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Chapter 2
In unfavourable circumstances, a man should not be perturbed but should think that the sins committed to get pleasure, are perishing in the form of unfavourable circumstances and this thought is a kind of repentance for the sins committed. Secondly, it is a fore-warning to us that we shall have to face adverse consequences if we commit sins again. So, we should perform actions for the welfare of all creatures, rather than for our own pleasure.
For insects, birds and animals etc., the fruit of past actions and also the present actions are only to work out their destinies. But in case of human beings the fruit of past actions as also the present activities, are the means for their salvation.
Ma phatesu kadacana:-You cannot claim the fruit of action, because you are not free in getting it, which is dispensed by the Lord. If you perform actions with a desire for fruits, you will get into bondage (Gita 5/12). It is the desire for fruit which makes a person an agent for actions. With the passing away of desire, a sense of doership is gone. Obliteration of the sense of doership, does not lead a man to bondage. It means that a man is much more entangled in desires.[1]
Secondly, all actions are performed with the help of worldly objects and persons. So it is dishonest, to desire the fruit of those actions, for only one's own self.
The desire for fruit of actions is not beneficial for human beings. 'Never lay claim to its fruit'—this expression proves that it is upto a man whether he lays claim to the fruit of an action or not. He is free in this respect. The term 'phalesu' has been used in the plural, because a man by performing an action desires several fruits such as riches, respect and reputation etc.
The means to be free, from the desire for fruits of actions are as follows
- Desire causes a feeling of lacking something. Its fulfilment makes one a slave. Its non-fulfilment causes suffering. The pleasure derived out of fulfilment of desire, gives birth to new desires and a man goes on getting interested in performing new actions, in order to reap their fruit. By understanding this fact in the right perspective, a man becomes free from the desire for the fruit of action.
- Actions have a beginning and an end, these are not eternal. So, how can their fruits be eternal? But the self is eternal. How can the eternal get any benefit from the perishable? By understanding this fact, one becomes detached from the world and attains God-realization.
In order to be free from the desire for fruits of actions, an aspirant should have discrimination as well as feelings to serve others. Discrimination will be helpful to an aspirant in renouncing his comforts, while the feelings of service to others, will enable him to do good to others. By doing so a striver can follow the Discipline of Disinterested Action, in the right sense.
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