BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 18

PART-2-SL.26 TO 50

MOKSHA SANYASA YOGA

26. A kartais said to be possessing Sathvika Guna(Sathvik characteristics) - when he isunattached, non-egoistic, courageous and enthusiastic and does the action anyway whether it results in success or failure, without worrying about theresult.

27. A kartais said to be possessing Rajasa Guna when he - (i) is possessed of desire, (ii)wants fruits of his actions, (iii) is greedy, (iv) is violent in nature, (v)not clean and (vi) is tossed between pleasures and sorrows

28. A kartais said to be possessing Taamas Guna when he is (i) not the fit person (ii)ignorant (iii) inactive (iv) of deceiptful nature (v) causing loss to others(vi) indolent (vii) of sorrowful nature(viii) of delaying nature.

My Comments :

Understandyour nature. Rise from Taamasik to Raajasik and from Raajasik to Saathvik. aSaathvik person is not a weak person or timid person. Weak and Timid are alsoTaamasik. Are you inactive? you are Taamasik. Become strong and active. ASaathvik man fights for Dharma. He protects the weak against the violent.

TheMahabharat war is a war between the Saathvik Yudhistir and a Raajasik+TaamasikDuryodhan. All wars are like that. Sometimes, it is Raajasik versus Raajasik.Sometimes, it is Saathvik versus Raajasik+Taamasik.

Saathvik manis a capable and courageous man but not Greedy or Jealous. Greed and angermakes you Raajasik. Jealousy makes you Taamasik.

29. Arjuna !Listen also to the three types of differences in Gunas (i) in Intellectual abilities (Buddhi)and (ii) in courage - without leaving any remainder(that is, in full).

30. SaathvikBudhi is that - which clearly distinguishes(i) Pravritthis and Nivritthis, attitudes you must cultivate andattitudes you must give up

(ii) whatmust be done and must not be done (Kaarya-akaarye);

(iii) fearand fearlessness and

(iv)attachment and liberation (Bandham and Moksham).

31.RaajasikBuddhi is that which imperfectly perceives but does not clearly distinguishbetween (i) Dharma and Dharma and (ii) what must be done and must not be done.

32. TaamasikBuddhi is that which is enveloped by ignorance and perceives Adharma as Dharmaand has extreme and opposite views in all matters.

My Comments :

Buddhi orintellect also works according to the three Gunas. Clarity is the hall mark ofSaathvik Buddhi. Confusion is the Hall mark of Raajasik Buddhi. ThinkingAdharma as Dharma - is the hall mark of Tamasik Buddhi.

Some peoplefeel - it is OK to loot and rape others - it is Taamasik Buddhi. Whether weshould prevent such loot and rape - that confusion is Raajasik Buddhi. PreventAdharma at all costs - is Saathvik Buddhi. Weakness and timidity is notSaathvik - please understand.

33. Arjuna !Saathvik courage (Dhruthi) is that - which remains unwavering in Yoga - in theface of any actions of the Mind (Manas), Prana(life or inhale/exhale tasks), andsenses(Indriyas).

34. Partha !Rajasic Courage is that because of which the person desires the fruits of hisactions and does the actions of Dharma, Kaama and Artha with selfish desires. (Lord Krishna hasomitted Moksha actions here as Rajasik Buddhi does not seek Moksha)

35. Taamasacourage is that in which - a person with bad intentions does not give up (i)dreams (ii) Fear (iii) Sorrow, (iv) Sadness and (v) selfish pride

My Comments :

Saathvikcourage is unwavering. Karma Yoga is unwavering action without hankering forthe fruits. Your sensual attractions and distractions, your life forcedisruptions and your mind games - must not waver you away from your Yoga (KarmaYoga or Jnana Yoga).

If yourinhalations and exhalations are steady - your mind also becomes steady - andyou become absolutely peaceful. Have you ever felt that? Sit quiet, practicePranayama. You will know that and you will become Saathvik.

Saathvikresults in liberation from all worldly sorrows (and angers etc).

RaajasikCourage is worldly actions - for the fruits of the actions. Nothing to do withtotal liberation.

Taamasikcourage - stems from bad intentions and lives in fear and sorrow.

36. Arjuna ! A person achieves three types ofSukhas(happinesses) and destroys his sorrows by certain amount of practicing.Listen to them now.

37. ASaathvik Sukham (happiness) is that which looks like Poison in the beginningbut becomes nectar-like in the end and creates deep peace and happiness in ourintellect.

