Srimad Bhagavadgita -Ramsukhdas 1706

Srimad Bhagavadgita Sadhaka Sanjivani -Swami Ramsukhdas

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Chapter 18

But in these two similar divisions also, there is a little difference. In the first division, actions prompted by desire, are to be given up, while in the third division all the actions are to be given up. Similarly, according to second opinion, there is abandonment of the fruit of actions, while according to the fourth one, other actions except sacrifice, gift and penance, are to be abandoned.
How is the Lord's view superior to those of other thinkers is discussed as follows:-

  1. Kamyanam karmanam nyasam sannyasam:- Here, all actions prompted by desire are given up,[1] yet there remain obligatory actions, of daily routine and also those that are performed on special occasions or at places of pilgrimage etc. Therefore this view is not perfect, because in it, neither the renunciation of doership, has been mentioned nor has it been mentioned, that one gets established, in the self. But in the Lord's view, both these factors are involved. In the seventeenth verse of this chapter, there is mention of the renouncement of doership, when the Lord declares, "He, who is free from egoistic notion and whose intelligence is not tainted." Similarly, he remains established in the self, has been explained, when he declares, "He may kill all these people, he does not kill, nor is he bound."
  2. Tyajymh dosavadityeke:- In this view of the men of wisdom, it is said that all actions should be given up, as an evil. But all actions cannot be renounced[2], and even the body cannot be maintained, without action [3]. So the Lord, has called this sort of renunciation of one's duty, as rajasika and tamasika[4].
  3. Sarvakarmaphalatyagam:- In this first view of relinquishment, there is relinquishment of fruit i.e., relinquishment of desire.[5] Therefore, the Lord, has advised to remain even-minded in succe</ref> Relinquishment of attachment cannot be included in it, because by doing so, the view of the men of wisdom and the view of the Lord become one. The Lord declares, "Duties must be performed, relinquishing attachment to action and to its fruit"[6].
  4. Yajnadsnatapahkarma na tyajyam:- Sacrifice, charity and penance, are not to be given up. But besides these three, there is no mention of other actions, which one performs according to one's caste and social order etc., whether they should be performed or not. So this view is imperfect. According to view of the Lord, all duties and pious acts such as pilgrimage etc., most be performed relinquishing, attachment and fruit[7].

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References

  1. ↑ Actions are divided into five kinds (I)'Nityakarma' —The daily activities as enjoined by the scriptures such as prayer in the morning, noon and evening known as 'Sandhya and recitation of 'Gayatri manes' (the sacred Vedic hymn) etc. (2) 'Naimittikakanna'—The actions which are performed, on account of some place of pilgrimage or special occasions etc., are called 'Naimittikakarma'. Actions sanctioned by scriptures, at the places of pilgrimage such as Prayaga, Naimisarapya and Puskara etc., and on occasions, such m on the days of eclipses, full moon and dark fortnight (Amavasya) and the eleventh day of every fortnight (Ekadaai), as well as on the birthday and day of marriage eta, are included in this category. (3) 'Kamyakarma'—The religious rites, performed in order to gain praise, honour, son, riches, fame etc., and to get rid of diseases, poverty red other undesirable circumstances etc., are known as 'Kamyakarma'. (4) 'Prayascivakarma'—Actions which are performed, in order to get rid of the sins of present or the past, are called actions of repentance i.e., 'Prayascittakarma'. (5) Necessary (obligatory) actions—The profession, such as farming, business, service etc., as well as actions as eating, drinking, sleeping, awaking etc., are regarded as necessary (obligatory) actions, of daily routine.
  2. ↑ Gita 315)
  3. ↑ Gita 318
  4. ↑ 18/7-8
  5. ↑ Where there is mention of relinquishment of fruit, there it should be regarded as the relinquishment of the desire for fruit, because the fruit cannot be relinquished Every action, bears some fait or the other. When a farmer farms a field, it will bear fruit, either desirable or undesirable. Similarly a businessman, may gain or lose, as fruit of business. Thus success or failure, is the fruit of action. But when a man relinquishes desire, his affinity for fruit, is aummancally renounced (Gita 18/12). Therefore, the Lord, has advised to remain even-minded in success, and failure, and this even-mindedness is called 'Yoga' (Gita 2/48). This even-mindedness, means that the person should not be attached, to fruits of actions.
  6. ↑ Gita 18/6
  7. ↑ 18/5-6