Hi, Friends, I was writing a blog by name, THE HOLY GITA. FOR QUITE SOME DAYS THERE WAS AN ABSNSENCE OF CONTRIBUTION. SO NOW I MAKE THE CONTRIBUTION THROUGH THIS DOMAIN.
Hi, Friends and devotees, there have been some unavoidable circumstances necessitating some inconvenience to the followers of this blog. Actually, in the interregnum, I was indulged in publishing a collection of 34 short stories as a book under the title, namely, “The Cookies Jar”. In my long search, I came upon the Notion Press in Chennai helping the writers in India who want to self-publish their creative writing. was a labour of love, it consumed all my spare time, because of which, I could not continue this blog. I have successfully published the book and having done so I have turned returned to you. Sorry for the unintended inconvenience caused to the followers of this blog. Most of you would be Net Savvy. But I am not. So, for the friends who are like me, let me say that if you type Notion Press in the Google search engine you would arrive at the domain of the press that published my short stories book, namely, The Cookies Jar, and then all you have to type is K. Raguram, The Cookies Jar. You can order the book containing 156 pages and the MRP is just 160 Indian Rupees.
Now back to The Holy Gita!
THE HOLY GITA
CHAPTER THREE
KARMA YOGA OR THE YOGA OF ACTION OR THE METHOD OF ACTION
VERSE NUMBER 33
Text in Transliteration
sadrsam cestate svasyaah prakrrter jnaanavaan api
prakrtim yaanti bhootaani nigrahah kim karisyati
Text in English
Even a wise man behaves in conformity with his own nature; beings follow nature; what shall restraint avail?
COMMENTARY BY SWAMI SIDBHAVANANDA:
Some plants grow tall and slender while others shrubby and stout; some fruits taste sweet while others bitter. The varying nature of the vegetation cannot be changed, but they can be augmented and enriched. Variation in nature is much more in the human than in the other species. Dispositions are divergent even among the enlightened. One is an introvert and another is an extravert. A saint is given to devotion and a sage to discrimination. The yogi disciplines the mind while the man of action lovingly serves mankind. Attaining perfection is their thread of unity in the midst of mental variation. No violence should be done to the vagaries even in saints. Each must be allowed and encouraged to evolve in line with his temperament.
The earthy among men are bound fast to things mundane. Obstructing their ways avails nothing. Inducing them to evolve ways avails mundane. Obstructing their worldly ways avails nothing inducing them to evolve in tune with their nature aids their growth. Slow of their nature is the greatest service that can be rendered to them.
SRI RAMAKRISHNA AS QUOTED BY SWAMI SIDBHAVANANDA:
An individual complained to Ramakrishna that he found it impossible to turn his mind Godward. It was asked of him as to what was the thing of being that he loved most. The man pondered for a while and said that he was inordinately attached to a goat that he reared. A suggestion was made to him to that of that goat as imbued with divinity and meditate on it. The man did so and had his mind slowly turned Godward.
COMMENTARY BY DR.S.RADHAKRISHNAN:
prakriti is the mental equipment with which one is born, as the result of the past acts. This must run its course. Shankarar thinks that even God cannot prevent its operation. Even He ordains that the past deeds produce their natural effects.
Restraint cannot avail since actions flow inevitably from the workings of prakrti and the self is only an impartial witness.
This verse seems to suggest the omnipotence of nature over the soul and requires us to act according to our nature, the law of our being. It does not follow that we should indulge in every impulse. It is a call to find out our true being and give expression to it. We cannot, even if we will suppress it. Violated nature will take its revenge.
COMMENTARY BY SWAMI SIVANANDA:
He who reads this verse will come to the conclusion that there is no scope for man’s personal exertion. It is not so. Read the following verse. It clearly indicates that man can conquer Nature if he rises above the sway of Raga-Dvesha (love and hatred)
The passionate and ignorant man only comes under the sway of his natural propensities, and his lower nature. He cannot have any restraint over the senses and the two current of likes and dislikes. The seeker after Truth who is endowed with the four means, and who is constantly practising meditation can easily control Nature. (Cf. XVIII. 59; IIl 60; V, 14)
Comments by the blogger:
Not only beings but great souls have their own natural proclivity. There is a saying; “There is no Muni who is the same as others”. Ramana Maharishi mostly kept silent, though he was very much in the midst of people. Ramakrishna Paranhansa spoke much, and in the midst of people, but he was not an erudite person like his illustrious disciple, Swami Vivekananda. When the ascetics generally wanted lay people and importantly the practitioners of Yoga to eat less and be very moderate eating habits. But Swami Vivekananda advised young men to eat more and maintain their body, so it would be like iron with steel like sineuis and nerves! Kanchi Mahan, Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati, fondly called by devotees as periyava (the eldest) was in constant touch with people and like Adi Shankara walked all over India, while there are and were Munis who would prefer the unattainable caves in the Himalayas and reside even after great attainments and emansipation!
We just can’t account for the varying aspects and gunas of the saints. If that be so, what should be the case of ordinary folks like you and me!
We come into this earth’s plan due to the effect of actions and activities, various commissions and omissions, with varying gunas or nature. The prakrity or the Nature of the world also has been made of three gunas. So, even after self-realisation, great munis are having their own individual nature.
Sri Krishna utters this to put in mind of us the kind of pulls exerted on us by the Nature’s illusion. We are all creatures totally helpless until we surrounder ourselves to the Lord and praying him go through life carrying out our swadharma or self-ordained duties.
{As I have said, I have published a book of collection of 34 short stories for all age groups through the Notion Press at Chennai. Please buy my book whose price is minimal, namely, Indian Rupees160 only. You can either place orders at one of the online shops or write to the Notion Press directly, and the postal address is as follows: Notion Press, old No.38, New No. 6, Mcnichols Road, Chetpet, Chennai-600031, Tamil Nadu, India. And you can get your copies of “The Cookies Jar” by K.Raguram through parcel post. I have also started a blog in the name of the book, “The Cookies Jar”, and request you all to visit the same.}
