Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6, Verse 43 (BG 6.43) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

6.43 तत्र there? तम् that? बुद्धिसंयोगम् union with knowledge? लभते obtains? पौर्वदेहिकम् acired in his fomer body? यतते strives? च and? ततः than that? भूयः more? संसिद्धौ for perfection? कुरुनन्दन O son of the Kurus.Commentary When he takes a human body again in this world his previous exertions and practice in the path of Yoga are not wasted. They bear full fruit now? and hasten his moral and spiritual evolution.Our thoughts and actions are left in our subconscious minds in the form of subtle Samskaras or impressions. Our experiences in the shape of Samskaras? habits and tendencies are also stored up in our subconscious mind. These Samskaras of the past birth are revivified and reenergised in the next birth. The Samskaras of Yogic practices and meditation and the Yogic tendencies will compel the spiritual aspirant to strive with greater vigour than that with which he attempted in the former birth. He will endeavour more strenuously to get more spiritual experiences and to attain to higher planes of realisation than those acired in his previous birth.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

One may harbor the concern that upon rebirth, a seeker would have to begin the practice of spiritual discipline anew from the beginning. This concern is without foundation. The Blessed Lord teaches that when such a person takes birth in an environment conducive to yoga, he becomes endowed with the knowledge acquired in his previous embodiment. By virtue of this, he accomplishes his education far more easily than others. The reason is that for him this is not new learning, but merely a recollection or a lion's glance at knowledge already gained. In but a short time, he witnesses knowledge becoming manifest within his own heart—that which lay hidden in unmanifest form from before. Not only is he possessed of knowledge from his previous body, but he also exerts himself even more intensely than before for perfection. In him there is no lack of enthusiasm, capacity, or effort. Knowledge without effort becomes a burden of suffering for the seeker. The Blessed Lord Sri Krishna declares: O descendant of Kuru, the person fallen from yoga exerts himself even more greatly for perfection. Speaking of the influence of the conjunction of intellect from the previous body, He says—