GITA AT A GLANCE – CHAPTER 3
In this chapter, Bhagavan Sri Krishna explains the importance of karma yoga.
When Bhagavan Sri Krishna explained the nature of Atma to Sri Arjuna, a doubt raised in the mind of Arjuna. He asked Bhagavan that so far you explained the importance and the nature of Atma, you say that one has to control the senses and restrain from sense objects and one has to do the karma without expecting results; if the senses have to be controlled and attain Atma jnana and one should not expect the result, then why am I to fight this war? I am confused by your speech Krishna said Arjuna. If knowledge is superior to action, then why do you ask me to engage in this terrible action questioned Arjuna.
Bhagavan replies that, in this world there are two paths to attain the supreme
- Path of knowledge of the jnanis (Atma jnana)
- Path of karma of the yogis (karma yogis)
A person performs action physically and by mind. Merely restraining the physical action will not make a person actionless nor does merely renouncing physically make a person perfect. The mind is more important than the physical activity. By nature, everyone is born to act either physically or mentally. No one can remain actionless unless one trains the mind.
A deluded person does not perform any action physically but his mind is also involved and attached to the result of the action. He will be dreaming about the sense objects. However, a karma yogi performs actions by the organs of action and at the same time his mind is under his control. He performs action without any attachment.
Action is superior than inaction and so one has to do their duty without any attachment. Doing sacrifice (yagnas) is one of the duties because the creator created mankind together with sacrifice. Man has to nourish the gods and the gods give back in return. One is not ordained to enjoy anything without giving to gods. Thus, man is freed from sins. If one rejoices in the senses without giving to gods is a sinful person because that is how the wheel of action is set.
However, if a person rejoices in the self, satisfied with the self and content in the self has no action to perform, because Atma is supreme. A Atma jnani is not dependent on anything or any object. Therefore, Bhagavan Krishna asks Arjuna to perform action without expectation or attachment and by that way one can understand the supreme. If one performs action without attachment, that is, doing action for the sake of the Lord, then by the purity of heart one attains self-realization. Many Rishis have attained the Supreme by the purity of action.
Bhagavan says that, there is no action in the three worlds that should be done by me nor there is anything unattained to be attained by me, but still, I perform action; only for the reason if I do not perform any action then the others will follow it and this world will perish. A wise man should not disturb the beliefs of an ignorant man. Instead, he must set an example for the world to follow.
An ignorant think that ‘I am the doer’ but all the while it is the body, mind, senses and nature (prakriti) is doing the action. Bhagavan says that ‘perform the actions for the sake of me and be centered in self -realization. Do not take the success and failure as personal. One must do their own duty, instead of doing the duty of others for merit or benefits.
Bhagavan says that we all have knowledge but it is enveloped by desires. Desire leads to anger and it destroys every knowledge. The seat of the desire is the mind, intellect and the senses.
Senses are superior; superior to the senses is the mind; superior to the mind is the intellect; superior to the intellect is the Self (Atma). So, one has to restrain the Self by the Self and for that the desires have to be controlled.
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