Bhagavad Geetha Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Science of Knowledge, Action and Detachment

Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga

Science of Knowledge, Action and Detachment

Part of the Bhagavad Geetha — Complete Commentary by Guruji M. Mohan Sundar

( SCIENCE OF KNOWLEDGE, ACTION AND DETACHMENT )

Lord Krushna said, " I gave this Indestructible Great Knowledge to Sun God. Sun in turn passed on this knowledge to his son Vaivasvata Manu and Manu preached it to his son, King Ikshvaku".

Note: Lord Rama is the descendant of Ikshvaku clan who brought name and fame to his clan both in the heavens and earth. Lord Rama's family deity was Sun God. Lord Krushna/LORD GOD gave this knowledge of Secret of Karma Yoga to Sun, who in turn gave it to Vaivasvata Manu and Manu preached it to his son King Ikshvaku. This is how the knowledge of secret of Karma yoga was passed on from King after King in the Ikshvaku Clan and Lord Rama too received this knowledge of doing action purely for the purpose of establishing righteousness in this world and also to show to human beings how to lead a righteous way of life. Arjuna, in this way the descendant Kings later were endowed with this knowledge but in course of time it got lost. Now I AM giving this ancient knowledge to you, because you are MY dearest devotee. This secret knowledge is fit to be passed on to those who are qualified to receive it.

Arjuna asked Shree Krushna, " YOU are a person of recent origin but the Sun is there since time immemorial (from the beginning of this creation). Then, how was it possible for YOU to give this knowledge to Sun ? I am not able to understand this logic " .

Lord Krushna said " Arjuna, I and you have gone through several lives. All those lives are not in your knowledge but I AM aware of all of them ".

Note: Here Krushna is opening up the Cosmic Secret that rebirth is a phenomena which Human Consciousness goes through again and again as different lives, consequently accumulating Karma (the sum of good and bad actions, that binds the Individual Consciousness and compel it to take births again and again to work out the said accumulated karma, until it escapes from the cycle of births and deaths and disseminate into the Supreme Being for ever through Right Spiritual Practises and never to return ). Lord Shree Krushna further said, " I AM unborn and indestructible. Even though I AM there in every living being, yet I super impose MY nature on MYSELF at MY WILL and manifest as an Individual Being ".

Note: Here, Lord Krushna for the first time is saying that who HE is. HE is that Unborn, Eternal, Everlasting, beyond Time and Space, Indestructible, Universal Consciousness / Supreme Being and HE has manifested HIMSELF in the Human Form. This knowledge makes it clear that, Krushna was none other than the Ever-existing Supreme Being which is the cause for the creation and the creation is also HIMSELF, i.e., both living and non-living beings. Except HIM as the Supreme Truth, nothing else exist. The creation is subjected to change by time and space whereas HE is not. Whenever there is diminishing of righteousness and unrighteousness becomes dominant in the world, I create MYSELF to putdown the unrighteousness and to protect the righteous and virtuous people by eliminating the unrighteous people and to re-establish righteousness (Dharma) in every Yuga (different phases of time). Arjuna, MY birth (as Avatar) and MY actions are transcendental in nature, incomprehensible by common man. He who understands MY way of actions will reach ME, and after leaving the body he will not be born again.

Note: Lord Krushna has said in clear term that, HIS nature of manifestation as an Avatar cannot be understood by human beings as Avatar and HIS actions are only for the well-being of the creation and living beings, where neither he has attachment for that nor seek benefits out of it. Such actions are the secret of Divine actions of the Avatars. Human beings who understand the secret of doing actions in such a manner, as Krushna does, where neither expectations from the actions nor seeking returns from the actions will be redeemed. Meaning: Actions done only for the good of the world. Such persons will not take birth again and again, as he has not incurred any karma by those actions and therefore he (his consciousness) will disseminate into the Supreme Being for eternity and never to return in any form. Those who had overcome emotions, fear and anger totally, and also established their consciousness firmly in ME through Devotion and Meditation on ME, such people were purified by the fire of Supreme knowledge and finally attained ME in the past.

