Gita : Ch-12. Slo-12.Discussion-7.

(Very important slokam )
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :
Chapter-12. ( Bhakti-yogam )

Slokam-12. ( If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.)

sreyo  hi  jnanam abhyasat  jnanaddhyanam  visisyate,


dhyanat  karmaphalatyagah  tyagacchantiranantaram.


abhyasat  =  than  practice ( abhyasam );

 jnanam  sreyah  hi  =  Jnanam ( knowledge ) is  superior;

 jnanat  =  than  jnanam;

dhyanam  visisyate  =  dhyanam  ( meditation ) is  superior;

dhyanat  =  than  dyanam;

karma-phala-tyagah  ( sreyah)  =  sacrificing / renunciation of  the  fruits  of  karmam, is  far  superior;

tyagat  anantaram  =  from  such  renunciation  thereafter  soon  without  delay;

santih  =  attain  peace.

Discussion-7.

If even this is to difficult to execute with regularity then one should perform activities that please the Supreme Lord and renounce the desire for rewards for it. Such activities are associating with His devotees and rendering service to them, celebrating the appearance days of Him and His avatars or incarnations and fasting from all grains on ekadasi which is the 11th day of the waxing and waning moon. Performing activities in this way without any interest in receiving rewards and benefits will result in the absence of all reactions and thus the cessation of all sins.

Thereafter one will achieve peace of mind and from there one becomes a candidate for practising contemplation of the atma. In conclusion aspirants who are inept at performing bhakti are encouraged to perform simpler methods which will step by step gradually bring one up to that platform. Thus alternative methods applicable for the inept who wish to evolve themselves have been succinctly enumerated.

The renunciation of the rewards of actions is being praised. Knowledge based on Vedic teachings coupled with guidance by guru gives direct realisation of the Supreme Lord Krishna and is superior to even great endeavour without realisation of Him. Meditation based on realisation of Lord Krishna is superior to knowledge of Him. The Mukunda Upanisad III.I.VIII states: Through meditation on the Supreme Lord one realises the absolute. Such a state of meditation naturally leads to lack of desire and renunciation of the rewards of actions which continually practised bestows by Lord Krishna's grace moksa or liberation from samsara or the perpetual cycle of birth and death in the material existence.
To be continued  .....