THE YOGA
OF LIBERATION BY RENUNCIATION
Summary of Eighteenth Discourse
The eighteenth discourse, which is the
conclusion of the divine discourse of Lord Krishna, is in many ways a summary
of the foregoing portions of the Gita.
It covers in brief numerous important points
dealt with in the previous discourses. Here you behold the ultimate result or
effect of the Lord’s discourse to Arjuna. The drama of Arjuna’s utter
despondency and breakdown is
Its central message emerges as an assurance that
in and through the performance of one’s respective duties in life one can
qualify for the highest liberation, if one performs actions by renouncing
egoism and attachment and surrendering all desire for selfish, personal gain.
By regarding the performance of your duties as worship offered to God, you
obtain the Grace of the Lord and attain the eternal One.
Significantly, this discourse opens with a
question by Arjuna asking what is true Sannyasa
and true Tyaga (renunciation).
In reply to this important and crucial query,
the blessed Lord makes it clear to us that real Sannyasa or renunciation lies in renunciation of selfish actions,
and even more in the renunciation of the desire or greed for the fruits of any
action.
Now, what is it that we abandon,
and what is it that we relinquish?
The word ‘sannyasa’
suggests renunciation, but it does not suggest what should be renounced. Here
is the difficulty before all Sannyasins. They know very well that when they
take to Sannyasa, something has to be renounced, because the very word
‘sannyasa’ means renunciation; but what are they to renounce? Generally
they renounce their old clothes and put on new clothes, or they renounce their
land and property, their family, etc., if that could be possible.
Actually, according to the
Bhagavad Gita at least, such a kind of relinquishment cannot be regarded as Sannyasa. This is because a person may
be physically away from the object of attraction and attachment, but physical
distance from the object of attachment does not necessarily mean absence of
attachment.
Sannyasins may, even after
entering into the holy order, keep in their minds the memory of large estates
of land that they had, etc. Renunciation is a difficult thing to understand;
and so is the case with tyaga, or abandonment.
Very clearly we are told that selfless and
virtuous actions, and actions conducive to the welfare of others should not be
abandoned. You must engage yourself in performing such action but renouncing
attachment and greed. The true and proper renunciation is giving up of
selfishness and attachment while performing one’s legitimate duties. This is
called Sattwic Tyaga.
We neither hate unpleasant action nor are we
attached to pleasurable action. As it is not possible for you to renounce all
action, the renunciation of egoism, selfishness and attachment in your activity
is declared as true renunciation.
Karma does not accumulate and bind one who is thus
established in such inner renunciation. The divine injunction is that God must
be made the sole object of one’s life. This is the heart of the Gita gospel.
This is the central message in its teaching. This is the one way to your
welfare here.
Now Sanjaya concludes his narrative by declaring
that where there is such obedience as that of Arjuna, and such willing
readiness to carry out the divine teachings, there surely prosperity, victory,
glory and all blessedness will prevail.
Love