Note: One who has overcome the attachments, emotions, fear and anger will be able to develop Equanimity State (Stitha-Pragna). This makes the devotee to do actions without any attachments or any expectations, but does actions only for the sake of well-being of all. Such a person in the course of time will disseminate into the Supreme Being after leaving his body. Arjuna, people worship ME in varied forms, in varied ways and therefore, I respond to them according to their worship because all worship ME only with the intention of reaching ME.

Note: Though here Lord Shree Krushna says that, HE will respond to all those whoever worship HIM in varied ways, in varied forms, yet the devotee should be alert and careful not to adopt negative, destructive, painful and disturbing ways of worship of HIM. The ways of worship should never disturb the Rhythm and Harmony of the society and as well as that of the other living beings and the Nature. Those people who want the fruits of their worship, such people worship MY various God Forms because their intention is to get quick results from their worship.

Note: Lord Shree Krushna hints that, people may worship various God forms only to fulfil their immediate desires because that would be their intention of worship. Arjuna, I have categorised human society in four ways purely based on their natural instincts, traits and tendencies, and NOT by the status of their birth. Though I AM the doer of this, I AM not bound by them.

Note: This stanza is highly misinterpreted by those zealots who claim that Lord Krushna has preached caste system to Hindu society. A closer, deeper and clear understanding of this Stanza makes us to understand that the human society as a whole in the world has this four-fold composition. The four Varnas (layers) based on the instincts in human society are found in reference in other Indian scriptures also, and it is always interpreted as caste system dividing the Hindu society. The four Varnas (groups) in the human society are applicable to all human societies in the world as these varnas are purely based on instincts, traits and tendencies of each individual fitting into any one of the groups. Lord Krushna has said this stanza in reference to human society as a whole, as these instincts, traits and tendencies are always found in any of the societies of the world. In any society we find some people irrespective of their status of birth, are always more interested in the spiritual evolution of themselves (not religious elevation which is a sectarian approach to the Supreme Being wedded to a specific concept) apart from leading normal life like any other. These people have in them the inborn instinct to incline towards the Supreme Being. They follow various Spiritual Practises to evolve themselves in the path of spiritual evolution. These are the people who acquire cosmic wisdom and pass on this knowledge through generations for the benefit of the entire mankind. They go on to become sages, saints and people of spiritual wisdom. It is natural to find these type of people in every society of the world. These spiritual seekers in Hindu scriptural context are called seekers of Brahma Jnana as they seek the realisation of the Supreme Being termed as Brahman or the Universal Consciousness. They take to righteous way of life following love, compassion, honesty, non-violence, service to human Beings as service to Supreme Being, practising pure spiritual practises like devotion to the Supreme Being, Meditation, Japa, Manana etc. Irrespective of their status of birth in any layer of the society, these people carry these instincts, traits and tendencies which are due to a trait called Sathwa Guna (benign nature predominant in them). The other category of people are those who have more courage, fighting spirit, interest in ruling the masses, and ego centric. They tend to become warriors, politicians and rulers, where the instinct to dominate others is dominant in them (this trait is called Rajo Guna). Another category of people in the society are more interested in trade and commerce, and more interested in the generation of wealth for themselves and in turn for the society. These people have more talent for earning than any other. These people have a combination of the above two traits (Gunas). The fourth category of people are the humble people who by their instincts are ARTISANS of various aspects like farmers (food givers), blacksmiths, builders etc. just to name a few. They are the pillars of the society on which the other three categories are mainly sustaining. Therefore, this category of people can be called as producers and the service providers for the whole society. In Vedas, in the Hymn called Purusha Sukta, this category is referred as coming out of the feet of Purusha (comparing the Supreme Being to human form) on which the purusha is standing. If the feet are cut-off, the whole purusha will fall off just as a tree would fall when its roots are cut-off. Even the other three categories of human society are also referred as emerging from His body, and as such for the Supreme Being which is symbolically represented in the human form as Purusha, the Head or Feet makes no difference in divinity as it is equally divine all through and it is ONE Supreme Consciousness. Therefore, the hymn says that the spiritual seekers emerged from the head, the warring and ruling class from the shoulders, the trade and commerce class from stomach and the artisans or humble class from the feet only to categorise the instincts, traits and tendencies of the soul as intended by the divinity. For the Supreme Being, the head or shoulder, stomach or feet makes no difference as the Supreme Being (GOD) is the purest of the pure, holiest of the holy, Universal and Absolute. Therefore, the souls (individual consciousness) emerging out of any part of the same Supreme Being are as holy and Absolute as the Supreme Being Himself. Another Upanishadh's hymn declares more clearly: Poornamadah Poornamidam Poornaath Poornamudhachyate Poornasya Poornamaadaaya Poornamevavashishyathe Meaning, whatever that has come out (creation comprising living and non-living) from the Absolute (Purna) is Absolute itself in its nature. It is just like rising of waves (souls) on the sea and the sea is the Supreme Being. The waves are made up of the same sea water but the characteristics of the waves are different than that of the sea. The sea is static, infinite and the source of all waves. But the waves are transient segments of the sea water expressed in terms of time and space. The waves have no independent existence from the sea. The waves are ever dependent on the sea because the sea is their only source. This is the TRUTH we see in the nature (in the physical world). The same truth is also true in the spiritual world where the souls (individual Beings) have their only source in the Supreme Being. The souls are transient donning the bodies of all sorts in the cosmic time and space until they work out their karma to go back to their source. Whereas the Supreme Being, like the sea, is infinite, static, beyond time and space and everlasting. Karma is the most important aspect in Hindu philosophy. Hinduism is originally known as Sanathana Dharma (devoid of caste system). Sanathana Dharma envisages four directive principles i.e., DHARMA (righteous way of living), KARMA (sum of good and bad actions that binds an entity to the creation or world), PUNARJANMA (re-birth) and MOKSHA (disseminating into the Universal Consciousness forever and never to return). One who leads life in accordance with Dharma (righteous way of living i.e., following the divine principles like love, compassion, honesty, non- violence mentally and physically, charity, doing allotted or accepted duties in right and dedicated way, service to the Supreme Being by way of serving the fellow-beings, practising spiritual practises like devotion to the Supreme Being, Meditation etc.) will not get into Karma which is the cause for re-birth again and again. Thus, one who leads life in accordance with Dharma, for him there is no Karma and therefore no Punarjanma (re-birth). Those who do not lead life in accordance with Dharma will get into the bondage of Karma and take birth again and again (Punarjanma) to work out their Karma. However when Dharma (comprehensive righteous way of life not a religion formulated after one man) is under attack by evil and demonic forces either physically or intellectually it is necessary and imperative to use maximum force/power physically or intellectually as required to destroy/defeat those attacking forces and to re-establish Dharma (example Mahabharata war. Those who protect Dharma will also be protected by same Dharma). For those who lead life according to Dharma, they incur no new Karma, and also wipe out the accumulated Karma of the past, and when left with no Karma, there will be no Punarjanma (re-birth) for the soul. Then the individual consciousness (soul) attains eternal rest from the cycle of births and deaths and disseminates into the Universal Consciousness forever. This is Moksha. Freeing oneself from the bondage of Karma is known as Mukti which leads to Moksha. Karma (action) is the intention (Sankalpa) of the Supreme Being to manifest itself into infinite number of souls i.e. micro cosmic forces, and they are set into the law of karma (action and reaction chain) to continue as souls in the creation. Therefore, every soul being a part of the Supreme Being with all its traits, continue their journey in the creation based on their cumulative actions and reactions which form the bondage as law of karma, set into motion by the Supreme Being. The souls qualifying to manifest as human beings carry their cumulative karma along with their birth expressed as instincts, traits and tendencies, along with their own course of evolution. Given the freedom of action to these souls as human beings with their own karmic background, evolutionary instincts are basic to all the souls, and their levels of evolution is governed by their own karma. The souls have the freedom to continue their journey with further accumulation of karma or work out their karma to reach the Supreme Being. Therefore, all the souls born as human beings are EQUAL with equal opportunity to evolve, with their own carried forward karmic tendencies determining their way of life in the human society, and it is only to provide appropriate opportunity to work out their karma. Anybody born in any one of the above four categories can transpose to any other category through their actions. This truth is very much a part in the Indian spirituality. All the highest spiritual disciplines (philosophy), culture, traditions followed by Hindus today are given by the sages and saints of past who were born in the humblest layers of the society. The great sage Maharshi Valmiki who gave one of the most ancient, greatest Historical events of all times known as Ramayana, the life History of Lord Rama (an incarnation of the Supreme Being) millenniums ago, was a hard-core hunter in the forest. He transformed himself from a sinner to one of the greatest and revered saints of Bharat through penance and Thapasya (Meditation on the Supreme Being), and having realised the Supreme Being wrote the Ramayana History, which is not only one of the most revered epic for Hindus but also revered in many south east asian countries in its varied versions even today. But