VERSE NUMBER 21 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 21

Text in Transliteration:

yad-yad aacharati sreshthas tat-tad eve ‘taro janah

say at pramaanam jurut lokas tad anurvartate

Text in English:

Whatever a great man does is followed by others; people go by the example he sets up.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

Being eminent wit vitues is a rare gift which ccomes from God. In one so imbued godly qualities are in evidence. In one so imbued godly qualities are in evidence. Such a man is viewd a model to society. The world feels inclined to walk in his way. His resoponsibility is therefore very great. Man is to society what a limb is to the body. As the action of a limb affects the body, the action of a man affects the society. In public interest a person of eminence has therefore to put forth his best. Slighting or allowing godly gifts go to waste, amounts to slighting God Himself.

SRI RAMAKRISHNA AS QUOTED BY SWAMI CHIDBHAVANANDA:

A person took his ailing son to a physician for medical consultation. The man asked him to bring the boy again on the following day. After posing to emamine the ptient for a while the healer advised the father against giving sweets to the sickly boy. “This could have been mentioned at the very first visit instead of making me walk towice carrying the boy,” complained the parent. The doctor explained, “But then my man, there was kept here yesterday a plate of candy. My advice might have been mistaken by your son for selfishness.” The responsibility of those who guide the society is very great.                                                                                                         

 COMMENTARY BY DR.S. RADHAKRISHNAN:

Common people imitate the standards set by the elect. Democracy has become cofused with disbelief in great men. The Gita points out that the great men are the pathmakers who blaze a trail that other men follow. The light generally comes through individuals who are in advance of society. They see the light shining on the mountain heights while their fellos sleep in the valley below. They are, in the words of Hesus the “salt”,  the “leaven”the “light” of human communities.when they proclaim the splendour of that light, a few recognise it any slowly the many are persuaded to follow them.

COMMENTARY BY SWAMI SIVANANDA:

Man is a social animal. He is an imitating animal too. He takes his ideas of right and wrong from those whom he regards as his moral superior. What ever a great man follows, the same is considered as an authority by its followers. They try to follow him. the endeavour to walk in the footsteps.

Comments by the blogger:

Arjuna is a great warrior. Once he gave battle to Lord Shiva, who blessed him by giving him an astra. If Arjuna engages himself in a fierse battle, then all the soldiers would get inspiration and follow suit. But, on the other hand, should Arjuna runs away the field and took to a path of a renouncer, that act would severly affect the others and the enemies could easly win the Pandava. Whatever the great soul set as standard serves as the guidance to the masses.

Now we are not serious about religion. In those days various darsanas were there. Hindus having faith in the Vedas were belonging to various mutually exclusive schisms like Dwaidham, Athwaitham and Vishistadhvaitham. Sri Bhagavan Krishna taught Gita to bring about a reconciliation among them. So it is very important for Janaka like great souls to not free from actions but to scrupulously stick to enjoined action in the proper manner, that is without any personal stake in one’s actions.