Bhagavat Gita - 4

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Bhagavat Gita - 4

 

Doctrine of Nishkama Karma

 

Arjuna is shown the Cosmic Order of the Universe in which he sees that

all the Kauravas are being destroyed. Krishna tells Arjuna, " Even without

you, all these warriors will be destroyed; you merely be an instrument

in the hands of Nature. "

 

The experience of the Cosmic Order of the Universe opens up a new

dimension before Arjuna. It resolves the difficulty that he is

faced with. Till now his life had been like that of an individual

cell in a body which thinks, out of ignorance that it is an independent

entity, functioning on its own, while in truth it has been but a conduit

and in fulfillment of whose purpose it has been functioning. Arjuna

now realises that he is neither a solitary individual, nor merely a

member of a society, but a cell in the Universe with an apportioned

piece of work to perform, not for his own sake, not even for the

community or country, but for the sake of the Supreme (God) to whom

everything and everyone ultimately belongs.

 

In light of this enlarged world-view, work gains a new sanction and

a new significance. Neither self-aggrandisement, nor even the service

of any worldly cause is its ultimate purpose. The purpose is the

spiritual development of man - to be freed from the hold of the body

and realise one's kinship or unity with the Divine. For he, the jiva

(individual soul), is a spark from the divine fire, but identification

with the body has effaced the sense of his inherent divinity. This

predicament of man, called ignorance, must be due to the will of the

Divine, and only by the will or the Grace of the Divine can he be

redeemed. This grace descends on him who resigns himself to Him with

his entire being - body, mind and soul, and does his duty as an offering

to the Cosmic order. Discharge of the work that devolve on one as duty

without any self centered motive but as an offering to unto the Divine

- to start with, of all results and finally of the agency too - is the

way of this total resignation.

 

Work cannot be accepted or shunned by any mere momentary considerations

of their being good or bad, agreeable or disagreeable. All works, however

good at first sight, carry some bad effects too. In the world there are

four character types - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra - depending

on the Swadharma (natural duty based on natural tendency). These are not

castes as they are seen today and are neither based on hereditary factors.

The Brahmana is the introvert type, reflective, intellectual and

self-restrained. The Kshatriya is extrovert, flamboyant, lordly, chivalrous

and possesses the qualities of leadership in him. The Vaishya is the

acquisitive type, industrious, organising and enterprising. The Sudra is

the dull type without enterprise or initiative, requiring directions

and fit for routine subordinate work.

 

Work and way of living, suited to these natures and in the line of their

evolution, are their Swadharma inspite of what some may consider good

or bad. For one who accepts and contemplates on the world-view and the

destiny of man as presented in the Gita, the performance of such Swadharma

with detachment and as an offering to the Divine is a potent means to

spiritual evolution. By offering the fruits of his works, man's sinful

tendencies born of physical nature are effaced, and when he is able

to resign his sense of agency too, he realises his unity with the Divine.

 

In the language of the Gita - " From whom proceeds the activity of all

beings and by whom all this is pervaded, worshipping Him through one's

Swadharma a man attains perfection. Better is one's Swadharma, though

defective, than another's duty, apparently well performed. Doing the

duty ordained by one's nature, one incurs no sin. One should not

relinquish the duty born of one's nature, although it may be attended by

evil; for all undertakings are covered by defects. If Arjuna refuses

to fight today, that resolve is in vain as his very nature will compel

him to fight. Fettered by duties born out of his nature Arjuna will

have to fight. "

 

The doctrine of Nishkama karma therefore says that do your duties

according to your Swadharma as an offering to the Divine, which may

also be identified as the Cosmic Order. Offering the fruits of the

action and finally the agency also to the Divine, one attains perfection.

 

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Based on " Srimad Bhagavat Gita - The Scripture of Mankind "

a translation by Rev Swami Tapasyanandaji, published by

Sri Ramakrishna Math - Chennai. http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/

 

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