February12 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 2; Verses 2.49-2.50 (Day 43) Sankhya Yoga

 February 12 – Day 43

Verse 2.49-2.50

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय ।

बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥ २-४९॥ 

dūreṇa hyavaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya
buddhau śharaṇam amvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ (2.49) 

தூ³ரேண ஹ்யவரம் க¹ர்ம பு³த்³தி⁴யோகா³த்3த⁴னந்ஜய |
பு³த்³தௌ⁴ ஶரணமன்விச்¹ச² க்¹ருப¹ணா: ப²லஹேத¹வ: ||49|| 

49. Far lower than the Yoga of wisdom is action, O Arjuna! Seek thou refuge in wisdom; wretched are they whose motive is the fruit. 

Commentary: Actions done with evenness of mind is the Yoga of wisdom. The Yogi who is established in the Yoga of wisdom is not affected by success or failure.  He does not seek fruits of his actions. He has poised reason.  His reason is rooted in the Self. Actions performed by one who expects their fruits for his actions, is far inferior to the Yoga of wisdom wherein the seeker does not seek the fruits; because the former leads to bondage, and is the cause of birth and death. [Cf. 8.18] 

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते ।

तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥ २-५०॥ 

buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam (2.50) 

பு¹த்³தி⁴யுக்¹தோ¹ ஜஹாதீ¹ஹ உபே⁴ ஸுக்¹ருத¹து³ஷ்க்¹ருதே¹ |
த¹ஸ்மாத்¹யோகா³ய யுஜ்யஸ்வ யோக³: க¹ர்மஸு கௌ¹ஶலம் ||50|| 

50. Endowed with wisdom (evenness of mind), one casts off in this life both good and evil deeds; therefore, devote thyself to Yoga; Yoga is skill in action. 

Commentary: Work performed with motive towards fruits only can bind a man.  It will bring the fruits and the performer of the action will have to take birth again in this mortal world to enjoy them. If work is performed with evenness of mind (the Yoga of wisdom, i.e. united to pure Buddhi, intelligence of reason) with the mind resting in the Lord, it will not bind him; it will not bring any fruit; it is no work at all.  Actions which are of a binding nature lose that nature when performed with equanimity of mind, or poised reason.  The Yogi of poised reason attributes all actions to the Divine Actor within (Isvara or God). 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda: 

Mere action, however philanthropic or humanitarian, is but labour! Even a mule may convey great learning by carrying a huge load of the best literature; but no one will confer a doctorate on it!

The word ‘refuge’ is important. Before performing any action, look to buddhi for orders. This buddhi should be ‘attached or united’ to God. This is buddhi yoga. This is ‘skill in action’, another characteristic of yoga.

History extols the great deeds of men of extraordinary skill who have shaped nations. History is concerned with social values, not with inner wisdom. But our scriptures (which are also historical documents) exalt only men of wisdom who excelled in buddhi yoga and who were, therefore, in tune with God. Our scriptures, again, abound in instances where the material part of an action was insignificant, but the spiritual content was great: the spirit is vital. When thousands of tons of earth are crushed, you get a small but most precious diamond.

The yogi goes beyond good and evil deeds. Is this a licence? No. Ask yourself: “Am I a yogi? Am I in constant and conscious communion with God?” If you are, you will never indulge in evil action. All your actions will be the manifestation of God’s will. That is true skill in action: to do...to put your whole heart and soul into the doing itself...yet, to be free from selfish motive...to do one’s duty knowing it is the will of God. 

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