38. ARaajasik Sukham is that - which looks like Nectar in the beginning but turnsout like Poison in the end because of attachment to sensual desires

39. ATaamasik Sukham is that - which creates delusions and ignorance (Mohanam) from beginningto end. It is born of (i) Sleep (ii) laziness and (iii) negligence andirresponsibility (Pramaada).

My Comments :

A mother hasto undergo severe pain to deliver a child. he undertakes it willingly. When theChild is in her hands, she is immensely happy. A farmer toils on his land.There is pain involved. Ultimately, when he looks at the full grown crop, hefeels immensely happy. No Gain without pain. there is a lot of unselfish toilin the mother and in the farmer. Every leader must also be like that. This isSaathvik sukham.

Some hankerfor others' properties or that which is not really earned by them. It lookslike a big achievement initially but it gives immense pain later. It isRaajasik sukham.

TaamasikSukham brings with it fear and sorrow at all points.

40. Allthree Gunas are born of Prakruthi or nature. The Sathvam or the living beingswhich is apart from these three Gunas - does not exist on earth or in theheaven or among the Devas (divine beings).

My Comments :

There isnothing in this visible Universe - which is not made up of the three Gunas. Inother words - Prakruthi means -essentially the three Gunas. All Pancha Bhutasare filled with the three Gunas. Of course, You have choice among the three.Let us see how :

41. Karmasare distributed among the Varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Sudra,vaisya) accordingto the nature of the three Gunas in them.

My Comments :

Krishna saidalready that - I have created the four Varnas based on Guna and Karma. He neverever referred to jaati or caste as a criterion. He never referred to Birth in aparticular womb as a criterion.

There arejust four Varnas. But there are 4000 Jaatis within India. It is time to forgetabout them and re-unite them.

Do you thinkthat the Lord created people of India only and divided only them into fourVarnas?

He createdall people of all world - belonging to all races and all religions. Is this notobvious?

In fact, hecreated all people of all worlds! All these people are divisible into fourVarnas based on the Gunas and Karmas followed by them.

Gunas andKarmas are chosen by YOU. The Lord has divided people into four varnas based onthe Guna and Karma chosen by us.

Many GreatSages were not born to Brahmin parents or in Brahmin wombs. What do you say -their Varna is? So are Kshatriyas. Do you say - Parasuram was Brahmin orKshatriya? Who do you say - karna was?Lord Krishna was born in Kshatriya womb but was brought up by a cowherd family!In which caste, did he not marry?

HiranyaKasipa may be Raajasik or Taamasik by nature but his son Prahlad is Saathvik.Raavana was born of a Brahmin sage. But, he raped even married women, abductedSita and hankered for others' properties. What do you say - his Varna was?

It is timeto re-define ourselves - based on our Guna and Karma.

42. Thekarmas of Brahmans are - (i) control of the inner mind or Antahkarana (Samah)(ii) Control of the senses (Damah) (iii) Tapas (Meditation) (iv) inner andouter cleanliness (saucham) (v)Patience (Kshantih) (vi) Truthfulness (aarjavam)(vii) Jnanam (Wisdom) (viii) Scientific knowledge (Vijnanam) (ix) Belief inalmighty/ Vedas (Aastikyam)

43. TheKarmas of Kshatriya nature are - (i) Sauryam (Heroism or Bravery) (ii) Tejas(brilliance) (iii) dhruthi (courage) (iv) Daakshyam (great skill) (v) notrunning away from battle (vi) Daanam (Generosity) (vii) Master (selfimportance) feeling (Easwara Bhavah)

44. TheKarmas of Vaisya type are (i)agriculture(krushi) (ii) Gaurakhshya (taking care of cattle) and (iii) trading(Vaanijyam).

The karmasdesigned for Sudras are - to serve all the three other Varnas.

My Comments :

You mustunderstand that - all Karmas covered in this classification are Karmas requiredby the whole human Society - not just India. None of these Karmas are bad.

The toughestKarmas are - of the Brahmans. They require the greatest control on themselves.Therefore, their number in Society is also - considerably less. Nobody will optfor Brahman karmas - unless they have huge levels of patience and wisdom. Theirinner nature must be Saathvik.

The nexttoughest Karmas - are of the Kshatriyas. Here also, only some will opt forKshatriya karmas. These are also tough. They must be willing to fight for Dharma. Their Nature is mostly Saathvikplus a bit Raajasik.

