Notes from Srimathi

Chapter 4 – Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga 21 Mar 2021

1- Krishna continues that O arjuna I had spoken this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan who then passed it on to Manu and Manu taught it to Ikshvaku. Here the lord declares that HE himself at the beginning of creation, imparted the knowledge to Sun God.

2- Krishna says this knowledge which has been handed down the generations has been lost now.

3- Krishna again says the same yoga I am giving to you now because you are my friend and my devotee.

4- Arjuna asks ‘O Krishna you were born much later than sun god. How can I believe that you gave this knowledge to him?

5- For this Krishna replies ‘Arjuna both you and I had several births. You had forgotten that, but I remembered. Here lord Krishna brings in the Theory of Incarnation as explained in our puranas.

6- Though I am unborn and imperishable in nature yet ruling over my nature take birth by my own Maya. The lord comes to this world out of full control and his own free will. He does not come to this world by his past karma.

7- Lord declares that whenever there is a decay of righteousness and rise of unrighteousness in the world, I manifest myself. It is for this purpose the supreme being takes a body projected for the purpose by Himself and he reserves Himself for the purpose of divine freedom to be IN it and yet not to be Of it.

8- For what purpose God takes this manifestation to for the protection of good, for the destruction of wicked and for the establishment of Righteousness. It is evident that the infinite cannot project as avatar without a desire and here the desire is selfless thirst to serve the world. As Arjuna is unaware of the divinity of Krishna compelled to explain Himself.

9- Krishna declares that who by constant contemplation understand the divine birth and activities of the lord, they end their limitations and reach godhood. This stanza also indicates for one’s spiritual development Upasana is equally an efficient method as meditation.

10- One who is free from – detachment, desires, fear and anger and surrendered to the infinite and purified by knowledge he will attain the lord. The entire path of self-development and the final goal to be reached is explained here.

11- Krishna further continues – I lend power to all without any partiality, in whatever form they invoke me in that form I serve them. Like an electric plug in the house can be used to hear a song over the radio, to run a fan, to boil water, to warm the room heater, the eternal life force can be invoked, and it shall fulfil all desires.

12- Those who desire for satisfaction from actions in this world continue with animal passion because success resulting from actions can be quickly attained in the world. The mind ever chooses the extrovert career because it is easy to get cheap pleasures by satisfying the senses.

13- Here lord emphatically says the four-fold caste has been created by me according to the Guna and Karma. But I am immutable and a non-doer.

14- Actions do not taint me and nor I have any anxiety for actions. The self-ego suffers the evil tendencies and such other taints of the mind and also gets disturbed due to desires for the fruit of action. But the self, in its pure conscious nature is not at all affected by these delusory disturbances.

15- The ancient seekers after attaining freedom also performed actions therefore Arjuna you also do the actions.

16- Krishna says” what is action and what is inaction, even the wise people are confused. I shall teach you the nature of action and inaction. By knowing this you shall be liberated from the evil of Samsara the Maya.

17- We must know the true nature f action, forbidden action and inaction. Life being dynamic can not cease to function even for a moment. Activity therefore is the corner stone of life.

18- He who recognises action in inaction and inaction in action is a wise man. He is a yogi. An individual who can stand apart from himself and observe the “activity in inactivity and complete inactivity in the highest activity called Un activity is termed as yogi.

19- Krishna says, a man of perfection is one whose actions are all devoid of plan and desire for result.

20- One who has abandoned attachment to fruits of action., ever content, no dependent on anything though he is engaged in action is a Man of perfection.