the original is given to mankind by the reformed hunter, God realised saint Valmiki. If Ramayana is rejected because of the humblest birth of the sage Valmiki, then the Hindu scriptural knowledge and the spiritual heritage will suffer from a big void. Another greatest sage who has given the Hindus all their present spiritual traditions and the way of life is Sage Veda Vyasa, the son of a fisher woman born through a peculiar but divine relationship. Without Sage Veda Vyasa there are no Vedas, Puranas (legends), Bhagavad-Gita, Mahabharata, Brahma sutras, and as such the present Hinduism itself. He too had a birth at the humblest layer of the society but now revered as the only Guru of Hindu spiritual tradition along with Lord Krushna. Lord Krushna and Veda Vyasa were contemporaries just as Lord Rama and Valmiki. Sage Veda Vyasa's contribution to Indian spiritual knowledge is unmatched by any other. The longest epic of the world Mahabharatha with innumerable characters, reflecting the entire gamut of human behaviour expressed through various characters, is given by Veda Vyasa. The Bhagavad-Gita preached by Lord Krushna is also a part of Mahabharatha which has been incorporated into the history of Mahabharatha by Veda Vyasa. Veda Vyasa has written 18 Maha Puranas (Great Legends), 18 Upa Puranas (Additional legends), 18 Ati Puranas (Extra ordinary legends) and 18 Lagu Puranas (Summary legends). All these legends carry the entire gamut of cosmic knowledge including Yoga and meditation which is the ultimate path for human evolution towards the Supreme Being (Moksha). The 18 Maha Puranas (Great Legends) are: 1.Padma Purana 2.Matsya Purana 3.Maarkandeya Purana 4. Bhaagavatha Purana (propounding the path of Absolute devotion towards God or the Supreme Being. i.e., Bhakti Yoga) 5.Brahma Purana 6.Brahmanda Purana 7.Brahma Vaiavatha Purana 8.Vaayu Purana 9.Vaamana Purana 10.Varaha Purana 11.Vishnu Purana 12.Agni Purana 13.Linga Purana 14.Koorma Purana 15.Skanda Purana 16.Garuda Purana 17.Naarasimha Purana 18.Bhavishya Purana. All these Cosmic Legends are huge in compilation running into more than thousands of stanzas each. The great Veda Vyasa has also divided and codified Vedas (which was in one heap) into four branches namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Athrvaveda. Vedavyasa has also written Brahma Sutras dealing with the unmanifest Absolute nature of the Universal Consciousness or the Supreme Being (Vedanta aspect). Bhagavan Veda Vyasa has also written a spiritual insight into "Ramayana" which is known as AADHYATHMA RAMAYANA. The longest epic of the world Mahabharata is considered as an ancient historical document (Itihasa). Many evidences have been unearthed in the recent excavations purely based on the references found in Mahabharata. YOGA through Meditation is the essence and integral part of the above legends, and also in the Bhagavad-Gita of Mahabharata. Astrology in its pure form is given by him in Naaradiya Purana. All the mantras and the methodology to appease the nine planets to ward off their evil effects is also given by Veda Vyasa. Therefore, Sage Veda Vyasa's contribution to Indian spiritual knowledge for the evolution of human beings is complete and it is the backbone of Indian spirituality along with Upanishadhs. This is the contribution of Veda Vyasa whose birth is the humblest but rose to greatest heights of spirituality and now regarded as another incarnation of Lord Vishnu or the Supreme Being. Sage Veda Vyasa is also believed to have written several Upanishads and many others which have been lost in the passage of time. In fact, Sage Veda Vyasa's contribution to the spiritual knowledge of this world as a whole is UNMATCHED by any other human being on the planet earth either in the past or may be in the future forever, because such a feat is impossible for a human being. This is the reason why he is regarded as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is impossible to comprehend Hinduism (Sanathana Dharma) without sage Veda Vyasa, the son of a fisher woman Sathyavathi. The giver of this Bhagavadgita, Lord Krushna is also from the humble group. Once again humblest by birth but greatest in their spiritual contribution are the sages who gave the Upanishadhs which mainly deal with the Vedanthic concept (Dealing with the unmanifest absolute nature of the Supreme Being). Maharshi Vasista was born to Urvashi (a celestial nymph). His wife Aurundathi, highly revered by Hindus, was from the humblest layer of the society. Sage Vishwamithra who gave one of the Gayathri mantras was a warrior, who later became a Brahma-rishi (Supreme Being realised sage). Maharshi Jabali who gave Jabaloupanishadh and Rudrakshopanishadh, his father is unknown. Sage Rushya Shrunga was born out of female deer. Sage Agasthya was born to Mitra and Varuna. These are all just to name a few. Every Vedic hymn in Vedas has a presiding deity, and a sage (saint) to whom it has been revealed by the Cosmic Consciousness during his Meditation. Therefore, when each hymn is recited, reverence is paid to the sage who contributed that hymn. Most of the sages who have given the Vedic hymns belong to the humble groups in the society. These Vedic sages became great and immortal through their Tapas (Meditation on the Supreme Being) and for their contribution to the spiritual knowledge of Bharat and the World. Though, this stanza with regard to four varnas, suddenly creep in when Lord Krushna was seriously talking about performance of right action (without attachment of desires behind it), this classification of the society is also found in other Hindu scriptures. Though this classification is naturally found in any other society of the world, in Bharat this classification has led to division of Hindu society resulting in sub-division into caste system mainly due to its misinterpretation and misuse. In fact, the word "Caste" has been taken from a Spanish word known as "Casta" in the recent historical time. Therefore, it has become necessary to take a critical view of it here, because this phenomena has gone deep into the ethos of Hindu society. The four varnas (classes) are the four pillars of any society because of their instincts, traits, and tendencies. These four classes are the composition of any society in the world and four class are like four legs of a table making it to stand firmly on the ground. Deficiency of any leg makes the table unstable and defective. Similarly, the four classes are common to all societies in the world. In fact, the Vedic hymn Purusha Sukta where the Supreme Being is described in the human form and the coming forth of the souls and the creation from HIM (out of him), the holiest of the holy river Ganga (Ganges) is described as rising from the feet of the LORD. If the humble group of the Hindu society coming forth from the feet of LORD is not equal with other groups, then the holy Ganges (Ganga) loses its importance to Hindus because of its humble origin and taking a holy dip in Ganga is a waste. In the Hindu spiritual tradition bowing down to the feet of the Lord is the fundamental aspect of devotion and reverence to Him. If the feet of the Lord is unholy then the above tradition is meaningless. The feet of any person makes him to stand stably, not allowing him to fall. Similarly, the humble group is the supporting group of all other groups because this group fulfils the basic requirements of the society. Therefore, all groups are equally important to any society for its harmonious and collective progress in all directions AND spiritually ALL are entitled to evolution towards the Supreme Being (Moksha). No one is deprived of it. By merely taking birth in a family of that order (Brahma bhuya), one cannot become a Brahmana (Brahman realised person). This fact is well endorsed by Lord Krushna when HE says at stanza 41 of chapter 18 that the four categories are purely based on their NATURE (instincts, trait and tendencies) and not by birth. The Athreya Smruthi (141-142) says: Everyone is humble by birth (born to work out his karma) but only through the realisation of Brahman (the Supreme Being) one becomes a Brahmana (Yogi). Lord Brahma in Bhavishya Purana says: Chapter 42, Stanza 30 — Whether one is born in the Higher order or Middle order or Lower order, if he does not indulge in the acts of sin, he alone is the man of Brahman nature. Chapter 39, Stanza 1 — If the study of Vedas is the criteria for Brahmana order, then all can study Vedas. However, Ravana who was proficient in Vedas became a demon because of bad character. All human Beings are same and equal but they appear different by their nature, traits and the actions they do. Birth, way of body functioning, living and death are same to all. The great sage VedaVyasa was born to a fisher women. His father Sage Parashara was born to a women who was from dog eating clan. Sage Shuka was born out of female parrot. Sage Kanada was born to a female owl. Sage Rushyashrunga was born to a female deer. Sage Vasistha was born to a celestial nymph Urvashi. Sage Mandapala was born to a female lava bird and Sage Mandavya was born to a female frog. All these great sages are the greatest Brahmanas because of their tapas (highest spiritual attainment) and because of great traits. Any one born in any layer of the society can transpose himself to any other layer through his conduct which is the primordial determining factor of his spiritual evolution. A person born in Brahmin order can become a person of lowest order by his bad conduct. A person born in the lower order can become a Brahmin by his benign conduct. A person from the warrior clan and a person from the merchant clan can also become Brahmana through spiritual knowledge and conduct. Therefore, the stanza with regard to four varnas said by Lord Krushna does not say anything about the caste system that has creeped into the Hindu society. HE only spoke about the human traits and tendencies that determine the placement of individual in any one of the four layers of the society purely by their conduct, as applicable to all societies of the world. Further when Lord Krushna himself declares in the Geetha itself that HE is present equally, in all animals, human beings and even in non-living aspects of the creation. Therefore, there is no question of Krushna preaching caste system in this stanza. In fact, all Varnas are complementary to each other in a society for the purpose of its prosperity and harmony. Those who argue that Krushna preached caste system are of total ignorance of this broad truth because of their pseudo intellectual idiosyncrasy. Therefore, status of birth is not at all a criteria for anyone to attain YOGA (Moksha). BHAGAVAD GEETHA CONTINUED... Arjuna, all the actions I do, I AM not attached to those actions in any manner what so ever or to the fruits of such actions. Therefore, the results of such Karma will not get attached to ME. Those who know this secret of MY way of actions, they too will be freed from the Bondage of Karma (Action and reaction phenomena). Those who sought "Moksha" (Dissolution of one-self into the Supreme Being) in the past, they too have done actions after knowing the secrets of MY way of doing actions. Therefore, you too do your actions in the same way. What is action and non action ? Even the intelligent are puzzled over it. Therefore I will explain all about doing action by knowing which you too will be freed from the bondage of Karma.

