This is after a very long hiatus, we continue our journey into the world of Bhagavad Gita. So far we have covered Chapter - 2. As said earlier chapter 2 is a summary for the entire Gita. In fact, I have continued reading Gita and have reached Bhakti Yoga (Chapter 12). And the idea pervasive throughout is: Sankya and Karma are two ways to attain nirvana. Sankya is the way of so called sanyasi and Karma is the way of action; action with no desire for its result. I read the same in Chapter 12 when Bhagavan says:
shreyo hi jnanamabhyaasaath
jnanadhyanam vishishyathay
dhyanath karmaphalathyaga
sthyagath shantinarantharam
Meaning: Jnana (Knowledge) is superior to action (with no knowledge). Dhyanam is superior to mere knowledge. Much superior to mere dhyana is the karma devoid of desire for results. And this denouncing of desire for results leads to peace very soon.
This was just a recap on the points discussed till now and to reinstate the fact that it is not wearing of saffron or denouncing family life, that alone can lead to niravana; but you can still doing your karma accroding to your dharma and still attain nirvana. So do your karma according to your dharma as parent, child, sister, brother, cousin, grandchild, friend, lover etc. But these actions should not be with a desire for results. We should love but still have a sense of dettachment. Seems very difficult but does not actually look impossible.
So to understand the Karma Yoga more we step into Chapter 3 - Karma yoga.
Arjuna asks
jayasi cheth karmanasthay
matha budhirjanardhana
tath kim karmani ghoray maam
niyojayasi kesava
Meaning: hey kesava, if you say jnana is superior to karma, then why do you want me to do this horrendous karma (war) ?
Sri Bagavan uvacha
lokesmin dwivividha nishta
pura prokhtha mayanagha
jnanayogena saankhyaanaam
karmayogena yoginaam
Meaning: I have preached two ways for the people in the world - Jnanayoga and karma yoga.
na karmanam na arambaath
naishkarmyam purushoshnuthay
na cha sanyasanadeva
sidhim samadhigathchathi
Meaning: Man cannot attain a state of "absence of karma" by resorting to inaction. Also, mere sanyasa does not mean somebody has attained siddhi or perfection
niyatham kuru karma thwam
karma jyayo hyakarmanah
shareerayaatrapi cha thay
na prasidhyeydkarmanah
Meaning: You definitely do your karma. Karma here refers to "Niyatha Karma" or bounden duty of an individual in his home or office. As action is better than inaction. and if you do not do karma, you may not be even able to sustain your body
yagnarthath karmanonyathra
lokoyam karmabandana
thadhartham karma kountheya
mukhtasangah samachara
Meaning: Hey kounteya (son of kunti), those karma which are done without a sense of yagna OR as yagna OR for yagna leads to bondage. So we need to do karma or action as a self sarifice for the benefit of all, without selfish interests. It can also be interpreted that Karma should be an offeing to God (God = Yagna).
