Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -2
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And in case they were not knowers of Truth, the passages should be interpreted as follows : By means of action dedicated to the Lord, Janaka and the others attained saihsidclhi (perfection), meaning, either purity of heart or indications of the dawn of Know ledge. The Lord (also) speaks to the same effect in the passage, "Yogins perform action for the purification of the self (heart)"(V-ll). Having also stated, "Worshipping Him with his own duly, a man attains perfection"[1], He again prescribes for such 'perfected' man the path of Knowledge in the words "How he who has reached such perfection attains to Brahman"[2]. Hence the conclusive purport of the Gita leaching is that salvation is attained by Knowledge of Truth alone, and not in conjunction with works. That this is the purport, we shall point out here and there in the various sections, according to the context. Seeing no means of deliverance other than Self-Knowlcdgc for Arjuna who was thus labouring under misconception[3] and was perplexed in mind about Dharma and immersed in the mighty ocean of sorrow, the Lord Vāsudeva, wishing to rescue him there from, spoke as follows, introducing him to Self-Knowledge. |
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