Note: It is necessary to know that actions have to be done which do not result in causing reactions that bind one in the bondage of Karma. One should understand the way of action and also the nature of non-action. At the same time one should know what are the bad actions and also know the nature of good actions too, because the nature and secret of actions is too deep to understand. He, who realizes non-action, despite being in action and sees action when he is not in action. Such a person is an intelligent person among the human beings and he is a Yogi.

Note: One who is tuned to Supreme Being (Yogi) feels that even though he is doing action yet he is not doing the action because it is guided by the Supreme Being and at the same time when he is not doing any action yet he is doing action because the Supreme Being keeps doing action even though he is not doing the action. Example when a Yogi is sleeping he is not doing any action but when a devotee bows down to him the awakened divinity in him will pass on the grace to the devotee, despite Yogi is sleeping. Those whose actions are totally free from desires and worldly attachments such actions are purified by the fire of Supreme Knowledge (Wisdom). Such a person is a Jnani (Man of Knowledge) and is also called a "Panditha". He who is established in the Supreme Being will give up all interest in the fruits of his action and he will renounce all the worldly aspects and remain blissfully established in the Supreme Consciousness/ Universal Consciousness, and even though he is doing actions, he will not be doing action in reality.

Note: He who is established in the Supreme Being will be enjoying the State of Equanimity and thereby, he will not try to find happiness through the worldly phenomena, because his happiness and bliss permanently lies in the Supreme Consciousness in which he is established. Such a person, even though he is doing actions that are required, assigned and accepted duties, he will be in no way affected by such actions, and such actions will not be influencing him in any manner. He who has given up all the materialistic desires, and also desires that could be derived from senses, such a person is a " Saankhya Yogi ", and even though he is doing physical actions, no wrong action phenomena will get imposed on him (sinful phenomena), because he is established in Equanimity.

