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Bhagavan Ramana Maharishi - Most Important Verse in the Gita

May 31, 2012

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the great realized Master of Arunachala had selected 42 verses from the Bhagavad Geeta that he considered the most important. This selection is published by Sri Ramanasramam as "श्री गीतासार The Song Celestial". The 4th verse is highlighted in the book with the words, "Bhagavan selected this verse as the most important in the Bhagavad Gita."

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः |
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ||१०-२०||

ahamaatmaa guDaakesha sarvabhuutaashayasthitaH .
ahamaadishcha madhya.n cha bhuutaanaamanta eva cha .. 10\-20..
I am the Self, O Gudakesha, dwelling in the Heart of every being; I am the Beginning and the Middle and likewise the End of all beings. Translated by Shri Munagala Venkataramayya, later Swami Ramananda Saraswati

This verse occurs just before the Lord launches into describing his own Vibhooti in 75 different ways. Param Pujya Swami Sivanandaji has this in his commentary on the Bhagavad Geeta:

He who is able to meditate on the Self with Abheda Bhavana (attitude of non-duality), is a qualified aspirant (Adhikari) of the first class. He who is not able to meditate on the Self should think of the Lord in those things that are mentioned below."
By the word, "below" in this quote, Swamiji is referring to 21-39 of chapter 10.

This Ramanasramam book is a beautiful book and well worth it for anyone who wants to recall the highlights of the Bhagavad Geeta. I particularly loved the introductory verse (it is not specified if Bhagavan Sri Ramana himself composed it). The shloka says:

पार्थसारथिरूपेण श्रावयित्वा शुभां गिरम् ।
पार्थस्यार्तिहरो देवः कृपामूर्ति: सपातुनः ।।

paarthasaarathirUpeNa shraavayitvaa shubhaam giraM .
paarthasyaartiharo devaH kR^ipaamUrtiH sapaatunaH ..
May the Lord of Compassion who, as the charioteer of Arjuna, removed his sorrow by telling him auspicious words, protect us all! (Translation as above)

For those who have not heard of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, you must watch this Youtube video that contains rare footage of the Master.



This is a continuation of the series on favorite verses in the Gita.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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