|
Arjuna said: 1.
You praise renunciation of action, O Krishna, and again of their
selfless performance. Tell me decidedly which one is better of the two. Then Partha said to Lord Krishna, "Why do you
talk like this? If you say something definite, then one can reflect upon it.
Earlier you had described the way of renunciation variously; then why are you
urging me to take to the way of action? Your ambiguous talk does not make
sense to me, who am dull-witted. Listen, if you wish to instruct me in a
particular doctrine, you talk about it only. Need one tell you about this? I
had earlier requested you not to express the highest truth in rhetoric's
(1-5). Leave alone what happened before, but tell me now which of these two
paths is superior. Such a path must be reliable, result-oriented, and one
which is well-defined and easy to follow. It should be facile like a
palanquin in which one can travel any distance without loss of sleep. The Lord was pleased with this speech of Arjuna and
said with great delight, "It will be as you say". If a person is
lucky to have a mother like the wish-yielding cow, then he could demand and
get even the moon to play with (6-10). See the grace of Lord Shiva; did he
not bestow on Upamanyu the milky sea, with which to satisfy his desire for
rice with milk ? If Lord Krishna, who is the store of munificence, is
accessible to him (Arjuna), why should he not bask in happiness? When he has
the Lord of the Godless of wealth as his master, is it surprising that he
should demand whatever comes to his mind? Therefore, whatever knowledge
Arjuna sought, Lord Krishna readily gave it to him. I shall now tell you what
Lord Krishna said thereafter. The blessed Lord said: 2.
Renunciation and yoga of action both lead to the highest bliss. But
between the two, yoga of action is better than renunciation. Lord Krishna said: O Arjuna, if you consider
renunciation and yoga, both are in fact conducive to liberation (11-15). As a
boat is an easy means for the omen and children to cross the river, the yoga
of action is a straight path for the wise and the ignorant. If you consider
what is valuable and what is worthless, you will see that the yoga of action
is an easy path; if you pursue it you will also obtain the fruit of
renunciation. I shall tell you, therefore, the characteristics of
renunciation, so that you will realise that these two paths are similar. 3.
He should be known as a perpetual renounce, which neither hates nor
desires. For, O Arjuna, one who transcends the pairs of opposites, is easily
freed from bondage. When a person does not bemoan a lost thing or long
for a thing unprocessed, who is mentally stable like the Meru mountain, and
whose mind has forgotten the sense of 'Me' and 'Mine', O Arjuna, know him to
be a perpetual renounce. (16-20) One having this attitude of mind rids
himself of attachment, and thereby attains uninterrupted happiness. Such a
person need not give up his home etc., as he has mentally become detached
from them. When the Are is extinguished and reduced to ashes, cotton can
safely be placed in it; so when a person's intellect gets rid of all desires,
though limited by conditions, he does not get bound by actions. When his
desires completely vanish from his mind, he attains renunciation. For this
reason, both renunciation and yoga of, action are similar (21-25). 4.
The ignorant affirm that Sankhya and yoga are different but not the
wise. He who practices either will reap the fruit of both. Besides, O Partha, how can persons wholly ignorant
know the nature of Sankhya and Yoga? Being by nature ignorant, they affirm
them to be different. How can there be different lights from the same lamp?
But those who have realised the truth by genuine experience treat them both
as one and the same. 5.
That state, which the Sankhyas attain, is reached by the yogis as well
He sees truly, who sees that the Sankhya and the Yoga are one. The state, which is reached by the Sankhyas, is
also attained by the yogis, Hence these two paths are identical. As there is
no difference between the sky and the space, the Yogi recognises that the
yoga of action and renunciation are the same (26-30). If he recognises
Sankhya and yoga as not distinct, knowledge dawns upon him in this World and
he realises his Self. 6.
But renunciation O Arjuna, is difficult to attain without yoga. The
sage absorbed in yoga attains to Brahman without delay. O Partha, he who, following the path of yoga,
ascends the mountain of liberation, reaches speedily the peak of the highest
bliss. But he who discards yoga and longs in vain for salvation, never
reaches the state of renunciation. 7.
He, who is engaged in selfless work and is pure in mind mho has his
body and mind under control, and whose Self is the Self of all beings, is not
tainted by actions, although he works. He has withdrawn his mind from delusion and after
cleaning his mind by the instruction of his teacher, has fixed it on the
Self. So long as salt does not fall into the sea, it seems different, but
becomes like sea when it is united with it (31-35). In the same way when his
mind, rid of desire, becomes one with the Self, then although it is confined
to one spot (i.e. the body), it pervades the three worlds. Then all such
notions that I am the agent and must perform this particular work naturally
cease, and though he performs actions, he is not their doer. 8.
