ARJUN’S CONFUSION
Sanjay spoke to Dhritrashtra, “King! Krishna has again created confusion in the mind of Arjun by telling him in the same breath to do ‘karma without attachment’ and emphasizing on ‘importance of knowledge or wisdom’.” “Does he still stand confused?” Dhritrashtra asked in surprise. “I think he is scared of Kaurava forces.” “No, Your Majesty. His mind is not frightful.” “So, what is the matter?” “King,” Sanjay explained, “Arjun appears to think that using wisdom to control the senses implies the suspension of all physical activities.
And if he is vested into KarmaYoga then how does it amount to inaction? Those are the confusions of his mind. Now he asks something from Krishna.” “What is he asking?” Dhritrashtra eagerly asked. Sanjay revealed, “King! He has asked that Krishna told him to give up karma and then asked to perform karma without attachment. Arjuna wants Krishna to explain clearly which way was better for him without creating confusions.”
UNITY OF SANKHYA (JNAN) AND KARMA
“Krishna said to Arjun, ‘O Arjun! Sankhya-Yoga and Karma-Yoga both are sublime and gainful. Parth, they may appear different paths but in reality they are one. Ignorant call them different ways, but not the wise ones. Wisdom lies in taking them as one. How can one be doer if one is not involved in doing anything? Hence, Karma or doing is essential for a seeker.
A seeker who has conquered the senses in true sense and who sees soul element in every creature as unifying force of God, the Soul Supreme, such karma-yogi performs karma without attachment or infatuation just like a lotus flower grows in water and mud without becoming part of them. In the same way a Jnan (Sankhya)-yogi allows the sensory organs moderated functioning according to their respective constitutions and assumes that he is not doing or scheming. Such an accomplished one, by not doing or getting-done feeling, remains in the state of contentedness.’
CAUSE OF WOES
Krishna felt that Arjun was not being able to solve the tangle of knowledge and karma. He was trying to understand the means of knowledge and karma in his own way. So, the Lord Krishna said, ‘Arjun! The carnal pleasures derived from the action of sensory organs are the causes of most of the woes because they are temporary that begin with an end. That is why the wise ones don’t get trapped in them. Arjun, before leaving the mortal body a soul that gains the capability to stand against the charges created by passion and angst becomes master. O Kaunteya! One who concentrates his mind and focuses his sight in the centre of the eye brows gains harmony in exhaling and inhaling of air through his nostrils and controls his senses, mind and wisdom, such a noble one rids himself of desires, fears, angst etc. to attain the state of eternal peace.’
