Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -6
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Objection - Among the religious orders (āśramins), one person wishes to attain to Yoka, another has attained to Yoga, and a third (set) are persons who have neither attained to Yoga nor wish to attain to Yoka; with reference to this third set, it is proper to particularise and mention separately the first two sets of persons. Reply - No. Because of the words. "For the same person[1]. And, from the repetition of the word 'Yoga' in" when he has attained to Yoga"[2], it is meant that for the very person, who first wished to attain to Yoga, when he had attained to Yoga, inaction (soma) is to be adopted as the means for the fruition of Yoga. Thus, no action whatever is to be deemed as prescribed for performance throughout life. Also because of the mention of falling from Yoga[3]. If, in (this) sixth chapter, Yoka be enjoined for the householder, i.e. the performer of action, then there can be no apprehension about his ruin, since he would obtain the due result, the fruit of his actions (karma), even though fallen from Yoga. For, any action done, whether it be done with a view to a result (kāmya- karm?) or whether it be obligatory (nitya-karma), necessarily produces its result; but moksa being eternal cannot be produced (by any action). And, we have already stated[4] that an obligatory duty, taught by the authority of the Veda, must produce its fruit; as otherwise the Veda would become purposeless. Moreover, with respect to the householder, who must continue performing karma, it would be meaningless to speak of him as fallen from both (the path of Knowledge and the path of action), since there is no occasion for his falling from (the path of) action. |
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