SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 42
tasmad ajnana-sambhutam
hrt-stham jnanasinatmanah
chittvainam samsayam yogam
atisthottistha bharata

tasmat--therefore; ajnana-sambhutam--born of ignorance; hrt-stham--situated in the heart; jnana--of knowledge; asina--by the weapon; atmanah--of the self; chittva--cutting off; enam--this; samsayam--doubt; yogam--in yoga; atistha--be situated; uttistha--stand up to fight; bharata--O descendant of Bharata.

TRANSLATION

Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight.

JOURNAL:

Here is the last sloka for chapter four. Srila Prabhupada sums up the chapter in his purport; The yoga system instructed in this chapter is called sanatana-yoga, or eternal activities performed by the living entity. This yoga has two divisions of sacrificial actions: one is called sacrifice of one's material possessions, and the other is called knowledge of self, which is pure spiritual activity. When we come to spiritual activities, we find that these are also divided into two: namely, understanding of one's own self (or one's constitutional position), and the truth regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 41
yoga-sannyasta-karmanam
jnana-sanchinna-samsayam
atmavantam na karmani
nibadhnanti dhananjaya

yoga--by devotional service in karma-yoga; sannyasta--one who has renounced; karmanam--the fruits of actions; jnana--by knowledge; sanchinna--cut; samsayam--doubts; atma-vantam--situated in the self; na--never; karmani--works; nibadhnanti--do bind; dhananjaya--O conqueror of riches.

TRANSLATION

One who acts in devotional service, renouncing the fruits of his actions, and whose doubts have been destroyed by transcendental knowledge, is situated factually in the self. Thus he is not bound by the reactions of work, O conqueror of riches.

PURPORT

One who follows the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, as it is imparted by the Lord, the Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental knowledge. He, as a part and parcel of the Lord, in full Krsna consciousness, is already established in self-knowledge. As such, he is undoubtedly above bondage to action.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 40
ajnas casraddadhanas ca
samsayatma vinasyati
nayam loko sti na paro
na sukham samsayatmanah

ajnah--a fool who has no knowledge in standard scriptures; ca--and; asraddadhanah--without faith in revealed scriptures; ca--also; samsaya--of doubts; atma--a person; vinasyati--falls back; na--never; ayam--in this; lokah--world; asti--there is; na--nor; parah--in the next life; na--not; sukham--happiness; samsaya--doubtful; atmanah--of the person.

TRANSLATION

But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

JOURNAL:

At the beginning of his purport, Srila Prabhupada says; Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the Bhagavad-gita is the best., and I agree with him!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 39
sraddhaval labhate jnanam
tat-parah samyatendriyah
jnanam labdhva param santim
acirenadhigacchati

sraddha-van--a faithful man; labhate--achieves; jnanam--knowledge; tat-parah--very much attached to it; samyata--controlled; indriyah--senses; jnanam--knowledge; labdhva--having achieved; param--transcendental; santim--peace; acirena--very soon; adhigacchati--attains.

TRANSLATION

A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada states in his purport; This faith is attained by the discharge of devotional service, and by chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, which cleanses one's heart of all material dirt. Over and above this, one should control the senses.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 38
na hi jnanena sadrsam
pavitram iha vidyate
tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah
kalenatmani vindati

na--nothing; hi--certainly; jnanena--with knowledge; sadrsam--in comparison; pavitram--sanctified; iha--in this world; vidyate--exists; tat--that; svayam--himself; yoga--in devotion; samsiddhah--he who is mature; kalena--in course of time; atmani--in himself; vindati--enjoys.

TRANSLATION

In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. And one who has become accomplished in the practice of devotional service enjoys this knowledge within himself in due course of time.

PURPORT

When we speak of transcendental knowledge, we do so in terms of spiritual understanding. As such, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Ignorance is the cause of our bondage, and knowledge is the cause of our liberation. This knowledge is the mature fruit of devotional service, and when one is situated in transcendental knowledge, he need not search for peace elsewhere, for he enjoys peace within himself. In other words, this knowledge and peace culminate in Krsna consciousness. That is the last word in the Bhagavad-gita.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 31
nayam loko 'sty ayajnasya
kuto 'nyah kuru-sattama

na--never; ayam--this; lokah--planet; asti--there is; ayajnasya--for one who performs no sacrifice; kutah--where is; anyah--the other; kuru-sat-tama--O best amongst the Kurus.

TRANSLATION

O best of the Kuru dynasty, without sacrifice one can never live happily on this planet or in this life: what then of the next?

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 30
sarve 'py ete yajna-vido
yajna-ksapita-kalmasah
yajna-sistamrta-bhujo
yanti brahma sanatanam

sarve--all; api--although apparently different; ete--these; yajna-vidah--conversant with the purpose of performing sacrifices; yajna-ksapita--being cleansed as the result of such performances; kalmasah--of sinful reactions; yajna-sista--of the result of such performances of yajna; amrta-bhujah--those who have tasted such nectar; yanti--do approach; brahma--the supreme; sanatanam--eternal atmosphere.

TRANSLATION

All these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reactions, and, having tasted the nectar of the results of sacrifices, they advance toward the supreme eternal atmosphere.

JOURNAL:

In his purport, Srila Prabhupada reminds us; Sense gratification is the root cause of material existence; therefore, unless and until one is situated on a platform apart from sense gratification, there is no chance of being elevated to the eternal platform of full knowledge, full bliss and full life.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 23
gata-sangasya muktasya
jnanavasthita-cetasah
yajnayacaratah karma
samagram praviliyate

gata-sangasya--of one unattached to the modes of material nature; muktasya--of the liberated; jnana-avasthita--situated in transcendence; cetasah--whose wisdom; yajnaya--for the sake of Yajna (Krsna); acaratah--acting; karma--work; samagram--in total; praviliyate--merges entirely.

TRANSLATION

The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature and who is fully situated in transcendental knowledge merges entirely into transcendence.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 22
yadrccha-labha-santusto
dvandvatito vimatsarah
samah siddhav asiddhau ca
krtvapi na nibadhyate

yadrccha--out of its own accord; labha--with gain; santustah--satisfied; dvandva--duality; atitah--surpassed; vimatsarah--free from envy; samah--steady; siddhau--in success; asiddhau--failure; ca--also; krtva--doing; api--although; na--never; nibadhyate--becomes affected.

TRANSLATION

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.

PURPORT

A Krsna conscious person does not make much endeavor even to maintain his body. He is satisfied with gains which are obtained of their own accord. He neither begs nor borrows, but he labors honestly as far as is in his power, and is satisfied with whatever is obtained by his own honest labor. He is therefore independent in his livelihood. He does not allow anyone's service to hamper his own service in Krsna consciousness. However, for the service of the Lord he can participate in any kind of action without being disturbed by the duality of the material world. The duality of the material world is felt in terms of heat and cold, or misery and happiness. A Krsna conscious person is above duality because he does not hesitate to act in any way for the satisfaction of Krsna. Therefore he is steady both in success and in failure. These signs are visible when one is fully in transcendental knowledge.

JOURNAL:

It can be hard to relax and let God do His work through me but when I do everything is so much better!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 21
nirasir yata-cittatma
tyakta-sarva-parigrahah
sariram kevalam karma
kurvan napnoti kilbisam

nirasih--without desire for the result; yata--controlled; citta-atma--mind and intelligence; tyakta--giving up; sarva--all; parigrahah--sense of proprietorship over possessions; sariram--in keeping body and soul together; kevalam--only; karma--work; kurvan--doing; na--never; apnoti--does acquire; kilbisam--sinful reactions.

TRANSLATION

Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions, and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reactions.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport; (A Krsna conscious person) knows that because he is part and parcel of the Supreme, the part played by him, as a part and parcel of the whole, is not his own activity but is only being done through him by the Supreme. When the hand moves, it does not move out of its own accord, but by the endeavor of the whole body. A Krsna conscious person is always dovetailed with the supreme desire, for he has no desire for personal sense gratification.

TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI
Chapter 17:

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.8.34
bhārāvatāraṇāyānye
bhuvo nāva ivodadhau
sīdantyā bhūri-bhāreṇa
jāto hy ātma-bhuvārthitaḥ

bhāra-avatāraṇāya — just to reduce the burden to the world; anye — others; bhuvaḥ — of the world; nāvaḥ — boat; iva — like; udadhau — on the sea; sīdantyāḥ — aggrieved; bhūri — extremely; bhāreṇa — by the burden; jātaḥ — You were born; hi — certainly; ātma-bhuvā — by Brahmā; arthitaḥ — being prayed for.

