Chapter-3

KARMA YOGA

Connection between Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 :

  • In Bg. 2.49 “durena hy avaram…”, Krishna tells Arjuna “To keep all abominable activities far distant by Buddhi-yoga”
  • Arjuna thinks that buddhi means intelligence
    o By using his intelligence, he should avoid all abominable activities and thus, not fight
    o Still Krishna is urging him to fight
  • Chapter 3 begins with Arjuna’s question to clarify this contradictory instruction
  • According to Arjuna (renunciation) ‘Jnana’ and ‘work’ are incompatible.
BREAKDOWN OF CHAPTER-3
  • (3.1 – 3.2) — RENUNCIATION OR WORK
  • Arjuna asks if it is better to be situated in knowledge or to  work, as if two were opposed to each other.
  • (3.3 – 3.9) — NISKAMA-KARMA YOGA
  • Work combined with knowledge and detachment
  • Offer the fruit of the work for the satisfaction of Krishna
  • Niskama-karma-yoga allows the soul (active by nature) to be purified through detached activities.
  • If one cannot perform detached, dutiful work; it is better to follow Karma-kanda section of Vedas
  • But do it for Krishna’s pleasure (All the Vedic duties which prescribe sacrifices, etc.)
  • (3.17 – 3.35) — NISKAMA-KARMA TO SET CORRECT EXAMPLE

Dutifully acting without attachment sets the correct example for others, who are less advanced.

  • (3.36 – 3.43) — BEWARE OF LUST AND ANGER
  • They foil one’s performance of duty, and incur sin
  • Regulate senses and strengthen intelligence to control lust
Summary of Chapter-3
RENUNCIATION OR WORK
(3.1 – 3.2)

Text (3.1 – 3.2)

Arjuna is confused, based on Text 2.49, Arjuna doubts the compatibility of Karma (Duty of fighting) & Jnana (Buddhi – yoga based on knowledge of the soul) and requests for the one conclusive path.

NISKAMA-KARMA-YOGA
(3.3 – 3.9)

Text (3.3-3.9)

This section describes the defects in the desire to renounce prescribed duty and thus focuses on the following points which summarize Texts 3.3 – 3.9:

  • The “Active Nature of Soul”
  • Inactivity is not an option available
  • So it is advised to perform our activities in a way that they are directed towards self – purification and self–realization
  • Self-purification and self–realization are the purposes of performing prescribed duties.
FROM KARMA-KANDA TO KARMA-YOGA
(3.10 – 3.16)

Text (3.10)

Krishna explains Vedic karma-kanda system – Live happily in this world and gradually achieve liberation

  • Principle behind the concept of karma-kanda – By satisfying desires in a religious way, those who are attached will be purified.

Text (3.11 – 3.12)

How our desire can be fulfilled in material world by demigod worship

  • Demigods being pleased by sacrifices will please the living entities; thus by co-operation between men and demigods prosperity will reign over all (3.11)
  • Without yajna, one is a thief – One who enjoys the gifts without offering them to the demigods is certainly a thief (3.12)

Text (3.13)

Devotees get freed from all sins, because they eat food which is first offered in sacrifice and thus they experience real peace and happiness

  • Those who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

Text (3.14) 

Cycle of sacrifice – Sacrifice brings rains which nourishes the crop (food grains) which make living entities prosperous and happy.

Text (3.15) 

Following the acts of sacrifice as given in the Vedas is equivalent to following the will of Krishna. Therefore it is purifying and transcendental.

  • Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas and Vedas are directly manifested from Supreme Personality of Godhead
  • Consequently the All-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of sacrifice

Text (3.16) 

Emphasizes “Sacrifice is a must” – Without following these Vedic prescriptions, selfish activities simply take one into darkness

  • Thus one leads a life of sin
  • Living only for satisfaction of the senses such a person lives in vain
NISKAMA-KARMA-YOGA TO SET CORRECT EXAMPLE
(3.17 – 3.35)

Text (3.17 – 3.18)

  • Self-realized soul is free from all material duties – Yes, one with no material desires and who is already purified has no need of material duties nor has he any aversion to them.

Text (3.19 – 3.21)

Such great people or purified souls perform prescribed duties without attachment to set the proper example for the common man

  • Why a self-realized soul works (3.20 – 3.21):
     To set the example e.g. Janaka Maharaja
  • How he works (3.19):
     With detachment from fruits
     As a matter of duty, under proper guidance
     For Krishna
  • Benefits of such work (3.19):
     One attains the Supreme
  • 2 examples of leaders who perform their duties just to “set an example”
     Janaka Maharaja (3.20)
     Krishna, Himself as a householder (3.22 – 3.24)

Text (3.22 – 3.24)

Second example of performing duties as a leader – “Krishna also performs prescribed duties” although He has no material desires.