The yogi who knows the truth should think, 'I do nothing at all', when
he sees, hears, touches, smells, eats, walks, sleeps or breathes, 9.
Speaks, releases, grasps, opens and closes his eyes, bearing in mind
that the gunas (senses) act on the gunas (their objects). O Partha, he who does not remember even that he has
a body, how would he possess the egoistic feeling of being the agent? Thus
even when the yogi has not discarded the body, all the characteristics of the
formless God become manifest in him. But like all ordinary people, he seems
engaged in all activities (36- 40). He sees with his eyes, hears with his
ears, but surprisingly he remains unattached to what he sees and hears. He
feels the touch, smells with his nose and talks on occasions. He eats food,
gives up whatever he does not want, and sleeps in comfort at the appropriate
time. He seems to walk according to his sweet will and goes on performing all
actions as required. Arjuna, why need I tell you each and everything? He
breathes in and out and shuts and opens his eyes and so on (41-45). Though he
performs these actions, he is not the agent due to self- knowledge. So long
as he was asleep on the bed of ignorance, he was deluded by happy dreams; but
since then with the dawn of knowledge, he is awakened to his true Self. 10.
He, who acts without attachment, dedicating his actions to Brahman, is
not defiled by sin as a lotus petal by water. Now all his sense organs function under the sway of
the Self in regard to the objects of senses. Even as all the household
activities are performed in the lamplight, so all actions ensue from the
yogi. Just as the leaf of a lotus does not get wet in water, so the yogi is
not bound by actions, even while performing- them (46-50). 11.
With the body, mind and intellect and with the senses alone, yogis
perform actions without attachment for the purification of the mind. That action which is not based on reasoning or
which is devoid of thought is called physical action. I shall explain this in
simple words. Like a child the yogi performs actions by means of body only.
But when the body fashioned from the five elements goes to sleep, then his
mind remains alone in the dream world. The most surprising fact, O Partha, is
that this sway of desires gives a person pleasure and pain without the
knowledge of the body. This action which ensues without the senses being
aware of it is said to be simply mental action (51-55). The yogis too perform
such actions, but they are not bound by them, as they are free from egoistic
feeling. When a person becomes imbecile or is possessed by a spirit, then his
sense-activities become disorganised. He sees the figure of a person, hears
when he is accosted, speaks with his tongue, but his mind does not register
what he does. Whatever is done is without purpose, know that action to be of'
the senses. And whatever is done with full knowledge, know that it is the
action of the intellect, so said Shri Hari (56-60). Those who take recourse
to intellect a d perform actions with wisdom, they become free from the
bondage of action. Those who perform actions ranging between the intellectual
and the physical without the egoistic feeling, remain pure even while they
work. My friend, the action that is done without the notion of agency is non-action.
This truth is known from the instruction on of the teacher. Now I have told
you what transcends speech, so much so that the serene sentiment is spilling
from my overfull mind. He alone is competent to hear this, whose senses have
lost the craving for objects (61-65). Then the hearers said, "Enough of this
digression. Please do not interrupt the context, as it will disturb the
sequence of the verses. You have fully explained to us that which is
difficult for the mind to comprehend and even for the searching intellect to
grasp. If what is by nature beyond speech can be expressed in words, what
more do we want? Please proceed with the narration". Appreciating this
ardent desire of the hearers, the disciple of Nivritti said: "Hear now
attentively the conversation between these two". Then Lord Krishna said
to Partha, "I shall tell you the characteristics of one who has attained
yoga, listen (66-70)". 12.
The yogi, by renouncing the fruits of actions finds the highest peace.
The uncontrolled person becomes attached to the fruit of action through the
pull of desire and gets bound. Peace visits him in his house and woes him who
loathes the fruit of action and has attained to the knowledge of the Self. O
Arjuna, another (i.e. worldly person) becomes tied to the peg of enjoyment of
the fruit of action by the knot of desire and gets bound. 13.
