Bhagavat Gita a detailed study-chapter4The truth about action

January 20, 2009

12. kaankshanthah karmaNaam sidDhim yajantha iha

dhevathaaH

kshipram hi maanushe loke sidDhiH bhavathi karmajaa

Desirous of results of action people worship minor deities. The result of actions in this world is swift.

There are various activities prescribed in the Vedas to fulfill the worldly desires and also the desire to go to heaven, which is as transient as the rest. For this purpose various deities are worshipped and invoked by yajnas etc. All these devathas are vested with limited power by the Lord and sanction the fruit of the action once the conditions of the ritual is followed meticulously. But they are not concerned about the outcome of the fulfillment of desires which may not be conducive to happiness as expected. But the Lord does not give what we ask for but only what is good for us. That is why the devotees who pray for something do not always get it. Here it is necessary to examine the term devatas, minor gods.

In this world men seeking the fruition of their activities worship the minor gods, says Krishna ,.. Who are the minor gods referred to here? It does not mean any particular deity but imply only the limited power which men seek to fulfill their desires, and the activities undertaken for that purpose are desire motivated. It is like asking a millionaire for a few coins. But the actions that are prescribed in the veda for desired ends definitely bear fruit in this life itself, though transient.. But the result of the desire motivated actions need not and often do not bring happiness. A man who diligently pursues a course of action in order to amass wealth is also a worshipper of a minor deity, namely, money . The action undoubtedly gives the desired result but the effect of it may turn out to be quite the reverse. Under the circumstances can a man, who is engaged in desire motivated activity, be considered as following the path of the Lord? The answer to this is given later in the seventh chapter of the Gita, in the sloka, `udhaaraassarva evaithe' (Ch.7-18)