Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5
(Compiled notes)
Note: This is a series of study notes from the translation of Bhagavad Gita by Srila Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada (ISKCON founder) and titled as "Bhagvad Gita as it is". The copyright and content is that of Prabhupada & publishers. My part is simply distilling the knowledge from my self study and notes to share here in simple abridged form.
Karma Bhakti Yoga - Yoga of Action as Devotion
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5.2: सन्न्यास: कर्मयोगश्च नि:श्रेयसकरावुभौ । तयोस्तु कर्मसन्न्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥ २ ॥
Renunciation and Activity are both paths to Spiritual knowledge. Of those two, Karma Yoga of actions without expectation of results is better than renouncing actions.
In other words the Lords instruction is dont abandon your prescribed duties, rather simply renounce the expectations of favorable results or avoidance of unfavorable results from your duties. This is Karma Yoga.
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5.6: There are two types of sannyasis (renunciates):
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the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs & the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs.
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Ultimately both lead to the same state of spiritual being (BG 5.5) however,
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the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs are engaged in the study of Sāṅkhya philosophy (impersonal God) who practice dry mental speculation. This path is more arduous & longer path.
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the Vaiṣṇava sannyāsīs are engaged in the study of Bhāgavatam philosophy (personal God) are more lively in their approach; they are full of activities and simply interested in satisfying the Lord (and not their own senses) by renouncing the attachment from results. This is summarized in 5.10 below.
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5.10: ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: । लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ १० ॥
One who works for supreme spirit without the attachment to results, he is not affected by any reactions of karma like a lotus leaf that is not wet even while being situated in water.
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5.18: विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि । शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिता: समदर्शिन: ॥ १८ ॥
With knowledge and humility the wise sees the same spirit energy indwelling all creatures
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5.21: बाह्यस्पर्शेष्वसक्तात्मा विन्दत्यात्मनि यत्सुखम् । स ब्रह्मयोगयुक्तात्मा सुखमक्षयमश्नुते ॥ २१ ॥
One who is inert to external senses and rejoices in the self, he situated in supreme spiritual state attains eternal peace & joy.
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ब्रह्मयोग = (mind) situated in brahman
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5.26: कामक्रोधविमुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम् । अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ॥ २६ ॥
One who is free from desires and anger, is struggling for spiritual perfection are assured of freedom quickly.
My chosen verse from this chapter:
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति य: ।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥ 5.10 ॥
One who works for supreme spirit without the attachment to results, he is not affected by any reactions of karma like a lotus leaf that is not wet even while being situated in water.
A beautiful material example of a lotus leaf being surrounded by water yet remaining dry is made here to illustrate the spiritual point of a person (like a lotus leaf) not becoming stained by any karmic reactions of ones prescribed duties if he can base all his activities on the supreme spirit and being unattached to the results of the activities. In other words when we associate with the ego or proprietorship of "I me mine" we get bound by karma. So if freedom from this binding attachment is desired then instead of ego the surrender to the Lord should first come in.
