VERSE NUMBER 19 OF KARMA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF ACTION OR THE METHOD OF ACTION

THE HOLY GITA

CHAPTER THREE

KARMA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF ACTION OR THE METHOD OF ACTION

VERSE NUMBER 19

Text in Transliteration:

tasmaad asaktah satatam kaaruam karma samaachaara

asakto hu aacharan karma param aapnoti poorushah

Text in English:

Therefore, constantly perform your obligatory duty without attachment; for, by doing duty without attachemt man verily obtains the Supreme.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI CHIDBHVANANDA:

Because of the incessant beating of the heart, bodily existence goes on effectively. But man gives no thought whatsoever to the beating of the heart.Several other essential activities have to be carried on in similar ways, free from atttachement. Absence of attachement leads to the pacification of the mind. Work and rest go on side by side. Mind made calm this way becomes capable of grasping the self. Calmness of mind is not for him who neglects duty. Calmness is a prerequisite for Self-knowledge.

SRI RAMAKRISHNA AS QUOTED BY SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

Hwo are we to reconcile the worldly entanglements and engagements with spititual detachement? See how the carpenter’s housewife busies herself with all and sundry. With one hand she pushes the paddy to be pounded in the mortar; with the other hand she embraces and suckles her baby. At the seam time she bargains with a customer for the flattened rice. In the midst of all of thers activities her mind is on the hand pushing the paddy lest the pestle should hurt it. Likewise do your worldly activities; but in the midst of them keep the mind fixed on the Lord, Deviate not on any account from Godly path.
COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:
Here work done without attachment is marked as superior to work done in a spirit of sacrifice which is itself higher work done with selfish aims.
while this verse says that the man reaches the supreme, param, performing actions, without attachment, Shankara hold that karma helps us to attain purity of mind which leads to salvation. it takes us to perfection indirectly through the attainment of purity of mind.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI SIVANANDA:

If you perform actions without attahement, for the sake of the Lord, you will attain to Self-realisation through purity of heart.

Comments by the blogger:

Mind has a tendency to wander. Our intelligence and knowledge of a subject all were gained when the mind was made calm by consentrating on the subject chosen by us. Once we pass the exam, or finish a book, our mind, without asking us starts to wander. But , as the Lord says, if the mind is made absolutely calm by carrying out the duty without any attachement, then there is no action in the mind. When the mind thus becomes calm amonst the tumult of activities, then it is able to get at the Supreme.