Chapter 5 — Karma Sanyasa Yoga

Verse 2
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka

II Shree Bhagavaanuvaacha II

sannyāsaḥ karmayogaśca niḥśreyasakarāvubhau

tayostu karmasannyā-sātkarmayogo viśiṣyate

🕉 English Translation

Arjun se Bhagwan bole tabhi,

Karm tyag ho chahe ho yog hi.

Dono hi kalyankari hain ye,

Magar shresth hai karm hi tyag se.

📜 Translation English

The Blessed Lord said:

The renunciation of action and yoga of action - both of them lead to supreme good; but out of the two yoga of action being easier to follow is better than renunciation of action.

💬 Commentary English

While delivering the preachings of the Gita in the tension-ridden and noisy battlefield to Arjun the speaker of the Gita Lord Krishna is making His message understood in a very natural manner. In His style of delivery, it is absolutely matchless. The style of satisfying inquiries one should learn from Him. He made His stand clear without negating anybody's viewpoint. Both renunciation of action and yoga of action undoubtedly are of benefit. Any welfare-seeking human who associates himself with either of the two means of self upliftment would find it satisfying. The seekers of both types can experience happiness from this inspiration from the Gita. Here the word 'renunciation' has not been used in the context of complete abandonment of action; this is a fact especially to be remembered. In the concluding verses of the fourth chapter also this is clear. There, the attainment of knowledge through actions, culmination of actions into knowledge and then destruction of doubts by knowledge has been stated with clarity. Here too as a solution to Arjun's inquiry the Blessed Lord is going to clarify this only. In the following verses, the word 'sankhya' provides clarification for the same. Both the means are certain to provide self evolution because the final outcome of both the paths is equality, serenity, natural happiness. The seeker of the path of Sankhya on experiencing abidance in the Self finds himself to be the non-doer whereas the seeker of the Yoga of action by performing action with intellect surrendered to the Lord, liberates himself from the discord of the bondage of doership.

Even then this message of the Supreme sportive player adds to the grandeur to the universal glory of the Gita-'tayostu karmasannayasatkarmayogo'visisyate'-but Parth! Even then in comparison to renunciation of action, yoga of action is superior. The word 'tu' used in the inspirations from the Gita is of special importance and is thought-provoking. He has a very simple and skilful style of giving a turn to what He has said. There should not arise in anyone's mind the doubt that the inspirations provided by the Gita are one-sided and at the same time the actual situation should be clear. The Sankhya yogi on establishing himself in the Self would experience supreme peace; but the yogi following the path of action would become a living inspiration of working for public welfare 'sarvabhuthiteratah'.

The path of Sankhya Yoga is somewhat difficult to adopt because in practical life it is not easy to reach that state. While performing action and especially when there is an accumulation of the past impressions of actions inside, to attempt to advance straightaway towards Sankhya Yoga or the state of knowledge of Sankhya leads to delusion and many a time even to downfall; whereas the man of yoga of action while performing his normal action by giving up the desire for its fruits, egoism and clinging and exhausting even the previous destiny further establishes himself in that supreme state. In comparison to Sankhya Yoga (renunciation) why is the yoga of action better? Observe the unique and magnanimous inspiration from the Gita-

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