Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -3
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If, again, it be supposed that the Lord thought: 'Arjuna, having heard about both Knowledge and action, will of him self take to both (devotions, simultaneously combined), but it is for others that I am now laying down (different paths) for devotion by distinct classes of aspirants', then it would amount to attributing to the Lord the passions of attachment and aversion and, therefore, untrustworthiness, which is impious. Wherefore, by no reasoning whatever can simultaneous conjunction of Knowledge with action (be deemed to have been prescribed). As for Arjuna's reference to the 'superiority of Knowledge to action' (III-l), it stands established, because it has not been repudi ated. And this path of devotion to Knowledge is for adoption by samhyāsins only; that this view has the Lord's approval is under stood from His statement about (two different paths for) practice by distinct (classes of) persons. Seeing that Arjuna was dejected at heart feeling, "Thou directest me, on the other hand[1], to perform only action, which is productive of bondage", and that he was thinking of not engaging in action, the Lord tells him-"By non-performance of works, etc"[2]. Or[3]-Devotion to Knowledge and devotion to action being mutually opposed, they cannot be practised together by one (and the same) person ; and consequently it may be doubted that either of them, quite independently of the other, can be the means to liberation (purusSrtha). In order to convey the truth that devotion to action is a means to that goa.I, not independently, but by leading to the attainment of devotion to Knowledge, whereas devotion to Know- ledge, having been gained through devotion to action, leads to that goal, by itself, without the need for anything else, the Blessed Lord says : |
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