SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 40
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt

na — there is not; iha — in this yoga; abhikrama — in endeavoring; nāśaḥ — loss; asti — there is; pratyavāyaḥ — diminution; na — never; vidyate — there is; su-alpam — a little; api — although; asya — of this; dharmasya — occupation; trāyate — releases; mahataḥ — from very great; bhayāt — danger.

TRANSLATION

In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada writes; One percent done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit. Ajāmila performed his duty in some percentage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but the result he enjoyed at the end was a hundred percent, by the grace of the Lord. There is a nice verse in this connection in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17):

tyaktvā sva-dharmaḿ caraṇāmbujaḿ harer

bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi

yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiḿ

ko vārtha āpto 'bhajatāḿ sva-dharmataḥ

"If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities perfectly?"
Or, as the Christians say, "What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his eternal soul?"

Sometimes, while chanting my japa, I feel like I am getting nowhere; just spinning my wheels. It is at times like these I try to remember slokas such as the one above. In their remembrance I find strength to continue; hope as I push ahead.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 4
arjuna uvāca
kathaḿ bhīṣmam ahaḿ sańkhye
droṇaḿ ca madhusūdana
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi
pūjārhāv ari-sūdana

arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; katham — how; bhīṣmam — Bhīṣma; aham — I; sańkhye — in the fight; droṇam — Droṇa; ca — also; madhu-sūdana — O killer of Madhu; iṣubhiḥ — with arrows; pratiyotsyāmi — shall counterattack; pūjā-arhau — those who are worshipable; ari-sūdana — O killer of the enemies.

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: O killer of enemies, O killer of Madhu, how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhīṣma and Droṇa, who are worthy of my worship?

JOURNAL:

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada states; It is general etiquette that superiors are not to be offered even a verbal fight. Even if they are sometimes harsh in behavior, they should not be harshly treated.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 72
esa brahmi sthitih partha
nainam prapyavimuhyati
sthitvasyam anta-kale 'pi
brahma-nirvanam rcchati

esa--this; brahmi--spiritual; sthitih--situation; partha--O son of Prtha; na--never; enam--this; prapya--achieving; vimuhyati--one is bewildered; sthitva--being situated; asyam--in this; anta-kale--at the end of life; api--also; brahma-nirvanam--the spiritual kingdom of God; rcchati--one attains.

TRANSLATION

That is the way of the spiritual and godly life, after attaining which a man is not bewildered. If one is thus situated even at the hour of death, one can enter into the kingdom of God.

JOURNAL:

This sloka ends chapter two.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 71
vihaya kaman yah sarvan
pumams carati nihsprhah
nirmamo nirahankarah
sa santim adhigacchati

vihaya--giving up; kaman--material desires for sense gratification; yah--who; sarvan--all; puman--a person; carati--lives; nihsprhah--desireless; nirmamah--without a sense of proprietorship; nirahankarah--without false ego; sah--he; santim--perfect peace; adhigacchati--attains.

TRANSLATION

A person who has given up all desires for sense gratification, who lives free from desires, who has given up all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego--he alone can attain real peace.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport; Real desirelessness is desire for the satisfaction of Krsna, not an artificial attempt to abolish desires. The living entity cannot be desireless or senseless, but he does have to change the quality of the desires.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 70
apuryamanam acala-pratistham
samudram apah pravisanti yadvat
tadvat kama yam pravisanti sarve
sa santim apnoti na kama-kami

apuryamanam--always being filled; acala-pratistham--steadily situated; samudram--the ocean; apah--waters; pravisanti--enter; yadvat--as; tadvat--so; kamah--desires; yam--unto whom; pravisanti--enter; sarve--all; sah--that person; santim--peace; apnoti--achieves; na--not; kama-kami--one who desires to fulfill desires.

TRANSLATION

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires--that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still--can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 69
ya nisa sarva-bhutanam tasyam jagarti samyami yasyam jagrati bhutani sa nisa pasyato muneh

ya--what; nisa--is night; sarva--all; bhutanam--of living entities; tasyam--in that; jagarti--is wakeful; samyami--the self-controlled; yasyam--in which; jagrati--are awake; bhutani--all beings; sa--that is; nisa--night; pasyatah--for the introspective; muneh--sage.

