Action without
attachment
Lord Krishna now
described a person who would be completely unattached towards action and the
fruits. That type of person will rejoice in contemplating on Self or Atman and is ever contented. Such a
person will not undergo any action. He does not have any interest in activities
done or not done, nor does he have any dependence on anybody. Completely free
from obligations and dependencies such a person is ever blissful.
Lord Krishna explains
here the characteristics of a person who would be free from the obligation of
being a participant in the universal cycle of sacrifices as depicted above. Not
every person can attain such a stature of inaction. Therefore he advises Arjuna, “Always perform actions and
duties without attachment. Being detached from the work performed one can attain
the Supreme Goal. “
He goes on further elaborating this concept by giving examples. “It
is only through action that king Janaka and others like him attained
perfection. One should perform action solely for the purpose of welfare of the
world, even though one is fit for the state of inaction. This is because,
multitude will follow the ideals and lives of great men. Therefore whatever
great men do, have got huge implications for the future course of the
world.”
Sri Krishna further said citing His own example, “Even I, get
involved in action even though I have nothing to accomplish in these three
worlds, no heights to achieve and nothing to obtain. If I do not perform my
duties diligently and untiringly, multitudes who follow me will become slothful,
which would put this world into grave danger. There will be chaos everywhere
owing to non performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.”
If the Supreme Being, the prime mover of this Universe, the
great force which controls everything, which is behind every action and thought
and every natural process, stops from acting, the entire universe will come to a
naught. Therefore it is preordained that, ever watchful and wakeful, God will
supervise all actions and yet, not get involved in any of them. He is the actor
and through all universal beings He acts, being their latent force. If He stops
acting, everything will be destroyed and thus to sustain the Universe He works
even though He is well poised to destroy it at any moment, just like a child who
plays with his toy this moment and destroys it a moment later only to get a new
toy.
While the ignorant works mainly through ego and attachment for
satisfaction of desires, the wise works in a detached way, merely for the
welfare of humanity. That’s why great saints in all ages,
despite achieving the pinnacle of spiritual glory, come down and mingle with
ordinary folks, to help them to find peace and joy. They do not have to work,
and yet they work selflessly, for the benefit of the mankind.
The Lord cautions that a wise man should let the ignorant
work according to his disposition, while himself working in harmony with the
divine wish. This is because if a wise stops working by
renouncing action, an ignorant will follow his footsteps, thinking that idleness
and inactivity is the ideal state. An ignorant does not understand the
difference between renunciation of action and idleness. Therefore the best
course for him is to work. Through work he can gain knowledge and experience and
thereby advance spiritually.
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