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Shri Bhagavad-Gita 12 страницаante\ growing more and more devoted and attentive as knowledge(or wisdom)ripenes, and becoming moreand more abstracted from external matters towards which the senses pull, one soon reaches the summit of wisdom. After attaining wisdom, he attains Supreme Peace, viz Nirvana(Spiritual Bliss). &c. 40. 'The ignorant, non-earnest, skeptic-minded, perishes. To the skeptic-minded, this world is not, nor the other,nor happiness.'
A-jflahorignorant:is he who is uninstructed in wisdom. ¦ A-sraddha-dhdnah or the non-earnest: is he who lacks faith or fervour,even after instruction. The skeptic: is he who doubts the knowledge he has received. The man ofthis disposition perishes. That is, that to the man who doubts the true nature of atma,which is taught him, there is neither this material world,nor the other(svarga etc). That is to say, he forfeits all the fruits of man's ambi tion; dharma,artha Sind kdma\ while so, whence moksha? For,all the ambitions of man are gratifiable by carry ing out .some one or the other of ^astra-enjoined duties. And fulfilment ofany desire is dependenton the conviction of an atma existing distinct from the body. Whoso doubts therefore the very existence of atma cannot share in the smallest fraction of(spiritual) bliss. &c. 41. 'No deeds bind him, Dhanaftjaya*I, whose works are yoga-dedicated, whose doubts are wisdom- cut, whose mind is firmly-fixt' ' Work, yoga-dedicated {)'oga-sanyasta-karma)'\ yoga is karma-yoga,or the Mode of performing works in the man ner inculcated (above). Dedication or resignation means; that work is performed from the stand-point of wisdom. (When so performed the binding power ofwork becomes nullified). Also in the manner inculcated,doubts concerning atma are dispelled by atma-wisdom. Aimavantam=inanasvinatn(self-contained)or he whose mind is untrammelled or unassailed by any doubts, or whose mind has attained to a state of unshakable certitude as regards atma,—from the teaching received. No string ofendless deeds,done by him,can ever bind such a person. . &c. 42. 'With the sword of wisdom, then, Bharata 1,^ cleaving all this ignorance-born doubt settling in thy heart, arise, and practise (karma) yoga.' With thesword ofatma-wisdom,therefore,asimparted by Me, sever all the long-standing ignorance-born doubts concerning atma,harbouring in thy bosom,and take thy selfto practising karma-yoga in the manner that I have inculcated. To carry out My injunctions,then,arise, O Bharata OM TAT SAT. Thus closes Discourse Four, named,Jfldna- Yoga,pr the Path of Knowledge With Sri RdmdnujcCs Commentary thereon. Between ^ri Krishna and Aijuna, In the Science of Yoga, In the Divine Knowledge ofthe Upanishads Or the Chants ofBhagavan. The Bhagavad-Gita. I. Aijuna,(see note 3, p.42).
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SRI BHAGAVAD-GITA OR THE DIVINE LAY, WITH SRl RAMANUJA'S YISISHTADYAITA
COMMENTARY. LECTURE V. NAMED, KARMASANYAsa-YOGA, OR THE TOPIC ON WORK-RENUNCIATION.
