Bhagavatgita a detailed study chapter 18-Liberation through renunciation

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23. niyatham sangarahitham

araagadhveshathaH krtham

 

aphalaprepsunaa karma yath thath saatvikam uchyathe

 

The

work which has to be done performed without attachment and likes and dislikes

by one who has no expectation of result

is saathvik.

 

The

word sangarahitham means the absence

of the sense of agency and araagadhvesha

denotes the absence of attachment through identification with the body, mind

and intellect. Expecting or desiring for the fruit of karma is phalaprepsaa and the absence of it

makes one aphalaprepsu. The action

of one who is detached from the sense of agency and the result of action due to

the absence of raga and dhvesha is saathvik

 

24.yatthu kaamepsunaa karma saahamkaareNa

vaa punaH

 

Kriyathe bahulaayaasam thath raajasam udhaahrtham

 

The

work done by one who wishes to fulfil his desire or out of egocentric impulses

with a lot of effort is rajasik.

 

A

desire motivated activity done with the expectation of the result, is followed

by the attitude "I am doing this and I

am the enjoyer or I am the achiever." This is the saahankaara , mentioned in the sloka. Naturally one when is

desirous of the fruit of action , kaamepsu, he goes to great length

putting himself into too much trouble to bring about the desired result. This

is mentioned as bahulaayaasa.

 

On

the other hand the one who acts without attachment or desire for the fruit but

does it only because it is expected of him or acts as the instrument of the

Lord does not feel any aayaasa, or

strain in doing his work.

 

25.anubanDham kshayam himsaam

anupaekshya cha

Pourusham

 

mohaath aarabhyathe karma yath thath thaamasam

Uchyathe

 

If

a work is begun through delusion without considering the consequence, loss or

hurting others and capability that is thamasik.

 

Before

starting something one should think about the possible consequences which may

be harmful to self or others, about possible loss of relationship and friends,

property or reputation. Nothing should be done which inflict hurt, physical or

mental, on others. If these things are not kept in mind when a work is done ,

it is only thamasik. It is induced my moha or delusion.

 

It

is also important to consider one's own ability before starting to do

something. If any work which is beyond the capacity of the doer is undertaken

it will be left in the middle. Even in undertaking good work or spiritual practices

the above factors to be kept in mind. Even rituals enjoined in the Vedas, if it

involves himsa or results in dire

consequences like that of abhicharahoma

etc. are thamasik, while leaving any vedic rites in the middle due to inability

to complete it is a sin.

 

Some

vedic rites like aSvameDha involve killing and hence they are not saathvik but

raajasik as they are done with the desire for result and some thamasik aspect

also cannot be avoided due to himsa. In Srimadbhagavatha there was a king

Praacheenabarhish who obtained the name because the earth was covered by

dharbhagrass (barhis) pointing eastward, as it is done during sacrifices

because he was performing sacrifices all the time. Narada came and advised him

that karmamarga will not lead to salvation. He said that all the animals killed

by him in the sacrifices are waiting with sharpened horns to attack him after

his death.

 

Next

Krishna classifies kartha,

the agent of action into three kinds.

 

26.mukthasangho anahamvaadhee

dhrthyuthsaahasamanvithaH

 

sidDhyasidDhayoH nirvikaaraH karthaa saathvika uchyathe

 

One

who has given up attachment, egoless, endowed with fortitude and enthusiasm and

not affected by success or failure is the saathvik doer of actions.

 

A

saatvik doer is the one who has given up the sense of agency and the

expectation of result because he is without ego and attachment to wards either

the action of the fruit of action.

 

muktha sanga is one who has no attachment on either his body or

his possessions, being free from the concept of `I' and `mine.'

 

anahamvaadhee

means one without ahamkara, ego,

because he has no feeling that he is the doer as he has the knowledge that he

is the self in reality which is actionless.

 

Being

without desire and attachment he is not worried about the success or failure

because he is doing everything as his duty and as offering to the Lord thinking

that the success and failure is not in his power but depends on the will of the

Lord who has said earlier karmaNyeva

aDhikaarasthe maa phaleshu kadhaachana(ch2.sloka47)

 

But

at the same time he acts with Dhrthi

and uthsaaha, fortitude and

enthusiasm because he is doing it as an offering to the Lord.

 

 

27.raagee karmaphalaprepsuH lubDHo

himsaathmako aSuchiH

 

harshaSokaanvithaH karthaa raajasaH parikeerthithaH

 

 

One

who has attachment, desire for the fruit

of action, is avaricious, vicious, impure and overcome with joy and sorrow is

the doer of rajasik type.

 

A

rajasik kartha is the one who does a work with a desire for the result and thus

gets attached to the action as well as the fruit of action. This leads to all

the other emotions that follow kama, the

longing which is born out of desire and attachment such as kroDha, anger, lobha,

avarice, moha delusion , madha, arrogance and maathsarya, jealousy. The word lubDha, avaricious, signifies all the

rest. Such a person does not care whom he hurts in the process of fulfilling

his desire. He is called aSuchi,

impure due to these impulses which pollute his thoughts. Attachment and desires

creates joy when the wish is attained

and sorrow when it is not.

 

 

28.ayukthaH praakrthaH sthabDhaH Sato

naishkrthiko alasaH

 

Vishaadhee dheerghasoothree cha karthaa thaamasa

Uchyathe

 

 

One

who has no self control, who is stubborn, deceitful, creates discord, indolent,

depressed and who procrastinates is a thaamsik doer of action.

 

The

thamasik kartha is ayukthaH, lacks

self control and becomes a slave to his senses. He is ignorant of proper

conduct, praakrthaH and obstinate, sthabDha and will not listen to wise

counsel. These traits arise out of foolishness. He may be deceitful, SaTa, and creates discord among others,

naishkrthikaH. This may be due to natural

wickedness like that of Sakuni.

Otherwise a thamasik kartha could

be simply lazy and procrastinating out of thamas.