The mind should give preference to the Lord and not the world. this is imperative for the spiritual path. As long as the mind gives importance to the world, the mind can never become concentrated in divine contemplation. This is the universal principle that to which the mind gives importance it will naturally, on its own, effortlessly, automatically seek anchor there. This verse is meant to draw the priority of the seeker's mind in the direction of the Lord-

To motivate the seeker on the spiritual path, this is a very sweet expression! Any auspicious deed which is selfless, can be considered to be a sacrifice itself. To serve the parents, elderly and the old, the downtrodden and the distressed, the helpless etc. and to serve cows, the good deed of making our cultural heritage an inspiration for one and all, can be called sacrifice. Chanting, discipline and self-regulation, worship and recitation, knowledge, meditation and ritualisitic deeds, etc. are all the practices of austerities. For making life meaningful all these are to be necessarily performed. Enduring suffering, difficulties and inconvenience one should keep on doing such acts without fail.

The importance in life of all actions related to sacrifice-austerities will increase if one feels the eagerness due to the fact that God Himself is the receiver of all these activities. He is the enjoyer. While serving anyone if one feels that one has fed the hungry with food and given water to the thirsty and given reverence, service to the elderly and the old and this is in reality being accepted by the Lord Himself, then one's feelings for these acts will intensify, arrogance will not flourish in any manner, the vision will not wander here and there, spiritual path and the spiritual goal will become easy.

This state should be understood also while engaging in the singing of holy songs, recitation and while performing sacrifices and rites. In front of us is the Lord. What kind of Lord is He; He is the sarva loka maheshwaram-the Great Lord of all worlds! Worlds are several, many happenings are taking place; but the originator and the substratum and the administrator of all is one Lord! Because He is the Lord of all worlds and their Master too. Whatever is happening is happening due to His Will, due to His power, due to His strength. Without Him there is nothing. The birth, maintenance and destruction of everything is in His hands. The governance of entire creation is by Him. Once this attitude is made, then movement, mental state and devotion will naturally be directed towards the Supreme.

'Suhridam sarva bhutanam' the Lord is the well-wisher of all beings without any motive. His divine compassion is for all without any reason. He is the only one who acting for anyone does not have even an iota of expectation because for Him in all the three worlds there is nothing which is to be attained. He owes nothing to anybody, has nothing to receive anything from anybody. That is why there is no reason for His being selfish in any circumstances with anybody. In any case compassion and grace are His very nature. When this nature of the Lord comes to one's mind then it experiences natural satisfaction and peace.

While engaging in service or sacrifice, worship, recitation etc. the mind feels at peace that the Lord Himself is the enjoyer of all. He Himself is accepting these feelings of mine! Peace becomes all the more intense with this feeling that the Lord Himself is my benefactor. His compassion without any reason is on me, for me. In any case if the mind for any reason starts getting disturbed make this prayer-O Lord! Who is the compassionate without reason! O Lord! Who is the ocean of bliss, who without motive graces us! Bestow on me such compassion that my mind should not waver, should not become unstable ever, should be Yours and should dwell in You! This prayer will definitely make you feel at peace naturally. Observe and act in this manner.

Thus with the recitation of these divine names 'Om Tat Sat', Divine knowledge (Brahmvidya) and Scripture of Yoga in the Upanishad of the glorious Shrimad Bhagvad Gita, the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjun the 5th chapter named Yoga of Renunciation of Action, stands completed.

Union with the Lord (Yoga) is the aim and the gist of every chapter. To make the being free from the worldly bondage and make him to meet the divine is the main objective of the inspirations from the Gita. Every chapter gives fulfilment to this objective. The fifith chapter aims at union with the divine through renunciation in essence of actions.

Renunciation is not of actions, objects but of desire, aversion, attachment to the fruits of action and egoism of doership. In such a state while performing action it is as if of not performing any action.

Yoga of action is superior as compared to yoga of renunciation. Even then Sankhya has been given full respect in this chapter and expounded well. Sankhya has not been limited to just oral or theoretical expression, but the practice and experience of yoga of meditation has also been highlighted and while in the body and after dropping of the body, the divine state of the attainment of Brahmic liberation is also the glory of this chapter.

To Conclude:

In summary, this chapter is a beautiful harmony of action, knowledge and meditation and it is also infallible, unfailing, appropriate method for taking one from the ordinary level of practical skilful working to the highest state of spiritual existence. Let the blessings of Lord Krishna be on all; all should be able to progress on the journey of rising up from worldly indulgences towards yoga (union with the divine)!

Jai Shri Krishna!

Hari Om Tat Sat! Hari Om Tat Sat!! Hari Om Tat Sat!!!