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Chapter 12
The Lord, declares the unselfish performance of actions, better than their physical renunciation (Gita 5/2). According to the Lord, a Sannyasi is not he, who does not perform actions, but he, who performs actions (duty) without depending on their fruit (Gita 6/1). A Karmayogi, being free from attachment and having renounced all thoughts, easily attain to Yoga (Gita 6/4). On the other band, those, who, having regarded actions and their fruits as theirs and for them, hanker after pleasures, verily ingest sin (Gita 3/13). Therefore, in the world it is attachment for the fruit of action, by which a man is bound (Gita 5/12). He, who relinquishes the fruit of action, is a man of renunciation (Gita 18/11).
In the Gita, there is a greater emphasis on the renunciation of the attachment to the fruit of actions, than any other means, of God-realization. Actions should be performed, renouncing attachment and desire for fruits (Gita 18/6). A striver should be attached, neither to virtuous or extraordinary actions, nor should he have an aversion for evil or ordinary actions, because actions will be over, but attachment and aversion will continue and these
will lead him to bondage. On the other hand, he, who performs actions, being free from egoism, attachment and aversion, though he slays people, he really slays not, nor is he bound (by his actions) (Gita 18/17). Therefore, the Lord declares, that renunciation of fruit of action, is better than penance, knowledge, action, practice and meditation etc. Other means, outwardly seem excellent, but these do not prove much useful, and moreover involve labour. Renunciation of attachment to the fruit of actions, leads a striver to salvation very easily, in the same circumstances, he is placed in, and without changing his place or order of life etc.
In fact, God is not acquired, but is realized. He is realized, by renouncing the sense of 'I' and 'mine', attachment and desire, for the body, mind, senses and objects etc., rather than, by practising spiritual disciplines. As soon as, affinity for matter is renounced, through knowledge, practice, meditation, penance etc., a striver, realizes God, Who is ever-realized. This affinity for matter, is renounced, more easily by renouncing fruit of action, than by knowledge, practice, meditation and penance etc., because in all these means, a striver has affinity with matter (body, mind, intellect and senses etc.,) and as he regards the body as his and the means for him. If such a striver, has the aim of God-realization, and he wants to realize Him, by these means, he realizes Him, with delay and difficulty, at last. But in Karmayoga, he renounces his affinity, for matter from the very beginning and so he realizes God, Who is ever-realized quickly and easily. This affinity, is the main stumbling block to God-realization - this fact does not become clear to a striver, when he follows other means.
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