LOTUS GITA- A PATH TO SALVATION CHAPTER II

CHAPTER-II- SANKHYA AND KARMA YOGA (KNOWLEDGE YOGA) (1-72)

1-10 More discussion on Arjun’s Depression

Sanjay said:
Arjuna was over helmed with pity, his eyes were full with tears, agitated and he was full of sorrow”
At this moment Sri Krisna said him the following words.
“Arjuna, the infatuation has grasped you at this odd hour. It is always avoided by noble souls. That may neither bring heaven, nor fame.
Do not yield to unmanliness that brings ill mentality. Shake off the paltry faint-heartedness. Rise to the occasion you are scorcher of your enemies.”
Arjuna than said:
O destroyer of foes krisna! Tell me how I shall be able to fight Bhisma and Drona with arrows on the battle-field? They are both objects of reverence.
It is better to live on begging in this world instead of killing these noble elders. Even after killing them blood-stained pleasures can only be enjoyed in the form of wealth and ancillary enjoyments.
Still it is not understood as to what should be preferred - to fight or not to fight. Even no one knows who will win. The sons of Dhrtarastra are all out to defeat us but we do not want to kill them and then live.
With such humiliating and cowardice making situation with the vice of faint heartedness and my mind puzzled with regard to duty, I ask you. Tell me that which is definitely good; I being your disciple, Pray, Please instruct me, I seek refuge in you.
For even if I obtain undisputed sovereignty and affluent kingdom on this earth and lordship over the gods, there does not seem any means that can drive away the grief which is drying up my senses.
Sanjaya said:
O king, having thus spoken to Sri Krsna, Arjuna insisted again, "I will not fight," and turned silent.
Then, O Dhrtarastra, Sri Krisna, as if smiling, addressed the following words to sad Arjuna, in the midst of the two armies.
11-30 Sankhya Yoga Discussed
Bhagwan Shri Krisna then said:
Arjuna! You grieve over those who should not be grieved for, yet you speak like a learned man; wise men never turn sorrow over the dead or the living beings.
In fact, there was never a time when I was not, or when you or these kings were not in existence. It is also not a fact that hereafter we shall all cease to be.
Like the stages of this body as boyhood, youth and old age are attributed to the soul through this body, even so it attains to another body. The wise man never get deluded about this.
O son of Kunti, the connection between the senses and their objects, give rise to the feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain, etc. These are all transitory and temporary; therefore, ignore them.
Arjuna! Pain and pleasure are alike for a wise man, and one who is not disturbed from these contacts becomes eligible for immortality.
The unreality has no existence similarly the reality never ceases to be; this reality of both has thus been perceived by the seers of truth.
Know that to be indestructible, by which all of this universe is pervaded; for that no one can destroy this indestructible substance.
All the bodies containing these indestructible, indefinable and eternal soul is spoken to be as perishable; therefore, Arjuna, fight.
One who knows the soul to be capable of killing and other who takes it as killed both of them are ignorant, because the soul neither kills, nor is killed.
The soul is neither born nor dies; nor does it exist on coming into being. For it is unborn, eternal, everlasting and perpetual; even though the body is slain, the soul is not.
Arjuna! If the man who knows this soul to be indestructible, eternal and free from birth and decay, How he can cause anyone to be killed, or kill anyone?
Just like a person who discards worn-out clothes, takes other new ones, likewise the soul with a body, cast off worn-out body and enters into other which is new one.
Neither the weapons can cut the soul nor fire can burn it; neither the water can wash it nor can wind make it dry.
The soul is incapable of being cutting; it is fire proof, impervious to water and cannot be dried as well. This soul is eternal, omnipresent, immovable, constant and everlasting.
The soul is not viewable directly; it is not considerable and is said to be without shape. After knowing this as such, you should not grieve.
And, Arjuna! Even if you recognize this soul as constantly taking birth and dying, you should not grieve like this.
In that case the death of a born person is certain; and the rebirth is inevitable. Therefore you should not grieve over on inevitable event.
Arjuna! All creatures were not viewable before they were born, and will become not viewable again when they are dead. They are viewable only in the intermediate stage. There is no occasion, then, for lamentation.
Someone perceives this body as wonder, similarly another one explains this as wonderful and another and another hears of it as like a wonder; while hearing this still no one know that this is incapable of knowledge.
Arjuna! The soul living in the bodies of every person is incapable of slain; therefore, you should not grieve for any being.
31-38 Kshahtriya’s ( A class in society) Duty in battle ground
Consider your own duty. You should not abandon it. There is nothing more welcome for a man of the Kshatriya (warrior) class than a righteous war.
Arjuna! They are the lucky among the Ksatriyas, who get such an opportunity for war. This is also an open door to heaven.
Now, if you will not join such a righteous war, then, by abandoning your duty you will be losing your reputation and incur sin.
Also, people will tell your ever living bad reputation story defaming on you and that infamy brought on a honorable man is worse than death.
And the great warriors, who held you in high esteem, will consider of you having desisted from battle out of fear.
And your enemies, disparaging your might, will speak many unbecoming words; what will then be more distressing than this?
If you are slained in battle you will attain heaven and by gaining victory you will enjoy sovereignty of the earth; therefore, arise to the occasion, Arjuna! Determine to fight.
Treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike and get ready for the war. Fighting thus you will not incur sin.
39-53 Karma Yoga Discussed
Arjuna, this school of thought has been presented to you from the point of view of Gyanyoga ( Yoga of Knowledge i.e.SANKHYA YOGA) and now hear the same as presented from the Karmayoga (the Yoga of selfless action) school of thoughts. After Equipped with this attitude of mind, you will be able enough to shake off completely the shackles of Karma.