1. Why He has no prescribed duties (Bg. 3.22)

  • There is no work prescribed for Me within all three planetary systems
  • Nor am I in want of anything; Nor have I the need to obtain anything
  • Srila Prabhupada gives a supporting reference – Ref Svetasvatara Upanisad Bg. 6.7-6.8 –
    Describes Krishna as Supreme self-sufficient, beyond all the prescribed duties
    o Conclusion – Since everything is in full opulence in the Personality of Godhead and is existing in full truth, there is no duty for the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  • Why He still carefully performs prescribed duties (Bg. 3.23)
     To set example
     To keep social tranquility for progress in spiritual life (Bg. 3.23)
     To establish religion (purpose of descent) (Bg. 3.23)
  • What if He does not follow (Bg. 3.24)
     All the worlds would be put into ruination, because all would follow My path
     Unwanted population (Varna-sankara) will be created
     “I would thereby destroy the peace of all living beings”

Text (3.25)

Compares attached and detached worker and thus establishes that self-realized person performs duties to set proper example for common people

  • ‘Ignorant’ – work with attachment
  • ‘Self-realized’
    ⇒ Work without attachment
    ⇒ To set the example and lead people on the right path
  • Basis of differentiation between attached and detached worker – ‘Desire’

Text (3.27 – 3.28)

Differences in consciousness of ‘Ignorant’ (Material consciousness/ attached worker) and ‘Knower of Absolute Truth’ (Krishna consciousness/ detached worker)

1. Desire

  • Attached worker – Desires own sense gratification.
  • Detached worker – Desires Krishna’s satisfaction.

2. Convictions

  • Attached worker – Convinced by false ego that he is the doer of everything.
  • Detached worker – Convinced of his awkward position in material association.

3. Knowledge of Identity

  • Attached worker –
    ⇒ Does not know that body is produced by material nature which works under the supervision of the Lord
    ⇒ Does not know that he is under the control of Krishna
    ⇒ Symptoms of nescience (Ignorance or not knowing) – One takes all the credit for doing things independently.
  • Detached worker –
    ⇒ Knows his real identity as part and parcel of the Supreme, who is eternal bliss and knowledge
    ⇒ Knows that somehow he is entrapped in the material conception of life
    ⇒ Meaning of “tattva-vit” – Ref. SB One who knows the Absolute Truth in three different features and knows one’s factual position in relationship with the Supreme.

4. Engagements

  • Attached worker – Does not engage his bodily and mental activity in the service of Krishna; because he forgets that the Supreme Lord is Hrsikesha (The master of the senses)
  • Detached worker – Engages himself in the activities of Krishna consciousness and thus naturally gets unattached from activities of material senses.

5. Consequences

  • Attached worker – One forgets the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Detached worker – Consequence of knowledge is that he is not disturbed by all kinds of material reactions; and considers all reactions to be the mercy of the Lord.

Text (3.26 and 3.29)

How a ‘Detached man’ relates to a ‘Man in ignorance’

  • Not agitate their minds attached to fruitive activities
  • Not induce them to stop work
  • Engage them in all activities for gradual Krishna consciousness

Text (3.30)

Discusses the stage of bhakti-yoga –Recommends to work exclusively for Krishna and teach others to do the same

  • Surrendering all your works “unto Me”
  • With full knowledge of Me
  • Without desires for profit
  • With no claims of proprietorship
  • Free from lethargy, FIGHT!

Text (3.31)

Result of acting according to Lord’s injunctions (Bg. 3.30)

  • How to follow:
    ⇒ With faith
    ⇒ Without envy
  • Result – Freedom from all bondage

Text (3.32)

Flaw of not being Krishna conscious –

  • Such a person out of envy disregard these teachings and do not follow them
  • Fate of disobedient persons
     Is considered bereft of all knowledge and befooled
     Ruined in their endeavors for perfection

Text (3.33)

We cannot force someone to give up his conditional nature and material desires

  • Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature
  • Everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes
  • What can repression accomplish

Text (3.34)

Gradually purify them (conditioned souls) by dovetailing their sense enjoyment propensities according to religious duty

Stumbling blocks on path of self-realization (3.34)

  • Attachment and aversion pertaining to senses and their objects

How to get out of it (3.34)

  • Do not come under the control of such attachment and aversion
  • There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion

Text (3.35)

Never imitate another’s duties – “It is very dangerous to give up one’s own duty and try to follow someone else’s path”

  • It is far better the discharge ones prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duty perfectly
  • Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous
CONQUERING THE ULTIMATE ENEMY: LUST
(3.36 – 3.43)

Text (3.36)

Arjuna’s enquiry – There is some force that pushes one to abandon duty and act sinfully, even against one’s own will. What is that force?

Text (3.37)

Lust is that force which impels one to act sinfully

Characteristics of lust:
1. Born of mode of passion
2. Changes into wrath (born of the mode of ignorance)
3. Forces us to act sinfully
4. All-devouring greatest enemy of living entity

Text (3.38 – 3.39)

Lust covers the living entity – 3 different degrees of covering (3.38)

  • Fire covered by smoke
  • Mirror covered by dust
  • Embryo covered by womb

Further characteristics of lust (3.39)

  • Covers the living entities pure consciousness
  • Lust is never satisfied
  • Analogy: Never satisfied, like fire which is never satisfied by constant supply of fuel (Ref. Manu Smrti)

Text (3.40 – 3.43)

How to conquer the enemy – Lust

  • Know the 3 sitting places of lust – Senses, Mind and Intelligence (3.40)
  • Regulate the senses – Since the senses are the weakest, they are the easiest to begin conquering lust with. Therefore destroy lust in senses by following religious regulations. Lust as destroyer of ‘jnana’ (knowledge) and ‘vijnana’ (self-realisation). (3.41)
  • Hierarchy of sitting places of lust (3.42)
    ⇒ Working senses are superior to dull matter
    ⇒ Mind is higher than the senses
    ⇒ Intelligence is higher than the mind
    ⇒ Soul is higher than the intelligence
  • Steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence (Krishna consciousness) (3.43)
    ⇒ Knowing that the soul is higher than material senses, mind and intelligence, take strength to defeat the enemy
    ⇒ By spiritual strength conquer this insatiable enemy lust
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