Gita Rahasya -Tilak
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CHAPTER XI
RENUNCITATION AND KARMA-YOGA
Therefore, Arjuna has asked the natural and straight question, namely, "tell me in a definite way which of these two paths is more proper " [1], so that it would be easy for him to act according to that path. Arjuna having asked this question in the beginning of the fifth chapter, the Blessed Lord has immedia- tely in the next verse given a clear answer to it, namely, "though the Path of Renunciation, and the Path of Karma- Toga are both equally productive of Release (nihsreyasa), yet, out of these two paths THE WORTH OR IMPORTANCE OF KARMA-YOGA IS GREATER ( visisyate)", [2]; and I have designedly quoted this stanza at the beginning of this chapter. It is not that these are the only words in the Gita which support the superiority of Karma-Toga. There are several other statements in the Gita which contain that advice to Arjuna, such as, : — "tasmad yogaya yujyasva" [3], i. e., "therefore, adopt the Karma-Toga" ; or, "ma te samgo 'stv akarmani" [4], i. e,, "do not insist on not perform- ing Actions"; or, yastv indriyani manasa niyamyarabhate 'rjuna I karmendriyaih karma-yogam asaktah sa visisyate II [5] that is, instead of abandoning Action, "controlling the organs by the Mind, and using the organs of Action for performing Actions with a desireless frame of mind is VISESA (more IMPORTANT), ( visisyate )" ; because, in any case "karma jyayo hy akarmanah", i. e., "Action is SUPERIOR (srestha) to Inaction" [6] ; "therefore, go on performing Actions" [7] ; or, "yogamati sthottistha" [8], i. e.» "accept the Path of (Karma-)Yoga and stand up to fight" ; or "(yogi)jnanibhyo 'pimato 'dhikah",i.s., "the merit of the (Karma-) Yogin is more (adhikah) than that of the Jnana-margin (of Samnyasa)" ; or, "tasmad yogi bhavarjuna" [9], i. e„ "therefore, O Arjuna, become a (Karma-) Yogin" ; or, "mam anusmara yudhya ca" [10], i.e., "think of me and fight" etc, etc.; and in that advice the clear words 'JYAYAH't 'ADHIKAR', ' VISISYATE' have been used in order to show that the merit of Karma-Yoga is higher than that of Renuncia- tion or Non-Action. And even in the summing up in the 18th. chapter, the Blessed Lord has again said [11] that, "it. is my DEFINITE and BETTER opinion that it is not proper to abandon those Actions which have been prescribed, and that, one must always perform Actions without being attached to them". From this, it is established beyond doubt, that accord- ing to the Gita,, Karma-Yoga is superior to Renunciation. |
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