Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-18, Slokam - 8.

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Wednesday, April 13, 2022. 20:00. 

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

Chapter-18.  Moksha-sanyasa-yogam 

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Slokam-8.

"Duhkhamityevayat   karma  kayaklesabhayat  tyajet,

sa  krtva  rajasam  tyagam  naiva  tyagaphalam  labhet."

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Translation :

yat  duhkhamiti  eva  =  doing  karmam  is  an  unhappy  thing,  that  which;

kaya  klesa  bhayat  =  out  of  fear  of  physical  ( bodily )  hardship;

tat  karma   tyajet  =  giving  up  karmam;

sah  rajasam  tyagam  krtva  tyagaphalam  na  abhet  eva   =  his  sacrifice  ( not  doing  physical  work ) is  rajasam  (  asuric / demonic   nature );,  he  will not  get the  fruits  of  sacrifice.

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The Tattvam (essence) of  the Slokam :

Slokam-8.  "Anyone who gives up prescribed duties as troublesome, or out of fear, is said to be in the mode of passion. Such action never leads to the elevation of renunciation."

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Commentary :

Undoubtedly prescribed Vedic activities are conducive to achieving moksa or liberation form material existence but as they also include penance and austerities they may cause discomfort, difficulty and even pain to accomplish. 

Sometimes fasting is required putting the physical body under duress causing fatigue which is agonising to the mind. 

Dreading such inconvenience one may limit themselves solely to the practice of astanga yoga with its numerous exercises, or pranayama maintaining strict breath control or sit for long hours in meditation to achieve moksa. 

All of these activities may have merit but if they keep one refraining from performing prescribed Vedic activities and obligatory duties then such abstention is known to be contrary to the conclusions of the Vedic scriptures and is situated in raja guna the mode of passion. 

The benefits that one thinks they are gaining by abstaining from prescribed Vedic activities to perform other works are factually never accrued. 

It is just a figment of the imagination like a mirage for without supplicating everything to the Supreme Lord Krishna through the medium of the bonfide spiritual master in disciplic succession it is not possible to receive His grace. 

This topic will be addressed further in slokam 32.

If one renounces actions out of fear of repercussions or due to inconvenience or bodily discomfort and gives up prescribed Vedic activities and obligatory duties such renunciation is understood to be clearly situated in raja guna or mode of passion. 

For pain and discomfort and its opposites pleasure and comfort are products of raja guna. Lord Krishna confirms that such jivas or embodied beings will definitely not derive the benefits of such renunciation in the form of purifying their minds and sanctifying their existence which are prerequisites for moksa or liberation from material existence.

Unless one is deluded, they will reject all that they see as nothing but misery. But misery in itself is a mental projection based upon angle of perception. It is because normally what is spoken of as affecting the physical body is considered to be separate from the mind that misery is merely a mental condition arising from an unwelcome reception. This is the meaning Lord Krishna is conveying. The Shabda Nirnaya states: Aggravation should be known as an external phenomena having an external source; with proper discrimination this is apparent.

Here Lord Krishna speaks of the renunciation characterised by raja guna or mode of passion. 

The phrase dukham eva can mean troublesome. 

One who is unhappy about executing their obligations and forsakes their duties due to discomfort or else performs them reluctantly with minimal exertion and effort will acquire no benefit or reap any reward for their endeavors. 

They are known to be situated in raga guna and such renunciation will bestow neither spiritual knowledge nor advancement in spiritual life.

To be continued ....

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