MOKSHA SANYASA YOGA
THE YOGA OF LIBERATION BY RENUNCIATION
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं सन्न्यासं कवयो विदु: |
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणा: || 2||
BG 18.2: The
Supreme Divine Personality said: Giving up of actions motivated by desire is
what the learned understand as sanyās.
Relinquishing the fruits of all actions is what the wise declare to be tyāg.
Sri
Ramakrishna :
The
aspirant endowed with satwa guna need
not do any karma. In fact all activities drop off from them, of their own
accord. Any endeavor on their part to retain karma proves itself futile. The
Lord Himself releases them from all duties. The
domestic duties of a pregnant
woman are reduced as her pregnancy
advances. After delivery she has no work except looking after the baby. Such is
the case with those imbued with sattva. But others who are not sattvikas should
necessarily engage themselves in their allotted duties. As the servant of a rich
man does the work assigned to him, the devotees of the Lord should discharge
their duties, holding them all as the Maker’s mandate. The Lord’s name ought to
be repeated mentally while the activities are going on at the physical level.
At the appointed times meditation on the Lord may also be carried on. This is
the gist of the Karma Yoga.
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च
|
कर्तव्यानीति
मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् || 6||
BG 18.6: These
activities must be performed without attachment and expectation for rewards.
This is My definite and supreme verdict,
O Arjun.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Those who want to make progress in
spirituality and those who want to realize Iswara have to protect themselves first from base desires. Attainment of
perfection is impossible without purity of mind.
यस्य नाहङ् कृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते
|
हत्वाऽपि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते || 17||
BG 18.17: Those
who are free from the ego of being the doer, and whose intellect is unattached,
though they may slay living beings, they neither kill nor are they bound by
actions.
Sri Ramkrishna :
Purusha is free from karma. No
vibration of any kind takes place in him. Prakriti is the doer of all karma,
while purusha is merely the witness to it. But for the presence of the Purusha
, no action is possible for the Prakriti. So say the scriptures.
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते |
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि
सात्त्विकम् || 20||
BG 18.20: Understand
that knowledge to be in the mode of goodness by which a person sees one
undivided imperishable reality within all diverse living beings.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Though the air carries fragrance
and foul smell alike, it is not affected by them. Such is even the case with
Paramatman , the Basis of the varying universe.
पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं
नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् |
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि
राजसम् || 21||
BG 18.21: That
knowledge is to be considered in the mode of passion by which one sees manifold
living entities in diverse bodies as individual and unconnected.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Seeing unity is knowledge; seeing
diversity is ignorance.
अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् |
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यतत्तामसमुच्यते || 25||
BG 18.25: That
action is declared to be in the mode of ignorance, which is begun out of
delusion, without thought to one’s own ability, and disregarding consequences,
loss, and injury to others.
Sri Ramakrishna :
It is only after the practice of
intense tapas that men are freed from guile and stinginess. God vision comes to
them who are free from crookedness and cunning. But in the name of simplicity
man should not become a simpleton. It is good to be a devotee, but bad to be a
dullard. Know what is right and do what is good.
मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित: |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक
उच्यते || 26||
BG 18.26: The
performer is said to be in the mode of goodness, when he or she is free from egotism
and attachment, endowed with enthusiasm and determination, and equipoised in
success and failure.
Sri
Ramakrishna :
That
soft soil alone which is free from
pebbles and stones is favorable for seeds to sprout. Similarly, the mind of
that devotee alone untainted by perversion and conceit, is best suited for the
Lord to reveal Himself in.
रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो
हिंसात्मकोऽशुचि: |
हर्षशोकान्वित: कर्ता राजस: परिकीर्तित: || 27||
BG 18.27: The
performer is considered in the mode of passion when he or she craves the fruits
of the work, is covetous, violent-natured, impure, and moved by joy and sorrow.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Cunning is no virtue. Nobody is
more cunning than a crow. It steals artfully. It is ever alert lest it should
be caught. It exploits the helplessness of little children. All the same, it is
ever out to eat filth. There are people of this nature of crow. They are
deceitful, calculative and cunning. But their one concern day and night is to
grab low and vulgar things. Such people are incapable of taking to the path of
spirituality.
