this most confidential part of knowledge. It is, however, sometimes found that even demoniac persons who are envious of Kåñëa, worshiping Kåñëa in a different way, take to the profession of explaining Bhagavad-gétä in a different way to make business, but anyone who desires actually to understand Kåñëa must avoid such commentaries on Bhagavad-gétä. Actually the purpose of Bhagavad-gétä is not understandable to those who are sensuous-even if one is not sensuous but is strictly following the disciplines enjoined in the Vedic scripture, if he is not a devotee, he also cannot understand Kåñëa. Even when one poses himself as a devotee of Kåñëa, but is not engaged in Kåñëa conscious activities, he also cannot understand Kåñëa. There are many persons who envy Kåñëa because He has explained in Bhagavad-gétä that He is the Supreme and that nothing is above Him or equal to Him. There are many persons who are envious of Kåñëa. Such persons should not be told of Bhagavad-gétä, for they cannot understand. There is no possibility of faithless persons' understanding Bhagavad-gétä and Kåñëa. Without understanding Kåñëa from the authority of a pure devotee, one should not try to comment upon Bhagavad-gitä.