Note: Here Lord Shree Krushna means that, one should establish in his own consciousness and thereby attain the Status of Equanimity, where all the worldly desires and the desires that could be derived through senses get extinguished. Such a person is called a Sankhya Yogi. Such a person, even though he is doing physical actions as required by the circumstances, yet any sin from his actions will not adhere to him. He who is happy with whatever he gets through his right actions and not bothered by happiness and sorrows, free from jealous, takes success and failure with EVEN state of mind, such a karma yogi (Man of action) is not bound by Karma despite of his ACTIONS. He who is established in his own Consciousness and in-turn Supreme Consciousness/ Universal Consciousness, whatever actions he does, the results of such actions without adhering to him get dissolved then and there itself (as it is for the well-being of the world) and thereby he does not get into Karma phenomena and further all his Karmic forces will get dismantled freeing him from the bondage of Karma because of his equanimity state of mind. Whatever the holy materials sacrificed into the sacrificial fire (Homa/Yagna) is the divinity only, and the person who is sacrificing is also divine in nature, and the action of burning in the sacrificial fire is also divine in nature, and whatever that is obtainable from Gods through the sacrificial fire by a Yogi is also divine in nature.

Note: Here, the concept is that everything is nothing but Divine itself. Every atom of the creation and the items of the creation carries divinity in them and except divinity nothing is there in the entire creation. All the materials (matter) and the living beings are nothing but GOD HIMSELF (Supreme Being). So here in the above stanza, the Essence of Sanathana Dharma is enunciated by Lord Krushna through the sacrificial phenomena (Yagna) saying that the materials offered in the sacrificial fire is nothing but HIMSELF and the person who is offering is also HIMSELF and the fire that has digested the materials offered in the sacrifice are also HIMSELF and receiver of such sacrifice is also HIMSELF. So, the principle is that GOD manifests as creation and the created returns to God as sacrificial materials which are also HIMSELF. The great Yogis perform sacrificial Homa to Gods through their mental prowess/ through their Individual Consciousness itself and they avoid the material offering in the Yagna, and they offer only through their mental fire.

Note: The Great Yogis instead of performing physical Yagnas (sacrifice through fire) through their mental force, they offer to the Gods what is offerable in Yagna through their mind itself. In other words, they offer their results of their Meditation to the Gods and in-turn to the Supreme Being and by this, they get back the ability to establish themselves (Individual Consciousness) firmly in the Supreme Being / Supreme God. Some Yogis offer in the Yagna the controlling of their senses which itself becomes their offering in the Yagna. The other Yogis offer in the Homa the sound (Divine Names). Here the Agni is only mental fire and the entire sacrifice is a mental process/ mental Yagna (mano yagna). Some other Yogis offer the activities of their senses and their breathing activities into the fire of their own consciousness.

Note: Yogis of the highest order offer the creativity of their senses and also their breathing activities, merging them into their own Individual Consciousness, which symbolically represent the fire of the Homa or Havana (inward Naama Meditation). In other words, the great Yogis, when they are Meditating with their focus on their own Consciousness, all the activities of the senses and their breathing are turned inward so that it reaches their own Consciousness bringing the result of Equanimity State as the benefit of such Yagna. Further in other words, Meditation on the Supreme Being itself is a Yagna or Homa and the result of which is to attain Equanimity with the Supreme Being as the product of such Yagna. Some people sacrifice in the Havana holy materials to Gods, some other people offer their Thapas (accumulated meditative results) like Japa, etc, into the Havana. Some other people offer through Yogic practises their accumulated positive energy to Gods, some others offer their acquired knowledge through the study of scriptures in to the Havana.

