Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 11, Verse 55

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

In this verse the Supreme Lord Krishna reveals the ultimate secret which is the essence of the Vedic scripture and all spiritual scriptures. The spiritually motivated being who performs actions for Lord Krishna, who has Lord Krishna as their only goal, who are devoted to Him exclusively, who bears and commits no malice to any living entity such a being is able to attain the Supreme Lord and no other. Thus the Supreme Lord Krishna showed His visvarupa or divine universal form to His devotee which is extremely rarely seen even by the demigods after millions of penances and austerities.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

The conclusion of all Vedic scriptures and goal of all Vedic teachings is now being revealed by Lord Krishna. The words mad-bhaktah mean exclusive loving devotion. The study of the Vedas, performing rituals, giving in charity, practicing austerities etc as given in verse 48 was in reference to seeing the thousand armed visvarupa or divine universal form. The same instructions were given in verse 53 in reference to seeing Lord Krishna's transcendental saccidananda form of eternal existence, unlimited cognisance and endless bliss. Here Lord Krishna specifies that by bhakti in dedicating all one's actions to Him, performing devotion to Him, making Him the ultimate goal of one's life without emnity towards any living entity is the method by which one can ultimately attain Him and all other activities Vedic activities must be accompanied by exclusive loving devotion unto Him.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

The words mat-karma-krt means those who dedicate their lives to Lord Krishna. They study the Vedas, engage in meditation, carry out rituals of propitiation, perform penance and other spiritual activities of this nature; but all their activities are exclusively for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. The words mat-paramah means those who make Lord Krishna their ultimate shelter and goal of attainment towards which every effort they make is directed. The words mad-bhaktah means Lord Krishna's loving devotee to whom everything revolves around out of so much love for Him that one is unable to exist without always reflecting, remembering, meditating, serving, worshipping and praising Him etc. in one continuous flow without cessation. The words sanga-varjitah means weaned from worldly attachments due to one having total attachment to the Supreme Lord. The words nirvairah sarva-bhutesu means bearing no enmity towards any living being and successfully arises from three-fold considerations.

Lord Krishna's devotee's only happiness is being in communion with Him and His devotees only misery is when they are not in communion with Him. Hence they are unattached to all other living beings. Lord Krishna's devotees attribute all their difficulties and afflictions simply as a reaction to their own past actions. Hence they have no reason to hate any being for it. Lord Krishna's devotees have implicit faith that all living entities are subject to His sovereign rule and are under His complete control. Hence whatever comes on its own according to providence is independently occurring and not subject to anyone's motive.

Thinking in this enlightened way Lord Krishna's devotees are exempt from all enmity and possessing all these attributes are able to qualify themselves to come to Him. The words mam eti mean comes unto me which denotes that one will realise Lord Krishna as He is and join in communion with Him in their perfected spiritual body which is the actual goal resulting from developing one's spiritual qualities.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Thus it has been revealed by Lord Krishna that only His devotee who renders unalloyed bhakti or loving devotion exclusively is qualified to behold Him, know Him, associate with Him and enter into communion with Him and no other. The Supreme Lord has explained what actions one must have with mat- karma-krt or dedicating one's actions to Him. What goal one must have with mat-paramo or making Him the ultimate attainment and the way one must act with mat-bhaktah or renders loving devotion to Him. One who studies the Vedas to learn about the Supreme Lord and propitiate Him for His sake, depending upon Him only as the sole goal of attainment and not heaven, wives, wealth, descendants and legacy. One who is truly devoted to Lord Krishna spends their time chanting His holy names and reading about and listening to His pastimes with rapt attention and reflecting and contemplating upon His glories.

At this point one may interject but what about my family and dependents? They must be fed and clothed and provided for. This is the duty of a civilised human in any society. The answer again is mat-karma krt dedicate one's actions to the Supreme Lord. This means that by performing all actions for the Supreme Lord they are done without attachment. So other then His devotees no one is able to be without attachment to actions, which is essential along with being free from malice and enmity towards any living entity.

After explaining all theses things Lord Krishna declares what one will achieve by performing them with mam eti will come to Him and share eternally in association and communion with Him and thus He concludes this chapter.