Gita 9.33
Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा । अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥३३॥
kiṁ punar brāhmaṇāḥ puṇyā bhaktā rājarṣayas tathā anityam asukhaṁ lokam imaṁ prāpya bhajasva mām
In essence: If even the marginalized attain the supreme, how much more so the learned and noble? In this impermanent, unhappy world, worship the Divine!
A conversation between a seeker and guide to help you feel this verse deeply
Sadhak-Guru Dialogue
Sadhak: "Calling this world 'joyless' (asukham) seems like spiritual pessimism. There ARE beautiful moments, loving relationships, genuine happiness. Why does the Gita paint such a dark picture?"
Guru: "I'm glad you feel joy in life - that's healthy. But let me ask: have you ever experienced a perfect moment of happiness that you wanted to last forever?"
Sadhak: "Yes, many times. A sunset, holding my child, achieving a goal..."
Guru: "And did any of them last forever?"
Sadhak: "No... they passed. Sometimes the passing was painful."
Guru: "This is what Krishna means by 'asukham' - not that joy doesn't exist, but that it doesn't stay. The very impermanence (anityam) of what we love creates suffering. The world isn't joyless because it has no pleasure; it's joyless because it cannot hold pleasure. Every happiness arrives with an expiration date. Is He wrong?"
Sadhak: "But isn't it better to enjoy what we have while we have it, rather than dwelling on impermanence?"
Guru: "Absolutely - and Krishna isn't asking you to reject enjoyment. He's asking: in a world where everything passes, what is the wise investment of your heart? The command 'bhajasva mām' isn't 'reject the world' but 'worship Me.' You can still enjoy the sunset, but if your deepest devotion is to the eternal Divine, you're not devastated when the sunset fades. You enjoyed it as a gift, a glimpse of divine beauty, without demanding it last forever. This is freedom within impermanence - not denial of life but proper orientation within it."
Sadhak: "So the point isn't to see the world as miserable but to recognize why devotion makes sense given the world's nature?"
Guru: "Exactly. Krishna isn't depressing Arjuna; He's offering the only logical response to impermanence. 'This world won't satisfy you ultimately - I know it seems like it might, but it won't. So while you're here, worship the one thing that can truly satisfy: the eternal.' It's not pessimism; it's an invitation to anchor your happiness somewhere it can't be taken away."
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🌅 Daily Practice
Privilege audit: If you have any advantages in life - education, resources, time, health - recognize them as greater opportunity and responsibility for devotion. Say: 'My privileges don't save me; they simply mean I have fewer excuses. Today I will use what I have in service of devotion.' Don't use advantages to feel superior; use them to deepen practice.
Impermanence awareness: At least three times today, when you notice something pleasant (a meal, a conversation, a success), pause and acknowledge: 'This is beautiful. It is also passing.' Don't let this ruin enjoyment - let it deepen appreciation while loosening attachment. End each recognition with: 'I offer this passing moment to the Eternal.'
The bhajasva mām response: Before sleep, review your day through the lens of impermanence. What came? What went? What failed to satisfy permanently? Then hear Krishna's command: 'Bhajasva mām - worship Me.' Spend 5 minutes in simple worship - praise, gratitude, surrender - to the One who doesn't pass. Rest knowing your deepest investment is in the eternal.