Class summary for Feb 17 2026 - BG Chapter 7 - Slokas 23-26

Summarized by Sucheta Dighe:

After the recap of the last session, Saiji explained that when Krishna uses the pronouns ME and me, the capital ME means the all-pervading Brahman and the lowercase me is the physical form of Krishna.

Krishna says that "I" am the one that answers your prayers to the different forms/Devas/Gods you worship and blesses you with what you want, provided you have put enough efforts in your work as well as your prayers. The "I" here is the Brahman.

Maniji - We say that Hinduism is not a religion, but a way of life. Although it sounds clichéd, Sadhguru says that Hindus respect and worship nature, animals, humans and everything in this universe which is a creation of the Almighty. It is a way of life because we respect life in all forms and we appreciate it.

Video -

Verse 22 - Self - effort

That individual, by that newly and now grown faith in himself that he is pursuing, he becomes fascinated in pouring out more and more sincere energy and vitality. E.g. You start the study of science, pursue your path, work hard and have faith in yourself. As you pursue, your faith increases and eventually you gain the results you want. HE won't give it to you without you putting in your effort.

There are 4 purusharthas -

1. Artha

2. Kama

3. Dharma

4. Moksha

Hinduism does not tell us to suppress the worldly pleasures. Instead, it tells us to experience everything with balance, not forgetting the ultimate goal.

Meanings of verses 23, 24, 25 and 26 -

Verse 23 - Verily the fruit that accrues to those men of little intelligence is finite. The worshippers of the Devas go to the Devas, but My devotees come to Me.

Verse 24 - The foolish think of Me, the Unmanifest, as having come to manifestation, not knowing My higher, immutable and peerless nature.

Verse 25 - I am not manifest to all (in My Real Nature), veiled by Divine-Maya. This deluded world knows not Me; the Unborn, the Imperishable.

Verse 26 - I know, O Arjuna, the beings of the past, present and the future, but no one knows Me.

Saiji - How Bhagwad Geeta helps to transform us from an ordinary person to an extraordinary person. Before reading the Bhagwad Geeta, we are like animal-men - work, party, buy things...but nothing is enough because we think we can get more pleasure if we do or buy something else.

After reading the Bhagwad Geeta, we realize that there are somethings more than we have been experiencing. One of these is free will - to make choices in life. Even if other animals like crows and dolphins have intelligence, it is limited. Man has the ability to think logically.

As we progress in our study, we realize that just doing things instinctively or with free will, is not the ultimate goal. To be a God-man is the ultimate goal.

The fruits of our prayers to various Gods are limited, because we ask for limited things. Our wishes will be fulfilled through our faith (prayers) and our karma (diligent work). These fruits or fulfilled wishes are just seeds though. If one sows them and works hard to grow them, the rewards are exponential. E.g. education is the seed with which one can start a business which will thrive with hard work. E.g. Michael Jordan, who practiced dunking the ball in the basket all the time to achieve what he did.

Efforts are needed in any material as well as spiritual pursuit. If you ask for limited things, you get limited fruits. Transcend from saguna to nirguna Brahman.

Maniji - Story from Kathopanishad - Nachiket says if I can obtain this knowledge, anyone else also do so. That is the confidence he gives to all of us. He is a kumara, about 8 to 10 years old, but he realizes that all the worldly pleasures are not permanent.

Chapter 7 verses 23, 24, 25, 26 ...

Theme:

• At Caesar's funeral, where Mark Anthony smashed what Brutus said and built. Don't settle for small, trivial things was his message.

• Identify the Brahman beyond manifestations - e.g Jesus was referred to as a carpenter's son until people realized his true identity at the time of his death and his resurrection.

• A container of clay will be appreciated and valued by a potter; not by a vegetable vendor or cloth merchant. E.g. Gold jewelry vs Shira. Maniji told a story about his daughter when she was in highschool. A close relative from India had sent her some god jewelry. Maniji's wife had made some Shira and put both the gold jewelry and the Shira at the altar. When they told their daughter that there was a surprise for her at the altar, she went there and was very excited. They thought that she was happy with the gold ornament, but actually it was the Shira, her favorite, that had elated her and not the gold.

• As long as you view with a colored glass, everything will be of that color. E.g. Focus on the ocean instead of the waves. E.g. Grand-parents, parents and kids all view things differently and at different times in their lives. E.g. the same metal, gold, in different types of jewelry.

• Krishna is referencing to the omnipresent consciousness. Also that which knows all the 3 states (waker, dream state and deep-sleep state); and all lives.