Chapter 18Verse 58 of 78

Bhagavad Gita 18.58

मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि । अथ चेत्त्वमहङ्कारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि ॥

mac-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi / atha cet tvam ahaṅkārān na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi

Translation

Conscious of me, you will cross over all difficulties by my grace. But if from ego you will not listen, you will perish.

Promise and warning, tied. Mac-chitta, with mind held on Krishna, sarva-durgani, every hard passage, the daily ones and the death-passage, mat-prasadat tarishyasi, crossed by his grace. The promise is total. The warning that follows is equally direct. Atha chet ahankarat na shroshyasi, but if from ego you refuse to listen, vinankshyasi, you will be destroyed. The teacher is naming a fork. Listen or perish, by the teacher's own terms. This is not theatrical. The chapter is closing in on the surrender mantra that comes in eight verses. Krishna is establishing the stakes. Either the inward turn happens or the conditioned life keeps running.

Reflection

Which ego-driven refusal in you needs to be heard for what it is and released?

Read this verse in its chapter: Chapter Eighteen

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