Srimad Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 3 Part 1 Parama Saaram by Thirukallam Narasimha Raghavachariar

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In the first four chapters, the soul, whose description is given in the

second chapter, the goal of attaining its vision and the method to

attain such a vision is described.

 

In the third chapter, it is explained that one should give up interest

in going to Svarga and other fruits of Vedic karmas. One should

understand that all actions are being performed by the three modes of

nature or by their controller Sriman Naaraayana. In other words, we

should understand that all our activities take place only because He

permits it.

 

Arjuna: "Kesava! If you consider Jnaana Yoga to be superior to Karma

Yoga, then why do you command me to perform this dreadful Karma Yoga?

After all did you not say (in the second chapter verse 49) that Jnaana

Yoga is superior to Karma Yoga?"

 

Sri Bhagavaan: "Oh faultless One! It appears that you did not correctly

understand what I explained to you before. The right to perform Karma

Yoga or Jnaana Yoga depends upon the qualifications of the aspirant to

liberation. One who has achieved a state of sinlessness is qualified to

perform Karma Yoga. One who has earned substantial merit is entitled to

perform Jnaana Yoga. Therefore, each Yoga is meant for a person in a

particular stage of spiritual development.."

 

Arjuna: "Janaardana! Why should a person not interested in Moksha take

up Karma Yoga? Why should a person interested in Moksha not take up the

vastly superior path of Jnaana Yoga?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Arjuna! One does not reach the stage of performing Jnaana

Yoga by abandoning duties ordained by the Vedas, i.e. either by never

performing them at all or giving them up after having performed them for

some time. Only by performing rites ordained by the Saastras, does one

attain siddhi (in the context of the qualification to perform Jnaana

Yoga). Not otherwise.

 

"Pay attention to the following as well. For a human being in this

world, it is not possible to cease action even for a moment. According

to how much sin and merit (punya) have matured and are giving fruit at a

given moment, the combination of the three modes of nature that affect

the individual is determined. The proportion of these three modes

determines the nature of the karmas undertaken by an individual.

Therefore, by giving up duties ordained in the scriptures, Jnaana Yoga

cannot be performed.

 

"Moreover, one who goes directly to Jnaana Yoga without ever having

performed Karma Yoga deceives himself and sets up a mere show for the

rest of the world."

 

Arjuna: "Krishna! In that case, why did you make the statement that

Jnaana Yoga is superior to Karma Yoga?"

 

Sri Bhagavaan: "Paartha! You are destined to continue the Karma Yoga

which is as yet incomplete. Karma Yoga is superior to Jnaana Yoga. You

cannot maintain your body without performing any karma. Only if you

eat, can you sustain the body. Without sustaining the body, there is no

question of performing Jnaana Yoga. When you perform Karma Yoga, you

are simultaneously performing Jnaana Yoga. Therefore Karma Yoga is

superior to Jnaana Yoga."

 

Arjuna: "Vaasudeva! If one earns money and performs karmas like Pancha

Maha Yajna etc, will it not lead to an increase in qualities like

ahamkaara (the false understanding that the soul is independent and free

to pursue any desire), mamakaara (the failure to perceive that

everything living and non living is the property of Sriman Naaraayana

and consequently coveting possessions), desire, hatred and the like,

making it more difficult to give up material attachments?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Earning income that is necessary to perform rites ordained

by the Saastras will not bind you to further karma. Only money earned

exclusively with a view to increasing one's material comforts binds one

into further karma. Performance of duties ordained by Saastras without

attachment leads to one pleasing one's worshippable deity. He (one's

worshippable deity) then causes a dissolution of the beginningless karma

that hinders clear perception of the truth. Clear perception of the

truth makes a vision of the soul possible. Therefore, those with

spiritual objectives should perform rites like Pancha Maha Yajna and

Vaishvadevam and only eat the grains that remain after such offering."

 

Arjuna: "Kanna! According to the Smrita verse "Karamanaa Badhyate

Jantuh:", man gets bound by karma. By knowledge, he attains liberation.

Therefore, the Sannyaasis who have mastered all branches of spiritual

learning do not perform any rites. How can you therefore, expect me to

accept that the rites which bind one in Karma, are a source of

liberation?"

 

Sri Bhagavaan: "Arjuna! Perform these ordained rites that are intended

to please the demigods realizing that I am the soul of these demigods.

Let those demigods fulfil your requirements, by providing you with

grains, etc. In this way, everyone takes care of everybody else in a

symbiotic relationship. Thus leading a life as ordained by scriptures,

in a society of devotees serving each other, people will spend their

time in meditating upon Sriman Naaraayana as the soul in each devotee

and attain liberation. Grains (wealth) has been provided to us so that

we may perform these rites ordained in the Vedas and offer the demigods

their share of grains. Whoever fails to do so is absolutely a thief.

He loses his right to liberation. Not only that. He could land in hell

for failure to perform these rites."

 

Arjuna: "Krishna! Do learned Bhaagavatas (Sishthas) also acknowledge

Karma Yoga to be an elevated path?"

 

Sri Krishna: "Oh Winner of Wealth! The most learned among Rajarshis

like Janaka and Ashwapati attained a knowledge and perception of their

souls merely by means of karma (doing their duties without aspiration

for its fruits). Such learned people have concluded that even for one

qualified to practice Jnaana Yoga, karma Yoga is a more efficient method

to attain a perception of the self.

 

Moreover, what is practiced by one who has attained fame in learning and

the practice of rites stipulated in the scriptures is identical to what

is practiced by one with very little brains. One who has attained fame

as a learned Bhaagavata, has to practice without fail the Varnaashrama

dharma that his, by birthright. If he gives them up, the smooth flow of

the cosmic cycle is upset. (If the Brahmanas give up their duties, the

prosperity of the Vaishyas, the ability of the kshatriyas to govern

effectively, all get affected. Besides the children of these fallen

Brahmanas are unlikely to bring into their practice, what their fathers

have given up.) The sin that accrues as a result of giving up one's

duties and causing other people to stray from their path, will come in

the way of successfully practicing Jnaana Yoga.

 

Arjuna, for one like Me who is all-knowing and who has no desires to be

fulfilled, there are no duties. But for the protection of the world, I

practice all the rites ordained in the Saastras. If I failed to fulfil

my duties, others will give up their duties citing Me as a precedent.

Consequently, they will invite their destruction. Therefore, I will be

responsible for the spiritual regression of mankind. You should

therefore practice Karma Yoga, since you have been born as the son of

Paandu, the younger brother of Yudhishthira and have acquired fame as

one who is following in the footsteps of his forefathers."

 

Arjuna: "Madhusoodhana! What is the difference between one who

practices Karma Yoga with knowledge and without knowledge. Please also

explain how does one go about doing his duties, thinking to himself "I

am not the doer"?"

 

Sri Bhagavaan: "Paandava! One who has not understood the nature of the

soul, or one who considers the body to be the soul, thinks that he has

performed every action. One who has understood the truth about the

nature of the soul understands that the modes of nature like sattva and

Rajas play out their roles in the result of all the actions that are

performed by the body. He does not see the involvement of the soul in

the execution of these activities.

 

Arjuna! Consider all actions to have been caused by Me. Submit all

activities of the body and mind as an offering to Me the Supreme Being.

Consider these activities to be a form of My worship. Do not aspire to

seek the fruits of these activities as such thoughts can only arise from

the presumptuous understanding that the activities of the body are

caused by oneself. In such a frame of mind fight the war and perform

all other actions."

 

Note from the author:- This is called Saatvika tyaaga.