maharshayah sapta poorve chatwaaro manavastathaa
madbhaavaa maanasaa jaataa yeshaam loka imaah prajaah //10. 6 //
The seven great sages and also the four ancient Manus, possessed of powers like Me (on account of their minds being fixed on Me), were born of (My) mind ; from them are these creatures in the world originated and sustained.
According to the theory of creation found in Puranas Brahman in association with maya projected the universe. The first manifestation of Brhman in space and time is called Hiranyagarbha or prana or sutratma which pervades the universe as a thread runs through a garland. The process of creation further down the line is as under:
These seven rishis were the original teachers of spiritual wisdom and the four Manus were the original rulers of the world. The present inhabitants of the world according the Puranas have descended from these primeval personages.
etaam vibhootim yogam cha mama yo vetti tattwatah
so'vikampena yogena yujyate naatra samshayah // 10.7 //
He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine acquires unshakable devotion; of this there is no doubt.
One who knows the immanent pervading power of The Lord and the diverse manifestations caused thereby gets united with Him in firm and unalterable Yoga and attains eternal Bliss and harmony (unshakable yoga). The Yogi realizes that the Lord and his manifestations are one. He is aware of his oneness with Him. The knowledge of the determinate Brahman (manifestations) is the way to the knowledge of the indeterminate (unmanifest Absolute) Brahman.
KNOWLEDGE AND DEVOTION
aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matwaa bhajante maam budhaa bhaavasamanvitaah // 10.8 //
I am the origin of all, from Me everything evolves, understanding thus, the wise worship Me with all their heart.
The technique by which we can get ourselves established permanently in the continuous experience of the Supreme is explained here by Sri Krishna who now speaks as The Lord, Ishwara. God is the material and efficient cause of the world. The seeker is not deluded by passing forms but knowing that the Supreme is the source of all the forms, he worships the Supreme with all his heart.
matchittaa madgatapraanaa bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantashcha maam nityam tushyanti cha ramanti cha // 10.9 //
With their thoughts fixed on Me, with their life absorbed in Me, enlightening one another about Me, and always speaking about Me, they derive satisfaction and delight.
The characteristics of a devotee who has attained the realization of oneness with the divine are described in this verse.
With their minds wholly in Me (Matchittah): Once a person's intellect is convinced that the essence behind the God principle (Ishwara) and the individual ego (Jiva) is one and the same, any agitating feelings in the mind and disturbing thoughts in the intellect will not upset him and he will constantly be aware of the Conscious principle or the Self behind them all.
With their senses absorbed in Me (Mat-gata-praanaah): Here Prana indicates the five sense organs. The implication is not to run away from the sense objects but to have discrimination through which one can regulate and train his thoughts so that in any situation in life he will always be reminded of the Eternal Consciousness without which any sense object could not have been illumined for the mind to experience it.
Discussing with one another: Mutual discussion about Brahma Vidya enables crystallization of ideas and attaining deeper insight into the amount of knowledge gained.
A true seeker is the one who remembers constantly the Consciousness principle. They ultimately lead him to be free from external circumstances and inner dissatisfactions. He experiences a sense of contentment and delight which provide an ideal backdrop for the spiritual progress.
teshaam satatayuktaanaam bhajataam preetipoorvakam
dadaami buddhiyogam tam yena maamupayaanti te // 10.10 //
To them, ever devoted to Me, worship Me with love, I give the Yoga `Buddhi' by which they come to Me.
The devotees who have dedicated themselves to The Lord, who are ever harmonious and self-abiding, who are ever devout and who adore Him with intense love and with no selfish motives obtain the divine grace. The Lord gives them ‘buddhiyoga' or the Yoga of understanding by which they gain the wisdom which sees the One in all the forms which constantly change and pass.
teshaam evaanukampaartham aham ajnaanajam tamah
naashyaamyaatmabhaavastho jnaanadeepena bhaaswataa // 10.11 //
Solely out of compassion for them, I, dwelling within their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of knowledge.
The purpose of imparting the Buddhi Yoga is given here.
Darkness born of ignorance - The veil which prevents one from recognizing the Self which is already within him due to the absence of the knowledge of Right Discrimination. Even in darkness the Self is abiding in us but It is only not available for subjective experience by the seeker due to ignorance.
Destroy by the shining lamp of knowledge - Seekers who established themselves in the constant awareness of the Supreme, with the aid of Buddhi Yoga, experience their real identity with the Self. This act of Self-revelation is performed by The Lord (The Self) who always abides in the hearts of the devotees out of the spirit of compassion.
The Lord makes out how Bhakti or devotion leads to the destruction of ignorance and the rise of illumination. When ignorance is destroyed God stands revealed in the human spirit. When love and wisdom arise, the eternal is fulfilled in the individual. Bhakti is also a means to Jnana. Through it we obtain Divine Grace and the power of understanding, buddhiyoga. Intellectual knowledge is rendered luminous and certain by the direct intuition of the Buddhi.