KNOW THE DISCIPLINES OF ACTIONS AND KNOWLEDGE

 

Though without ‘Yoga’ both ‘Karma’ and ‘Jnana’ lead to bondage yet performance of actions does not lead to as much ruin as the bookish knowledge does. Mere bookish knowledge can lead to hells

He, who preaches the gospel ‘all is Brahma’ to an ignorant man, condemns that man to the snare of fightful hells.

Therefore the man ‘who perform actions is superior to the man possessing bookish knowledge. Then what can be said about the superiority of the person who follows the Discipline of Action! A Jüanayogi is useful only for himself but a Karmayogi is useful for the entire universe. He, who is useful for the universe, is also useful for himself—this is the rule. Therefore a Karmayogi is superior to a Jiianayogi.

The Discipline of Action can be practised without the Discipline of Knowledge but the Discipline of Knowledge is difficult to attain witliout the Discipline of Action (Gita 5/6). Therefore Karmayoga is superior to Sankhyayoga, Discipline of Devotion is superior to Discipline of Action. Therefore in the Gita there is description first of Sankhyayoga, then of Karmayoga and afterwards of Bhaktiyoga.* In this order the Yogas have been discussed.

Karmayoga and Jíianayoga both bear the same fruit (Gita 5/4-5). In their practices ‘Karmayoga’ and ‘Bhaktiyoga’ are one ‘maitrah karuna eva ca’ (Gita 12/13); because Karmayoga and Bhaktiyoga in both, feeling of providing happiness to others reigns. In the performance of actions ‘Karm?’ (One who perform actions) and ‘Karmayogi’ (who without attachment acts for the welfare of others) are one (Gita 3/25) and in the performance of actions, an enlightened soul and God are similar (one) (Gita 3/22—26). In this way a Karmayogi becomes one with a Karmi, Jijanayogi, a Bhaktiyogi and God, all the four this is the special characteristic of Karmayoga.

In ‘Sankhyayoga’ a subtle trace of ego may persist but in ‘Karmayoga’ because of the total detachment from actions and objects, no subtle trace of ego subsists. In Karmayoga, ‘Akarma’ remains (Gita 4/18) while in Sankhyayoga the soul (self) remains (Gita 6/29).