Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:39 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:39 II

 

eshaa te 'bhihitaa saankhye, buddhir yoge tv imaam shrinu

buddhyaa yukto yayaa paartha, karma-bandham prahaasyasi

 

" O' Partha (Arjuna), thus far you have been presented the science of equanimity

(Samtaah) using the approach of the Saankhya or Jnaana Yoga (the discipline of

Knowledge). Now hear the same, from the point of view of Karma Yoga or Buddhi

Yoga, (the discipline of Self-less Action). Equipped with the equanimous state

of mind, you will be able to completely shake off the bondage of Karma

(action). "

 

Comment :

 

In verses 31-77, the Lord explained the science of duty per Dharma Sastra

(according to scripture of duty). Now He is explaining the science of Karma Yoga

(The discipline of Self-less action) in verses 39-53.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 44 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 39 is as follows;

 

Eshaa = this

Te = to you

Abhihitaa = declared

Saamkhye = in the Samkhya Yoga

BuddhiH = wisdom

Yoge = in the Karma Yoga

Tu = indeed

Imaam = this

ShruNu = listen

Budhdyaa = with wisdom

YuktaH = joined

Yayaa = which

Paartha = O Arjuna!

Karma –Bandham = bond of action

Pra-haasyasi = you shall cast off

 

English translation:-

 

This is the wisdom of Sankhya Yoga so far taught to you. Now listen to the

wisdom of Karma Yoga. Endowed with it, O Partha, you shall cast off the bond of

action.

 

Samkhya Darshan is one of the six `Darshanas' i.e. six branches of Vedanta

philosophy, which was expounded by Sage Kapil.

 

In the verse 26 of chapter 10 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, Lord Krishna has

proclaimed that amongst the top achievers of the Supreme knowledge of the Self,

Sage Kapil is indeed at the pinnacle and he is one of the `Vibhuti' i.e. special

manifestations of the Supreme Self.

 

Samkhya literally means counting or enumeration. It means counting of twenty

four GuNaas i.e. attributes of Prakruti i.e. Mother Nature while 25th being

`Purusha' i.e. the Self, the Aatman which is a subset of the superset the

Brahman, the infinite source of Energy in the entire Universe.

 

Samkhya is the logic of reasoning by which the true nature of the Absolute

Reality i.e. the Brahman is comprehended.

 

However, in this verse 39, Lord Krishna defines `Samkhya' as the solid

theoretical foundation of the entire dialogue with Arjuna. Lord Krishna treats

`Samkhya-Yoga' as the supreme knowledge of the Self, which Arjuna must

understand prior to his active participation in the royal battle, which Lord

Krishna terms as `Karma-Yoga' i.e. path of action.

 

The proclamation of verses from 11 to 30 by Lord Krishna in the Song of the

Celestial, is considered by many Vedanta philosophy scholars as the most

defining phase of the Supreme Eternal knowledge of the Brahman. Translation of

that knowledge into practice i.e. `Karma Yoga' has been taught by Lord Krishna

in the verses 40, 41 and 45 to 53.

 

`Samkhya Yoga' and `Karma Yoga' are not in conflict with each other; on the

contrary, they complement and augment each other.

 

`Buddhi Yoga' in this verse means a path of action that is propelled by rational

intellect and not by irrational, emotional impulses of mind. Lord Krishna

promises Arjuna that having been endowed with such a wisdom, he will certainly

cast off bondage of Karma i.e. action.

 

Every person in this world is a captive, a slave and a victim of his own

unfulfilled residual desires….a Sinner of the Past is a Sufferer of the Present.

However, every person has a chance to redeem his mundane human existence by the

initiation of his obligatory duties towards his society and nation. Such a path

of right action provided it is based on the knowledge of the Self, then it will

certainly help every Sadhak to exhaust most of his unfulfilled residual desires

and liberate him from the self-inflicted bondage, which normally arises out of

selfish actions propelled by desires for unending acquisitions and uninterrupted

enjoyments.

 

Please refer to verse 9 of chapter 3 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, wherein Lord

Krishna has explained, " The entire world is bound by actions other than those

performed for the sake of sacrifice. O Arjuna, therefore earnestly perform

action for sacrifice alone, free from attachment. "

 

Similarly please refer to verse 14 of chapter 4 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta,

wherein Lord Krishna has proclaimed, " Actions do not taint Me nor have I a

desire for the fruit of action. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions. "

 

Also please refer to verse 9 of chapter 9 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, wherein

Lord Krishna has declared, " O Arjuna! Nor do these acts bind Me, remaining like

one unconcerned and unattached to those acts. "

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

 

Shrikant Joshi

 

===============================================================

 

|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

All Sadhaks can and should contribute as well. Discussion /

clarification is encouraged

 

OTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS -

 

Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that all

sadhaks may benefit.

 

- Introduction to Chapters (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI)

- Chapter Summary - Principles and Laws emanating from it.(N.B. VYAS)

- Summary of Chapter from Sadhak Sanjivani " AS IS "

- Yes, Epilogue / Important Facts in each verse good to bring out.

- Any subtle thoughts / interpretation (MIKE)

- In-depth explanation of " Om Tat Saditi Srimadbhagavadgitaasu,

Upanishadsu..... " is a very good idea. (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK

SANJIVANI)

 

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram

-----------------------------

 

Shree Hari

Ram Ram

We deeply thank Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to

support this divine work of daily one verse Bhagavad Gita

explanation and Shri Madan Kauraji for the Gita Prabodhani

translation Chapter 1 and 2 and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram