BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:1

[Guest guest]

BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:1

 

sri-bhagavan uvaca

anasritah karma-phalam

karyam karma karoti yah

sa sannyasi ca yogi ca

na niragnir na cakriyah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

sri-bhagavan uvaca--the Lord said; anasritah--without taking shelter;

karma-phalam--of the result of work; karyam--obligatory; karma--work;

karoti--performs; yah--one who; sah--he; sannyasi--in the renounced

order; ca--also; yogi--mystic; ca--also; na--not; nih--without;

agnih--fire; na--nor; ca--also; akriyah--without duty.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One who is unattached to the

fruits of his work and who works as he is obligated is in the

renounced order of life, and he is the true mystic, not he who lights

no fire and performs no duty.

 

PURPORT

 

In this chapter the Lord explains that the process of the eightfold

yoga system is a means to control the mind and the senses. However,

this is very difficult for people in general to perform, especially in

the Age of Kali. Although the eightfold yoga system is recommended in

this chapter, the Lord emphasizes that the process of karma-yoga, or

acting in Krsna consciousness, is better. Everyone acts in this world

to maintain his family and their paraphernalia, but no one is working

without some self-interest, some personal gratification, be it

concentrated or extended. The criterion of perfection is to act in

Krsna consciousness, and not with a view to enjoying the fruits of

work. To act in Krsna consciousness is the duty of every living entity

because all are constitutionally parts and parcels of the Supreme. The

parts of the body work for the satisfaction of the whole body. The

limbs of the body do not act for self-satisfaction but for the

satisfaction of the complete whole. Similarly, the living entity who

acts for satisfaction of the supreme whole and not for personal

satisfaction is the perfect sannyasi, the perfect yogi.

 

The sannyasis sometimes artificially think that they have become

liberated from all material duties, and therefore they cease to

perform agnihotra yajnas (fire sacrifices), but actually they are

self-interested because their goal is to become one with the

impersonal Brahman. Such a desire is greater than any material desire,

but it is not without self-interest. Similarly, the mystic yogi who

practices the yoga system with half-open eyes, ceasing all material

activities, desires some satisfaction for his personal self. But a

person acting in Krsna consciousness works for the satisfaction of the

whole, without self-interest. A Krsna conscious person has no desire

for self-satisfaction. His criterion of success is the satisfaction of

Krsna, and thus he is the perfect sannyasi, or perfect yogi. Lord

Caitanya, the highest perfectional symbol of renunciation, prays in

this way:

 

na dhanam najanam na sundarim

kavitam vajagad-isa kamaye

mama janmanijanmanisvare

bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi

 

"O Almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy

beautiful women. Nor do I want any number of followers. What I want

only is the causeless mercy of Your devotional service in my life,

birth after birth."

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.