Real Wisdom - The Knowledge
of Brahman
Sri Krishna now explains to Arjuna the characteristics of people who
are above all subtleties of actions. One
whose actions are devoid of desire and are annealed by the fire of wisdom is
called wise by the learned. This means that such persons are firmly established
in wisdom, they have realized the ineffectiveness of seeking profits in actions
because all profits are non lasting. Even highest heavens are temporary. With
their desires thus quenched through renunciation these wise men are ever
content, never seeking any refuge anywhere. Even when engaged in action they are
not acting. They are devoid of all hopes and their mind and senses are firmly
controlled. They neither seek nor have any desire of any worldly gains. By
performing only bodily functions they do not incur sins. They are satisfied by
whatever that comes to them with the least of effort, they are above all
dualities like good and evil, happiness and sorrow and they are ever free of
pettiness like jealousy. They are indifferent to success and failure of actions
and are therefore are immune to the bondage resulting from
actions.
These are all the traits of Yogis who are
stationed in the perpetual state of bliss. They have no need for any action and
even if they act, the actions are completely selfless and directed towards God.
These persons, ever free from attachment and liberated from all worldly fetters,
intellect firmly established in wisdom, perform actions through sacrifice, whose
effects subsequently melts away, i.e. these actions cannot bind them.
Sri Krishna
then explains the nature of the sacrifices which drive the actions of the wise.
In Chapter 3 He had advised Arjuna to
perform actions only as sacrifice, free from desires. Such sacrifices may be of
various types. For these sacrifices, the eternal Supreme Being or the Brahman is the oblation, He is the ladle
for pouring the oblation, it is He who is the clarified butter used for
sacrifices, it is again He who is the sacrificial fire and He is verily the
being who is offering (the officiating priest). Those who thus mediate upon the
Brahman go verily unto Brahman.
Sarvam khalu idam Brahman or everywhere
verily is Brahman – This is called
True Knowledge. Therefore one who is performing any sacrifice established in the
knowledge that offerings and oblations, sacrificial fire and the officiating
priest, i.e. all the means of obtaining the goal are the end themselves, is ever
free. Knowing everything to be the supreme Brahman, the means as well as the end of
all actions, such a person will have no desire left. Action is then for action’s
sake, not for the fruit.
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