BHAGVAD GITA CHAPTER-4

BHAGVAD GITA

Chapter 4: Path of Samnyasa with Knowledge

Lord Krishna said: I taught this eternal science of Karma-yoga to King Vivasvan. Vivasvan taught it to Manu. Manu taught it to Ikshavaku. (4.01)

Thus handed down in succession the royal sages knew this. After a long time the science of Karma-yoga was lost from this earth. (4.02)

Today I have described the same ancient spiritual science to you, because you are my sincere devotee and friend. Karma-yoga is a supreme secret indeed. (4.03)

Arjuna said: You were born later, but Vivasvan was born in ancient time. How am I to understand that You taught this yoga in the beginning of the creation? (4.04)

Lord Krishna said: Both you and I have taken many births. I remember them all, O Arjuna, but you do not remember. (4.05)

Though I am eternal, unchangeable, and the Lord of all beings; yet I voluntarily take avatar or manifest by controlling material nature, using My power of YogaMaya.  (4.06)

Yoga-Maya is the origin of Maya; the mystic power of Brahman. The word Maya means unreal, illusory, or untrue image of the creation. Due to the power of Maya one considers the universe and individual body as separate from Brahman, the Supreme spirit.

Brahman is invisible potential energy; Maya is kinetic energy, the force of action. They are inseparable like fire and heat. Maya is also a metaphor used to explain the visible world or Jagat to common people.

Whenever there is a major decline of Dharma and the rise of Adharma, O Arjuna, then I incarnate Myself. I take avatar from time to time for protecting the good, destroying the wicked, and for establishing Dharma, the world order. (4.07-08)

One who truly understands My divine birth and activities of creation, maintenance, and destruction, is not born again after leaving this body and attains My abode, O Arjuna. (4.09)

Many have become free from attachment, fear, anger, and attained nirvana by gladly accepting My will, by becoming fully absorbed in My thoughts and by getting purified by the fire of Self-knowledge. (4.10)

With whatever motive people worship Me, I fulfill their desires accordingly. People worship Me with different motives. (4.11)

Those who long for success in their work here on the earth worship the Devas. Success in work comes quickly in this human world. (4.12)

The four Varna or divisions of human society, based on aptitude and vocation, were created by Me. Though I am the author of this system, one should know that I do nothing and I am eternal. (4.13)

Works do not bind Me, because I have no desire for the fruits of work. The one who understands this truth is also not bound by Karma. (4.14)

The ancient seekers of liberation also did their duties with this understanding. Therefore, you should do your duty as the ancients did. (4.15)

Even the wise are confused about what is action and what is inaction. Therefore, I shall clearly explain what is action, knowing this one shall be liberated from the evil of birth and death. (4.16)

The true nature of action is very difficult to understand. Therefore, one should know the nature of attached action, the nature of detached action, and also the nature of forbidden action. (4.17)

The one who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is a wise person. Such a person is a yogi and has achieved everything. (4.18)

One whose desires have become selfless by being roasted in the fire of Self-realization, is called a sage by the wise. (4.19)

One who has abandoned attachment to the fruits of work, who is ever content and dependent on no one but Krishna; such a person does nothing at all though engaged in activity and incurs no Karmic reaction. (4.20)

One who is free from desires, whose mind and senses are under control, and who has given up the feeling of ownership, does not incur sin . the Karmic reaction . by doing any work. (4.21)

A KarmaYogi . who is content with whatever gain comes naturally by His will, unaffected by pairs of opposites such as victory and defeat, free from envy, even-minded in success and failure . is not bound by Karma. (4.22)

All Karmic bonds of a KarmaYogi . who is free from attachment, whose mind is fixed in Self-knowledge, and who does work as a service to the Lord . dissolve away. (4.23)

The divine Spirit has become everything. Brahma shall be realized by one who considers everything as an act of Brahma. (4.24)

Some yogis perform the service of worship to Devas, while others offer selfless service to the Eternal Being. (4.25)

Some offer their sight, hearing and other senses in the fires of sense control, others offer appearance, taste or other sense objects as sacrifice in the fires of the sense control. (4.26)

Others offer all the functions of the senses and the functions of Prana  as sacrifice in the fire of the yoga of sense control that is kindled by knowledge. (4.27)

Others offer their wealth, their discipline, and their practice of yoga as sacrifice, while others offer their study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice. (4.28)

Some practice Pranayama by breathing in, then stopping the breath for a while (called in Kumbhak) before breathing out using yogic breathing techniques. (4.29)

Others restrict their diet and stop the breath after breathing out (known as out Kumbhak). All these are the knowers of sacrifice, and their minds become purified by their sacrifice. (4.30)

Those who perform the sacrifice of selfless service obtain the nectar of Self-knowledge as a result of their sacrifice and attain eternal Brahman. Even this world is not a happy place for the non-sacrificer, how can the other world be?  (4.31)

Many types of spiritual disciplines are described in the Vedas. Know them to be the action of nature using our body, mind, and senses. Understanding this, one shall attain nirvana. (4.32)

The acquisition and propagation of Self-knowledge are superior to any material gain or gift, O Arjuna. Because all actions leads to Self-knowledge. (4.33)

Acquire this Self-knowledge from a Self-realized master by humble respect, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise who have realized the truth will teach you. (4.34)

After knowing the Truth, you shall not again get confused like this. With this knowledge you shall see the entire creation within your own higher Self or in Brahman (4.35)

Even if one is the most sinful of all sinners, yet one shall easily cross over the river of sin with the help of the raft of Self-knowledge. (4.36)

As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, similarly, the fire of Self-knowledge reduces all Karma to ashes, and opens the gate of nirvana, O Arjuna. (4.37)

Truly, there is no purifier in this world like the true knowledge of the Supreme Being. One discovers this knowledge in due course of time  (4.38)

The one who has faith in God, is sincere in Sadhana, and has control over the senses, gains this knowledge. Having gained this knowledge, one soon attains the supreme peace.  (4.39)

But the ignorant, faithless, doubtful and atheist or disbeliever takes birth again and again. There is neither this world nor the world beyond nor happiness for the one who doubts the existence of God. (4.40)

Work does not bind one who has given up the fruits of work through Karma-yoga; whose all doubts are completely destroyed by Self-knowledge; and who is Self-realized, O Arjuna. (4.41)

Therefore, cut the ignorance-born confusion (about our true nature as Spirit) by the sword of Self-knowledge, follow the path of KarmaYoga, and do your duty, O Arjuna. (4.42)