Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -4
|
|
such as the instrument (ladle), and does the action. Here, the idea of instrument etc. is not abolished, but the idea of Brahman is imparted to them, just as the idea of Visnu or other deity is imparted to the idol, or the idea of Brahman is imparted to' name'[1]. Even this view may be accepted as correct, if the topic under discussion were not the praise of Wisdom-Sacrifice (Jñāna-yajña). But the Lord here praises True Knowledge, designated Wisdom-Sacrifice, after expounding several acts of worship (yajña), in the words,"Knowledge-Sacrifice is superior to sacrifice (performed) with (material) objects"[2]. And here the words" The process (instrument) is Brahman"etc. appositely represent Knowledge as a sacrifice; otherwise, when everything is (in fact) Brahman, it would be meaningless to speak specifically of the process (instrument) etc. alone as Brahman. But, as for those who say that the idea of Brahman is to be imparted to the sacrificial accessories as the idea of Visnu is imparted to an idol or as the idea of Brahman is imparted to' name', the subject-matter of the verse cannot be the Brahman-Knowledge (BrahmaVidya) taught so far, because (according to them) the subject- matter to be understood would be the instrument of sacrifice etc. Moreover, the fruit of liberation (moksa) cannot be secured by a knowledge which brings the (mere) notion (of Brahman); but it is stated here that"He reaches Brahman alone", and it would indeed be improper to hold that the fruit of liberation can be secured by anything other than Perfect Knowledge. The inter pretation is also incompatible with the context which treats of Right Knowledge, in the verse, "He who sees inaction in action"[3] and in the summing up in the closing verses. The chapter, in fact, concludes by praising Right Knowledge in the words, 'Knowledge-Sacrifice is superior to sacrifice (performed) with (material) objects"[4], and "having attained Knowledge, he goes at once to the Supreme Peace"[5]. Therefore, it is improper to say, all of a sudden and severed from the context, that what is taught here is that the idea of Brahman should be imparted to the sacrificial accessories, as the idea of Visnu is imparted to an idol. It is thus concluded that the meaning of the verse is as expounded by us. Having represented Right Knowledge as a sacrifice, the Lord mentions other kinds of sacrifices as well, with a view to extolling that Right Knowledge- |
 |
