18.78: The Gita guarantees ultimate success

The Bhagavad-gita (18.78) concludes with the proclamation that success is guaranteed for those who harmonize their human will with the divine will. This proclamation is based on the understanding that success has two dimensions: internal and external. According to Gita wisdom, internal success refers to success in establishing a loving relationship with God and external success refers to success in expressing that relationship externally through loving service to God and all his children.

Those with no knowledge of internal success envision success not in terms of contribution and service, but in terms of acquisition and domination. Such self-centered success is neither satisfying nor sustainable; such “successful” people are buffeted by the continuous onslaughts of worldly predicaments and problems that terminate in the ultimate defeat of death.

When we seek first to succeed internally as directed by the Gita, then worldly problems can never exhaust our inner energy; we can always replenish our energy by connecting with God’s unlimited energy. Thus energized, we can confront change with courage and crisis with composure and contribute our talents and resources in a spirit of service to God for the holistic benefit of everyone. Even the defeat of death becomes transformed into the gateway to the ultimate victory of attaining eternal life in the kingdom of God.

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Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.