18.58 An Elaborate explanation

In the meaning notice that it covers

• Mind : that needs to be trained and freed from slavery of senses
• Fixation on God : connection with God 24*7
• Challenges : all mental, emotional, physical & spiritual, include distractions 
• Grace : is usually teh outcome of mind fixed on God
• Ego - implying duality with God, surrender, faith 
• Listen : surrender 
• Destroyed : wasted

Out of ego do not listen : Ego is what separates us from God. Ego is what does not let us surrender. Ego leads us to the external world that is unreal.

Decisions and actions that come from the ego space , do not help in spiritual progress, they pull us down. That is what egocentric action leads to destruction.

Recall : Chapter 1 tells us that emotion wrecks duty and deludes us. Chapter 6 mentions mind can be your friend and your enemy.

After the entire discourse Krishna is kind of reassuring Arjun & us that

• If you perform your duty with mind fixed on me  ( Karam Yog)
• All obstacles removed by my grace ( Bhakti Yog)
• However if not listen out of Ego , destruction ( Dhyan Yog, as it is implying understanding teh knowledge )

The entire Gita is summed up in this verse too!


Below are some excerpts from various sources relating to this verse.

BG 18.58, Translation and Purport: 

If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.

A person in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not unduly anxious about executing the duties of his existence. The foolish cannot understand this great freedom from all anxiety. For one who acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, Lord Kṛṣṇa becomes the most intimate friend. He always looks after His friend's comfort, and He gives Himself to His friend, who is so devotedly engaged working twenty-four hours a day to please the Lord. Therefore, no one should be carried away by the false ego of the bodily concept of life. One should not falsely think himself independent of the laws of material nature or free to act. He is already under strict material laws. But as soon as he acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is liberated, free from the material perplexities. One should note very carefully that one who is not active in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is losing himself in the material whirlpool, in the ocean of birth and death. No conditioned soul actually knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, but a person who acts in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is free to act because everything is prompted by Kṛṣṇa from within and confirmed by the spiritual master.