Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -6
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2. That which they call samnyāsa (renunciation), know yoga to be that, O Pandava; for none becomes a yogin without renouncing sarhkalpa[1]. That characterised by the renunciation of all action together with the fruit (of all action), which they who are learned in the Śruti and the Smrti call samnyāsa, renunciation in the true sense (Paramartha), know Yoga, characterised by the performance of (disinterested) action, to be that, i.e. the true renunciation, O Pāndava. The question arises: recognising what similarity between karma-yoga - which consists in the performance of action - and its opposite, the true renunciation - which consists in withdrawal from action, is the former said to be the same as the latter? This is the reply: there is some similarity between karma-yoga and true samnyāsa when viewed in relation to the agent. Since he has renounced all actions together with the means (of executing them), he who is a true samnyasin abandons (even) the thought about all actions and their fruits and thereby any inclination prompt-ing action. The karma-yogin in question, as well, while performing action, gives up the thought of the fruit of action. Explaining this import, the Lord says- |
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References and Context
- ↑ Of the many meanings the word "sarhkalpa" has, the revered Com mentator here adopts, as suitable to the context, the meanings "desire" in general and "expectation of advantage from a holy act" in particular-as is borne out in the commentary following.