Yoga through the Perfection of Renunciation and Surrender
Verse 18.71
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च श्रृणुयादपि यो नरः।सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम्।।18.71।।
śhraddhāvān anasūyaśh cha śhṛiṇuyād api yo naraḥ so ‘pi muktaḥ śhubhāl lokān prāpnuyāt puṇya-karmaṇām
Word Meanings
śhraddhā-vān—faithful; anasūyaḥ—without envy; cha—and; śhṛiṇuyāt—listen; api—certainly; yaḥ—who; naraḥ—a person; saḥ—that person; api—also; muktaḥ—liberated; śhubhān—the auspicious; lokān—abodes; prāpnuyāt—attain; puṇya-karmaṇām—of the pious
Translation · English
Also, the man who hears this, full of faith and free from malice, shall attain to the happy worlds of those of righteous deeds, and be liberated.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Lord Krishna extends the transformative power of the Bhagavad Gita beyond those who are actively practicing its complex disciplines. By emphasizing 'shraddhavan' (possessing faith) and 'anasuyash' (free from envy), the Lord identifies the two essential psychological gateways to transcendence. Faith acts as the receptive vessel, while the absence of envy—a subtle form of intellectual pride—clears the egoic obstacles that prevent the wisdom from taking root in the heart. This indicates that the Gita is not merely a manual for the advanced yogi, but a liberating sound vibration that purifies anyone who approaches it with a sincere and humble disposition. Krishna is suggesting that intellectual capacity is secondary to the quality of one's consciousness. Even if a person does not fully grasp the intricacies of Karma, Bhakti, or Jnana Yoga, simply listening with an open heart allows the nectar of His words to dissolve the karma of their past actions. This path of 'hearing' (shravanam) is a core practice in Bhakti, where the act of listening becomes a meditative union with the Divine, ultimately leading the seeker to auspicious states of existence. The promise of liberation here is a testament to the compassionate nature of the teacher, ensuring that the wisdom remains accessible to all souls regardless of their current spiritual station.
True spiritual liberation begins when the heart drops its judgmental barriers and listens with the receptive innocence of pure faith.
Connected Verses
Establishes the boundary of who is qualified to hear these secrets, reinforcing the importance of being free from malice.
Highlights the necessity of faith (shraddha) as the fundamental prerequisite for understanding the path to the Divine.
Emphasizes that service, inquiry, and humility are the essential tools for realizing the truth imparted by the enlightened.
Directly links the act of following Krishna’s instructions without envy to the attainment of liberation from the cycle of karma.
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