Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18, Verse 58 (BG 18.58) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 18.58 In essence, the seeker should continuously remember the Divine while performing their duties. Through constant practice, the body and mind themselves come to support such an illumined intellect that dwells in unbroken remembrance of the Divine. Lord Sri Krishna says: With your consciousness fixed upon Me, through My grace you shall overcome all difficulties. Most of the obstacles and hindrances that come into our lives are merely imaginary. False fears and needless anxieties are signs of a confused mind. The fruit obtained from the absorption of the mind into the nature of the Supreme Self is what is called grace. The grace spoken of here does not mean that the Ocean of Compassion, the Lord, showers His grace only upon certain devotees and not upon others. The Lord Himself is the very embodiment of grace. His grace is all-pervading. What is needed is only the purification of our inner instrument and the awakening of discrimination. When purity and discrimination are present, the Supreme Self manifests in its pure form—that which was already present within the seeker's heart. The light of the sun shows no partiality to anyone. Yet one who keeps the doors and windows of their house perpetually closed remains deprived of the sun's light. In this, no fault can be attributed to the sun. In the second line of this verse, Lord Sri Krishna issues a warning: if through ego you do not follow His teachings, you shall bring about your own destruction. The laws of nature are immutable; they have neither eyes nor ears. They continue their work in rhythm. One who recognizes these laws and follows them completely remains happy. If through ego you do not listen, you shall be destroyed—this is not a threat issued by a cruel ruler to frighten humanity into obedience. It should not be compared with the threats of hell given in other religions. This is merely a statement of fact. Even if Newton himself had jumped from the roof of his house, the force of gravity would have exerted its influence upon him with absolute certainty. There is a definiteness in the laws of nature. Between the two options of bondage and liberation, humanity is free to choose either. The path of liberation has been described here. In this statement, only the Lord's compassionate clarity and concern for the seeker's welfare are evident. Through this clear declaration, He wishes neither to make nor to mar anything. Through the gentle and sweet voice of inner inspiration, we are always guided toward the true way of life. Yet human ego and selfishness ignore that sweet voice and instead imitate the base level of life devoted to sensory pleasures. As a result, one is punished by one's own uncontrolled emotional impulses and impure thoughts. Therefore, a warning is given here: you shall be destroyed. This destruction means that such an egotistical person cannot attain the supreme purpose of life. To make His statement even clearer, the Lord says: