विवेचन सारांश
knowledge and Motive Behind the Work is More Important than the External Work Itself.
The 18th chapter of the Bhagavadgītā is Mokśa-Sannyāsa-Yoga - The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation. The session began with the Auspicious Lighting of the traditional lamp that lights the steadfast flame, guiding us towards the path of Dharma, cleansing our Antaḥkaraṇa with the light of knowledge shedding the path of Ignorance. This was followed by, salutations to Bhagavan and Guru.
Last discussion was on first 6 shalokas of the said chapter. In that we discussed about the nishaid karmas and types of vidhi karmas in detail. Like for example vihit karmas, nitya karmas, naimittyik karmas, kamya karmas, prashchit karmas and awashak karmas. So far Bhagavan has said one thing and on that He is trying to get our attention in various ways. In Shloka 7 Bhagavan will talk about tamas tyāga.
18.7
niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ(kh), karmaṇo nopapadyate,
mohāttasya parityāgaḥ(s), tāmasaḥ(ph) parikīrtitaḥ. 18.7
- Nishidh Karmas (the ones that are prohibited and do not fall under the scope of Dharma), and
- Kamya Karmas (karmas that we do to accomplish one's desires)
Animals do not know what is right or wrong. They do what their instincts tell them to do and end up doing things which looks aversive. They do not know that it should not be done. However, human beings have been bestowed with that discretion. Due to that by tyāga of Nishidh Karmas we fit as humans and by giving up on kamya karmas we move towards Parabrahma Paramatma.
Bhagavan is saying that one needs to understand that under tyāga also there is something as tamas tyāga. One may ask how can tyāga have a tamas component. As normally we believe that tyāga leads to only good. The one who ends up giving up one's Niyat karmas is doing a tamas tyāga. This was further explained referring to the below idiom:
Examples of tamas tyāga: in order to save money or efforts one gives up doing one's niyat karams.
- What is the use of pooja path for me, when I see each one as God? or
- sher kabhi mu nai dhoya kartae hai, instead I complete bathing in my thoughts. or
- when there is a death in the family, one calls for arya samaji pandit. In this manner one cuts short the procedures to just three days and ends up with giving up Sanathan traditions.
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma, kāyakleśabhayāttyajet,
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ(n) tyāgaṃ(n), naiva tyāgaphalaṃ(m) labhet. 18.8
kleśho ’dhikataras teṣhām avyaktāsakta-chetasām
avyaktā hi gatir duḥkhaṁ dehavadbhir avāpyate
Battle like situation has got created due to 'dehavadbhir avāpyate' (arrogancy of body). So, one needs to give up on the attachment towards one's body.
Examples:
In Kanpur there was a professor, his name was Professor Shivnarayan Ji. He was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi ji and followed his ideologies to the core. Due to that people nick named him Professor Shivnarayan Gandhi. It is said, If his student made any mistake, he used to hit on his hand with a stick.
kāryamityeva yatkarma, niyataṃ(ṅ) kriyate’rjuna
saṅgaṃ(n) tyaktvā phalaṃ(ñ) caiva, sa tyāgaḥ(s) sāttviko mataḥ. 18.9
A Sattvika person performs the obligatory actions (prescribed duty) because they ought to be done. There is a vital point which needs attention, and that is, that when an action is performed as a matter of duty, the affinity with it, is renounced. In the worldly disciplines (Karam yoga and Jnana yoga) the breach of affinity with the body and the world is important. Therefore, a striver should perform every action by regarding it as his duty.
na dvestyakuśalaṃ(ṅ) karma, kuśale nānuṣajjate,
tyāgī sattvasamāviṣṭo, medhāvī chinnasaṃśayaḥ. 18.10
na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ(n), tyaktuṃ(ṅ) karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ,
yastu karmaphalatyāgī, sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate. 18.11
The one who touched the woman while saving her from drowning has left her after saving her. Whereas the person who is complaining and calling it as foul act (against the Niyam's) is still carrying the women in his mind. The person who saved despite touching did not touch her whereas the person who saw the whole act and did not touch her physically but kept her in the mind and, in this manner, touched her and was still carrying her.
In this shloka what is being stressed is that giving up karma is not important what is important is giving up fruits of action and attachment to action. Example, one says that have left tea. But when one sees someone drinking or just the smell that comes while the tea is being prepared reminds the person of the taste. Then act of giving up is not complete.
aniṣṭamiṣṭaṃ(m) miśraṃ(ñ) ca, trividhaṃ(ṅ) karmaṇaḥ(ph) phalam,
bhavatyatyāgināṃ(m) pretya, na tu sannyāsināṃ(ṅ) kvacit. 18.12
In this chapter in shloka 10 Bhagavan said 'medhāvī chinnasaṃśayaḥ' (intelligent have no doubt).
का चुप सादि रहेउ बलवाना ।
पवन तनय बल पवन समाना।
बुद्धि विवेक विज्ञान निधाना।
कवन सो काज कठिन जग माही।
जो नहीं होय तात तुम पहिन ।
राम काज लगी तब अवतारा।
Riksharaj Jambavan said to Shri Hanuman ji - O Hanuman! O mighty one! Listen, what have you kept silent about? You are the son of Pawan and are like Pawan in strength. You are the mine of wisdom-discretion and science ॥2॥
What is such a difficult task in the world that O Tat! You could not Your incarnation has happened only for the work of Shri Ram ji . On hearing this, Hanuman ji became the size of a mountain (extremely huge) ॥3॥
मानव आपर गिरिराजा।
सिंहनाद करी बारही बारा।
लिलिए नागाओं जलनिधि खारा।
After the above, Hanuman ji took the trip up. On meeting Janaki Mata, expressed that He has just come to convey the message from Bhagavan Shri Ram. He told Her that he has the capability to take her along, but since He is not having instructions will as of now keep his job limited to what he has been told to do. Once he was done, he went back and gave the update about his meeting to his leader. If the doer ship was important to Him, He could have easily approached Bhagavan Ram directly. As, He was the sole person in the entire clan who had the capabilities. Still, He observed the protocols and kept his actions limited to the job that was assigned to Him.
महिमा मिटाई अपान
तुम्हरो मंत्र विभीषन माना। लंकेस्वर भए सब जग जाना।।
Similarly, if we see the life of Krishna Bhagavan. His life is clear and transparent.
Bhajan:
1. जहँ जहँ डोलौं सो परिकरमा, जो कछु करौं सो सेवा।
जब सोवौं तब करौं दंडवत, पूजौ और न देवा।।
2. कहौं सो नाम सुनौं सो सुमिरन, खाँव पियांै सो पूजा।
गिरह उजाड़ एक सम लेखौं, भाव मिटावौं दूजा।।
3. आँख न मूंदौ कान न रूंधौ, तनिक कष्ट नहिं धारौं।
खुले नैन पहिचानौं हँसि हँसि, सुन्दर रूप निहारौं।।
4. सबद निरन्तर से मन लागा, मलिन बासना त्यागी।
ऊठत बैठत कबहुँ न छूटै, ऐसी तारी लागी।।
5. कहै कबीर यह उनमनि रहनी, सो परगट कर गाई।
दुख सुख से जोइ परे परम पद, तेहि पद रहा समाई।।
Sant Kabir Das ji in this bhajan has termed his state as "Unamani Rahni". In this state he does need to make any efforts to connect with Bhagavan. He does not get any happiness from sleep, food or talking instead he is all the time thinking of Him.
TYPES OF KARMAS
- Sanchita Karma : the warehouse of karma
- Prarabdha Karma : Prarabdha karma is a certain amount of information allotted for this life.
- Kriyamana karma: Future actions that result from your present actions are called Kriyamana karma
- Ishta : Ishta is one which is as per our wish/desire.
- Anishta: One which is against our wish is undesirable.
- mixed: Fruit which is partly as per desire and partly undesirable is mixed fruit
Out of total 84 lakhs Yonis, only humans can perform this. Through this they have been empowered to choose their course of action. The one which improves their position in path of Adhyatma / Spirituality or vic-a-versa. The said karmas too have two components:
- Fruit
- Sanskar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ra_mHMM45P_0fr-VWoVMBApDjJlpu9pn/view?usp=drivesdk
In order to explain the role of sanskar, examples of kings like Yudhistir, Ramchandra ji, Harishchandra ji were given. If we recollect the life history of all the three, we will see that their sanskars where so strong that even the most extreme situations did not prompt them to leave the path of Dharma.
Another example was said. There was a teacher and realization came that time has come to find his successor. He choose two students from the entire lot and gave them three coins each along with the following instructions:
- one coin they should use in a manner that it benefits their place,
- one coin they can use for benefit of another place where they use it, and
- last coin spend at a place which will be of no use to their place nor to other places.
1. first coin he gave it puri wala. He served him puri and promised to do so for complete one month
2. one coin am returning to you. As this will get utilized here
3. last coin I donated.
Second disciple took following course of action :
A. first coin he gave it puri wala. He served him puri and promised to do so for complete one month.
B. Second coin I used for a bhandara. Due to that all the sadhus present could paratake food.
C. Last coin I threw it in a river
So, for second student first coin got utilized here, second coin got utilized to earn good karmas and last was thrown away, as he was not supposed to use for this life nor for other lives. If we compare actions minutely, we will realize that both understood the instructions differently. One returned the coin to his Guru so that the coin will be of use to the Ashram. Whereas other used for improving his state in the current life.
Om Puurnnam-Adah Puurnnam-Idam Puurnnaat-Purnnam-Udacyate
Puurnnashya Puurnnam-Aadaaya Puurnnam-Eva-Avashissyate ||
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
Meaning: Aum! That is infinite, and this (universe) is infinite. The infinite proceeds from the infinite. (Then) taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe), It remains as the infinite alone. Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
pañcaitāni mahābāho, kāraṇāni nibodha me,
sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni, siddhaye sarVākarmaṇām. 18.13
- Karma Yoga (the Discipline of Action), or
- Sankhya Yoga (the Discipline of Knowledge)
adhiṣṭhānaṃ(n) tathā kartā, karaṇaṃ(ñ) ca pṛthagvidham,
vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā, daivaṃ(ñ) caivātra pañcamam. 18.14
- adhiṣṭhānaṃ(n): objective / goal. Example, Ravana, Hiranyakashipu, Dhruv, other saints and great men all did the tapas. In this case the karam is the same for all but the result for each of them was different. This is because, their goal was different. Another example, 3 businessmen and each one's reason for being in the shop is different. One comes to shop to avoid his father at home. As he finds him nagging and full of criticism. Similarly, another businessman whose income comes from interest, comes to shop in order to avoid his wife. Third person comes to shop as he takes it as his responsibility. He has a family to look after. All three are doing same karma but are having different objectives. Hence the fruit would be different for three of them. Lastly, karma done with no goal does not lead anywhere.
- kartā: objective is there but there is no doer. For example, plan is in place for Geeta Learning program. But doer is absent. Means, neither there is a teacher who can train the Sadhaks, nor there are any learners (Sadhaks).
- karaṇaṃ(ñ): Sadhan (tools, resources) are also required. For Geeta Learning program, we have a plan, also the doers. But do not have mobile, zoom, or do not have the know-how of connecting to zoom meetings. So, on account of lack of resources the karma will not get completed. The karanas that are at our disposal are:
2. 5 jnana indriyaas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin)
3. 5 karma indriyaas (speech, hands, feet, for eliminating, for reproducing)
4. unlimited upakarnas / appliances: example, eyes are our Karna but spectacles are upakarna. This is for those whose eyesight is week. Similarly, while cooking we use hands along with many upkarnas like kadai, palta, chimta, pakkad, sandshi, spoons, channi, chakla-belan, Paraat, tawa etc.
- vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā: lack of effort / attempt / try. In above example of Geeta learning, plan is in place, karta's and karanas are available, but one does not attend the class. There is no effort. The person keeps on procrastinating to the following day etc.
- daivaṃ(ñ): The 5th factor stands for impressions. Good impressions inspire the person to perform good actions while evil impressions instigate the person to perform, evil actions.
śarīravāṅmanobhiryat, karma prārabhate naraḥ,
nyāyyaṃ(m) vā viparītaṃ(m) vā, pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ. 18.15
The body, speech and mind, become impure, when a man regards these, as his own. By regarding them as his own, he cannot realize, that he has no connection with the actions. So if a striver, does not regard these as his own and does not perform any action for himself, these are quickly purified. Therefore, one should renounce his affinity with them either by purifying them through the Discipline of Action or by applying discrimination, through the Discipline of Knowledge. As soon as the assumed affinity is renounced, he realizes the self.
All the activities in the world are performed by universal divine power, so is the case with the activities performed by individual.
tatraivaṃ(m) sati kartāram, ātmānaṃ(ṅ) kevalaṃ(n) tu yaḥ,
paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvān, na sa paśyati durmatiḥ. 18.16
To explain this, it was said that body is continuously changing. Over a gap of time those can be seen. Like for example at age of 5 and at the ages of 30 or 60, body shape undergoes significant changes. But at the age of 5, 30 or 60 anubhuti (realization) of the person remains the same. However due to ignorance one assumes one's body as self. And actions happening through this body are one's actions. This is complete ignorance. As the actions are happening through the body and not him.
yasya nāhaṅkṛto bhāvo, buddhiryasya na lipyate,
hatvāpi sa imāṃllokān, na hanti na nibadhyate. 18.17
कर प्रणाम तेरे चरणों में,
करता हूँ अब तेरे काज,
पालन करने को आज्ञा तेरी,
नियुक्त होता हूँ मैं आज,
अन्तर में स्थित रहकर मेरे,
बागडोर पकड़े रहना,
निपट निरंकुश चंचल मन को,
सावधान करते रहना,
अन्तर्यामी को अन्त स्थित देख,
सशंकित होवे मन,
पाप वासना उठते ही हो,
नाश लाज से वह जलभुन,
जीवों का कलरव जो,
दिनभर सुनने में मेरे आवे,
तेरा ही गुणगान जान,
मन प्रमुदित हो अति सुख पावे,
तू ही है सर्वत्र व्याप्त हरि,
तुझमें सारा यह संसार,
इसी भावना से अंतर भर,
मिलूँ सभी से तुझे निहार,
प्रतिपल निज इन्द्रिय समूह से,
जो कुछ भी आचार करूँ,
केवल तुझे रिझाने को बस,
तेरा ही व्यवहार करूँ,
कर प्रणाम तेरे चरणों में,
करता हूँ अब तेरे काज,
पालन करने को आज्ञा तेरी,
नियुक्त होता हूँ मैं आज,
- ahaṃ-kṛta - conscious of one’s individuality, egotistic, proud, haughty, I am the doer etc.
- Aham Sphurana - Self Realiztion
If a seeker gets rid of doership then his account (balance sheet) is free from entries of sins and good karmas.
jñānaṃ(ñ) jñeyaṃ(m) parijñātā, trividhā karmacodanā,
karaṇaṃ(ṅ) karma karteti, trividhaḥ(kh) karmasaṅgrahaḥ. 18.18
- jñānaṃ(ñ): knowledge
- jñeyaṃ(m): the knowable
- parijñātā: the knower
- karaṇaṃ(ṅ): the instruments of action
- karma: the act
- karta: the doer
As soon as the above throught comes, it leads to the start of karma-saṅgrahaḥ. Last three (instrument, activity and the agent) are the triple constituent of action. It is the conjunction of these three which produces action. And if the action is done free from doer ship then the three fruits of action (Ishta, Anishta, mixed) will not get created. Otherwise, the person will end up with experiences of fruits of actions. Ishta is one which is as per our wish/desire. One which is against our wish is undesirable. Fruit which is partly as per desire and partly undesirable is mixed fruit. But experience of fruits of actions is by the ignorant. Due to ignorance, the difference between these fruits appears to be more.
Out of these 6, Bhagavan will take 3 for further discussion. Those are:
- jñānaṃ(ñ): knowledge
- jñeyaṃ(m): the knowable
- parijñātā: the knower
Devraj Goel ji
Question 1: Referring to the example of Gandhi ji's diet that you gave during the discussion, the thought that came to my mind was that "Simple living is most complex". And second, on your left it is written:
Answer 1: In the 6th Chapter Bhagavan has said:
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ chalam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa cha gṛihyate
Means: By following two things we can unravel everything. All is in the mind. And, we can disciple the mind by following the below:
- Select one path (of Adhyatma / Spirituality) and ceaselessly practice the same.
- and in order to make it complete, one will have to give up on desires. As just by practice the same will not work.
करत करत अभ्यास के जङमति होत सुजान,
रसरी आवत जात, सिल पर करत निशान।
अर्थात जब रस्सी को बार-बार पत्थर पर रगङने से पत्थर पर निशान पङ सकता है तो, निरंतर अभ्यास से मूर्ख व्यक्ति भी बुद्धिमान बन सकता है।
Question 2: The settlement of our karmas, why cannot that happen in just one birth?
Answer 2: That is not practically possible. In our lifetime we come into contact with thousands of beings and while this happens karmas are formed with each of these. Example, while we are travelling in train, a person sitting next to us offers puri. The same we partake. After that we do not meet the person again in that lifetime. So, in order to return that we will have to take birth. When that combination will happen, when both will be taking birth and then reciprocate. This is for just one karma. Similarly, there are thousands of karmas that we create. That is why those get settled over many lifetimes.
Question 3: In your previous talks, you had said "God is generator, operator and destroyer." Along with that we also say "Matter cannot be created nor destroyed". That means Bhagavan can do everything, including destructions. Please elaborate...
Answer 3: Bhagavan is kartum akartum anyatakartum. He can do karmas which are possible, which are not possible and also which are neither possible or impossible. That is why we call Him Sarvashaktiman.