Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -4
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Besides, by seeing contrarily action as inaction (and inaction as action-in the sense explained by that commentator), it will not be possible (for any body) to obtain results such as freedom from evil, getting endowed with intelligence, becoming a Yogi, and accomplishment of all objects; and such (false) understanding deserves no praise. False knowledge is itself evil in nature; how can it free (one) from another evil? Surely, darkness cannot expel darkness. Objection:- (What is explained by us as) seeing inaction in action, or seeing action in inaction, is not false knowledge, but is only a figurative way of understanding, depending on the production and non-production of result. Reply:- This is no good; for it is nowhere heard that even a figurative understanding of action and inaction is of any use. Nor is anything special gained by ignoring what has been taught and inventing what has not been taught[1]. If the Lord had meant it, He could as well have said in His own words that there is no fruit from obligatory rites and that their neglect will result in fall ing into hell. And, why (should He resort to) covert language, confounding others: "he who can see inaction in action, etc.?" Therefore the interpretation of the (other) commentator will patently imply that the Lord's words were intended to con found mankind. Neither is this subject (performance of obligatory duties) a matter to be guarded by the use of disguised language, nor can it be said to be one which could be clearly understood only when taught over and over again in different words. For, the matter which has been very clearly taught in the passage, "Your right is to work alone "[2], needs no repetition. And it is always only what is excellent and commendable, and what is worthy of performance, that is taught as fit to be known; not that which is of no use. |
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