Sri Ydmunacharya,
Toshow,that mode ofworks,bingssoon the fruit, to men. Book Five begins, and then dwellson the Brahma-Ken,*
®^hagavad-G^a WITH SRi RAMANUJA'S VISISHTADVAITA COMMENTARY. FIFTH LECTURE, KARMA-SANYASA-YOGA, OR ON WORK-RENUNCIATION. PROEM. JN Lecture Four,the wisdom-(or knowledge)aspectof Karma-Yoga was treated of, with special reference to the importance ofthe wisdom-element in it. In Lecture Three,it was shown thateven to the person who may be qualified to practise Jflana-Yoga, Karma- Yoga •(or method of works) was still preferable, inas much as jflana or atma-wisdom is involved therein ; inas much as works are destitute of accidents (such as attend jflana-yoga), easy to perform, and constitute per se an independent Means. In the Present(Fifth)Lecture, Karma-Yoga isexami ned in its character ofexpeditiousness as compared with Jflana-Yoga,—in effecting atina-attainment;and as to how it should be practised by eliminating the element there from ofones' being the actor. How jfiana(wisdom)is seen from this stand-point is also investigated. Questions Arjuna:— &c. I. 'On renouncal of work, Krishna!^ and again oq doing of works {yoga), dost Thou descant Which of the two is better, conclusively tell me.' Arjuna:— The renunciation of works is Jfldna-Yoga. Yoga is Karma-Yoga, the prosecution of works. Once,thou dost extol the former, once the latter! Here is a summary of Thy teachings:— In Lecture Two, Thou didst declare that Karma- Yoga was worthy to be followed by the moksha-aspirant, and that as soon as the inner organ {aniahkarana= mind)became purified of taints,it wasthen time toembark on Jflana-Yoga, which would bring about atma-vision (/. e., soul-consciousness). But in Lectures Three and Four,Thou didst maintain that Karma-Yoga was preferable even in the case of him who is quali^ed for Jflana-Yoga; that Karma-Yoga was alone sufficient,—without the aid of Jflana-Yoga—as a Means to atma-attainment. As between these two then, viz\ Karma-Yoga and Jflana-Yoga,wilt thou tell me truly, which of them is the superior, the ready,the easy, means to attain to atma?
SrT Bhagavan responds thus:— &c. 2. ' Renunciation' and Karma-Yoga, both conduct to bliss. Ofthese two however, K'arma-Yoga is declared better than Karma-renouncal.* Sannyasa (lit: putting away)is cessation from work, and therefore means Jfiana-Yoga. Both Jfiana-Yoga and Karma-Yoga,areeach,indepen dently capable of achieving bliss. But of the two, how ever, Karma-Yoga is better than Jftana-Yoga,—the renun ciation of works. If it be asked how this is, it is said:— &c. 3. ' He is to be known as ever sannyasi,^ who neither hates norcraves. He who is above the'pairs,'* Maha-baho!* easily escapes from bondage.' The karma-yogi who has experienced atma-bliss that is involved in karma-yoga, does not desire for anything else than atma. He has thusno occasion to hate anything. And therefore also is he one, capable of enduring the 'pairs.'* Such person is to be known as the constant mnnydsi,i. e., as he who is the constant practiser of jflana (wisdom). Such person easily practises karma-yoga and he easily escapes bondage. That, independently, both Karma-Yoga and Jflana- Yoga,are each capable of conducting to atma-attainment, is now shown:—
1, This term is applied toan as- cetic or one who retires from the 2. world. It means one who surceases from world’s activities, as well as Vedic ceremonies. See note 3, p: 42.
3 A war-name of Arjuna, Jit; the ‘ strong-armed,’
Saflkhya and Yoga are different,' say children, not savants. Whoso is well established in one, reapeth the fruits of both.' Those are lads(or uninformed men),or to whom wis dom has not yet bloomed,who utter that Sdhkhya>(jfiana- yoga)and Yoga}-(karma-yoga)differ from difference offruit. Such men are no-pandits(erudite men),—meaningthattheir understanding is shallow,—who would affirm that Karma- yoga can but lead to Jftana-yoga,and that itis Jflana-yoga alone that conducts to atma-vision,thus making a distinc tion between the two, from the difference of fruit. (The fruit ofkarma being jfiana, and the fruit ofjMna being atma-cognition). But this is not the case,inasmuch as the aim of both the Paths is but one, viz., atma-vision. And that is rea lized by both,so long as one firmly adoptsanyoneofthem. The same (view)is further expanded:— &c. 5. ' The place that is gained by the Sdhkhyas,isgain ed by the Yogis as well. He sees, who sees that Saflkhya and Yoga are but one.' The Sdnkhyds are the followers ofthe Jflana-method. Whatsoever goal is reached by these is that reached, as well,by thefollowers of Karma-j'oga. He sees(or knows)correctly, whosees(or knows)that either ofthe methods,Sankhya and Yoga,leads to thesame one fruit. Such person alone is wise. The difference is this-much:—
1. See ti-39, and iii-3, and com- mentaries thereon for an explication of the terms Sidkhya and Yoga. Briefly the former is Knowledge ; the latter Work or Action.
