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Chapter 4
sribhagavanuvdca
imam vivasvate yogam proktavanahamavyayam
vivasvanmanave praha manuriksvakave'bravit
- The Blessed Lord said
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I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan (the sun-god); who expounded it to Manu, and Mann proclaimed it to Iksvaku. 1
Comment:-
Imam vivasvate yogam proktavanahamavyayam:-The kings, such as Surya, Manu and lksvaku, who have been mentioned by the Lord, were householders and they attained perfection, through the Discipline of Action, leading a householder's life. Therefore, here the words 'Imam, avyayam yogam' (this imperishable Yoga) stand for 'Karmayoga', (me Discipline of Action).
Though Karmayoga has been described in the Puranas (historical records), and Upanisads (philosophical parts of the Vedas) also, yet it is not as thoroughly detailed, as in the Gita. The Lord is eternal, His fragment, the soul is also eternal and so is the affinity of soul for the Lord. Therefore, all the disciplines (of Action, Knowledge and Devotion) are also eternal.[1] Here, the term 'Avyayam' shows, that Karmayoga is eternal.
The affinity of the soul for God is eternal. lust as a chaste wife does not have to make effort to be dear to her husband, in the like manner, a striver does not have to put in any effort, in order to belong to God. But, when he accepts his affinity for perishable actions, objects and incidents etc., he does not realize his eternal affinity for God. Therefore, a Karmayogi, in order to, renounce his assumed affinity for the world, utilizes his body, senses, mind and intellect etc., for rendering service to the world, by regarding them as the world's. He thinks, that just as the smallest particle of dust, is a fragment of the huge earth, so is the body, a fragment of the vast universe. By accepting this belief, 'Karmas' (actions) will be performed, for the world, but 'Yoga' (Nityayoga or eternal union) will be for himself i.e., he will realize his eternal union with God.
By the terms 'Vivasvate proktavan; the Lord wants to explain to the strivers that as the sun in the solar system while performing its action by providing heat and light, remains should perform actions without attachment according to available circumstances, (Gita 3/19). They shoul& also impart this teaching of Karmayoga, to others for the public welfare by remaining unengrossed (without desire for fruit, without a sense of 'mine' and without attachment). The sun-god, was king at the beginning of creation. Lord Krsna taught this imperishable Yoga to the sun-god. It means, that Lord Krsna was the first preceptor in the beginning, and so has Karmayoga come from times immemorial. It seems that the Lord, tells Arjuna, "Whatever teaching about 'Karmayoga I - am imparting to you, is not new but eternal."
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