BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:4

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 3:4

 

na karmanam anarambhan

naiskarmyam puruso 'snute

na ca sannyasanad eva

siddhim samadhigacchati

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

na--not; karmanam--of prescribed duties; anarambhat--by

nonperformance; naiskarmyam--freedom from reaction; purusah--a man;

asnute--achieves; na--nor; ca--also; sannyasanat--by renunciation;

eva--simply; siddhim--success; samadhigacchati--attains.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from

reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

 

PURPORT

 

The renounced order of life can be accepted when one has been purified

by the discharge of the prescribed form of duties which are laid down

just to purify the hearts of materialistic men. Without purification,

one cannot attain success by abruptly adopting the fourth order of

life (sannyasa). According to the empirical philosophers, simply by

adopting sannyasa, or retiring from fruitive activities, one at once

becomes as good as Narayana. But Lord Krsna does not approve this

principle. Without purification of heart, sannyasa is simply a

disturbance to the social order. On the other hand, if someone takes

to the transcendental service of the Lord, even without discharging

his prescribed duties, whatever he may be able to advance in the cause

is accepted by the Lord (buddhi-yoga). Sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya

trayate mahato bhayat. Even a slight performance of such a principle

enables one to overcome great difficulties.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.