Note: Common people generally offer prescribed sacred materials, other people do Thapasya like doing Japa of targeted numbers and offer the same into the sacrificial fire through prescribed materials. Some people do Yogic practises and the effect of which they offer to the Gods through their mental fire. Some make their study of scriptures acquiring knowledge and offer this accumulated knowledge into the Havan through prescribed materials. These are the various forms through which men offer sacrifices to Gods and derive both material and spiritual benefits from the Gods/God forms. Some people do the Yagna of dispelling Apaana Vayu (tainted air) and purifying Udaana Vayu (pure air) through the breathing of Pranic Energy. Similarly, those who are following the food discipline, they offer both pranic energy and the lower pranic energy into the Universal Pranic Energy. This is how the seeker burn their sins/ karmic forces, and such people only know the secret of Yagna (various ways of sacrificial phenomena). Arjuna, those who perform the above said sacrificial phenomena will consume the result of such sacrifice by attaining or aligning with the Supreme Being. Those who do not perform any one of the above said sacrificial Havana will not be able to enjoy both the worldly happiness as well as transcendental bliss. There are many such types of Yagnas mentioned in a detailed way in Vedas and follow such sacrificial phenomena through your senses (Adhi Daivic), body (Adhi Bouthic) and mind (Adhyatmic). And performing such Yagnas through these medium, you will be freed from the bondage of Karma (Action and reaction phenomena) accumulated through innumerable births. Arjuna, the sacrificial Havana of knowledge is better than the sacrifices made through materials in the sacrificial fires (Havana). All such sacrifices end up in consolidating the knowledge as a whole ( i.e., in the knowledge of the Supreme Being ). Arjuna, go and get this knowledge from those who have already established in the Supreme Being. Serving such great masters with all the humility and by questioning you become aware of the cosmic principles from these people of knowledge and they will always be ready to extend their acquired knowledge to you. Arjuna, by knowing THAT (Supreme Being) you will never get attached back into worldly phenomena. Through this Supreme Knowledge, you become aware of what exists and what really do not exist and further you will realize that all that exists is existing within ME (implying nothing can exist beyond HIM). Even if you are the most sinner among all the sinners, through this boat of Great and Supreme Knowledge, you will be able to cross over the sea of sins in a comfortable way. Arjuna just as the fire burns away the fuel to ashes, like that the fire of knowledge will eliminate or burn your Karma into ashes.

Note: Right Spiritual Practises like Meditation on the Supreme Being or Naama Japa of the Supreme Being will become the sacrificial fire in which all the sins are burnt to ashes, and thereby one will be able to tune or align with the Supreme Being who is the abode of Supreme Knowledge, and this Supreme Knowledge further burns away all karmic forces of a person and finally disseminate his Individual Consciousness into the Universal Consciousness/ Supreme Being / Supreme God for all times. There is nothing greater than this holy and Supreme Knowledge on the earth which can purify the Karma of a person gradually and make him to attain his Individual Consciousness (Aatma Jnana).

Note: One who is dedicated to his Karma Yoga i.e., to his prescribed, accepted and allotted duties and execute his duties with application, dedication and discipline and also practise some of the Right Spiritual Practises, then the holy, divine, Supreme Knowledge descends on him and establish him in his own self (Individual Consciousness). He who has controlled his senses and practises Right Spiritual Practises and has unflinching faith in the Supreme Being, such a person will attain the Supreme Knowledge and get established in Eternal peace in the Supreme Being. He who lacks wisdom, lacks faith and doubtful of the existence of the Supreme Being will definitely fail to attain the Supreme Knowledge. Such a person, neither finds peace in the present world nor in the other world and he will be left with no peace. He who has overcome his doubts through knowledge and establishes himself in his own Consciousness and does his actions totally dedicated to ME, such a person will not be bound by Karma. Arjuna, whatever the ignorance that is lurking in your heart dispel it through the sword of Knowledge and establish in Equanimity and get ready to wage the war. HERE ENDS THE JNANA KARMA SANYASA YOGA Protect Dharma ; It protects you. Protect Nature ; It saves you. Protect Goodness ; It begets goodness. Goodness is the Essence of life.