Shree Krishna explains to Arjun that everyone must perform their duties without attachment, as action is unavoidable. He emphasises that fulfilling one's responsibilities as an offering to God is virtuous, whereas living solely for personal pleasure is sinful. Even enlightened individuals continue to perform their duties to set a positive example, and Krishna advises controlling desires to overcome sin.
The Bhagavad Gita Verse Summary 1-7
Arjun said: "O Janardan, if You regard knowledge as superior to action, why do You urge me to engage in this dreadful battle? My understanding is confused by Your unclear guidance. Please clearly instruct me on the path that will lead me to the highest good."
Shree Krishna answered: "O sinless one, I have previously explained two paths to enlightenment: the path of knowledge, or sānkhya yog, for those inclined towards contemplation, which involves acquiring knowledge through intellectual analysis of the soul, and the path of action, or karm yog, for those inclined towards work, which consists in working with devotion to God, leading to a purified mind and natural awakening of knowledge. These paths cater to contemplative and active temperaments and have always existed to guide souls toward God-realisation.
Freedom from karmic reactions cannot be achieved simply by avoiding work, and the perfection of knowledge cannot be attained through mere physical renunciation. A karma yogi must work without attachment and cultivate knowledge to achieve freedom from karma. In contrast, a sānkhya yogi must accompany physical renunciation with action to purify the mind and attain true knowledge. Both paths require a balance of action and knowledge for spiritual success.
No one can remain inactive for even a moment, as all beings are driven to act by their inherent qualities from material nature (the three guṇas). Some people mistakenly believe that action only involves professional work and not daily activities like eating or sleeping, thinking they are not acting if they renounce their profession. However, Shree Krishna explains that all bodily, mental, or verbal activities are inevitable due to the influence of the three guṇas, making complete inactivity impossible. Those who control their external actions but continue to fixate on sensory objects mentally are deceiving themselves and should be considered hypocrites. Many people who renounce their work for an ascetic life fail to mentally withdraw from sensual desires, resulting in hypocrisy. Shree Krishna explains that true renunciation requires both external and internal alignment, and it is better to engage in worldly struggles as a karma yogi than to adopt ascetics falsely.
Karm yogis who control their senses with their minds and work without attachment are superior. Karm yog means doing your duties while keeping your mind focused on God, which frees you from the effects of karma because it's the attachment to results, not the actions, that binds you. Shree Krishna says a karma yogi who works without attachment is better than a false renunciant who stops working but still desires worldly things.
The Bhagavad Gita Verse Summary 8-10
You should fulfil your responsibilities because the action is more beneficial than doing nothing. Working diligently with a sense of duty helps purify your mind and bring you closer to spiritual awareness. Laziness hinders spiritual growth, while consistent effort benefits your health and spiritual journey. With action, even staying healthy would be easy.
Work should be done as an offering to God, not for personal gain, to avoid being trapped in material desires. Just like a knife can be used for good or ill, the impact of work depends on intent. Work done for self-gratification leads to bondage, while work done as a sacrifice to God brings liberation. Therefore, focus on performing your duties to please God without attachment to the results.
At the beginning of time, Brahma created humans and said, "Prosper by performing these sacrifices, as they will bring you everything you desire." Everything in nature is linked as part of God's creation, each element supporting and depending on the others. As part of this system, humans should fulfil their duties to serve God, maintain the natural order, and sustain both themselves and the larger creation.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [Telugu]- 22 to 26 July 2024.
