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Chapter 4
Even the wise are confused, about the truth of what, an inaction is. The reality about an action or an inaction is, that it should not bind a man. Arjuna holds that he will attain salvation if he does not indulge himself in the cruel deed of fighting. So the Lord declares, that a man does not attain to perfection, by mere renunciation of action (Gita 3/4) but he can attain it, even by engaging himself in battle (Gita 2/38).Thus inaction, consists either in the performance of actions by remaining untainted or in remaining untainted, while performing actions.
Kavayo'pyatra mohitah:—How can common men understand the truth about action and inaction, when even the learned who are well-versed in the scriptures, are at a loss to grasp this topic? It means, that only the liberated souls or the Lord knows, the truth about action and inaction.
Tatte karma pravaksyami:—A man, (the soul) is bound by actions, so he would also be liberated, by action. The Lord promises here that, He will declare the reality about actions, so that they may not lead him to bondage and he may be liberated from the bondage of the cycle of birth and death.
In fact, it is neither action nor inaction;which binds a man, but it is the desire, the sense of mine and attachment, which bind him. If he renounces desire and feelings of possession and attachment, he is liberated, while performing action, and not by performing it. One, who understands this fact, knows the reality about actions.
In the fiftieth verse of the second chapter, the Lord declared, "Yoga is skill in action." It means that Yoga viz., equanimity (evenness of mind) is the means to be liberated from the binding nature of actions. Arjuna could not understand this point; therefore, the Lord promises to explain this point again.
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