6. 'But sannyasa without (karma)-yoga, is difficult to achieve,O Mighty-armed!. Butthe(karma-) yoga-united munisoon attains brahma(atma). Asfor Sannyasa or Jflana-yoga,it is difficult toachieve, without(the help of)Karma-yoga. Yoga-yuktah(yoga-united)is he who has united him selfto(or has adopted the Path of)Karma-yoga. Munik=:he who is constantly ruminating on atma. (lit: he who is silent; i. e, silent as regards the world). This person easily journeys along the Path of Karma, and soon attains atma {brahma). But he who has united himself to the method of Jftana-yoga has to walk that Path with extreme difficulty. It takes long time,on account of its difficulty, to attain to atma by this road. &c. 7. 'The (karma-)yoga-united, pure-minded, whose mind and senses are under control, who looks on the atmas of all beings as his atma,is not tainted(by works), though he works.' The performer of Karma-yoga is he who fulfils the sacred canons ofSastrat which are but Modes of Worship to the Supernal Spirit{Parama-purusha^). By this, one becomes purified of mind {visuddhatma). He is vijitdtma(having mind under control), because he is absorbed in the performance ofthe said Worship. Hence, he isjit-endriya(who has governed the senses.) He is sarva-bhut-dtma-bhut-dUna,or he whois enabled —by the way he performs work with the knowledge ofthe true nature ofthe performer thereof,atma,—tocontemplate
176 THE BHAGAVAD-oirX WITH RAMANUJA'S COMMENTARY. [LeC.V. on the atma.s abiding in all beings such as devas etc., as on his own atma; for the essential nature of atma(-principle), wherever it may abide,—devas etc.,—is the same to the meditator of atma-nature. The true nature ofatma is not in the changeful matter which constitutes the bodies of devas etc. Bodies vary, but the informing atmas therein are one like the other,in their essential nature of being conscious entities, as viewed distinct from the(non-conscious) bodies(veiling them). Gita tells us further on this fact that: ' Faultless indeed is brahma(atma),and equal'.(v-19). A man of the above description is never infatuated with the erroneous notion oftaking whatis non-atraa(non- spirit or, material substance) for atma (soul or spiritual essence),albeit he works. He works, but(hisspiritual notionsare ofsuch a nature that)his works do not bind him. Ere long,therefore, he realizes Stma. As Karma-yoga has been declared to be easy of per formance,and fructifying soon, what is required to enable one to so perform it. Is now stated:— &c. &C. 8-9.' Knowing that the senses abide in their appro priate objects, the truth-seeing yukta (karma- yogl), shall reflect (thus): 'naught, do / do,' though he be seeing or hearing, touching or smelling,eating or walking,sleeping or breath ing,talking^'answering'' or grasping, opening the eyes or closing(them).'*
1. Answering means answering the calls of nature, and other excretions from the body.
Thus, he who is edified concerning atma-nature, shall reflect thus:—*Though the senses of perception,—the auditory etc.;—the senses ofaction,the voice etc.,—and the pranas (life-breaths)—all function within their several cor responding objects,/virtually do notdoanyofthoseactions. For I am in reality the conscious entity (and not any of these), and doer-shipfor(such)me is derivedfrom thesenses, pranasetc.,union with which hasbeen forced by(past)deeds; and it,(doer-ship or actor-ship), is not an essential attribute ofatma-nature.' Thus shall the atma-knowing man reflect, &c. ID. Whoso performeth acts, ascribing them to mat ter {brahma),and abandoning all attachment,is not touched by sin, like unto the lotus-leaf unwetted by water. Theterm brahma here signifiesprakritt(matter). That such application ofthe term obtains,is exemplified by such passages as:— ' The great brahma(matter)is my womb(seat)'(xiv-3) Whoso performs work, reflecting that all activities such ashearing,seeingetc.,pertain to matter,and,matter's modifi cationsinto the organized forms ofsenses;and whoso there fore, performs work imputing it to brahma(matter),and, renouncing all attachment, thinks 'naught do / do,' he remains uncontaminated with the sin that arises from the misconception of taking matter for atma,—that causes bondage. The analogy to this idea is that ofthe lotus-leaf and water. Though they are in contact with each other, water remains intact with reference to the leaf. iFRir &c.
