LOTUS GITA CHAPTER IV

LOTUS GITA CHAPTER IV
Damodar Mishra
In this chapter following topics have been discussed:
1-15 The glory of God( Almighty) and Karmyoga described,
16-32 Substance of duties and sacrifices described
33-42 Praise and teachings of Gyan and Karmyoga
1-15 The glory of God (Almighty) and Karmyoga described
Sri Bhagavan said:
I told this immortal Yoga to Sun (Vivaswan); Vivaswa conveyed it to his son Manu; and Manu then said it to his son Ikswaku.
Arjun! Thus handed down from father to son, this Yoga remained known to the Rajrishis (Royal sages). But due to gap of time it is mostly disappeared on this earth.
Since you are My devotee and friend, the same ancient Yoga has been said to you by Me, because this is a supreme mystry.
Arjuna asked:
The birth of Sun (Vivaswan) dates back to remote old time and you are of recent origin, How, then, I should understand that this Yoga was told by you to the sun at the beginning of this universe.
Sri Bhagavan said:
Arjuna! You and I have been through many births. I know all of them but you do not know.
Though I being in form of unborn and indestructible and also the Almighty of all the creations, I manifest Myself through My own Yogamaya (divine potency), keeping My nature (Prakrti) under discipline.
Arjuna! Whenever there is decline of religion (righteousness) and anti religious activities (unrighteousness) increases, then I adopt a shape as body Myself .
For the protection of the righteous believers and for the destruction of evil-doers and to establishing Dharma (righteousness) on a firm footing, I appear physically from age to age.
Arjuna! My birth and actions are divine. Those who understand this in pith and substance do not have to take birth again on leaving his body, but attains Me.
So many devotees totally free from passion, fear and anger, concentrating in Me and Completely depending on Me and purified by the penance of knowledge of wisdom, many have attained Me..
O Arjuna!, A man approach Me through any way, I treat him accordingly; for all men follow My path from all the sides.
men desirous of the outcome of their actions worship the Gods; because In this mortal world, success quickly follows actions.
The four classes of society (viz., the Brahman, the Kshatriya, the Vaishya and the Shudra) were created by Me identifying according to their acts and qualities. Though creator, know Me, the immortal Almighty as non performer.
Since I have no attachment towards the results of actions, actions do not involve Me. In this way whoever understands me thus in substance does not bind himself with the actions.
The ancient seekers of salvation knew this had also acted likewise; therefore, you should also perform such actions like them as were performed by the forefathers always.

16-32 Substance of duties and sacrifices described

Even the Learned persons are at a lost in confusion in classifying as to distinction of action and inaction. Therefore, I shall explain with full clarity to you the truth about substance of action. You will than be free after knowing that from its evil effect (binding nature).
One should know the distinction between substance of action, inaction and prohibited action because the outcome of action is mysterious and extremely difficult to understand.
One, who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is learned among men; he is a Yogi and has accomplished all action.
One, who begins all the actionsl free from desire and predetermination, and whose actions have been lost in the fire of wisdom, he is called a learned man by the wise persons.
One, who has totally given up attachment to actions and their results, independently attained satisfaction, he does nothing even he may be engaged in action.
One, who has well controlled his mind and body, relinquished all his collections such a person with no desire even performing simply bodily actions, does not incur sin.
One, who without any desire is satisfied with whatever he gets, free from jealousy, conflicts and balanced in success and failure, - such person, though involved in actions, does not bind with acts.
One, whose attachment is totally vanished and free from it, whose mind is established in knowledge of his own, all the actions of such persons doing for sake of such sacrifice melt away.
The implements with which sacrifice is executed are also Bramha, the matters of sacrifice are Bramha, even the Bramha like person and act of sacrificing the same ( matters) into the Bramha like fire is also Bramha. (The person doing such sacrifice) The person who is completely absorbed in sacrifice action wise the goal to be attained by him is also Bramha. (Absolute).
Other followers of Yoga pay sacrifice in the shape of workship to the gods. Others pay sacrifice in the shape of soul of life like thoughts into the Bramha like fire. the very sacrifice in the shape of the self.
Other followers of Yoga pay as sacrifice their senses of hearing, etc., into the self discipline like fires. Other followers of Yoga pay sacrifice of sound and other objects of perception into the senses like fires.
Others followers of Yoga pay sacrifice all the acts of their senses, and the functions of the vitals airs, into the self control like fire of Yoga, which is kindled by wisdom.
So many bitter performers pay sacrifice with material things, some pay sacrifice in the shape of penances, others sacrifice through the actions of Yoga and there are so many perform through the self study of wisdom.
Other performers offer by way of controlling breath thorough withholding and sacrificing it in ways like Kumbhak and Rechak ( Type of breath Controlling);
There are still other so many performers committed to regular foods do practice of breath-controlling by sacrificing breath within breath. All of these performers make their sins destroyed through sacrifice and know the sacrifice in fact.
Arjuna! The performers experiencing the taste of the remains of sacrifices attain absolute almighty. One cannot be happy even in this world, how, then, he can be happy in the other world if he does not perform sacrifice?
In this way so many forms of sacrifice have been explained in detail through the verses of the Vedas; know them all as creations of acts. Knowing and following thus about them, you shall be freed from the bondage of Karma.
33-42 Praise and teachings of Gyan and Karmyoga

Arjuna! Sacrifice in the form of Knowledge is superior to sacrifice performed with material things. For all the actions and matters culminate in Knowledge,
Get this knowledge from learned wise persons. By showing total physical politeness, by rendering service to them and asking them without any prejudices will unfold that knowledge to you.
Arjuna! After getting that Knowledge, you will not suffer attachment like this, and through it you will see all creations in your own self, and then in Me.
In such a case even if you are the most sinful of all sinners, you will over come all the sins by the raft of Knowledge.
Arjuna! As the blazing fire converts the fuel to ashes, , similarly the knowledge like fire reduces all the actions to ashes.
In this human world, No doubt there is nothing ( no way) to purify except the knowledge; one who has attained this that Karm Yogi , automatically gets the absolute knowledge himself .
One who has disciplined his senses and active towards spiritual practice such faithful person attains Knowledge; having gained Knowledge, he immediately attains absolute peace.
One who acts without sense and faith such person of doubtful mentality is a dropped soul. For the persons of doubtful mentality neither this universe nor that place where he goes after death is advantageous nor even happiness.

Arjuna! One who has dissolved himself from all his actions through devotion toward Yoga and whose all the doubts have been vanished through wisdom of senses such self possessed persons are not bound by the acts.

Arjun! Therefore dispel the doubts established in your mind born out of ignorance by cutting it with the help of sword like knowledge, establish yourself in yoga and be ready for the fight.
The Fourth Chapter of the Science of Bramha and the scripture of yoga in the glorious Upnishad of Shree Mad Bhagvat Gita titled as "The Yoga of Knowledge as well as the disciplines of Action and Knowledge."- - A dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna finishes here.