Gita Rahasya -Tilak 402

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

CHAPTER XII THE STATE AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SIDDHA (PERFECT) As this state is extremely difficult of accomplishment, the German philosopher Kant says that the description given by Greek philosophers of such a state, is not of the state of any living being ; but that they have personified the 'Pure Desire', which is the root of all Ethics, in order to impress the elements of pure morality on the minds of people ; and have created this picture of a super-Jnanin and moral person out of their own imagination. But, our philosophers say that such a state of things is not an imaginary state, and that it can be accomplished by man in this life by mental control and effort ; and we have seen actual examples of such persons in our country. Nevertheless, such a thing is not a matter of ordinary occurrence, and there is possibly only one among thousands who makes any effort in this direction ; and it is clearly stated in the Gita that only one, out of the thousand who maka an effort in this direction, ultimately attains this beatific ideal state, at the end of innumerable lives . However difficult of accomplishment this state of a Sthitaprajna (sthitaprajnavastha) or this state of being free from re-birth (jivan-muktavastha) may be, it follows from the description of such a man, which has been given above, that the man, who has once accomplished this ultimate state, does not need to be taught any laws about what should be done or should not be done, i.e., of Ethics ; because, as the purest, the most equable and the most sinless frama of mind is the essence of morality, laying down laws of Ethics for such a Sthitaprajna would be as unreasonable as imagining that the Sun is surrounded by darkness, and holding up a torch for it. There may be a doubt as to whether or not a particular person has reached this highest of states. But, when once it has been established by whatever means that a particular person has reached this state, no proposition is possible, except the Metaphysical proposition mentioned above, regarding the merit- or de-merit of his actions. Just as regal authority is vested in one independent person or collection of persons, and as, according to some Western jurists, the ruler is not governed by any laws, though the ruled are so governed, so also are the' Sthitaprajnas vested with authority in the kingdom of Ethics. No Desire exists in their minds ; and, therefore, they are not induced to perform Action by any motive, except the fact that it is a duty enjoined by the Sastras ; and therefore, the words sin or meritorious action, morality or immorality, can never be applied to the conduct of such persons, who are filled by a stainless and pure desire.