the yogisact,—bytheir body,—bytheinanas^,— by the buddhi,^—and even by the mere senses. Devoid of all clingings to fruits such slssvargaetc.,the (karma)-yogls (mecTianically)let their body,uianas, buddhi and the senses do work,as but the instruments with which to effect self-purification. Self-purification(rt/»«a-fMrf</Ai) is the breaking of the bonds of past deeds binding atma. Work is done to get this release(and therefore not for securing any fruit like svarga etc). SRjiw &c. 12. 'The forsaking actions' fruit, attains to everlasting rest. The a-yuktah, prompted by lust, clings to fruit thereof,and remains bound.' Yuktah is the right performer of action, or he who doesnotdesireforother fruition save atma,—in other words, who centres all hislove in atma. He resigns fruit of works, and performs work merely for the purpose of self-purifi cation. And he attains permanent peace, i. e., the eternal beatitute of atma-enjoyment. A-yuktah is the wrong performer ofaction, or he who desires for other fruits than atma,or who is averse to ob taining atma-vision. Incited by lust, he hungers for fruit. The acts ofsuch a person therefore perpetually bind him down. Thatis,he becomesaconstantsamsdri^(the creature ofincessant material limitations). Hence, he who is weaned from attachment to fruit shall(credit or)attribute all action to matter,—manifesting itselfin the shape ofthe senses—and act for effecting atma's deliverance from bondage. (After saying how agency ofaction may beimputed to the senses etc.,or parts or members ofthe body),it is now shown how agency ofaction may be attributed to the body itself, an aggregate of matter. &c. 13. 'Neither doing aught, nor causing any act, the embodied mentally consigns all actsto the nine- gated city (body), and sits therein the happy victor.' , Distinguishing in the mind that all authorship of work rests in the body,—with which atma is conjoined as a result ofpastdeeds—,and that,therefore,authorship does not pro ceed as an essential attribute ofatma,the embodied atma shall assign all acts to the nine-gated city(body). Himself, independent (vasi or victor), remains happy, not doing aught as a consequence of his residing in the body,nor causing the body to act. What is really the true nature of(this independent) atma? It is stated:— ^ &c. 14. 'Neither actorship nor act,doth the(^rab/tu^)lord of the body create for the world; nor even the bond between act and (its) fruit. * Tis Nature (svahhdva)that prevails.'*
1. Atma is pradhse from the root pra-bhavati. It lives (in contrast with sefeless matter). See Dvaita Commen- tary.
Theprabhu is the ruler ofthe body=atma. By essence, he is above the influences ofdeeds{karma)and abides in his own nature. Thisprabhu is nottheoriginator—in the world or regions abounding in matter-bound existences, viz., the four-fold divisions of deva, animal, human and immovable minerals etc.,) kingdoms—ofthe several kinds of agencies (or authorships of acts) pertaining thereto, nor of actions themselves,emanating from those entities; nor of
the links which connectact to act-born fruit,such as becom ing a deva etc., Whatis it,then,that does allthis? Itis the Nature that prevails. By Nature is meant the material reminiscence or instinct {vdsand). This kind ofactorship etc.,springs from union with matter in its formsofdevaetc.,fashioned by the chain ofdeeds generated in the immemorial past. The actorship etc., is also the result of the habit or instinct [vdsand)ofthe mistaken notion that the forms ofdeva etc., do themselves constitute the atma. Hence actorship(or authorship)ofacts etc.,—which is the productof union with matter—is no essential character istic of atma. &c. 15. ' The vibhu^(atma)taketh not away one's sin or merit. It is by ignorance that wisdom is wrapped,creatures beingthereby deluded.' Atma cannotsnatch awaythe sin,-/,e.,misery orsuffer ing,—though it may attach to a beloved son etc., nor can it steal awaythe merit—/.e., happiness—which