Hinduism

Theory of Action:

Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 3

Continued from "All about Life": Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 2

This chapter of 42 slokas, known as karma yoga, Theory of Action, covers the whole gamut of action. It is apparent that not all slokas here could be originals. It is pertinent to note that Lord Krishna was unequivocal, in s 42- s45, and s53 of the previous chapter, about the fallacy of the Vedic rituals, and the lack of wisdom in those that clamour for ceremonies, which promise rewards here and in hereafter.  
 
Given that postulation and going by the contextual nature of this chapter that emphasizes action, the s9 -s16 that eulogize the benefits of ritualistic sacrifices should be viewed. In this context, it is pertinent to note that while describing the Omnipresence of Supreme Spirit in chapter 10, it is postulated that among the Vedas, the Supreme Spirit is Sama Veda, symbolizing music (s22), and not Rig Veda or Yajur Veda, both associated with ritualism. And again, in (s25) of the same chapter, it is averred that among the sacrifices, the Lord is tapo yagjna, prayer muted, and not Asvamedha, the horse sacrifice. Thus, these eight slokas seem to be clear interpolations. Besides, s17,s18 and s35  are not only out of context  but also break the continuity of the discourse. S24 is but an analogy of s23 and thus is an interpolation. However, the readers may note that these slokas, if interpreted in the ritualistic sacrificial sense, would broadly convey that -  

9.  Man is not attached to his actions performed in ritualistic sacrifices but all other actions bind him.
10. The Creator wanted mankind to prosper through sacrifices, which shall be the milch cow of man’s desires.
11. Foster the gods through sacrifices
12. Fostered by sacrifices, gods would bestow desired enjoyments, but they are thieves who do not return anything to them (gods).
13. Those that partake the remnants of sacrificial food are sinless.
14. Food that sustains mankind comes from rains, which are but the outcome of sacrificial ceremonies.
15. Brahma is seated in sacrifice.
16. Who follow the above regimen would attain moksha.

To appreciate the background for these interpolations, one might refer to ‘All about Interpolations’ of this book. Bypassing these would tend them on the path of sequential thinking outlined by the Lord for the enlightenment of man. 


Thus spoke Arjuna:
Capping wants, if betters action
How come Thou then push for war!


Find I hard to grasp all this
Thou be forthright, what is right.  


Thus spoke the Lord:
Apply knowledge ’n be freed
Or thou make tango, with forgo
Precepts these yore, I fashioned.


Work-shy being, is no freedom
Dormant being, makes no living.


None like for man, non-action 
Keeps him nature ever engaged.


Refrains if one, ever craving 
Restraint it’s but misleading.

7
Reins as carnal, tucked in mind
Strive who doth in deeds excel.

8
Lest thee should stake survival
Turn thy back not on thy work

19 
Ever thee act at par duty
Let that be thy goal of life.

20 
Lead mankind in Janaka’s route
To moksha en route deeds selfless.

21 
As and when thou prove thy worth
Emulates world then acts all thine. 

22 
Left with none to gain or prove
Keep I Myself ever engaged.

23
Were I to fail to self-exert 
Man might follow suit as well.

25
Strive as wise to act freely
Get bound unwise ever restrained.   

26
Waste not breath, ill-informed with
Wise show ways through their own deeds.   

27
Gloat as egotists of their deeds
Sourced are acts in one’s nature.

28 
Those that see the senses lie
Behind the deeds are truly freed. 

29 
Let go wise, who swear by
Joys of life that nature tends.    

30 
Act not with fear or favour
Unto Me leave, right ’n wrong.

31 
Whoso takes, this advice 
Feels no burden ever engaged.

32
Who this lets go mindlessly 
Gropes in darkness, ever in life.

33 
Beings as by nature ruled
In spite of their self-restraint
Wise too tend to lose their way.

34 
Pays it to see grips avarice
Senses those thine nature tends. 

36 
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Why should one with right intent
Stray ever on the wayward ways!

37 
Thus spoke the Lord:  
Well, it's passion, lust ’n wrath
Drag that man on path painful.

38 
Flame ’n mirror as shrouded
Without let by smoke ’n dust 
As well embryo in the womb
Wisdom is by wants clouded.

39 
Wise all tend to cap all wants
Which like fire all burn to core.

40
Veiled off wisdom sees not man
Mind and body steeped in wants.

41
Rein in matter with thy mind
Thus thou nip thy wants in bud. 

42 
Score over senses sensuous feelings 
Betters that mind, bettered by knowing
But above all Spirit that reins supreme.

43 
Let thy Spirit
Rule the roost,
Restrain thou
Thy mind mischievous.

Ends thus:
Theory of Action,
The Third Chapter 
Of Bhagavad-Gita
Treatise of self-help.

Continued to "Practical Wisdom" Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 4 
 

26-Jul-2011

More by :  BS Murthy

Top | Hinduism

Views: 3596      Comments: 3



Comment THE KARMIC REACTIONS QOUTED ARE ARE REALISTIC.IF WE HAVE TO ATTAIN MOKSHA AND GOOD BIRTH WE HAVE TO FOLLOW KARMIS PRINCIPLES.IN THIS I REALLY ADMIRE LORD KRISHNA AS THE GREATEST MANNAGEMENT GURU OF 21 ST CENTURY.WE HAVE TO FOLLOW BHAGAVAD GITA TO LIGHT OUR LIFE.JAI HIND!

PILLAI ABHILASH BHARGAVAN
04-Jan-2015 20:16 PM

Comment Author's response to - 'again the interpolation theory fails completely here because crucial information available to the cultured reader is not presented'.

It may be seen from the text above (excerpted below), the continuity to the discourse is restored only by ridding it of s 9 through s18, which goes to prove that the same were interpolations.

8
Lest thee should stake survival
Turn thy back not on thy work

19
Ever thee act at par duty
Let that be thy goal of life.

BS Murthy
29-Jul-2011 01:39 AM

Comment Again the interpolation theory fails completely here because crucial information available to the cultured reader is not presented. Krishna, as any educated Hindu knows, is identifying himself with Krishna Devakiputra in the Chandogya Upanishad. Without keeping that text constantly in mind, the Gita may well look like some nonsense cobbled together from contradictory interpolations.

If you take any passage in any text of any language out of its context, you can easily come to the conclusion that it is some incoherent nonsense. You can then say- 'well, actually every piece of incoherent nonsense is actually an interpolation by some evil cabal'. The real message of this text is the 'pristine philosophy' of 'Be Good, do Good' which is the best guide to life. Indeed, all these long books contain nothing but this simple message once stripped of interpolations by evil priests and other such parasites.

I personally wholeheartedly adhere to this sublime philosophy. I have proved in my analysis of the Ramayana, that Sita is not a woman but represents Niceness. Rama never killed anybody. He represents being a Sweetie Pie. The true message of Ramayana is that Niceness dwells happily with the Sweetie Pie in an Environmentally sustainable manner with due attention to Gender and Development, Subsidiarity, Transparency, for-profit Micro Finance, and increased reservations for Educationally Backward Sections of Society. As Justice Katju might say, this is the proper application of the gunapradhan axiom (Mimamsa) to Valmiki's sacred text.

vivek
28-Jul-2011 09:10 AM




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