Mentally renouncing all actions, the self-possessed person rests
serenely in the body, the city of nine gates, neither acting himself nor
causing others to act. He performs actions as
everybody does with the motive of reward, but remains indifferent to it with
the notion that he is not its agent. He creates happiness wherever he casts
his glance, and wisdom dwells wherever he wants it to dwell. Even though he
remains in the body of nine gates, he is not really there, and though he
works, he does nothing as he has relinquished desire (71-75) 14. The Lord
creates for the people neither agency nor action, nor the union of action and
its fruit. But it is the nature that acts. If you -reflect upon God,
he is seen to be inactive, but he seems to have created this panorama of the
universe. If you call him the agent, he is not touched by action; and since
he is indifferent to it, his hands and feet remain unaffected, nor is his
yogic sleep or actionlessness affected. Even then he raises the group of
gross elements. He dwells in all creatures, but does not belong to them; and
he is not conscious whether the universe has come into being or ceased. 15. The Lord
does not take on himself anybody's sin or merit. Wisdom is obscured by
ignorance, whereby creatures get deluded. He is not conscious of
merit or sin, though they are close to him; he does not witness them, leave
alone other things (76-80). The Lord incarnates himself and sports with his
body, but his formless nature is not affected thereby. When people say that
he creates supports and destroys moving and non-moving things, it is only due
to ignorance, O Arjuna. 16. But to
those whose ignorance of the Self is destroyed by wisdom, this wisdom, shining
like the sun, reveals the Supreme. With the destruction of
ignorance the darkness of ignorance clears away, and then the inactive nature
of the Lord becomes manifest. If one is convinced that the Lord is inactive,
then it is established that I am He from the beginning. When this
discrimination dawns on his mind, how can he then see distinctions in this
world? From his own experience he knows that the world too is free from them
(81-85), just as When the sun rises in the east he lights that region and
makes the other quarters too free from darkness. 17. With
their mind and intellect directed to Him, founded in Him and devoted to Him,
they go (to the abode) from which there is no return; for they have cleansed
their sins by wisdom. When they become convinced
about the knowledge of the Self, regarding themselves as of the very nature
of Brahman, and remain dedicated to it day and night, then the all-pervasive
wisdom comes seeking them. What more can I say about their equable nature?
What is surprising if we say that they see the world like themselves? Just as
good fortune does not, even in fun, suffer impoverishment, nor does
discriminating knowledge recognise delusion (86-90), nor does the sun discern
the nature of darkness even in a dream, nor does nectar hear about the story
of death, nor does the moon become conscious of heat, so these wise men do
not see distinction among beings. 18. On a
Brahmin endowed with learning and humility, on a cow and on an elephant, a
dog and an outcaste, the wise look on equally. Then how will they have
the notion that this is a gnat or an elephant, an outcaste or a Brahmin, mine
or another's son, a cow or a dog, and great or small? How can one awake see a
dream? One would see distinction so long as egoism lasts. When it has already
ceased, how can the notion of distinction survive? (91-95). 19. On this
very earth rebirth is conquered by them whose mind rests on equality. For
Brahman is flawless and the same (to all), and so they remain established in
Brahman. He who sees equality in
all things has already become non-dual Brahman. Know that this is the secret
of equanimity. Without relinquishing the sense objects and tormenting the
senses, he experiences non-attachment without desire. With the support of
ordinary people, he remains engaged in public affairs, but casting away
ignorance of the ordinary men. Just as a ghost remains amongst people without
being seen, he is not recognised by the world, although he dwells in the
body. Just as when water is kissed by the wind, it dances on water and gets a
different name, namely a wave (96-100), so he bears a name and a form, but he
has truly become Brahman, inasmuch as his mind has attained equanimity
towards all. The Lord said O Arjuna; I shall tell you in brief the
characteristics possessed by a person with equable mind. 20. He
neither exults on getting what is pleasant, nor frets on getting what is
unpleasant. Firm of understanding and without delusion, the knower of Brahman
abides in Brahmin. Just as a mountain is not
carried away by a flood of mirage, he is not moved by good or bad happenings.
He has truly known the essence of equanimity; he has become one with Brahman,
so said Shri Hari to Partha. 21. He whose
mind is not attached to external contacts (of objects) finds joy within
himself. With his mind immersed in meditation of Brahman, he enjoys eternal
bliss. Since he, by neglecting
his real Self, does not come under the sway of senses, he does not enjoy the
sense-objects. Is there anything surprising in this (101-105)? As his mind is
surfeit with the boundless joy of the Self, he does not turn to the external
sense organs. Tell me, if the chakora bird has feasted on the sweet rays of
the moon from the plate of lotus petals, will it deign to chew the desert
sand? So if a person who has attained to the bliss of Self forsakes sense -
objects, is there any need to talk about it? Now think very clearly as a
matter of curiosity about those who are dazzled by the sensuous pleasures. 22. For the
enjoyments which arise from sense contacts are indeed sources of' sorrow.
They have, O Arjuna, beginning and end; in them a wise man does not rejoice. Just as a hungry person
eats even husk, so those who do not known the Self take delight in
sense-objects (106-110). Or just as the deer, oppressed by thirst, forgets
real water, and being eluded, runs towards the mirage on gravely land,
mistaking it for water, so those who have not known the Self and are ignorant
of bliss alone think these sense-objects to be delectable. But if you still
maintain that one derives happiness from sense-objects, then why cannot
worldly affairs be carried on in the flash of lightning? Tell me, if one can
ward off the sun, the wind and the rain by taking shelter under a cloud, then
why should one build three-storeyed houses? To say that sense-objects can
give pleasure is idle chatter. Just as a poisonous root is called mahur
(meaning sweet) (111-115) or the planet Mars is called auspicious (mangala)
or the mirage is called water, likewise misleading is the talk of happiness
from the sense-objects. Tell me can the shadow of the cobra's hood give a
cooling sensation to the mouse? Just as the bait is good so long as the fish
does not swallow it, so is the contact with the sense-objects. Know this to
be undoubtedly true. If you behold O Arjuna,
these sense-objects dispassionately, they look fat like sufferers from
jaundice. Know, therefore, that whatever seems like sensual pleasure is pain
from beginning to end; but the ignorant man cannot refrain from it (116-120).
As they do not know this secret, they cannot but take to them. Tell me, do
the insects in pus and mud feel nausea for them? They And pleasure in that
pain. They are like frogs in the muck of sense-objects and fish in the
(muddy) water of sense enjoyments; how then can they leave it? If all beings
were to regard sense-objects with dispassion, will not births fraught with
pain be without purpose? Who will then tread without rest on the paths
leading to the plight of dwelling in the womb or the travails of births and
deaths? Where will the great imperfections dwell, if every one gave up desire
of sense-objects? And then will not the very term, worldly existence, become
redundant? (121-125) Therefore since they take the ' pain proceeding from
sense enjoyment as pleasure, they make this ignorance, which is wholly false,
seem true. Reflection shows that these sense-objects are wholly bad; do not,
therefore, make the mistake of running after them. Men of dispassion avoid
them like poison, and being desireless they do not like pain in the form of
sensuous pleasure. 23. Whoever
can endure here itself, before leaving the body, the rush of desire and
anger, is a yogi, a happy man. The men of wisdom do not
even talk about the sense-objects, since in their very body they have
triumphed over body- consciousness. Then they are not even conscious of the
external objects, because they have found real happiness within. (126-130)
They, however, enjoy it differently, not as the birds kiss the fruits; at
that time they even forget that they are enjoyers. The state of mind, which
arises at that time, destroys the veil of ego-sense; and they grasp the bliss
and hold it in a firm embrace. Then they become one with it, as water mixing
with water does not remain separate, or as with the disappearance of the wind
in the sky, their separate existence ceases. Then bliss alone remains in its
own form at the time of that union. When the talk of dualism ceases and only
one remains, then who is there to witness this oneness? (131-135) 24. He who
has happiness, joy and light within, that yogi becomes one with Brahman and
finds eternal bliss. 25. In
Brahman the sages find bliss, with their sins destroyed and doubts cleared,
mho after controlling their minds, devote themselves to the good of all
beings. I should better stop here.
For how can you talk about a thing which is beyond speech? He who revels in
the Self will easily catch the hint. I regard the Yogis who, full of bliss,
are immersed in the Self, as pure images of beatitude. They are replicas of
joy and sprouts of happiness; and they are the playgrounds of supreme
knowledge. They are the abode of discrimination, embodiments of supreme
Brahman, or the decorated parts of Self-knowledge, the essence of the quality
of goodness or the stamps of sentience. Then Shri Nivritti said,
"Enough of this disgression. Why must you describe the same thing in so
many ways? (136-140) When you take delight in praising holy men, you forget
the context; but you speak so beautifully about these matters. But cut short
this ernbellishment and enlighten us on the meaning of the Gita, and let the
auspicious message of the Gita dawn 4pon the minds of good men." After
receiving this advice of the Guru, Jnanadeva, the disciple of Nivritti says,
"Now listen to what Lord Krishna said to Arjuna". (The Lord said):
O Arjuna, those who dived deep into the deep waters of eternal bliss, they
remained steady there and became one with it. And since they saw within
themselves the world in the clear light of wisdom, we have to admit that they
became one with the Supreme Self while living (141-145). This bliss of Self
is sublime, eternal and limitless. Only those who are free from desire become
qualified for it. This happiness is reserved for the great sages, is shared
by men of dispassion, and it ever fructifies in those who have no doubt
(about the existence of the Self). 26. Beatitude
of' God is near to the 6ustere souls, who are subdued in mind, who are free
from desire and anger and who have known the Self. Those who have withdrawn
their minds from the sense-objects and subdued them, they do not wake up
again from the state of bliss. Know that they are the persons who have become
the Supreme Brahman itself, which is the mainspring of the knowers of Self. I
shall tell you briefly, if you ask me how they became Brahman while remaining
in the body (146-150). 27. Shutting
out all external sense - contacts, fixing the gaze between the eye-brows, and
equalising the outer and inner breaths, moving within the nostrils; 28. The sage,
who is fully intent on liberation, with his senses, mind, and intellect
subdued, and who is free from desire, fear and anger, is indeed ever free. He who shuts out the
sense-objects by means of dispassion and Axes the mind within his body, and
turning his gaze inwards on the ajnacakra ins1de the middle of the eye-brows,
where all the three nadis, ida, pingala and madhyama meet, they turn the mind
on the cidakasha after equalising the prana and apana. As when the river
Ganges, after collecting the drain waters, meets the sea, it is not possible
to separate each of them from the rest, so when the mind is merged in the
akasha by the restraint of the prana, all thoughts of diverse desires cease
by themselves, O Arjuna (151-155). Then is torn the cloth of mind, which
displays the picture of world's existence, even as there is no reflection
when the lake dries up. When the mind itself ceases, how can the ego-sense
and the rest survive? Thus he experiences Brahman and becomes one with it,
even while living. 29. One
attains to peace, having known me as the enioyer of the sacrifices and
austerities, as the great Lord of all the world and as the friend of all
beings. As I said before, some became Brahman in
their very bodies; and they did this by following the path of yoga. After
climbing the difficult cliff of spiritual discipline and crossing the sea of
yogic practice, they transcended the worldly existence. After becoming
sinless, they took the measure of the world and became truly of the nature of
Brahman (156-160). When Lord Krishna explained the purport of
yogic practice, Arjuna, with his penetrating mind, was surprised.
Anticipating what was in his mind, Lord Krishna asked Partha with a smile,
"Are you satisfied with what I have told you?" Then Arjuna replied,
"Lord you are foremost among those who discern the thoughts of others
and have divined my intention. You already know what I was going to ask you;
so kindly explain whatever you have said. This path of yoga is easy to follow
like crossing the river by a ford instead of swimming (161-165). Though this
yoga is attainable after a long time, it is easier than Sankhyayoga for
weaklings like me. Therefore, recount it to me once more so that I can grasp
it; even if it leads to repetition, explain it to me thoroughly". Then
Lord Krishna said, "Has this path appealed to you so much? What does it
matter? I shall be glad to repeat it, since you are so eager to hear it. O
Arjuna, you listen well and practice what you hear. Then why should I
hesitate to explain it to you?" Already the Lord had the heart of a mother
talking to her dear son. How can one fathom that strange affection (166-170)?
One can call it the rain of tender sentiment or the unfoldment of wonderful
love; how can I praise enough that compassionate gaze of Shri Hari? It was,
as it were, filled with nectar or infatuated by the wine of love; and because
of this it could not free itself from the affection of Arjuna. If I were to
expatiate upon this affection, it will only end up with a lengthy discourse
without fully describing that affection. Then of what use is this empty talk?
Who can measure the Lord, who has not been able to take a measure of himself?
From the trend of his talk it appeared to me that he was clearly infatuated.
Under that influence he said, "Listen, my friend (171-175). O Arjuna, by
whatever means I can enlighten your mind, I shall use those means to explain
to you what this yoga i.e., what is its use and who are qualified to practice
it. Whatever is proper in this regard, I shall tell you all. Listen with
attention." With this statement what Lord Krishna said forms the subject
matter of next chapter. Jnanadeva, disciple of Nivritti, will describe, in
clear terms, Lord Krishna's instruction, how to attain this Yoga without
giving up contact with the world. (176-180) [Top] |
