Qualification and means to achieve ‘most confidential knowledge’ and benefit of achieving this knowledge are mentioned here:
Qualification – Because Arjuna is free from envy, therefore he qualifies to hear the most confidential knowledge (anasuyave – non-envious)
Means – Proper hearing is the means to obtain most confidential knowledge
Benefit – Relief from miseries of material existence
aNon-envious (Anasuyave) is the qualification to hear properly / “Envy is the root of misinterpretation” – This sets the qualification for anyone who wants to comment on Bhagavad- gita
Useless commentary – High academic scholars but give inaccurate commentaries because they are envious
One who criticizes the character of Krishna without knowing Him is foolish
Recommended approach – Avoid such commentaries
Bona-fide commentary – Only possible by a devotee
bTwo benefits of hearing about Krishna
Spiritual advancement – Ref. SB: One who hears becomes more and more enlightened. This process works as follows:
Potent Messages – Messages of Supreme Lord are full of potencies
How to realise these potencies – By discussion among devotees
Not by association of mental speculators and scholars, because it is realised knowledge
Lord helps us to understand – He sees the mentality and sincerity of a particular living entity who is engaged in Krishna Consciousness and gives him intelligence to understand Krishna
e.g. Krishna is telling Arjuna more confidential matters to encourage Arjuna in higher and higher elevations in His potent service
Freedom from material miseries (9.2) – One who is situated in most confidential knowledge is naturally transcendental and has no material pangs – 2 references :
Ref. Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu: “Iha yasya harer...” – Even in the conditional state of material existence, one can considered to be liberated if one is sincerely engaged in trying to render loving devotional service
Ref. Bg. Chapter 10: Anyone engaged thus is a liberated person FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 9.1 continued…
cWhy Chapter 9 is called most confidential knowledge
Confidential: Chapter 2 and 3 – Explains the knowledge of spirit soul and body; useful for liberation
More confidential: Chapter 7 and 8 – Knowledge which brings about enlightenment about Krishna consciousness, Supreme Lord and His energies
Most confidential: Chapter 9 – Because it deals with pure unalloyed devotion and delineates the glories of the Lord
dIdam Jnanam — Refers to ‘‘nine-fold process of devotional service by which’’:
One’s heart becomes cleansed of material contamination
One understands the science of Krishna and elevates to spiritual consciousness
One understands spiritual activities – Simply knowing that living entity is not material is not sufficient – one must understand difference between activities of the body and the spiritual activities