Hare Krishna,
i have few questions from chapter 3 of bhagavad gita,
1. in (bg. 3.3) krishna says karma-yogena yoginām but we see srila prabhupada have translated it to devotional service. why so?
2. in (bg.3.4) krishna says Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction. what is reaction?
3. in (bg 3.5) krishna says, Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature. in this my question is, does painting, engineering and other things that a person does according to his interest falls under these qualities acquired from the modes of material nature??
Replies
Hare Krishna,
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृता: ॥ ४८ ॥
Every endeavor is covered by some fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one should not give up the work born of his nature, O son of Kuntī, even if such work is full of fault. ( BG 18.48)
in the material world no one can be completely free from the contamination of material nature. This example of fire and smoke is very appropriate in this connection. ( purport)
so, does it mean we should stop doing the work itself?
We cannot give up doing any work. Even if you sit quietly you will be doing breathing... That is also a work. You are killing innumerable bacteria and viruses even if you keep silent and sit in a corner not doing any work.
In conditioned life, all work is contaminated by the material modes of nature. Even if one is a brāhmaṇa, he has to perform sacrifices in which animal killing is necessary. Similarly, a kṣatriya, however pious he may be, has to fight enemies. He cannot avoid it. Similarly, a merchant, however pious he may be, must sometimes hide his profit to stay in business, or he may sometimes have to do business on the black market. These things are necessary; one cannot avoid them. Similarly, even though a man is a śūdra serving a bad master, he has to carry out the order of the master, even though it should not be done. Despite these flaws, one should continue to carry out his prescribed duties, for they are born out of his own nature. ( purport of 18.48)
So all the work that is assigned to you as your prescribed duty should be done even if it is full of flaws.
Then how can I get myself detangled from this karma bandhanam?? or Viscious cycle of Karma
BY PERFORMING NISHKAAM KARMA YOGA. as explained by LORD SRI KRISHNA In BG 2.47
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
You maybe doing painting, you maybe doing engineering or you may do any activity if you are seeking some results out of it..
That work will bind you.
If you just do it for the pleasure of Krishna you will not be entangled in the karma chakravyuha.
But how to do NISHKAAM KARMA YOGA?
O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga. ( 2.48)
No one should satisfy himself, as is the rule in the material world, but one should satisfy Kṛṣṇa. ( purport of 2.48 BG)
But how to please krishna by doing our prescribed duty?
Doing some work like Painting, writing poetry or doing engineering is all material works and material works how can I become nishkaam karma yoga because there is always expectation from these works?
When I am studying for engineering I am thinking about the results of my final exam.. If I fail the exam what will happen? If I pass the exam what will happen.
When I doing my painting I am thinking who will appreciate it? will I get good money if I sell this painting.. ? or what will happen if no one likes me out there.? if they become critical and make comments about my work what will hapeen?
These are all dealing with yourself. You are seeking appreciation for yourself.
You are not working for the pleasure of Krishna.
This type of work will surely bind you. If you pass you will be happy if you fail the engineering exam you will be sad. ( HAPPY AND SAD all mind states)
Can't I be free of the results of any Karma done?
That is what is nishkaam karma yoga.
The work that doesn't bind you to its results is selfless activity and it pleases Krishna.
Be it any work.
Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work. ( BG 3.8)
Prescribed duty of student is to study for his exams and not focus on the outcome but study well in such a way as to gain knowledge.
Prescribed duty of Arjuna was to fight for injustice .. He should fight until his last breath and shouldn't we worried if he wins or loses.
Hare Krishna.
Hare Krsna
Excellent questions. Madhava Prabhu has very nicely anaswered your questions. Adding a few more words.
Karma can have multiple interpretations, but in simple terms it can be understood as action in most contexts.
In this very famous shloka Sri Krsna says - karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana.mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.(BG 2.47)
So here Sri Krsna says Karma produces phala or fruit or result or outcome. Krsna also says the performer of karma is NOT entitled to phala.
Then the question may arise, who is entitled to phala if not the performer ?
Sri Krsna answers this in BG 3.9 - > yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara
Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.
In above, Karma is translated as work, very similar to action. So Krsna says Karma if not performed as Yajna will cause bandhanah or Bondage.
What is yajna ? Yajna is giving up or sacrficice of fruit or phala or result of Karma to Vishnu. Vishnu is the final adhipati of all yanja/ sacrifice.
If phala of karma is NOT given to Vishnu, then that Karma results in bondage. If Phala is given to Vishnu, them by that karma one can be/remain free from Bondage.
This method of performing karma and sacrificing the result of karma to Vishnu may be understood as Karma Yoga.
To be continued...
Hare Krishna Prabhu
I'll start by answering your second question:
What is reaction?
Every action has equal and opposite reaction is true in physics. Worldly activities are no different. If you do something good like educating someone or helping someone then there will be good reaction. You may experience happiness and people will consider you a good man. Likewise, if you do something bad like murdering and stealing then that will have a bad reaction. You will go to jail and become infamous.
Now, coming to your first question:
Why is karma-yogena yoginam translated into devotional service?
Karma-yoga as explained is the art of doing work so that there is no reaction whatsoever good or bad. Both good and bad reactions only cause bondage in this world.
The question naturally arises is that how one can become from reaction?
It is mentioned in the Purport that by depending entirely on the Supreme (or more specifically, on Krsna ), one can be relieved from the bonds of action. Here Karma-yoga is also called the buddhi-yoga. Yoga means the linking process.
In your third question you have asked does painting, engineering and other things that a person does according to his interest falls under these qualities acquired from the modes of material nature?
The answer is most definitely Yes. But, if you engage these activities in the process of Krsna consciousness then they will come under devotional service and the cause and effect of the modes of material nature will cease to act.
The idea is to work for Krsna otherwise there is no relief from the laws of Karma.
Hari Bol
Hari Bol, thankyou very much prabhuji now i have understood it 🙏👍