5 / How Bhakti-yoga Works
In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna tells His disciple, Arjuna, “I am

disclosing a most confidential part of knowledge to you, be-
cause you are My dear friend.” As is stated in the Fourth
Chapter, the Bhagavad-gita is spoken to Arjuna because of his
one qualification: he was a devotee. The Lord says that the
mystery of the Bhagavad-gita is very confidential. Without
being an unalloyed devotee you cannot know it. In India there
are 645 different commentaries on the Gita. One professor
has proposed that Krsna is a doctor and Arjuna is his patient,
and has made his commentary in that way. Similarly, there are
commentators and people who have taken it that everyone is
perfect, and that they can interpret scripture in their own way.
As far as we are concerned, we agree to read the Bhagavad-gita
according to the instructions given in the Gita itself. This has
to be taken through the parampara, the system of disciplic
succession. It is being taught by the Supreme Person because
“you are My dear friend. I desire that you may become,
prosperous and happy. Therefore I speak to you.” Krsna wants
everyone to be happy and peaceful and prosperous, but they
do not want it. Sunshine is open to everyone, but if someone
wishes to remain in darkness, what can the sunshine do for
him? So the Gita is open to everyone. There are different
species of life, and lower and higher grades of understanding
exist—that is a fact. But Krsna says that this knowledge is for
anyone. If one has lower birth or whatever, it doesn’t matter.
The Bhagavad-gita offers transcendental subject matter every-
one can understand provided he goes along with the principle