TRANSLATION

Others say that the world, being overburdened like a boat at sea, is much aggrieved, and that Brahmā, who is Your son, prayed for You, and so You have appeared to diminish the trouble.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada opens this chapter thus:

Kuntīdevī is describing the different statements of different persons about why Kṛṣṇa appears.

When there is a need, the chief personalities in the universe approach Brahmā, who approaches Viṣṇu to ask that He reduce whatever the burden is. Then Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa appears as an incarnation, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.7): 

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaḿ sṛjāmy aham

"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself."

Next we receive a nice description of Lord Bramha:
Lord Brahmā is one of the twelve authorities known as dvādaśa-mahājana (svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kaumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ/ prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vayam, Bhāg. 6.3.20). 

Brahmā receives knowledge from Kṛṣṇa and distributes that Vedic knowledge, and therefore he is an authority. There are four sampradāyas, or chains of disciplic succession, through which Vedic knowledge is distributed — one from Brahmā, one from Lakṣmī, one from Lord Śiva, and one from the four Kumāras. We have to approach an authoritative representative of Kṛṣṇa appearing in one of these sampradāyas, and then we can receive real knowledge. Thus the earth personified approached Brahmā, who prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, "The world is now overburdened with demons, and therefore I request You to appear." Some say, therefore, that the Lord appeared at the request of Brahmā that He lighten the burden of the world.

We also have a nice description of Lord Narayana and the four symbols He holds in His four hands:
When Kṛṣṇa appears, He protects the devotees and kills the demons. Therefore Kṛṣṇa in His Nārāyaṇa form has four hands. In two hands He holds a disc and club with which to kill the demons, and in the other two hands He holds the conchshell and lotus with which to bless and protect the devotees.

Srila Prabhupada then give us Krishna's real reason for incarnating:
Now some may say that Kṛṣṇa appeared for this purpose or that purpose, but the real conclusion is that Kṛṣṇa appears for His own pleasure, not because He is bound by any other cause.

All glories to Sri Krishna and His servant, Srila Prabhupada!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 37
yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir
bhasma-sat kurute 'rjuna
jnanagnih sarva-karmani
bhasma-sat kurute tatha

yatha- just as; edhamsi--firewood; samiddhah--blazing; agnih--fire; bhasma-sat--ashes; kurute--turns; arjuna--O Arjuna; jnana-agnih--the fire of knowledge; sarva-karmani--all reactions to material activities; bhasma-sat--to ashes; kurute--it turns; tatha--similarly.

TRANSLATION

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 36
api ced asi papebhyah
sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah
sarvam jnana-plavenaiva
vrjinam santarisyasi

api--even; cet--if; asi--you are; papebhyah--of sinners; sarvebhyah--of all; papa-krt-tamah--the greatest sinner; sarvam--all such sinful reactions; jnana-plavena--by the boat of transcendental knowledge; eva--certainly; vrjinam--the ocean of miseries; santarisyasi--you will cross completely.

TRANSLATION

Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.

JOURNAL:

I love this promise!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 35
yaj jnatva na punar moham
evam yasyasi pandava
yena bhutany asesani
draksyasy atmany atho mayi

yat--which; jnatva--knowing; na--never; punah--again; moham--to illusion; evam--like this; yasyasi--you shall go; pandava--O son of Pandu; yena--by which; bhutani--living entities; asesani--all; draksyasi--you will see; atmani--in the Supreme Soul; athau--or in other words; mayi--in Me.

TRANSLATION

Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 34
tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tatt va-darsinah

tat--that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi--try to understand; pranipatena--by approaching a spiritual master; pariprasnena--by submissive inquiries; sevaya--by the rendering of service; upadeksyanti--they will initiate; te--you; jnanam--into knowledge; jnaninah--the self-realized; tattva--of the truth; darsinah--seers.

TRANSLATION

Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.  

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada reminds us in his purport; The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.

This may be the hardest lesson one has to learn (it was for me) but approaching a spiritual master or, in my case, a devotee of Srila Prabhupada, has helped me immensely in my life!

