Arta, jignAsu, arthArdhI, jnAni - doers of GOOD actions

Having dealt with the "evil-doers", lord goes on to explain different categories of GOOD-DOERS

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन।
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ।।7.16।।

Arta: one who is suffering;
jignasu: one who is seeking liberation;
arthaardhi: one who is desirous of material progress;
jnani: the knower of truth;

these four types of people due to their "good actions" approach me.

तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्त कभक्तिर्विशिष्यते।
प्रियो हि ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम प्रियः।।7.17।।

of these four, jnani (The Man of Knowledge) who is "nitya yukta" (constantly steadfast) is special because he adores me the most and so do I.

उदाराः सर्व एवैते ज्ञानी त्वात्मैव मे मतम्।
आस्थितः स हि युक्तात्मा मामेवानुत्तमां गतिम्।।7.18।।

All the four are NOBLE; but the "jnani atma eva me matam" - Jnani is verily my self. It is my opinion. Having established in "uttamam-gati" (excellent path) he is set to lead to ME alone (mam eva).

बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते।
वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः।।7.19।।

After many births, having attained the "jnanam" (the jnavan); having realized "vasudeva sarvam iti" (all this verily is vasudeva) surrenders to me. It is indeed very rare to find such a great soul (mahatma).

vasudeva: vasati sarvasmin iti vasu; tasya devah "vasudeva"

one who lives in everything is vasu; the controller of such existence is vasudeva or the vital force that holds everything is "vasudeva"


Key points:
1. only by doing good actions (sukrutinah) or "prescribed duties" one can start the process of surrender.

2. The conditional surrender (to remove suffering, seeking knowledge, seeking material progress) is lower but not useless. It may gradually lead to higher surrender.

3. The unconditional surrender having realized the TRUTH as "vasudeva sarvam iti" is the highest knowledge of all.

4. The higher nature "jeeva bhutam" mentioned by the lord (in the earlier blog post) is itself the "vasudeva" quoted here. That which holds everything here is the vasudeva that exists in everything here as the central holding power. (as seen in the imminence of lord post)