Swami Dayananda Saraswati's Interpretation of Karma Yoga

[Guest guest]

Last weekend, Swami Dayananda Saraswati visited the Washington Area and

gave several lectures on the theme “Gita’s Message on Ahimsa and

Success.” His lectures and his vision of Karma Yoga brought new

insights on studying and understanding Gita. After listening to his

lectures I got the following impression:

(1) Greater depth in Sanskrit is the key to understand Gita most

effectively.

(2) Gita can’t be understood without the guidance from a teacher (Guru)

like Swami Dayananda.

(3) Literal translation of Gita has the potential to confuse the mind

with misleading interpretation.

(4) The Gita contains the facts of human life but our limited

understanding causes the flaws.

 

I really enjoyed his interpretation of this famous verse from Gita on

Karma Yoga (Chapter 2, Verse 47) which states the essence of Karma

Yoga. I will try my level best to restate his translation and analysis

based on my understanding and please forgive me for any errors.

 

karmaNi eva adhikaaraste maa phaleshu gadaachana

maa karma phala hetuH bhuH maa sanghaH astu akarmaNi

 

We only have the “right” to conduct the action and certainly we have no

control over the results of the action. We should avoid using the

“results” as the motivating force of our action and free our attachment

to inaction. The facts will become crisp and clear if and only if we

make efforts to understand this verse carefully. We are part of the

Nature and we should understand our ‘rights’ and also our

‘limitations.’ Nature has given us the skill and power to conduct an

action of our choice. We can use our skills to set up the goals for the

action and should proceed to apply all our energy and skill to

accomplish those goals. Our intelligence, energy and knowledge do not

give us the authority over the results of the action. This human

limitation is also a fact of life and we have no choice other than to

accept the outcome. The results can be more, equal, less or even

opposite to our expectations (goals). We have the right to conduct or

not to conduct an action but we have no authority over the results.

 

Any expression of expectation (prejudging the results) before completing

an action develops an attitude that binds the action to the results.

Consequently the doer analyzes the consequences before the action (as

Arjun did before fighting the war) and gets attached to inaction. Lord

Krishna in Bhagavad Gita emphasizes to Arjun that he has no rights

(authority) over the consequences. Implicitly the Lord points out that

He only has the authority over the results!

The views of Karma Yoga expressed in this verse are certainly no

different from modern management, political, scientific and sports

experts. But the message of Gita is much more profound and precise.

According to Gita, the humans have the “rights” on action (Karma) but

‘right’ comes along with the responsibility to maintain Dharma. The

doer has the freedom over his/her Karma but he or she has to obey the

Dharma established by his own mind.

 

Note: I find it very difficult to describe all the noble things that

Swamiji conveyed during his lecture and let me express my sincere

Pranams to Swamiji for his insights on Gita.