But, theycan also be purely Saathvik. Rama was a Saathvik Kshatriya. Krishna was aSaathvik Kshatriya. Sitting on the throne or going to forest - both were samefor them. Kshatriyas rule over others. They protect Dharma. They remainimpartial.

Vaisyas do agriculture(krushi); Gaurakhshya (taking care of cattle) and trading (Vaanijyam). Anybody doingthese is a Vaisya. Many of today's trades and skills are of Vaisya Nature. MostlySaathvik and somewhat Raajasik Gunas. But, they can also be purely Saathvik. Doyou agree?

Sudras -serve others. Anything wrong with that? Nothing wrong with that. They lackparticular skills. But, service to others is the greatest thing that anybodycan do. That is the best of Karma Yoga. If they remain in fear, jealousy,inactivity - they cultivate Taamasik Guna. But, if they do it, willingly andhappily, they can rise to Raajasik and Saathvik.Sudra can be Saathvik. Make no mistake about it. The story related by SageMarkandeya to King Yudhistir - about Dharmavyadha, the Butcher teaching Dharmato Sage Kaushik - clearly reveals that a Sudra can be more Saathvik in naturethan an angry Sage.

Whateveryour worldly occupation - you can choose your Guna - yourself. Your Gunadecides what Varna you belong to - in the view of the Almighty.

Times arechanging. Changing times - have changed all Occupations. Changed Occupations -need changed perceptions. It is the Lord, who has done all this change. Do wechange our perceptions - according to the current reality?

45. Human beings achieve Siddhi or completenessand success by being devoted to one's owntype of Karmas. Now, listen to - how they achieve such siddhi orcompleteness :

46. AnyHuman being achieves completeness and success(Siddhi) by devoting (and praying)to the creator of all beings who is present throughout the Universe - bydevoting himself to his specific karmas.

47. One'sown self- chosen Karma (according to one's inner nature), even if done badly,is still better than the Karmas of others done better. He who does his ownnatural karma (Swabhaava niyatham Karma) does not become sinful at all.

My Comments:

Swabhaava -means simply - what your own inner nature is. It is not what your parents'nature was, or their parents' nature was.

Many GreatSages, whom we revere, were born of different types of parents. The Nature ofthe sages is much, much different from their ancestors. This is how - Godcreates. He is not creating the same type of people in each womb. It isdiffering. This is the reality.

48.O Arjuna,one's own Natural Karma should not be given up even if it is covered with someDoshas (Faults). Fire is also covered in smoke. So also, All Karmas are coveredin some faults.

My Comments :

We see thereality. Some are very precocious in Mathematics even in childhood. Nothing todo with their caste. Some are great artistes, singers, dancers, fighters,meditators, scientists - even in childhood. We all see that. We can't denythat. That is Swabhaava. That is Natural Karma. Allow that to flower. Find thetalent and nurture it.

In oldendays - present day type schools and colleges and research institutions rarelyexisted. Today, they exist. Today, everybody has access to modern education.All that we need is - find the talent and nurture it.

We must moveforward. Not backward. Lord Krishna, 5500 years ago - preferred to dine withVidhura and sanjaya - rather than with Bhishma, Dhritarashtra, Drona etc. Hehelped Kubja. of course, he also helped Sudaama.

If he did not distinguishbetween caste structure and went to help devotees of every caste - what ispreventing us from doing the same. Are we superior to Lord Krishna? Help theHelpless. Help the Poor. That was Lord's example - all through his life.

49. One whohas (i) become disinterested in all things (all karmas or fruits of all Karmas),(ii) conquered his mind and senses (iii) left off all self importance/desires(vigatha Spruhah) - such a person attains to the best of Naishkarmya Siddhi (attainment of the most desire-less state).

My comments :

How to gobeyond the three Gunas? Become disinterested in the fruits of any karma whichyou do. Sage Ramana maharshi once made a walking stick for himself with greatcare. You might have seen his pictures. tall but spine bent a lot. So, Hedefinitely needed the walking stick. But, while walking, somebody asked forthat stick. Ramana Maharshi just gave it up to him without a word. There aremany such great sages in recent past. Ramakrishna Parama hamsa, KanchiPramacharya,even Mahathma Gandhi - are all like that.

50. One whohas conquered himself as above attains to the Brahmam. You have heard this from me. In the same way, Know from me, in brief, whatis the best discipline of wisdom (or Jnanam).