On this earth where human beings live this path of discipline (of unattachment towards action) there is no loss of effort, nor is there fear of contrary result. Even a little practice of this discipline protects one from great fear (of birth and death).
Arjuna! In this discipline the intellect to determine the subject is only one. Whereas the intellect to determined subject is not one, activities of such person is scattered in many directions and endless.
Arjuna! Those who are obsessed by desire and devoted to the letter of the Vedas regarding attachment towards act for physical pleasure and who look upon heaven as the supreme goal arguing that there is nothing beyond heaven, are unwise. These unwise persons speak flowery words recommending many acts of various kinds for the attainment of pleasure and prosperity with rebirth as their fruit. The persons whose minds have been carried away by such flowery words, and have been deeply attached to pleasure and worldly prosperity, cannot attain the determinate intellect concentrated on God.
Arjuna! The Vedas deal with the three Gunas ( Branches of qualities) or modes of nature, be thou indifferent to these natures and their means, rising above pairs of conflicts like attachments and detachments etc. Stabilize in the Eternal Existence (God). Remain unconcerned about the supply of wants and the preservation of what has been already gained. Bring yourself in the almighty.
Like a person occupying huge water reservoir do not show interest in small water pits similarly a Brahman ( who has knowledge of Vedas and Scriptures in pith and substance) do not have any interest in all the Vedas.
You have right to do your duty only, but do not claim the consequence coming out of that as per your desire. Do not claim to be the cause of consequences but there should also be no attachment towards inaction.
Arjuna! Relinquishing attachment, adopting indifference towards success and failure, perform your duties involving yourself with in Yoga. Equanimity is called Yoga.
Arjun! Acts with a selfish desire is far inferior to this Yoga of knowledge in the form of equanimity. Seek refuge in the evenness of brain. Because those who crave for fruits for their acts are poor and wretched.
One is released from both of his goods and evils during his life time if he is equipped with the yoga of knowledge i.e. equanimity. Therefore involve yourself in this Yoga, of equanimity. Efficiency in acts lie in the practice of this Yoga.
Because wise men armed with equanimity, detaching from the results of acts and gain liberty from the shackles of birth and attain the state without fault.
The moment your mind crosses the mire of attachments you will attain detachment stage which has been heard and yet to be heard.
The moment your mind confused by hearing conflicting statements due to scriptural diversities becomes steadfast and firm in Almighty, you will then attain union with Yoga.
54-72 identifying the persons of stable mind
Arjuna asked:
Krisna! What is the identification of a God realizing, stable minded person? How a man of Stable mind speaks, sits and walks?
Sri Bhagavan said:
Arjuna! When one completely give away all his desires, and is satisfied in the self through the self, then he is called man of stable mind.
The person who remains unperturbed in sorrows, whose thirst for pleasures has disappeared and who has freed himself from passions, fear and anger, is called stable of mind.
The person unattached to everything neither rejoices nor recoils, after getting any good or evil, his mind is stable.
Like a tortoise that folds from all directions in its limbs, one who withdraws his senses from the sense-objects, his mind becomes stable.
The person who does not enjoy sense objects with his senses; Sense-objects cease for him, but the taste for them still persists. This sense of taste also disappears in the case of the man of stable mind when he experiences the supreme element.
Arjun! Because by nature, the active senses forcibly carry away mind even of a wise man, who is practicing self-control,.
Therefore, Persons practicing Karm Yoga after controlling all the senses should sit for meditation devoting heart and soul to Me. Because whose senses are disciplined, his mind is stable.
The persons who think on sense-objects develop attachment for them. Desires spring up from attachment and from desire if restricted brings anger.
From anger infatuation arises; infatuation brings confusion of memory. Confusion of memory results into loss of reason. Loss of reason completely ruins a man.
A person of self disciplined subject of karm Yoga enjoys the various sense-objects through his senses, which are free from likes and dislikes, attains placidity of mind.
All the sorrows come to an end on attainment of such placidity of mind and the intellect of such a person of pure mind soon becomes firmly established in Almighty.
A person who has not controlled his mind and senses can have no intellect and such an undisciplined person cannot have belief in Almighty. The unbelieving person cannot have peace and no one can be happy without peace of mind.
Because any of senses moving into their own subjects can make the mind follow it. That state of mind may take away the intellect just as the wind carries away a barge upon the waters.
Arjuna! Therefore, one who has his senses completely disciplined for their objects, his mind is stable.
A dark for all beings in that stage is light for a disciplined man. Those who are involved in collection of worldly consumables is dark for a person (Seer) knowing the substance of the subject.
Just like the waters of different rivers join the ocean but that never over flows out of its limits. Similarly a disciplined person gets all the enjoyable material without any evil still he enjoys absolute peace. Others who hanker after such material enjoyment do not get such peace.
One who gives up all desires and runs free from attachments, ego and desire for enjoyment, attains peace.
Arjuna! This is the status of a person (Bramhi) who has attained the knowledge; In such a state, he overcomes attachments. Even at the last stage of life if one get this state still, he achieves Brahmic Status.
The Second chapter of the science of Bramha and the scripture of yoga in the glorious Upnishad of Shree Mad Bhagvat Gita titled as "Sankhyayoga" (the Yoga of Knowledge) - A dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna finishes here