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You’re asking about Bhagavad Gita 18.58. Here’s the verse with explanation:
Bhagavad Gita 18.58
Sanskrit (IAST):
mac-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi
mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi
atha cet tvam ahaṅkārān
na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi
Translation (general sense):
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“Fix your mind on Me, and by My grace you will overcome all obstacles. But if, out of false ego, you do not listen, you will be lost.”
Key Insights:
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“mac-cittaḥ” → “mind absorbed in Me” — Krishna emphasizes full focus and surrender.
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“sarva-durgāṇi” → “all difficulties/obstacles” — life’s struggles are transcended through divine alignment.
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“mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi” → “by My grace you will cross over” — effort is important, but grace completes the journey.
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Warning: If guided by ahaṅkāra (ego, pride, stubbornness), and one refuses to listen, then downfall (vinaṅkṣyasi) follows.
✅ Essence: Krishna is saying—If you surrender ego and fix your consciousness on the Divine, grace will carry you across life’s struggles. If you cling to ego and ignore guidance, ruin follows.
Would you like me to also give you a short commentary comparison (e.g., Swami Prabhupada vs. Eknath Easwaran vs. traditional Advaita reading) so you can see how different traditions interpret this verse?
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Great — here’s a comparative commentary on Bhagavad Gita 18.58 across a few traditions and interpreters:
Bhagavad Gita 18.58
“Fix your mind on Me, you will overcome all obstacles by My grace. But if, out of false ego, you do not listen, you will perish.”
1. Swami Prabhupada (Bhaktivedanta / ISKCON – Vaishnava Bhakti)
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Commentary: Krishna is the supreme protector; by surrendering, the devotee is safe. Obstacles are illusions created by Maya and can be crossed only through Krishna’s mercy.
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Key idea: Human effort is not enough—grace plus devotion is the only sure path.
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Emphasis: Refusing Krishna’s words out of ego is dangerous—ahaṅkāra leads to downfall.
2. Adi Shankaracharya (Advaita Vedanta)
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Commentary: Fixing the mind on the Self (as Brahman) is true absorption in Krishna. Grace is the removal of ignorance by knowledge. Obstacles = mental veils and avidyā (ignorance).
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Key idea: Grace manifests as inner clarity when ego is dissolved.
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Emphasis: Listening = openness to wisdom. Ego (ahaṅkāra) = identification with body and mind, which prevents liberation.
3. Eknath Easwaran (Modern Nondual, Devotional Humanism)
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Commentary: To “fix the mind” is to anchor awareness in the divine presence through meditation and daily remembrance. Grace flows when self-will is softened.
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Key idea: This verse is about trust—letting go of trying to control outcomes and learning to live in harmony with the greater whole.
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Emphasis: Obstacles in life become opportunities when one listens inwardly; ego resists and brings suffering.
4. Ramakrishna / Vivekananda (Neo-Vedanta, Bhakti-Advaita blend)
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Commentary: Mind fixed on God makes the world’s difficulties light. The ego is the greatest barrier.
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Key idea: Grace comes when the heart yields. The teacher and God are one in removing ignorance.
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Emphasis: The choice is binary—surrender to God (victory) or cling to ego (downfall).
5. Traditional Vedantic / Sanskrit glosses
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“mat-cittaḥ” → not just thinking of God occasionally, but being wholly absorbed.
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“mat-prasādāt” → liberation is not earned alone; it is a bestowal.
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“vinaṅkṣyasi” → “you will perish” — not necessarily physical death, but spiritual ruin: rebirth, bondage, and continued suffering.
🌸 Essence Across Traditions
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Bhakti view: Surrender to Krishna as a person; grace is protective.
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Advaita view: Absorption in Self removes ignorance; grace is awakening.
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Modern view: Letting go of ego, trusting the divine flow of life.
All agree on one central truth:
👉 Ego closes the door, listening opens it. Grace carries you across.
Would you like me to also create a one-page comparative chart (verse | key words | Bhakti | Advaita | Modern) so you can visually see how each tradition reads the verse?
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