The Bhagavad Gita · 3 of 3 · tr. Kashinath Trimbak Telang

Chapter VI, Section 1c

He who is fallen from devotion attains the worlds of those who perform meritorious acts, dwells (there) for many a year, and is afterwards born into a family of holy and illustrious men.

Or he is even born into a family of talented devotees; for such a birth as that in this world is more difficult to obtain.

There he comes into contact with the knowledge which belonged to him in his former body, and then again, O descendant of Kuru!

he works for perfection .

For even though reluctant , he is led away by the self-same former practice, and although he only wishes to learn devotion, he rises above the (fruits of action laid down in the) divine word.

But the devotee working with great efforts , and cleared of his sins, attains perfection after many births, and then reaches the supreme goal.

The devotee is esteemed higher than the performers of penances, higher even than the men of knowledge, and the devotee is higher than the men of action; therefore, O Ar g una!

become a devotee.

And even among all devotees, he who, being full of faith, worships me, with his inmost self intent on me, is esteemed by me to be the most devoted.

§ Ask Guru about this passage →

Themes

◆Anamnesissoteriology

Platonic recollection: knowledge as the soul's recovery of what it knew before birth, with learning as remembering rather than acquisition.

The passage states that upon rebirth, the individual 'comes into contact with the knowledge which belonged to him in his former body,' indicating a recovery of past spiritual insights.

All passages →

◆Detachment Gelassenheitpraxis

Eckhart's Abgeschiedenheit/Gelassenheit — radical letting-go of will, image, and grasping that opens the soul to God; distinct from inner_silence (quietness) and from material renunciation, and adjacent to Sufi tark and Buddhist non-grasping as a practice rather than a metaphysical claim.

The devotee is described as rising 'above the (fruits of action),' indicating a state of detachment from the results of one's deeds.

All passages →

◆Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

The passage features a personal deity who esteems devotees, speaks directly to Arjuna, and is the object of worship with faith and intent.

All passages →

◆Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The text outlines a progressive path where the devotee works for perfection over many births to eventually reach the 'supreme goal' or divine origin.

All passages →

◆Soul Migrationcosmology

The transmigration of the soul across lives.

The passage explicitly describes the soul's journey across multiple lives, detailing how a fallen devotee is reborn into holy families and continues their spiritual progress over many births.

All passages →

Related passages · 1 parallel

◆buddhism|The Dhammapada|Chapter VIII, Section 1b

“Buddhism, however, acknowledges the existence of some of the Hindu deities, and from the various friendly offices which those Devas are said to have rendered to Gotama, Buddhists evince a respect for their idols.' See also Buddhaghosha's Pa…”

Both passages emphasize the superior value of devotion or righteous knowledge over other forms of merit or action. The Bhagavad Gita highlights the ultimate superiority of devotion to Krishna, while the Dhammapada extols the virtues of reverence for those grounded in true knowledge, both suggesting that spiritual insight and devotion are more valuable than ritualistic actions or longevity without wisdom.