Gita Rahasya -Tilak 401

Srimad Bhagavadgita-Rahasya OR Karma-Yoga-Sastra -Bal Gangadhar Tilak

CHAPTER XII THE STATE AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SIDDHA (PERFECT) For example, the Greek philosopher Plato says in his work that, that Action which appears to be proper to the philosopher, must be beneficial or just; that ordinary persons do not understand these priniciples of Ethics; and that they must, therefore, look upon the decisions of philosophers as authoritative. Another Greek philosopher named Aristole say in his book on Ethice (3.4) that the decision given by a Jnanin is always correct, because, he has understood the true principle ; and this decision or conduct of a Jnanin is exemplary for others. A third Greek philosopher, named Epicurus, in describing such an exemplary and highly cultivated Jnanin, says that he is “peaceful, equable, and probably always joyful like the Paramesvara; and that there is not the slightest harm don by him to other people, or by other people to him”. My readers will realise how similar this description is to the description given in the bhagavadgita of the Steady-in-Mind (sthitaprajna), of the one who is beyond the three constituents (trigunatita), or of the highest Devotee (paramabhakta), or the Brahman-merged (brahma-bhuta). In the Bhagavadgita, the characteristics of the Sthitaprajna have been mentioned in three or four places in the following words, namely : “yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate ca yah” , i.e., “one, of who people do not get tired, and who is not tired of people"; or, who is always cheerful, and always free from the doubles of joy and sorrow, fear and dislike, happiness and unhappiness, and is always content with himself ; or, one whose Reason is not moved by the three constituents ; or, one for whom praise or adverse criticism, honour or dishonour is juat the same, and who, realising the identity of one Atman in all created things . does his duty with an equable frame of mind, without Attachment, courageously, and enthusiastically ; or, is " samalostasma kancana" , (i. e., one who looks upon earth, stone, and gold as the same — Trans.); and this state is known as the State of the Perfect (siddhavastha), or the Brahmi state. The Yoga-Vasistha and other works refer to this state as the state of being free from re-birth ( jivanmuktavastha ).