Saturday, January 13, 2007

Chapter 4


CHAPTER 4

PATH OF RENUNCIATION WITH
KNOWLEDGE

Verse 4.01-04

Lord Krishna said:

I taught this Karma-yoga, the science of right and proper action, to King Vivasvan, the sun God. Vivasvan taught it to Manu. Manu taught it to Ikshvaku. Thus handed down in succession the saintly Kings knew this science of proper action. After long time this science was lost to this earth. Since you are my devotee and friend, today I am describing the same to you.

Arjuna said:

While Vivasvan was born long ago, you were born now only. How is it possible that you taught this Karma Yoga to Vivasvan?

Verse 4.05-10

Lord Krishna said:

Both you and I have taken many births. I remember them all, O Arjuna, but you do not remember. Only persons who truly understand me, take refuge in me, get free from attachment, fear, and anger and get fully absorbed in my thoughts reach my supreme abode after leading their body and they do not take rebirth.

As for me I am eternal and the Lord of all beings. Whenever there is a decline of Dharma and Adharma takes predominance, I manifest Myself. I appear from time to time for protecting the good and to establish the world order.

Verse 4.11-12

People worship me with different motives. But with whatever motive people worship Me, I accept them. .

Verse 4.13-15

Every one is created to do his assigned work. I have created the four divisions of human society based on needs of the society and make them do the tasks. I create this world with no desire for fruits. Works do not bind Me, because I have no desire for the fruits of work. The one who fully understands and practices this truth is also not bound by Karma.
The ancient seekers of salvation also performed their duties with this understanding. Therefore, do your duty without worrying about the results.

Verse 4.16-17

There are four kinds of actions. One is attached action, the second is detached action and the third is forbidden action and the fourth is inaction.

Verse 4.18-24

A person in Yoga sees action in inaction. He also sees inaction in action. A person who meditates is engaged in action, though appearing to be not doing anything. And this yogi would find no meaning in many actions that ordinary men are engaged in.

A person who does any action devoid of self gratification and is selfless is a sage. Whose total work is free from desire and not swayed by like or dislike, whose attachments to the fruits of actions are perished in the fire of knowledge, is a learned man. Such a person is a contented person. The person who does not take shelter in the worldly things, and is ever contented, abandoning the desires caused by action while engaged in work is not a doer. He does all his duties in the name of God without attachment to the results.
A hangman does his job as per the orders of the King, though kills a person, does not attract any Karmic reaction, because his actions are selfless and therefore his action is equivalent to inaction. His mind and intellect are well controlled, acts without any emotions of desires or attachment, his action is done by his body alone and is uninvolved. Thus he incurs no sin. He does his actions with equanimity unaffected by the success or failure of his effort. He himself has no jealousy or other ill feelings against the man whom he is hanging. When he does his duty, free from desires and bondage of his actions, remaining neutral and does the job only physically, he does not commit any sin.
All works of a person acts free from desire and attachment and acts in accordance with the injunctions of scriptures do not attract any sin. He does his service as service to his Lord. He considers everything as an act of God. He is a karma yogi.

Verse 4.25-32

There are kinds of Yogis as many types of spiritual disciplines are described in the Vedas.

Some observe Bhakti yoga and perform worship to Gods.

Some observe Gyan Yoga, study scriptures in pursuit of self knowledge.

Some observe Karma yoga, abandon their sensual pleasures, perform breathing and other yogic exercises, give away their wealth in charity and perform their duties.

What is common between all these is they want to purify themselves by remaining selfless and want to attain the Supreme Being. They have all understood the fact that leading an attached life does not give happiness.

Verse 4.33-37

Purification of mind and intellect makes a person transcend and Self-realization is the sole purpose of any spiritual action. This knowledge is imparted by self realized masters and students acquire this knowledge by serving the master and through sincere learning.

This knowledge makes a person transcend all the confusions and delusions of this world of attachment. It makes the person see the spirit of creation by God. Only this transcendental self-knowledge can help the person get of bonds of sins and karma and cross the ocean of life of birth and death.

Verse 4.38-40

Spiritual knowledge is pure knowledge and that alone cleanses one’s mind of selfishness and takes towards Karma Yoga. If one obtains this knowledge with faith in God and control over his mind and senses attains peace and liberation. The irrational, the faithless, and the disbeliever would never find peace and happiness.

Verse 4.41-42

One who has attained this knowledge and destroyed his worldly confusions and has renounced the fruits of his work, is a Karma Yogi and sins do not affect him. Therefore kill your confusions with the sword of self knowledge, steady yourself and get up for the war.

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