Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4
Summary of Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 4
Verses 1 to 3 of Chapter 4
In verses 1 to 3 of Chapter 4 of the Gita, the giver of Gita knowledge says that He had imparted this imperishable yoga—that is, this spiritual knowledge of the Gita—to the Sun god. The Sun conveyed it to his son Manu, and Manu passed it on to his son Ikshvaku. In this way, the tradition continued for some time, but in the present age this supreme knowledge had been lost for a long period. You are My dear friend; therefore, I have explained that same knowledge to you. This knowledge is mysterious, that is, worthy of being kept secret.
Reflection: Why was this knowledge said to be secret? Because if ordinary souls were to understand the trap of Kaal, the realm of Kaal would become empty.
Special Note: Here, the word Sun does not refer to the physical ball of fire. It refers to a deity named Surya, just as on Earth people can have names like Suryakant or Suraj. In Chapter 4, verse 4, Arjun asks: “Your birth is recent, but the birth of the Sun god occurred long ago. How is it possible that You gave this knowledge to Surya at the beginning of creation?”
The Giver of Gita Knowledge Is Also Subject to Birth and Death
Verses 5 to 9 of Chapter 4
In verses 5 to 9, the giver of Gita knowledge says: “Arjun, you and I have had many births. You do not remember them, but I remember them. Although I am imperishable and do not take birth like humans, and although I am the lord of all beings (of the twenty-one universes), I subordinate My own nature (Ashtangi Durga) and produce Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—the governors of Maya. From among them, I create partial incarnations such as Shri Krishna, Shri Ram, Shri Parshuram, etc., and manifest Myself secretly within them.”
Scriptural Evidence from Vishnu Purana
(Published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur)
- Vishnu Purana, Fourth Section, Chapter 2, Verses 21–26 (Page 168): Once, a war took place between the gods and the demons. The gods were defeated. When they resumed spiritual practice, Kaal Brahm appeared in the form of His son Vishnu and said: “I know your desire. Prepare King Purunjay for battle. I will enter his body and destroy the demons.” This was done accordingly.
- Vishnu Purana, Fourth Section, Chapter 3, Verses 4–6 (Page 173): At another time, Gandharvas looted precious jewels and treasures of the Nagas and seized their kingdom. Accepting the plea of the Nagas, Kaal Brahm appeared in the form of His son Vishnu and said: “Prepare King Mandhata’s son Purukutsa for battle. I will enter his pure body for some time and destroy the wicked Gandharvas.” This also happened. Similarly, by entering the body of Shri Krishna, Kaal Brahm spoke the knowledge of the Gita.
Chapter 4, Verse 7
The giver of Gita knowledge says: “Whenever there is a decline of dharma and an increase of adharma, I create My partial incarnations. These incarnations appear to protect the virtuous and destroy the wicked.”
The speaker of the Gita, Kaal Brahm, is stating that He too undergoes birth and death. Arjun does not know this, but He Himself knows it. This is also confirmed in Chapter 10, verse 2, where it is said that even sages and gods born from Him do not know His origin.
In Chapter 4, verse 9, it is clarified that His births are extraordinary. This Brahm (Kaal) creates a Brahmlok and resides there in three forms—Mahabrahma, Mahavishnu, and Mahashiv. He undergoes birth and death. In the Mahashiv form, He dies when His son Triloki Shiv dies 70,000 times. Therefore, His birth and death are described as extraordinary.
Further Explanation: Arjun is told that those who do not understand the true nature of Kaal’s births and actions remain trapped in His net even after leaving the body. Kaal temporarily places souls in heaven or great heaven and then throws them again into the cycle of birth and death. But one who understands Kaal in true essence does not take rebirth.
Special Clarification
In Chapter 2, verse 12, and Chapter 4, verses 5 and 9, it is clearly stated that both the giver of Gita knowledge and His worshippers remain subject to birth and death. In Chapter 9, verse 7, it is said that at the end of a cycle, all beings—including heaven, hell, and Earth—are destroyed, and at the beginning of the next cycle, creation happens again. This shows that the end of birth and death is temporary, not permanent.
Kaal Brahm creates good souls, then enters them secretly to fulfill His purpose, without ever revealing His real form. It is His immutable rule that He never appears in His true form (as stated in Chapter 7, verses 24–25).