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 33
sreyan dravya-mayad yajnaj
jnana-yajnah parantapa
sarvam karmakhilam partha
jnane parisamapyate

sreyan--greater; dravya-mayat--of material possessions; yajnat--than the sacrifice; jnana-yajnah--sacrifice in knowledge; parantapa--O chastiser of the enemy; sarvam--all; karma--activities; akhilam--in totality; partha--O son of Prtha; jnane--in knowledge; parisamapyate--end.

TRANSLATION

O chastiser of the enemy, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is better than the mere sacrifice of material possessions. After all, O son of Prtha, all sacrifices of work culminate in transcendental knowledge.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 32
evam bahu-vidha yajna
vitata brahmano mukhe
karma-jan viddhi tan sarvan
evam jnatva vimoksyase

evam--thus; bahu-vidhah--various kinds of; yajnah--sacrifices; vitatah--are spread; brahmanah--of the Vedas; mukhe--through the mouth; karma-jan--born of work; viddhi--you should know; tan--them; sarvan--all; evam--thus; jnatva--knowing; vimoksyase--you will be liberated.

TRANSLATION

All these different types of sacrifice are approved by the Vedas, and all of them are born of different types of work. Knowing them as such, you will become liberated.

PURPORT

Different types of sacrifice, as discussed above, are mentioned in the Vedas to suit the different types of worker. Because men are so deeply absorbed in the bodily concept, these sacrifices are so arranged that one can work either with the body, with the mind, or with the intelligence. But all of them are recommended for ultimately bringing about liberation from the body. This is confirmed by the Lord herewith from His own mouth.

SLOKA OF THE DAY: 

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
 Chapter 4 Text 29
apane juhvati pranam
prane 'panam tathapare
pranapana-gati ruddhva
pranayama-parayanah
apare niyataharah
pranan pranesu juhvati

apane--in the air which acts downward; juhvati--offer; pranam--the air which acts outward; prane--in the air going outward; apanam--the air going downward; tatha--as also; apare--others; prana--of the air going outward; apana--and the air going downward; gati--the movement; ruddhva--checking; prana-ayama--trance induced by stopping all breathing; parayanah--so inclined; apare--others; niyata--having controlled; aharah--eating; pranan--the outgoing air; pranesu--in the outgoing air; juhvati--sacrifice.

TRANSLATION

Still others, who are inclined to the process of breath restraint to remain in trance, practice by offering the movement of the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming breath into the outgoing, and thus at last remain in trance, stopping all breathing. Others, curtailing the eating process, offer the outgoing breath into itself as a sacrifice.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada ends his purport with this advise; The practice of reduced eating is automatically done when one eats only krsna-prasadam, or food which is offered first to the Lord. Reducing the eating process is very helpful in the matter of sense control. And without sense control there is no possibility of getting out of the material entanglement.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 28
dravya-yajnas tapo-yajna
yoga-yajnas tathapare
svadhyaya-jnana-yajnas ca
yatayah samsita-vratah

dravya-yajnah--sacrificing one's possessions; tapah-yajnah--sacrifice in austerities; yoga-yajnah--sacrifice in eightfold mysticism; tatha--thus; apare--others; svadhyaya--sacrifice in the study of the Vedas; jnana-yajnah--sacrifice in advancement of transcendental knowledge; ca--also; yatayah--enlightened persons; samsita-vratah--taken to strict vows.

TRANSLATION

Having accepted strict vows, some become enlightened by sacrificing their possessions, and others by performing severe austerities, by practicing the yoga of eightfold mysticism, or by studying the Vedas to advance in transcendental knowledge.

SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 4 Text 27
sarvanindriya-karmani
prana-karmani capare
atma-samyama-yogagnau
juhvati jnana-dipite

sarvani--of all; indriya--the senses; karmani--functions; prana-karmani--functions of the life breath; ca--also; apare--others; atma-samyama--of controlling the mind; yoga--the linking process; agnau--in the fire of; juhvati--offer; jnana-dipite--because of the urge for self-realization.

TRANSLATION

Others, who are interested in achieving self-realization through control of the mind and senses, offer the functions of all the senses, and of the life breath, as oblations into the fire of the controlled mind.