CH 4, Verses 16 & 17

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Chapter 4

Verse 16

 

Kin karma kim akarm'eti kavayo'py atra mohitaaH /

tat te karma pravakshyaami yaj jnaatvaa

mokshyase'shubhaat //

 

What is action? What is inaction? In this matter,

even sages were bewildered. Therefore, I shall tell

you what action is, by knowing which, you will be free

from evil.

 

Verse 17

 

KarmaNo hy api boddhavyaM boddhavya.n cha vikarmaNaH /

akarmaNash cha boddhavya.n gahanaa karmaNo gatiH //

 

You ought to know about action (enjoined by the

scriptures,) as also about forbidden action and

inaction. The course of action is impenetrable.

 

 

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAD GITA – 34

As taught by Parama Pujya Sri Swamiji

Compiled by: Swami Dattananda

Bhakti Mala, September 1995

 

We have to learn the philosophy of work from the

ancient seekers of liberation. Dedicating the results

of works to God, they worked. They did not have any

desire for their individual comforts and benefits of

any kind. They worked just to help mankind. Work was

worship to them. Such a work alone will bring

purification to our hearts and the ultimate

realization of the Supreme Divine Spirit within us.

 

Therefore the seekers of Truth should not give up

action. They should give up only the fruits of their

action. Then the Lord explains what is action and

what is inaction. “What is action? What is inaction?

In this matter, even sages were bewildered.

Therefore, I shall tell you what action is, by knowing

which, you will be free from evil.” (Chapter 4, Verse

16) The Lord further says that “You ought to know

about action (enjoined by the scriptures,) as also

about forbidden action and inaction. The course of

action is impenetrable” (Chapter 4, Verse 17).

 

Generally, action means action done by the body and

inaction means just sitting quietly without doing any

work. Forbidden actions are those that are prohibited

by the scriptures. We have to do actions that would

help us in attaining to the highest goal of life. For

that, we have to see what type of action will purify

our minds and what type of actions will free our soul

from the clutches of desires and attachment to the

world. This is the point to be considered. The

individual soul has to transcend the limitations of

its body and mind and realize its unity with the

Supreme Soul. This is the goal of human life.

 

Another thing is how to be free from the cycle of

births and deaths. To those who do not believe in the

rebirth of the soul, such a question has no meaning.

If you think that this is your first and last birth,

then you will try to make the best use of the present

and enjoy all pleasures, even by injuring others.

Thus you will not be inclined to lead a virtuous life.

Those who do not believe in the rebirth of the soul

would only take care of themselves, enjoy all

pleasures by hook or crook, and pass away. This will

be the attitude of people who do not believe in the

continuity of their existence after death.

 

The soul exists even after the death of the body.

Even if the soul does not reincarnate, it exists in

its subtle form. It is immortal. The goal of human

life is to realize the soul and become free from its

limitations of body and mind. But how can a man

attain self-realization? There are many paths to

attain this. They are the paths of Bhakti,

(devotion,) Jnana, (discrimination,) and Karma,

(action.) Here action, (karma,) means action done for

the benefit of humanity and not for any selfish

purpose.

 

Ordinary people perform actions to enjoy the results.

Such actions will entangle them in further actions and

as such, they cannot transcend the law of action and

reaction. But a day will come when they will open

their eyes and see that all their restlessness and

miseries are the results of their own selfish actions.

They will realize that they are bound by the law of

karma (action and reaction.) They would then long for

absolute state of happiness and peace.

 

 

 

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