Bhagavad Gita Chapter 9, Verse 32 (BG 9.32) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

# BG 9.32 — Commentary on the Verse As an explanation and supplement to the two preceding verses, the Blessed Lord declares that it is not merely those of sinful conduct who, overcome by the adverse circumstances of the external world, become liberated through unbroken remembrance of the Divine. Rather, those who from birth suffer from deficiencies in mental and intellectual capacities and internal disorder can themselves purify and organize their inner faculties through this very practice of continuous remembrance of the Self. There is no doubt that the Vedas, the Smritis, and the Puranas contain utterances that appear similar in language to this verse. To condemn women, merchants, and laborers by calling them born of sinful wombs would mean that the beneficial influence of dharma extends only to a handful of people in society. To understand it thus would be to negate everything that Lord Sri Krishna has been repeatedly and emphatically establishing from the beginning. Therefore, we must understand the true intention behind Lord Sri Krishna's words. The practice of dharma is neither for bodily development nor is it to be accomplished through the body. The advancement that dharma points to as its goal has no connection whatsoever with the body's gender, caste, and such distinctions. The purpose of spiritual disciplines is to organize the mind and intellect, which in their own mature state become naturally steady, and then the Self stands established in its own glory, free from all limitations. Therefore, the terms "women" and others used here should be understood as referring to certain specific qualities of the inner faculties that manifest in different degrees in different individuals at different times. By "women" is meant a mind like that of a woman—such a mind is of an extremely emotional nature and becomes deeply attached to worldly objects. Similarly, many people in society are of a mercantile disposition in their thoughts and actions. These people remain like merchants in their inner mental life, constantly calculating and worrying: "What benefit shall I gain from the capital of mind that I am investing in remembrance of God?" Such a calculating mind, always hoping for greater and greater returns, cannot be developed through meditation. The only means to steady the mind and keep it alive, even for a moment, in the infinite essence is to offer all actions to the Divine. Thus, when spiritual philosophy condemns merchants, it is truly condemning the mercantile tendency of our mind. A person of such a tendency cannot hope for progress on this divine path. Finally, the term "laborer" indicates mental tendencies such as laziness, sleep, and negligence. Lord Sri Krishna, in His age, used words that were universally known to point to specific qualities of the inner faculties. Only when we understand these words in the above sense does the true meaning of this verse become clear. By interpreting them otherwise, there is no need to lower the Bhagavad Gita from its status as the dharma-shastra accessible to all humanity based on their capacity, by our own limited understanding. Through this verse, the Lord declares that through exclusive devotion and continuous contemplation of the nature of the Self, not only those of sinful conduct, but even those who from birth have suffered from some form of mental and intellectual deficiency can successfully attain the spiritual goal. According to Vedanta, those "born of sinful wombs" refers to the corrupted tendencies of the mind that arise from one's past negative and faulty life. These evil desires of the mind are irresistible and compel a person to live by false ideals. As a result, confusion, restlessness, and disorder arise in both one's own life and that of others. These very desires are the root source of the aforementioned feminine, mercantile, and laborer tendencies. Only a dull-witted scholar would have the audacity to interpret this verse according to the literal meaning of the scriptures while maintaining firm adherence to their surface sense. In doing so, he would easily forget the very meaning of varna-ashrama dharma as defined by Lord Sri Krishna Himself. In brief, when the mind is filled with these corrupted tendencies, the study of the Vedas by such a person becomes fruitless. For this reason alone, the sages, out of compassion, prohibited such persons from studying the Vedas. This did not mean at all that such persons should be forever deprived of learning. Spiritual disciplines have been prescribed precisely to develop the necessary qualifications required for successful study of this sacred knowledge of Brahman. Among all such disciplines, the most powerful is worship—the unbroken remembrance of the Divine with a devoted heart. Vedanta declares that through worship, the mind becomes purified. The impurities or weaknesses of the mind are indicated here by the terms "women," "merchants," and "laborers." Once these negative tendencies are eliminated, the mind gains the capacity for concentration, single-pointed devotion, and the lofty flight of meditation. Thus, if the vehicle for the journey becomes fully prepared, the destination shall be reached swiftly. Therefore, the Lord declares: they too attain the Supreme Goal. Lord Sri Krishna inspires Arjuna to walk the path of Self-realization.