TRANSLATION

What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 68
tasmad yasya maha-baho
nigrhitani sarvasah
indriyanindriyarthebhyas
tasya prajna pratisthita

tasmat--therefore; yasya--whose; maha-baho--O mighty-armed one; nigrhitani--so curbed down; sarvasah--all around; indriyani--the senses; indriya-arthebhyah--from sense objects; tasya--his; prajna--intelligence; pratisthita--fixed.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O mighty-armed, one whose senses are restrained from their objects is certainly of steady intelligence.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada in his purport writes; As enemies are curbed by superior force, the senses can similarly be curbed, not by any human endeavor, but only by keeping them engaged in the service of the Lord.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 67
indriyanam hi caratam
yan mano 'nuvidhiyate
tad asya harati prajnam
vayur navam ivambhasi

indriyanam--of the senses; hi--certainly; caratam--while roaming; yat--with which; manah--the mind; anuvidhiyate--becomes constantly engaged; tat--that; asya--his; harati--takes away; prajnam--intelligence; vayuh--wind; navam--a boat; iva--like; ambhasi--on the water.

TRANSLATION

As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the roaming senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 66
nasti buddhir ayuktasya
na cayuktasya bhavana
na cabhavayatah santir
asantasya kutah sukham

na asti--there cannot be; buddhih--transcendental intelligence; ayuktasya--of one who is not connected (with Krsna consciousness); na--not; ca--and; ayuktasya--of one devoid of Krsna consciousness; bhavana--fixed mind (in happiness); na--not; ca--and; abhavayatah--of one who is not fixed; santih--peace; asantasya--of the unpeaceful; kutah--where is; sukham--happiness.

TRANSLATION

One who is not connected with the Supreme [in Krsna consciousness] can have neither transcendental intelligence nor a steady mind, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport by stating; Krsna consciousness is a self-manifested peaceful condition which can be achieved only in relationship with Krsna.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 65
prasade sarva-duhkhanam
hanir asyopajayate
prasanna-cetaso hy asu
buddhih paryavatisthate

prasade--on achievement of the causeless mercy of the Lord; sarva--of all; duhkhanam--material miseries; hanih--destruction; asya--his; upajayate--takes place; prasanna-cetasah--of the happy-minded; hi--certainly; asu--very soon; buddhih--intelligence; pari--sufficiently; avatisthate--becomes established.

TRANSLATION

For one thus satisfied [in Krsna consciousness], the threefold miseries of material existence exist no longer; in such satisfied consciousness, one's intelligence is soon well established.

JOURNAL:

Two days ago I was run off the road while riding my bike. Now my left knee is swollen up and I walk with a limp. The driver of the car never stopped. I didn't think of Krishna as I fell. I didn't think of anything. It is a painful reminder that I am a long way from being ready for death. The only up side to this is that I am forced to stay at home and so have plenty of time to practice my japa.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 64
raga-dvesa-vimuktais tu
visayan indriyais caran
atma-vasyair vidheyatma
prasadam adhigacchati

raga--attachment; dvesa--and detachment; vimuktaih--by one who has become free from; tu--but; visayan--sense objects; indriyaih--by the senses; caran--acting upon; atma-vasyaih--under one's control; vidheya-atma--one who follows regulated freedom; prasadam--the mercy of the Lord; adhigacchati--attains.

TRANSLATION

But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 63
krodhad bhavati sammohah
sammohat smrti-vibhramah
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso
buddhi-nasat pranasyati

krodhat--from anger; bhavati--takes place; sammohah--perfect illusion; sammohat--from illusion; smrti--of memory; vibhramah--bewilderment; smrti-bhramsat--after bewilderment of memory; buddhi-nasah--loss of intelligence; buddhi-nasat--and from loss of intelligence; pranasyati--one falls down.

TRANSLATION

From anger, complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 62
dhyayato visayan pumsah
sangas tesupajayate
sangat sanjayatekamah
kamat krodho 'bhijayate

dhyayatah--while contemplating; visayan--sense objects; pumsah--of a person; sangah--attachment; tesu--in the sense objects; upajayate--develops; sangat--from attachment; sanjayate--develops; kamah--desire; kamat--from desire; krodhah--anger; abhijayate--becomes manifest.

TRANSLATION

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust develops, and from lust anger arises.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 61
tani sarvani samyamya
yukta asita mat-parah
vase hi yasyendriyani
tasya prajna pratisthita

tani--those senses; sarvani--all; samyamya--keeping under control; yuktah--engaged; asita--should be situated; mat-parah--in relationship with Me; vase--in full subjugation; hi--certainly; yasya--one whose; indriyani--senses; tasya--his; prajna--consciousness; pratisthita--fixed.

TRANSLATION

One who restrains his senses, keeping them under full control, and fixes his consciousness upon Me, is known as a man of steady intelligence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 60
yatato hy api kaunteya
purusasya vipascitah
indriyani pramathini
haranti prasabham manah

yatatah--while endeavoring; hi--certainly; api--in spite of; kaunteya--O son of Kunti; purusasya--of a man; vipascitah--full of discriminating knowledge; indriyani--the senses; pramathini--agitating; haranti--throw; prasabham--by force; manah--the mind.

TRANSLATION

The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.

JOURNAL:

I read this sloka and I wonder why there is so much surprise when a fall down occurs in ISKCON.

There is a nice quote in the book Alcoholics Anonymous on page 68 that I find comforting. It reads; We are in the world to play the role He assigns. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 59
visaya vinivartante
niraharasya dehinah
rasa-varjam raso 'py asya
param drstva nivartate

visayah--objects for sense enjoyment; vinivartante--are practiced to be refrained from; niraharasya--by negative restrictions; dehinah--for the embodied; rasa-varjam--giving up the taste; rasah--sense of enjoyment; api--although there is; asya--his; param--far superior things; drstva--by experiencing; nivartate--he ceases from.

TRANSLATION

The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 58
yada samharate cayam
kurmo 'nganiva sarvasah
indriyanindriyarthebhyas
tasya prajna pratisthita

yada--when; samharate--winds up; ca--also; ayam--he; kurmah--tortoise; angani--limbs; iva--like; sarvasah--altogether; indriyani--senses; indriya-arthebhyah--from the sense objects; tasya--his; prajna--consciousness; pratisthita--fixed.

TRANSLATION

One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens his purport with these words; The test of a yogi, devotee, or self-realized soul is that he is able to control the senses according to his plan. That is the answer to the question as to how the yogi is situated.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 57
yah sarvatranabhisnehas
tat tat prapyasubhasubham
nabhinandati na dvesti
tasya prajna pratisthita

yah--one who; sarvatra--everywhere; anabhisnehah--without affection; tat--that; tat--that; prapya--achieving; subha--good; asubham--evil; na--never; abhinandati--praises; na--never; dvesti--envies; tasya--his; prajna--perfect knowledge; pratisthita--fixed.

TRANSLATION

In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge.

JOURNAL:

In his purport Srila Prabhupada reminds us; As long as one is in the material world there is always the possibility of good and evil because this world is full of duality. But one who is fixed in Krsna consciousness is not affected by good and evil, because he is simply concerned with Krsna, who is all-good absolute.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 56
duhkhesv anudvigna-manah
sukhesu vigata-sprhah
vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah
sthita-dhir munir ucyate

duhkhesu--in the threefold miseries; anudvigna-manah--without being agitated in mind; sukhesu--in happiness; vigata-sprhah--without being interested; vita--free from; raga--attachment; bhaya--fear; krodhah--and anger; sthita-dhih--whose mind is steady; munih--a sage; ucyate--is called.

TRANSLATION

One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

JOURNAL:

By this definition, I have a long way to go before anyone will call me a sage. The best I seem to be able to do when the storms of emotion hit is to turn to the holy names. Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. I find it easy to praise the Lord when things go right. Harder to cry to Him when things go wrong.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 2 Text 55
sri-bhagavan uvaca
prajahati yada kaman
sarvan partha mano-gatan
atmany evatmana tustah.
sthita-prajnas tadocyate

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; prajahati--gives up; yada--when; kaman--desires for sense gratification; sarvan--of all varieties; partha--O son of Prtha; manah-gatan--of mental concoction; atmani--in the pure state of the soul; eva--certainly; atmana--by the purified mind; tustah--satisfied; sthita-prajnah--transcendentally situated; tada--at that time; ucyate--is said.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Partha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness.