Gita Satsang - Chapter 2 Verse 47 - karmaNi eva adhikaaraste ......

[Guest guest]

Harih Aum:

 

This verse is quite important and the Vedantic Perspectives of Karma Yoga is

elaborated by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Paramacharya of Arsha Vidya

Gurukulam. Swamiji was kind enough to give us the permission to use his notes

on BhagavadGita Homestudy Course for the Satsang. Last Year, 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.

 

Swamiji's commentary on Karma Yoga is quite elaborate and extensive. Those who

want to know everything that they need to know about Karma Yoga should refer

to the following 3 postings that were discussed earlier during the Satsang.

All previous discussions of Gita Satsang are available in the archive and

everyone should be able to access them.

 

http://www.escribe.com/culture/advaitin/m4671.html

http://www.escribe.com/culture/advaitin/m4672.html

http://www.escribe.com/culture/advaitin/m4673.html

 

warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran