In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna asserting once more as to how do we balance success and failure to lead a peaceful life. From this moment onwards, Bhagawan Krishna is going to introduce us to the all-important “Karma Yoga”, as He has clearly set the tone for the detailed accord. When He says that we need to balance between success and failure in whatever we do, the focus is clearly on our actions (“Karma”) and not on the result of it. So let us delve into what Bhagawan Krishna has to say to Arjuna. Bhagawan Krishna says thus,
“Nehaa vikrama naashosti pratyavaayo na vidyate!
Svalpamapyasya dharmasya aayate mahato bhayaath!!”
Now, as Bhagawan Krishna introduces the “Karma Yoga” to Arjuna, He lists down a few prerequisites thus, “Oh Arjuna! In order to understand the “Karma Yoga” properly, you need to know a few important things – One is the “Deha-Atma-Vivekam”. You need to clearly understand here that the Atman is something which is all-pervasive and permanent in nature. I’ve explained this already to you. The sole purpose of this “Atman” in this world is to somehow attain the “Paramatman”, who is none other than Bhagawan! Thus, if we understand this clearly, we shall be able to commence the “Karma Yoga”! Oh Arjuna! You are feeling scared of your duty of fighting the war, isn’t it? (“Nehaa vikrama naashosti”) Please don’t feel scared! By doing your duty, you’re thinking that you’ll end up committing a great sin of killing thousands of people on the battlefield, isn’t it? Please do not think so. By doing your duty, whatever you do here at Kurukshetra will not be counted as a sin at all! (“Pratyavaayo na vidyate”)! Oh Arjuna! Please do just a bit of what I’m going to say now (“Svalpamapyasya dharmasya”)! Please have this mindset of paying heed to whatever I’m going to explain to you. If you listen to me patiently, you will be able to understand many things clearly. If you obey whatever I say, you will not only get clarity for your doubts in mind, but also will be able to cross this ocean of “Samsaara” permanently and thereby attain “Moksha”! Oh Arjuna! Please shun this fear that is looming large in your mind (“Aayate mahato bhayaath”)! Please take your “Gaandeepa” in your hand and start the fight!”
Bhagawan Krishna continues thus, “Oh Arjuna! Many people in this world think that by learning and reciting the Vedas, they can go and enjoy in the “Svarga Lokha”! Of course that can happen. But little do they understand that the sole purpose of learning and reciting the Vedas is to attain the highest “Moksha”, by realizing the “Atma-Sakshatkara”. Hence, a thousand people in this world will keep saying a thousand things. Don’t fall prey to all their words! Your ultimate aim should be to attain the highest “Moksha” and I’m teaching you the way to attain it, which not many people in this world know! Oh Arjuna! Please also understand the fact that the Vedas are common for all people who are embodiments of the three important “Gunas” – The “Sattva Guna”, “Rajo Guna” and the “Tamo Guna”. If your “Rajo Guna” and “Tamo Guna” start dominating, you will not be able to understand the significance of the Vedas. Oh Arjuna! Please catch hold of the “Sattva Guna” carefully and only this will guide you through to the path of “Moksha”. Hence, the “Maarga” (Path) to attain the highest “Moksha” is the same for everyone, but only a very few people can traverse this path. I want you to try and traverse this path to attain “Moksha” and you are perfectly capable of it! For this, you need to do your duty with “Sattva Guna”. Even though it might be a war wherein your “Rajo Guna” might start dominating you at many points, you should be very careful not to let it dominate too much. You should fight the war keeping “Dharma” in mind. If you do this, automatically your “Sattva Guna” will start taking precedence!”
This is a very important philosophy once again, which Bhagawan is trying to explain. Now this is where we find the balance yet again – If our duty is the only point of focus and the result is not, the “Sattva Guna” will start prospering. However, if we start doing our duty, keeping the result in mind, our “Rajo Guna” and “Tamo Guna” will start dominating and eventually we will get carried away by the success / failure of our actions! If we get carried away like this, the ultimate focus on “Dharma” would be completely lost! So for today, let us understand this point very clearly and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further with the relevant shlokas! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 