may belong to onewho is hated. Because atma is notinsignificant kah),constrained to keep to a certain limited sphere as when confined in the body ofa deva and so on ; and,inas much as atma is of a nature that can have neither the relationship called amity, nor antagonism called enmity, all such notions (friends,foes etc.) are caused by vdsand (material instinct). How then does such instinct come to atma of the above-described nature? The reason is ignor ance. Ignorance covers (or veils) wisdom. Ignorance(o nescience)is that which is opposed to wisdom (or knov/ ledge). By this wisdom-hostile ignorance,-dueto the retros pective karma(deeds),—the intelligence(or consciousness) ofthis atma becomes contracted,so as to subject it (atma) to the predicament of becoming an enjoyer of the fruits thereof(ofkarma). By karmathen,which confines(or obs cures)intelligence, thelinking with such bodiesas deva &c., is forged. From love for the bodies, arises infatuation. This infatuation persisting,becomes the instinct (msaaa), (which constitutes the germ for further material existence). Thence spring forth the further body-loving instincts, and karma-instincts (/. pruriency or impulse to act).^ From these instincts, further perverted* Iovk issue, and further impulses to action are engendered.®
I. So called,by the all-pervasive, or all-diifusive nature ofconsciousness
Now the topic of wisdom,—as alluded to in: {Sarvamjildna)'.'Thou shouldst yet with this wisdom- bark swim across all evil'(IV-36); (Jtldn-dsnih):* The fire of wisdom reduces all action to ashes'(IV-37).;. {Nahijildnena) ' No purifier like wisdom';(IV-38)— is opportunely brought in here:— f &c. 16. ' But,for the atmas whose ignorance is destroyed by knowledge, their extraordinary intelligence illumines(all) like the Sun.' While all atmas are thus circumstanced, there come forth,out ofthem,those whose unwisdom becomes dispers ed by knowledge. Unwisdom or ignorance is in the shape of the endless mass ofcumulated karma(deeds) persisting from beginningless time. Knowledge is theabove-described I. So,instinct is oftwo kinds, the 2. Love for matter etc. instinct to love {aihtmSna) and 3. Hereendsthe manner in which the instinct to act (karma). Vasana one is to fancy disavowal ofall auth- is lit: scent,(it means habit, ten- orship ofacts to atma. Next,the sub- dency, nascent inclination etc). ject-matter ofLee;IV is reviewed; „
[. So, instinct is of two kinds, the instinct to love (adkimdna) and the instinct to act (4arma). Vasana is lit: scent, (it means habit, ten- dency, nascent inclination etc).
2. Love for matter etc. 3- Here ends the manner in which one is to fancy disavowal of all auth- orship of acts to atma. Next, the sub-
ject-matter of Lec; I'V is reyiewed; KEY EWE
atma-related knowledgederived from theteachings,inculcat ed, regarding real atma-nature; that which increases by virtue ofd^ily culture;and that which isexceedingly pure. # For these, the innate extraordinary(or transcendental) consciousness or intelligence,(hitherto,cooped,cribbed and confined in the atma by external obstructions)becomes all shining ;i.e., like the Sun,it, limitless and expanded,illumi nates(or reveals) all things in their exact nature. In this verse,the terms ' teshdm'(for ihem)and ^dtma- ndm'(of many atmas) occur. This declares most clearly the multeity(or plurality)ofatmas(souls),already enuncia ted in verse;— [Natv-ev-dham etc.^) 'Never at all wasthat I was not' etc-(ii-i2), and other contiguous(or contextural)passages. It may not be contended that this plurality is attribut ableto upddhi^(limiting conditions);for,notrace of upddhi^ (limitation) can exist in the case of those whose ignorance has become dispelled.*
1. See note I, p: 35. 2, The conclusion is that multipli-
city of Atmas is not a temporary impo- sition due to Upadhi, but it is a truth which is established by the use of plural terms even to souls who have ri- sen to the ultra-upadhic state or moksha.
