Thiruvaheendhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam series: Posting 247/Desika Prabhandham :GeethArTa Sangraham : Part 8

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs of Lord PaarthasArathy :

 

> SWAMY DESIKAN'S COMMENTARIES IN TAATHPARYA CHANDRIKAA

> ARE EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL AND INSIGHTFUL.

 

Today we will continue with the KrishNa-Arjuna SamvAdham (Conversation)

housed in the fourth Chapter as enjoyed by Vaikunta Vaasi ThirukkaLLam

Swamy.

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Arjuna: Oh Lord ! please explain to me what you started on (viz).,

Karma yOgam being in the form of Jn~Ana yOgam .

 

KrishNa : All chEthanAs whether interested in Moksham or not are very much

interested in the phalans for their karmAs. They also seek quick returns and

choose to worship Indhara and other gods for that purpose . They fail to

perform

AarAdhanam for Me , who is the indweller of these demi-gods. I am the

enjoyer of

the oferings (as Yaj~na BhOkthA) made to these demi-gods . These chEthanams

fearing SamsAram and desiring MOksham fail to observe the Jn~AnAkAra

Karam yOgam , ( Jn~Ana yOgam in the form of karma yOgam) ,

My AarAdhanam with Saathvika thyAgam .

 

ArjunA: Oh Lord ! the chEthanams with their bundles of sins weighing

them down seek alpa ( insignificant ) phalans and fail to observe the means

for moKsham , the Karma yOgam. Please instruct me on the Jn~AnaakAra

Karma yOgam that will destroy the obstacles to MOksham .

 

KrishNA: Oh Dear one ! I am the Creator , Protector and Destroyer of

all chEthanams & achEthanams from Brahma Devan to the lowly grass.

Although I am the creator of all sentients & insentients , Myself

not subject to any changes (avikAran) did not create them.

 

ArjunA: Madhusodhana ! Your statement is confusing . How can You

say that you are both the creator(KarthA) and not the creator (akarthA) ?

 

KrishNA : I recognize your confusion . I am indeed the Creator of

the sentient and insentient world. I am not however assoicated with

the differences (Vaishamyams , vERupAdugaL ) between say DevAs

and Humans or between the humans et al . The differences in births

as dEvAs or humans are due to their own karma visEshams.

Therefore , I am indeed responsible for the creation of all chEthanams

and achEthanams but not for their karmic-related differences among

themselves .

Therefore , I am consistent in my earlier statement that I am

karthA and akarthA . .

 

Any one , who understands this subtle point is released from both

the good and bad karmAs ( PuNya-Paapams). That one gets rid of

the obstacles for the beginning of the Karma yOgam and the ending of

the hankering after the desire for fruits . He is not bound by the ancient

( PrAcheenam) bundle of PuNyams and Paapams.

 

ArjunA : MaadhavA ! You have now instructed me on the secret to

remove the obstacles for the beginning of Karma yOga. Are there any

who have folowed this path ?

 

KrishNA : Yes , There are many Mumukshus ( those who desire

Moksham ) that have observed this type of Karma yOgam . They understood

Me as the KarthA as well as the akarthA . VivasvAn and Manu are two of

such Mumukshus. Even great scholars and sages have been confused about

the karmAs to be observed and the Jn~Anam housed inside that KarmA .

I am going to instruct you now on the ways to be released from the bonds of

samsAram that you can follow.

 

ArjunA: Oh Lord ! Why has the path & structure of the KarmAs been difficult

to grasp by the Scholars & Sages ?

 

KrishNA : One should get a clear understanding on the karmAs that will

be indispensable for Moksham. They should also be clear about the many

types of vikarmAs such as Nithyam , Naimitthikam , Kaamyam and

the accumulation of riches . One should also understand the akarma

(Jn~Anam). In view of the difficulties in understanding the many aspects of

karmAs , it has been a difficult path for many .

 

ArjunA : My Lord ! It is difficult to comprehend the tatthvam that

Karma yOgam is Jn~AnAkAram. Please explain me further .

 

KrishNA : One who does the nithya karmAs ( those that can not be

abandoned) with no interest in the fruits thereof , with a mind not

distracted by other matters , developing detatchment from prakruthi

and its karyams ( loka vasthus) and having the Self alone as prayOjanam

will break the bonds of SamsAram . He does not perform Karma yOgam

first and then practise Jn~Ana yOgam for the visualization of the Self next

but instead observes karma yOgam itself for that result of AathmAvalOkanam .

Since this type of karma yOga anushtAnam is linked with Aathma

svaroopam ( other than Prakruthi) , Karma yOgam is of the form of

Jn~Ana yOgam as well .

 

ArjunA: KaNNA ! Please elaborate on this for me !

 

KrishNA : Dhananjaya! The different branches of Karma yOgam

are SandhyA vandhanam , Yaagam , PrANAyAmam , attempt to

control the senses , VedAdhyayanam , VedAntha vichAram , Kruchra,

SaanthrAyaNa praayascchitthams .

 

Arjunan: KrishNA ! As one who observes karma yOgam , should I

abandon Nithya , Naimitthika karmAs ?

 

KrishNA : For one who does not observe nithya-naimithika karmAs ,

the three purushArthams of Dharma , arTa and Kaamam wont be

realized in this world. If this were to be so , how can they even hope

for the ultimate purushArTam of Moksham ?

 

Arjunan: GopAlA ! You have instructed that Karma yOgam is of

the form of Jn~Anam ( Jn~AnAkAram) . Among these , is the Karma

bhAgam more important than Jn~Ana bhAgam ?

 

KrishNA : Among the two aakArams (manifestations) of Karma yOgam ,

Jn~Ana bhAgam is loftier than the Karma bhAgam , where dhravyam

( dakshiNai) is involved .

 

ArjunA: Oh RukmaNi Vallabha! I have clearly understood Your upadEsams.

DhanyOsmi .

 

KrishNA : ArjunA ! It is not enough that you understood these subtle

aspects now . There will come times before the anushtAnam bears

fruit , when you will experience doubts. At those times , approach

great souls , serve them well and ask them indirectly questions

about what confuses you . They out of their compassion for you

will give the most straight forward answers to help you make progress.

 

ArjunA : Oh brother of BalarAmA ! What is the indication that one has

reached that stage of Mastery over the anushtAnam of karma yOgam ?

 

KrishNA : When the practioner is not deluded , develops a sense of

seeing the aathma svaroopam in all created beings and recognizes

Me as their antharyAmi , then the mastery has been attained.

 

There is nothing that is purer in this world than aathma jn~Anam.

Those who observe this Jn~AnAkAra karma yOgam as instrcuted by

Me will attain siddhi. Cut asunder hence with the sword of Aathma Jn~Anam

all your doubts about the anAdhi vasthu , AathmA and practise

Karma Jn~Anam to gain freedom from SamsAric afflictions & Moksham .

 

Parama Saaram of the Fourth Chapter is PoorNam

 

Swamy Desikan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

SrImathE SrI Lakshminrusimha Dhivya PaadhukA Sevaka

SrIvaNN SaThakOpa SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA DesikAya Nama: