Swami Sivananda

Sri Sankara writes: "He who sees inaction in action, i.e., he who has the right knowledge that action, which is commonly supposed by all to pertain to the Self, does not really belong to the Self, just as motion does not really pertain to the trees (on the shore of the river) which appear (to a man on board the ship) to move in the opposite direction, and who sees action in inaction, i.e., he who knows that even inaction is action, for, inaction is but a cessation of bodily and mental activities, and like action it is falsely attributed to the Self and causes the feeling of egoism as expressed in the words "quiet and doing nothing, I sit happy" - he who can realize the nature of action and inaction as now explained is wise among men: "He is a devout Yogin, he is the performer of actions, he is released from evil and has achieved all."

 - Swami Sivananda

Bhagwad Gita - Post 49

Chapter 4 continued...

Verse 12

Kaangkshantah karmanaam

Siddhim yajanta iha devataah;

Kshipram hi maanushe loke

Siddhir bhavati karmajaa.

Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods, because success is quickly attained by men through action.

Verse 13

Chaaturvarnyam mayaa srishtam

Gunakarma vibhaagashah;

Tasya kartaaram api maam

Viddhyakartaaram avyayam.

The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; though I am the author thereof, know Me as the non-doer and immutable.

Verse 14

Na maam karmaani limpanti

Na me karmaphale sprihaa;

Iti maam yo’bhijaanaati

Karmabhir na sa badhyate.

Actions do not taint Me, nor have I a desire for the fruits of actions. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions.

Verse 15

Evam jnaatwaa kritam karma

Poorvair api mumukshubhih;

Kuru karmaiva tasmaat twam

Poorvaih poorvataram kritam.

Having known this, the ancient seekers after freedom also performed actions; therefore, do thou perform actions as did the ancients in days of yore.

Verse 16

Kim karma kim akarmeti

Kavayo’pyatra mohitaah;

Tat te karma pravakshyaami

Yajjnaatwaa mokshyase’shubhaat.

What is action? What is inaction? As to this even the wise are confused. Therefore, I shall teach thee such action (the nature of action and inaction), by knowing which thou shalt be liberated from the evil (of Samsara, the world of birth and death).

Verse 17

Karmano hyapi boddhavyam

Boddhavyam cha vikarmanah;

Akarmanashcha boddhavyam

Gahanaa karmano gatih.

For, verily the true nature of action (enjoined by the scriptures) should be known, also (that) of forbidden (or unlawful) action, and of inaction; hard to understand is the nature (path) of action.

Verse 18

Karmanyakarma yah pashyed

Akarmani cha karma yah;

Sa buddhimaan manushyeshu

Sa yuktah kritsnakarmakrit.

He who seeth inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a Yogi and performer of all actions.

Verse 19

Yasya sarve samaarambhaah

Kaamasankalpa varjitaah;

Jnaanaagni dagdhakarmaanam

Tam aahuh panditam budhaah.

He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and (selfish) purposes, and whose actions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge — him the wise call a sage.

Verse 20

Tyaktwaa karmaphalaasangam

Nityatripto niraashrayah;

Karmanyabhipravritto’pi naiva

Kinchit karoti sah.

Having abandoned attachment to the fruit of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything though engaged in activity.

Verse 21

Niraasheer yatachittaatmaa 

Tyaktasarvaparigrahah;

Shaareeram kevalam karma

Kurvannaapnoti kilbisham.

Without hope and with the mind and the self-controlled, having abandoned all greed, doing mere bodily action, he incurs no sin.

Continued...

Love.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evildoers and for establishing righteousness on a firm footing, I incarnate from age to age. Whenever disharmony (asanthi) overwhelms the world, the Lord will incarnate in human form to establish the modes of earning peace (prasanthi) and to re-educate the human community in the paths of peace. At the present time, strife and discord have robbed peace and unity from the family, the school, the society, the religions, the cities, and the state.

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba