विवेचन सारांश

The Concept of Action and Inaction is Profound

The session started with prayers and lighting of the traditional lamp, Deepa prajwalan, to invoke Goddess Saraswathi’s blessings.

The 4th chapter, Jñāna Karma SaṃnyāsaYoga - The Yoga of Knowledge and Disciplines of Action.

This chapter teaches one to do the karmas (actions) with focus on Jñāna karma (knowledge) and karma Saṃnyāsa (renunciation). It teaches the philosophy of doing karma without doing anything, and vice versa. Śrī Krishna explains how one can reach HIS supreme abode and unify with HIM, by doing the karmas in the right manner.In the previous session, HE revealed how HE manifests in this world at times of dire crisis. People who know HIS supremacy and are devoted to HIM reach HIM ultimately. In this session, HE explains more about HIS true nature, and how to reach HIM through the right way of doing karma.

In chapter 16, last shloka, HE told Arjuna ‘Tasmat Śāstram pramanante karyakaryavyavasthitou’- Śāstra is primary, and that one should do what the shastras say.

Śāstra means the Vedas, Upanishads, Gītā , Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the 6 philosophies. Śāstra or The Indian knowledge system has classified Hindu scriptures into 6 partitions.

Śruti: A single sentence/ sutra from the Vedas. It is comprised of Vedas, Upavedas and Vedangas.

Vedas are further classified into Samhita (deals with Mantras), Brahmana (deals with Yajnas), Aranyaka and Upanishads like karmakhand, jnanakhand, etc. Bhagavān  Adi Shankaracharya ji’s Bhashyas on 10 main Upanishads covers all the topics of Vedas. These Upanishads are the direct Vani of Bhagavān and cover many shlokas from Gītā.

Each Veda has its own upaveda, as follows:

Veda – Upaveda

Before studying Vedas, one must study the Vedangas. One must know Vyakaranas (grammar) to read the vedas; Chandas for recital of the vedas; niruktha for the correct interpretation of any word in the right context; jyothish Śāstra for muhurta or correct timings of yajna, etc; kalpa Śāstra for all knowledge about the yajnas; and shiksha for correct pronunciation of the sutras. Not all rules of Bhagavad Gītā are taken from Panini’s vyakarana. Some are specifically taken from the Shiksha Śāstra.

Smriti: explains the contents of the Vedas using simple language. It is more beneficial and useful than the Sruti part, as it is easy to understand. Our knowledge about Dharma and Adharma are contained in the Smritis like Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya, Parasara, etc. Bhagavad Gītā actually falls under the Smriti classification of the Śāstras, because it tells the concepts of Vedas in a simple manner.

Itihasa: This part comprises of stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana. The importance of these scriptures is highlighted in the saying ‘Vina Vedam Vina Geetam Vina Ramayaneeyakatham, Vina Kavi Kalidasa, Bharata Bharatam nahin’. One must understand the Vedas, Gītā stories of Ramayana and poet Kalidasa’s writing in order to understand know the real Bharata.

Purana: Purana means ancient/ pracheena. There are 18 main puranas (Markandeya, Matsya, Vayu, Shiva, Agni, etc.); 18 Upa puranas, one for each of the 18 Maha puranas, and several additional Upa puranas.

Agama: the different ways to approach HIM. This liberty is found only in our Indian culture. Other sampradayas have only one opinion, and everyone follows that one opinion. But in Hindu culture, no one is bound by a single entity. Anyone can choose to worship whoever he desires. A Shaiva will primarily worship Shiv ji; Vaishnava will worship Vishnu; and Saktha will worship Devi. However, they are not restricted to worship only that primary deity. They are free to worship any deity of their liking.

Darshana: covers the 6 types of philosophies – Sāṃkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaiseshika, Purva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa (also called as Vedanta). Worldwide, Uttara Mimamsa is very famous and popular.