| 16. He who follows
not here the wheel thus set in motion, who is of sinful life indulging in
senses he lives in vain O son of Pritha.He who ought to perform action,
but who, indulging in sensual pleasures, does not follow the wheel of the
world thus set revolving by Isvara on the basis of the Veda and sacrifices,
he lives in vain.The main drift, therefore, of this section is that action
should be performed by the ignorant man, for whom it is intended. In i.
48, it was taught that till he attains the qualification for Devotion to
the knowledge of the Self, the man who knows not the Self and is therefore
qualified (for action only) should resort to Devotion to action as a means
of attaining Devotion to Knowledge ; and, further, there were incidentally
propounded many reasons why the man who knows not the Self and is (therefore)
qualified for action should perform it Mention; too, has been made of evils
arising from a neglect of action.KarmaYoga is not meant for the Selfknower.Now,
the Lord Himself supposes Arjuna to ask the following question: Is the wheel,
thus set in motion, to be followed by all, or by him only who has not yet
attained to devotion in the path of knowledge which the Sankhyas or Self
knowers tread and which is attainable by the ignorant by means of devotion
in the path of action already described ? In answer to this question, or
with a view to afford, of. his own accord, a clear understanding of the
teaching of the sastra, He proceeds to show that what is intended to be
taught in the Gitasastra is the same truth that is embodied in the following
passage of the sruti:The Brahmanas (the devotees of the Brahman, the Self),
knowing this, the Self, and free from illusory knowledge, shake off all
desires of progeny, etc, cherished, of necessity, by those who are still
subject to illusion; and they lead a mendicant life for the barest necessaries
of life. They have nothing else to do than resort to devotion to Selfknowledge.
|