अयुक्त: प्राकृत: स्तब्ध:
शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलस: |
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते || 28||
BG 18.28: A
performer in the mode of ignorance is one who is undisciplined, vulgar,
stubborn, deceitful, slothful, despondent, and a procrastinator.
Sri Ramakrishna :
A fisherman cast his net and
caught fish in a river. Many among the catch lay within the net, making no
effort to escape. Some of them made unsuccessful attempts. But a few somehow
managed to escape jumping out of the net. Likewise, men of the
world are of three types: 1. Those who make no effort for emancipation 2. The
aspirants who seek deliverance 3. The
liberated souls.
बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव
गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु |
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय || 29||
BG 18.29: Hear
now, O Arjun, of the distinctions of intellect and determination, according to
the three modes of material nature, as I describe them in detail.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Dolls may be made of sugar, cloth
and stone. The sugar doll soaked in water dissolves away. The cloth doll
absorbs plenty of water, but does not lose its individuality. The stone doll
does not allow water to percolate . Men
who are prepared to merge their individuality in Paramatman are like the sugar
doll. Devotees that imbibe bliss and wisdom from the Lord are like cloth doll.
The hard baked worldly man who is proof against godliness is like the stone
doll.
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन |
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ् क्षी धृति: सा पार्थ राजसी
|| 34||
BG 18.34: The
steadfast willpower by which one holds on to duty, pleasures, and wealth, out
of attachment and desire for rewards, O Arjun, is determination in the mode of
passion.
Sri Ramakrishna :
If drinking water and nice eatables be kept in the room
occupies by a patient from malignant fever, would he refrain from
partaking of those things? Will a
sensuous man contain himself when he finds himself in the midst of several
objects of senses left at his disposal? He is sure to deviate from the path of
devotion and indulge in sense pleasure.
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं
मोहनमात्मन: |
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् || 39||
BG 18.39: That
happiness which covers the nature of the self from beginning to end, and which
is derived from sleep, indolence, and negligence, is said to be in the mode of
ignorance.
Sri Ramakrishna :
The hemp smoker believes that his
inebriation is a form of spiritual ecstasy. But it is nothing of the kind. He
deludes himself in his indolence into such a belief.
भक्त्या मामभिजानाति
यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वत: |
ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा विशते तदनन्तरम् || 55||
BG 18.55: Only
by loving devotion to Me does one come to know who I am in Truth. Then, having
come to know Me, My devotee enters into full consciousness of Me.
Sri Ramakrishna :
It is possible for the Jeevatman to merge with Paramatman. He can then state, “ I and my Lord are one “ . A devoted servant
of a master may in long run be treated by him as a member of his
family. Being quite pleased with
his earnest service, the master may also install the
servant in his place and empower him to execute the domestic concerns in his
stead. But the installed man declines that high office with compunction. Still
the master insists on his assuming that status. It is in this wise that Iswara
claims the ardent devotee as His own. He first reveals His attributes and
glories to the Bhakta and then absorbs him in union.
चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि
सन्न्यस्य मत्पर: |
बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य मच्चित्त: सततं भव || 57||
BG 18.57: Dedicate
your every activity to Me, making Me your supreme goal. Taking shelter of the
Yog of the intellect, keep your consciousness absorbed in Me always.
Sri Ramakrishna :
If you happen to be blessed with a vision of the Lord, what would you ask of
Him? Would you appeal to Him to provide you with facilities to build hospitals,
schools, water tanks and alms houses?
मच्चित्त: सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि
|
अथ चेत्वमहङ्कारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि || 58||
BG 18.58: If
you always remember Me, by My grace you shall overcome all obstacles and
difficulties. But if, due to pride, you do not listen to My advice, you will
perish.
Sri Ramakrishna :
However much you try you will not
achieve anything if you do not get the grace of the Lord. That grace again, is
not easily obtained. All egoism ought to be wiped out as a prelude to it. If
the egoistic feeling, ‘ I am the doer ,’
takes possession of your heart, that attitude would alienate you from
Iswara. The Lord remains hidden in that heart which is tainted by egoism.
