CH 2 Verses 48 & 49, with appropriate Lesson Material

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Established in Yoga and giving up attachment, and with evenness of mind in

success and failure, perform actions, O Arjuna. This evenness of mind is known

as Yoga

Verse 49 DuureNa hy avara.n karma buddhi-yogaad dhana.njaya / buddhau sharaNam

anvichchha kRipaNaaH phala-hetavaH //

Work (impelled by the desire for its fruit) is indeed far inferior to that

performed with the mind undisturbed by the thoughts of results. O Arjuna, take

refuge in this evenness of mind. Those who work for fruits are wretchedLESSONS

FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 5 As taught by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji Compiled by: Swami

Dattananda Bhakti Mala, May 1992 Propounding the doctrine of Karma Yoga, the

Lord says, “Work (impelled by the desire for its fruit) is indeed far inferior

to that performed with the mind undisturbed by the thoughts of results. O

Arjuna, take refuge in this evenness of mind. Those who work for fruits are

wretched” (Chapter 2, Verse 49). Karma (action) in itself is no evil, but it

becomes so when it is done with a selfish motive. Desire-ridden Karma binds man

to the wheel of Samsara (cycle of births and deaths.) Therefore, the Lord

condemns the man who seeks reward for his work. Such a man is mean minded, and

so, wretched. Therefore, man should perform desireless actions with equanimity

of mind, born of the Knowledge of the Self. “Established in Yoga and giving up

attachment, and with evenness of mind in success and failure, perform actions,

O Arjuna. This evenness of mind is known as Yoga” (Chapter 2, Verse 48). When a

worldly-minded man performs a work, he will have a momentary elation if he gets

the expected results. On the other hand, if the result is not favorable, he

will be depressed. Thus, success and failure will upset his mind constantly.

But the Karma Yogi, performing work without any selfish motive, remains

unperturbed by the success or failure of his endeavors. He does everything with

an equanimity of mind. Such evenness of mind is called Yoga. A Karma Yogi who

has surrendered the fruits of actions to God gives up the feelings of agency in

the work. He develops an attitude of an instrument in the hands of God. For

instance, a student answers his question papers in the examination with a

particular pen. But he fails to come out successful. Next year, also he appears

for the same examination with the same pen. This time he succeeds. When the

student failed in the examination, it was no fault of the pen. When he

succeeded in the examination, the credit does not go to the pen. He who has

completely surrendered to God behaves as though he is an instrument in the

hands of God, like the pen in this illustration. Success and failure do not

belong to him. He remains unperturbed in all circumstances. This unperturbed

state of mind is called equilibrium, or evenness of mind, and this is Yoga. Do

You ?

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