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The Fourth Chapter of Gita is commonly called as the
‘Gyana-Karma-Sanyas Yoga’ - the Yoga of Renunciation of Karma by Knowledge.
This chapter is a continuation of the topic of Karma Yoga, which was
started in the last chapter. While in the earlier chapter Lord talked about
the nature of Karma Yoga, in this chapter Lord tells how this particular
Pravritti (action) leads to Nivritti (inner peace or inactivity). He first
of all gives his own example to show that the art of doing action the Karma
Yoga way, is natural & intrinsic to him. Later
Lord goes about revealing ‘that’ knowledge because of which even while
acting the person knows that he does not act. That is why this particular
name of the chapter -‘Yoga of Renunciation of Karma by Knowledge’.
The chapter has 42 shlokas, and it begins with the
words of Lord Krishna, where he glorifies the knowledge he revealed earlier
to Arjuna, so that he may realize its profound significance. Lord told him
that he revealed this knowledge to Sun in the beginning of creation. Lord
Sun who is a resplendent embodiment of service, discipline and true wisdom,
gave this knowledge to Maharaj Manu who passed it on to King Ikshwaku. Thus
this knowledge has been coming down to righteous kings like Pandavas from
generations. This knowledge alone was responsible to make these great
people what they were. He also said that in the process of being passed on
to the subsequent generations this knowledge got destroyed, and that is why
he was not able to face his situation with equipoise & wisdom and got
so despondent. Today he is revealing that same very knowledge to Arjuna,
because he was not only his friend but a devotee too, and thus has the
right emotional relationship with Lord apart from having various other
pre-requisites, which should be there in a good student.
Arjuna was impressed, who did not know about the
greatness of Sun, and the great Kings like Manu & Ikshwaku. They were all
very well known and highly venerated. But Arjuna had a question. How come Krishna who was born few decades back gave this
knowledge to Sun, who was born at the beginning of creation? With this
question starts a very beautiful & famous section of Gita, where Lord
reveals that he is an Avatara. He tells what is an Avatara, why & how
does he descend to this realm of time, what are his motivations and his
agenda. He tells Arjuna the uniqueness of his birth & actions, and
tells Arjuna that whoever knows the secret of his birth & actions will
certainly transcend his limitations too.
Later in the chapter Lord reveals how the men of
knowledge who ‘see’ a dimension of ‘peace & inactivity’ deep down in
themselves, keep acting dynamically without being effected by anything
whatsoever. They are truly the awakened ones. No situation whatsoever ever
shakes these people, and they are ever cool to respond to any situation
with all their wisdom & strength. The secret is to begin by making ones
Karma a ‘Yagna’. The word Yagna is explained in a very deep way, by
revealing to Arjuna the secret of turning any Karma into a Yagna. A person
who has turned his or her Karma into a Yagna is one who knows how to enjoy
their actions & duties. They love the very doing of work, without
letting the concerns of future hamper their work at present. They have a
motivation of love for someone for whom they are devoted. These people are
seen to be free from any concerns about their personal pleasures or
security. They seem to be free from ego-centricity, and enjoy every moment
of their lives without any fears. Taking life as it comes,
they are seen to be satisfied with anything, which they get after doing any
of their work in above spirit. While seeing these people it becomes very
evident that the source of their joys is something subjective & not
anything outside. They truly love & live life fully & intensely.
All this is possible when one ‘sees’ a dimension of actionlessness within.
So the right way is to first learn to love ones work, without being
bothered about things of past & future, and thereafter aspire to ‘know’
the dimension of actionlessness within.
Lord ends the chapter by advising Arjuna that once a
person who has learnt the above Art of doing Karma, should humbly go to a
Guru, who is not only an embodiment of peace & joy, but also has the
knowledge, wisdom & capability to communicate this to others. In short
he should be a Shrotriya & Brahma Nishtha. A student should take the
initiative to not only go to such a teacher, but work to establish a close
relationship with him. Thereafter, when both the student & the teacher
are nicely tuned up & related with mutual love & respect, he should
ask about this truth & dimension. So while you should certainly
‘believe’ about this dimension, but hasten slowly. Never let your belief be shaken by anything because he who truly believes
about the existence of all this alone works for that awakening &
wisdom.
Thus ends the fourth chapter of Bhagwad Gita.
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