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्ध: स्वेन कर्मणा |
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत्
|| 60||
BG 18.60: O
Arjun, that action which out of delusion you do not wish to do, you will be
driven to do it by your own inclination, born of your own material nature.
Sri Ramakrishna :
The vessel in which garlic is
kept, takes in that strong smell. However much the vessel may be washed, the
pungent smell would not disappear. Egoism is very much like the smell of
garlic. It is adamant and would not easily be obliterated.
ईश्वर: सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति |
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया || 61||
BG 18.61: The
Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings, O Arjun. According to
their karmas, He directs the wanderings of the souls, who are seated on a
machine made of material energy.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Poison within the teeth of a snake
causes no harm to it. But that poison injected into others causes death to
them. Similarly Maya that is in Iswara causes Him no harm. Rather, it is an
adorable attribute of His. And this Maya keeps all beings in bondage.
सर्वगुह्यतमं भूय: शृणु मे परमं वच: |
इष्टोऽसि मे दृढमिति ततो वक्ष्यामि ते हितम् || 64||
BG 18.64: Hear
again My supreme instruction, the most confidential of all knowledge. I am
revealing this for your benefit because you are very dear to Me.
Sri Ramakrishna :
How does the devotee behold the
Lord? He beholds Him as his own, even as the Gopis of Brindavan beheld Sri
Krishna. Those milkmaids cared not for the cosmic powers of that Great Being.
Krishna was their darling and they were satisfied with that. Krishna was their
daring and they were satisfied with that. To the Bhakta , the Lord is his
innermost Self and he is absorbed in that feeling.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा
शुच: || 66||
BG 18.66: Abandon
all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate
you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
Sri Ramakrishna :
What is the state of complete self-surrender? It is
like louging and taking rest after the days’s hard toil. It is free from care and grief.
Undefinable Bliss emanates from it.
य इदं परमं गुह्यं
मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यति |
भक्तिं मयि परां कृत्वा मामेवैष्यत्यसंशय: || 68||
BG 18.68: Amongst
My devotees, those who teach this most confidential knowledge perform the
greatest act of love. They will come to Me, without doubt.
Sri Ramakrishna :
Bhagavan, Bhagavatha and Bhaktas
are all identical .
न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु
कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तम: |
भविता न च मे तस्मादन्य: प्रियतरो भुवि || 69||
BG 18.69: No
human being does more loving service to Me than they; nor shall there ever be
anyone on this earth more dear to Me.
Sri Ramakrishna:
The drain pipes on the roof of the
house are fixed with open mouths of tigers and lions. The rain water coming
from the sky therefore seems to jet out from the mouths of these beasts.
Similar to this, the utterances of the holy men appear to be their own, while
actually they all descend from the Most High.
अर्जुन उवाच |
नष्टो मोह: स्मृतिर्लब्धा
त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत |
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देह: करिष्ये वचनं तव || 73||
BG 18.73: Arjun
said: O Infallible One, by Your grace my illusion has been dispelled, and I am
situated in knowledge. I am now free from doubts, and I shall act according to
Your instructions.
Sri Ramakrishna :
The tadpole can live both in water
and on land after it sheds its tail. The tail of ignorance drops off from man
when he gets enlightened in Brahma jnana. He then becomes a jeevamukta-
liberated soul. He simultaneously lives
in the world and rests in Brahman.
यत्र योगेश्वर: कृष्णो यत्र
पार्थो धनुर्धर: |
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम || 78||
BG 18.78: Wherever
there is Shree Krishna, the Lord of all Yog, and wherever there is Arjun, the
supreme archer, there will also certainly be unending opulence, victory,
prosperity, and righteousness. Of this, I am certain.
Sri Ramakrishna :
The sunlight falls uniformly and
equally on all objects. But it is not revealed in its original grandeur by all
things. Water glass and polished metals receive and reflect it brilliantly.
Such is also the case with brilliance of the Divine Grace. It is available to
all equally and without partiality. Still It gets best reflected in the hearts
of the good and holy and best availed by those blessed ones.
The Lord incarnates on earth for
the guidance of the good, the devoted and the virtuous ones. Those apostles
that accompany an Incarnation of Divine are either the already perfected ones
or those that are born for the last time before their liberation.
🙏 * SRI
KRISHNARPANAM *🙏
