VERSE NUMBER 2 OF KARMA YOGA OR YOGA OF ACTION

THE HOLY YOGA

CHAPTER THREE

KARMA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF ACTION

VERSE NUMBER 2

Text in Transliteration:

vyaamisrene ‘va vaakyena budhim mohayasee ’va me

tad chkam vada nischita yena sreyo ‘ham aapnuyaam

Text in English:

With these perplexing words, you are, as it were, confusing my comprehension. Tell me with certainty the path by pursuing which i may get at the Supreme.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

The Lord made it plain to Arjuna that he was not to abandon his duty for any reason whatsoever. After goading him to action He next put it to him to convert the bondage-creating karma into the bondage-breaking karma-yoga. The Lord’s contention was that the karma-yogi alone could accomplish everything. He then pointed out the supremacy of jnanam—enlightenment. That in spiritual illumination alone the acme of life was attained, was the conclusion of the Lord. He even extolled it as the Supreme.

This twofold emphasis created a doubt in the mind of Arjuna, which may be set forth as follows:-“Lord, you are the dispeller of the ignorance of beings; you are also the remover of their misery. Why do you place me alone in a dilemma? I am sure it is no intention of yours to lead me astray. I have supplicated to you for ‘Sreyas’. Do, therefore, guide me aright.”

COMMENTARY BY DR. S. RADHAKRISHNAN:

iva; confusion is only seeming. It is not the inention of the teacher to confuse Arnuna but yet Arjuna is confused.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI SIVANANDA:

Arjuna says to Lord Krishna, “Teach me one of the two, knowledge or action, by which i may attain to the highest good or bliss or Moksha.”   

Comments by the blogger:

Sometimes, confusion is good. Sometimes, transgression is good. Sometimes, lying is good.

But for Mother Sita’s transgression of the Lakshmana Reka, Ramayana might not have come to be written. This is very pithily brought out by the immortal lyricist of the yesteryears’ Tamil Movie, Kannadhasan in these lines: kodu  pottu nirka chonnaan/ seethai nirka villaiye!/ seethai ange nindrirundhaal Raman kadhai illaiye!/ ( He drew a line and asked to stand/ But Sita did not stop/ Had Sita stopped/ There could be no story of Rama!/

Sometimes lying is good. According to the divine poet of the Tamil Literature, Thiruvalluar, / poimaiyum vaimaiyidathe/ Puraitheer nanmai payakkumenin ( we should give the same place for the lie as we do to the Truth if it would cause blameless or blemishless good)

But for Arjuna’s confusion, the great Karma Yoga and other chapters might not have come to be preached to disciple by the Preceptor, Sri Krishna!