Bhagavad Gita - Daily - II CHAPTER 3-29 II

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Gita 3-29

 

prakriter guna-sammudhah, sajjante guna-karmasutan akrtsna-vido Mandan, krtsna-vin na vicalayet

"Those who are deluded by the Gunas of Prakriti (Modes of Nature), remain attached to those modes and actions. The man of perfect knowledge, should not unsettle the minds of ignorant fools."

From "Gita Prabodhani" in Hindi by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 3, Verse 29 is as follows;

PrakruteH = of nature

GuNa-Sam(yak)-MudhaaH = persons totally deluded by GuNaas

Sajjante = are attached

GuNa-karmasu = in the functions of the qualities

Taan = those

Akrutsna-VidaH = of imperfect knowledge

Mandaan = the foolish

Krutsnavit = man of perfect knowledge

Na = not

Vichaalayet = should unsettle

English translation:-

Those completely deluded by the GuNaas of Prakruti get attached to the functions of the GuNaas. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the mediocre, ignorant ones, whose knowledge is imperfect.

Comment:

Those who are misled by the modes of Mother Nature get attached to the works produced by them. But let no one, who knows the whole truth; unsettle the minds of the ignorant lot, who happen to know only the partial truth.

Those who are totally deluded by Prakruti's constituents cling to the works of these constituents, under the impression that the only motivation to their works is the achievement of fruits in the form of favourable outcome of any impending event or monetary profit. Otherwise, there is no impulsion or compulsion to act.

The knower of the whole, of the Self, should not destabilize the dull-witted or partial knowers, who cling to their works under their own delusions. Any splitting of their understanding is tantamount to destabilization of their own beliefs and faiths, which may lead to their total abandonment of their works. This should never be attempted by the knower of the Self because the gradual shedding of Vaasanaas can be achieved by every Sadhak by works done in attachment, which in turn will lead to his own evolution when he will be able to discern between actionless Aatman and action-led Prakruti in a gradual manner.

No differentiation can be made between the skin and the pulp of a tender fruit. It is only after it gradually matures and ripens; then and then only the distinction between its thick protective cover and inner ripened tender content becomes an obvious conclusion.

A person with knowledge of the Self remains `Sthita-Pradnya' i.e. of resolute intellect and performs his normal activities with the sense of detachment. He has already realised that the Self within himself is beyond the cognition of his physical body, mind, intellect and their collective functioning. All these equipment operate or dance to the tune of his innate nature or GuNaas. But he is able to watch their drama as a dispassionate onlooker cum observer. Such a Self realised person, enjoys the different characters and their enactment of different roles performed in a drama; however he never forgets his own identity, which is separate from those performing artists. However great feelings and stimulation that he may enjoy while watching a drama, he always remembers that he has nothing to do with it in the ultimate analysis as it is mere a case study. This is called as truly objective and dispassionate witness or `Saakshee' in this mortal world.

On the contrary, an innocent child gets terrified by the appearance of any wicked character on the stage in a drama and starts crying. The only way to console him is to take him out of the theatre. Similarly, majority of human beings are groping in the darkness of ignorance and self delusion. They lack the objectivity of a `Sthita-Pradnya'. They must exert to gradually grow out of their worldly attachments and reach a state of maturity and wisdom. Forcing knowledge of the Self on such unprepared and immature majority of human beings is not only futile but it may prove to be detrimental in their progress.

The dull-witted one, who is unconsciously victimized by his own mental impressions, acts in this world pulling on the shackles of burning desires and attachments. A sage or a saint should not all of a sudden start criticising activities of such a deluded person, as he would treat it as an unsolicited advice or a needless hassle.

Therefore, Lord Krishna advises that the wise should not sermonize and unsettle the minds of the ignorant, who are not yet ready to absorb the knowledge of the Self.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

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