All beings of the three worlds are under Kaal’s control; He is their master. Therefore, by entering King Purunjay, He destroyed demons; by entering King Purukutsa, He destroyed Gandharvas; by entering Parshuram, He wiped out Kshatriyas; by entering Durvasa, He destroyed 560 million Yadavas along with Shri Krishna and His family; by entering Kapil Muni, He destroyed the sixty thousand sons of King Sagar; by entering Chunak Rishi, He destroyed the armies of King Mandhata; and by entering Shri Krishna, He orchestrated the devastating Mahabharata war—while Himself remaining hidden.
Those who understand Him in this manner abandon the worship of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh and worship only Him, attaining Brahmlok temporarily. Later, they are again thrown into the cycle of 84 lakh life forms. Only those who understand His illusion in true essence and go to a Tatvadarshi Saint attain complete liberation.
The Fully Knowledgeable Do Not Remain in Kaal’s Trap
Verses 10 to 15
Kaal Brahm says that those whose attachment and hatred have ended, who know Him as the doer and lord of the twenty-one universes, become steadfast. Such devotees—called Kabir Hans—chant Satnaam and Saarnaam, recognize Kaal’s true nature, step over His head, and cross beyond to Satlok.
As stated in Chapter 7, verse 17, the knowledgeable are dear to Him. Those who worship Him instead of the three gunas (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) are favored. But worship of deities gives only limited relief, not complete liberation. Therefore, one must practice scripture-based worship as done by ancestors.
Even the Lord of the Three Worlds Is Bound by Karma
Verses 16 to 22
Actions performed without ego, surrendering doership to God, do not bind. Such a person is wise. True knowledge of action and inaction comes only through Tatvagyan. With this knowledge, the soul escapes karmic bondage and reaches Satlok permanently.
Even Vishnu was bound by karma and had to be born as Ram and Krishna due to past actions. Karma must be endured; it cannot be destroyed by worship up to Kaal Brahm.
Only Supreme God Kabir Sahib—called Bandi Chhor (the Liberator)—can free souls from karmic bondage. Yajurveda Chapter 5, Mantra 32 and Chapter 8, Mantra 13 confirm Kabir as the destroyer of sin and bondage.
Verses 23–24
One who performs all actions with God as witness, following scripture-based conduct, has actions that become divine. Such a devotee remains absorbed in God’s remembrance.
Different Practices Mistaken as Sin-Destroying
Verses 25 to 30
Various practices are described: fire sacrifices, sense control through hatha yoga, deity worship, charity, severe austerities, vows, scriptural study, and pranayama. Practitioners mistakenly believe these destroy sins.
Reflection: Despite performing yajnas and austerities, even the Pandavas went to hell, proving that sins are not destroyed by Vedic and Gita-based practices alone. They give attainments like heaven but do not cut karmic bondage.
Sant Garibdas Ji explains that the four Vedas contain incomplete knowledge. Complete spiritual knowledge—Sukshma Ved—is spoken directly by the Supreme God Kabir.
Supreme God Is Other Than the Gita Speaker
Gita Chapters 15, 8, 18, and others clearly state that there exists another Supreme God—immortal, creator, sustainer of all—superior to the Gita speaker. By His grace alone, eternal peace and the supreme abode are attained. However, His identity is not clearly revealed in the Gita or Vedas.
Tatvagyan Comes from the Supreme God
Chapter 4, Verses 32 and 34
Supreme God Himself speaks Tatvagyan from His lotus mouth, explaining all yajnas and religious practices in detail. After knowing this knowledge, the seeker becomes free from sin. This knowledge is not in the Vedas or Gita; it is in Sukshma Ved and must be learned from Tatvadarshi Saints.
Name Chanting Along with Yajna Is Essential
Verses 31–32 explain that along with Satnaam and Saarnaam chanting, the five yajnas—dharma, meditation, havan, pranam, and knowledge—are essential. Name chanting without yajna leads to spiritual decline, while yajna without true Naam is fruitless.
Verses 36–42: Final Summary
Even the worst sinner crosses the ocean of sin through Tatvagyan. Sins are burned like fuel in fire. No purifier is greater than true knowledge. Those without Tatvagyan perish in doubt. Those who cut doubt with the sword of knowledge are free from karmic bondage. Therefore, Arjun is instructed to rise—not for war—but for true spiritual practice.
Clarification: Interpreting “rise” as rising for battle is incorrect. The entire chapter discusses spiritual knowledge, not warfare.
Conclusion
Chapter 4 of the Gita emphasizes that incomplete, scripture-opposing practices cannot grant liberation. Only through Tatvagyan imparted by a Tatvadarshi Saint, as revealed by the Supreme God, can one attain permanent freedom from birth and death.