The expression ' their intelligence'[teshdmjddnani)is composed oftwo terms,of v/hich the term'their'[teshdm), is in the genetive case,and is a pronominal adjective,quali fying the term 'intelligence'ijftdnam)in another case. This shows that intelligence or consciousness is an attribute or quality possessed bya possessor. Possessers are atmas,enti ties whose attribute, thepossessed, is' intelligence.' Intelli gence(or consciousne.ss)has thus an attributive(dhannaj existenceonly,[in relation tothe su\3st3.nt\a\(dharmi)exist ence(atma)].The analogy ofthe Sun,employed in the verse, is an illustration to prove the relation between the cognizer and cognition (or knower and knowledge), such as the relation existing between theSun—thesource oflight—and the light(emanating from him as a quality). Hence it holds, that in the Samsara^ (conditioned) state,intelligence is contracted (limited) by karma, and in the Moksha(emancipated)state, it is expanded (unlimit- edly diffused).* &c. 17. 'Meditating on that (atma), engrossed in that, pursuing that, aiming that, they go, wisdom- effaced oftaint, to the non-reverting {that)'^ Tad-buddhayah=Those, having all the understanding {buddki=or will, reasoning, or intellect) employed on that i. e., employed to secure atma-vision ofthe kind described (V-i6,tf«/^).(Understandingorintellectfixed,is meditation). Tad-dtmdnah=1YiosQ, having all the mind {atma— manas)centred on that, i. e., making atma the sole subject of(loving)reflection. (Intellect is mere thought, but mind involves emotion. Hence engrossment is when a desired object takes loving possession ofthe heart). Tan-nishtJidk-='X\io%&, who practise earnestly all that is necessary to take them to their desired end. Practice ispursuit, Tat-pardyanah=Those. whose single noble aim is atma alone. Wisdom, cultivated (or consciousness developed) in the above-said fashion, removes all taint; and they(of these qualifications) will reach atma, which,once awake, there is no falling back from thence to forgetfulness (which is existence in restricted and conditioned grades ofconciousness.)
1. See note 1, p- 61.
2. Consciousness becomes univer- sal; as the Chk: Up.°V/J-26-2 says: ‘ sarvam ha pasyah pasyati,’ and: many another text. Read also, BA: Gi: XIII-13, 14 and 15.
3. Another rendering of 17: ‘Those who, set the whole intellect on ?hat, the whole heart on /Aaz, strive for that, view that as the only goal, go, wisdom-wiped of stain, to whence there is no return,’
When that state (or estate) of atma is reached,from which atma does notfall back(or return), it it is called the non reverting that. It means that atma, as in its own pure native state, is reached (or realized) by them. &c. 18. ' The wise equally regard the brahmana,or one of culture and conduct,or the cow,or theelephant, or even the dog or even theabject outcaste." Brdhmcina (by mere birth) or brahmana(the spiritual class in India ; any spiritual men generally) possessed of learningand conduct.Cow,elephant,dog,an abject outcaste and so on, are examples by which to illustrate the great differences between one another,in which(embodied)atmas seemingly so appear. Theequal-seeing(or regarding),for the knowersofatma- nature, consists in the regarding of all atmas (residing in those bodies)as equal,by reason oftheir essentialcharacte ristic, viz., intelligence (jfiana) being a common property. The varied appearances are due to(prakriti)matter; not to (atma)spirit. The wisesee that all atmas (in whatever bodies they may chance to dwell)are equal,viewed by the standard of the attribute of intelligence being shared by them all in common.
I. SvapSka, lit ;he who cooks a dog and eats.
19. 'By them, whose mind is fixed in (this) equality (or sameness), even here is migration [sargd) overcome. Verily is brahma (atma) stainless and equal. Hence are they fixed in brahma! Even here='Ever\ during the progress(of the Karma- yoga practice).Srtr^rt:=taking upofcontinued physicalexis- tences, is overcome. That is,sanisara^(mundane life) is conquered by him,whose mind isimbued with the notion of equality ofall atmas,as above described. Brahma or the atma-category isindeed equal(or equal- natured), when it is stainless, i-e.^ divested from the stain accruing from matter-consorted existence. When their mind is fixed in the atma-equality,(it may then be considered that)they are fixed in atma itself. Fixture in brahma (dtma) is indeed the victory over
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