March 25 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 4; Verses 4.1-4.3 (Day 85) Karma Yoga

 Chapter 4 – The Yoga of the Division of Wisdom

(Jnāna Yoga)

March 25 – Day 85

Verse 4.01-4.03

अथ चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ।   ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः

Chapter 4 – The Yoga of the Division of Wisdom (Jnana Yoga) 

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् ।

विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥ ४-१॥ 

Śhrī Bhagavān uvācha
imaṁ vivaswate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam
vivaswān manave prāha manur ikṣhwākave ’bravīt (4.01) 

ஶ்ரீப⁴க³வானுவாச¹ |
இமம் விவஸ்வதே¹ யோக³ம் ப்¹ரோக்¹த¹வானஹமவ்யயம் |
விவஸ்வான்மனவே ப்¹ராஹ மனுரிக்ஷ்வாக¹வே‌ப்³ரவீத்¹ || 4.01 || 

The Blessed Lord said:

1. I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku. 

Commentary: Vivasvan means the sun.  Ikshvaku was the son of Manu. Ikshvaku was the reputed ancestor of the solar dynasty of Kshatriyas.

This Yoga is said to be imperishable because the result of fruit, i.e. Moksha, that can be attained through it is imperishable.

If the rulers of dominions possess knowledge of the Yoga taught by Me in the preceding two discourses, they can protect the Brahmanas and rule their kingdom with justice.  So I taught this Yoga to the Sun-god in the beginning of the evolution. 

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।

स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥ ४-२॥ 

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣhayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣhṭaḥ parantapa (4.02) 

ஏவம் ப¹ரம்ப¹ராப்¹ராப்¹த¹மிமம் ராஜர்ஷயோ விது³: |
ஸ கா¹லேனேஹ மஹதா¹ யோகோ³ நஷ்ட¹: ப¹ரந்த¹ப¹ ||4.02|| 

2. This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by a long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Parantapa (burner of foes)! 

Commentary: The royal sages: Men who were kings and at the same time sages also, who possessed divine knowledge. They learnt this Yoga.

Arjuna could burn or harass his foes, like the Sun, by the heat of his valor and power. Hence the name Parantapa. 

स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।

भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥ ४-३॥ 

sa evāyaṁ mayā te ’dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ
bhakto ’si me sakhā cheti rahasyaṁ hyetad uttamam (4.03) 

ஸ ஏவாயம் மயா தே¹த்³ய யோக³: ப்¹ரோக்¹த¹: பு¹ராத¹ன: |
ப⁴க்தோ¹‌ஸி மே ஸகா² சே¹தி¹ ரஹஸ்யம் ஹ்யேத¹து³த்¹த¹மம் ||4.03|| 

3. That same ancient Yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, for, thou art My devotee and friend; it is the supreme secret. 

Commentary: This ancient Yoga consists of profound and subtle teachings. Hence it is the supreme secret which the Lord reveals to Arjuna. 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda: (Verses 4.1-4.3)

The Mahābhārata has eighteen chapters or ‘books’. The Gītā has eighteen chapters. One plus eight is nine, the final number. It is a symbol of finality – the last word. There are some who are sure that the Gītā contains the ‘last word’. Others claim the title for the Holy Bible or the Holy Quran. One who realizes that all these three spring from the same source sees no confusion here. The Indian wisely adds, however, that this ‘last word’ can be re-stated time and time again, with a slight difference in the modulation and accent. This is the secret of his tolerance, understanding and all-inclusiveness.

Truth gets perverted and lost on account of disuse and misuse. The intellect is incapable of comprehending the spiritual truth which spiritual experience alone can approach. When the latter is absent, the intellect feels compelled to spin a web of myth and superstition (known as philosophy) around the truth which is totally covered up in this cobweb in course of time.

The Lord revives true knowledge once more. 

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