March 31 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 4; Verses 4.11-4.12 (Day 91) Karma Yoga

 March 31 – Day 91

Verse 4.11-4.12

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।

मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥ ४-११॥ 

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāns tathaiva bhajāmyaham
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ (4.11) 

யே யதா² மாம் ப்¹ரப¹த்³யன்தே¹ தா¹ம்ஸ்த¹தை²வ ப⁴ஜாம்யஹம் |
மம வர்த்¹மானுவர்த¹ன்தே¹ மனுஷ்யா: பா¹ர்த² ஸர்வஶ: ||4.11|| 

11. In whatever way men approach Me, even so do I reward them; My path do men tread in all ways, O Arjuna! 

Commentary: I reward men by bestowing on them the objects they desire in accordance with their ways and the motives with which they seek Me.  If anyone worships Me with selfish motives I grant him the objects he desires. If he worships Me unselfishly for attaining knowledge of the Self, I grant him Moksha or final liberation.  I am not at all partial to anyone.  (Cf. VII. 21 and IX. 23) 

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ।

क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥ ४-१२॥ 

kāṅkṣhantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ
kṣhipraṁ hi mānuṣhe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā (4.12) 

கா¹ங்க்ஷன்த¹: க¹ர்மணாம் ஸித்³தி⁴ம் யஜன்த¹ இஹ தே³வதா¹: |
க்ஷிப்¹ரம் ஹி மானுஷே லோகே¹ ஸித்³தி⁴ர்ப⁴வதி¹ க¹ர்மஜா ||4.12|| 

12. Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods, because success is quickly attained by men through action. 

Commentary: It is very difficult to attain to the knowledge of the Self or Self-realization.  It demands perfect renunciation.  The aspirant should possess the four means and many other virtues, and practice constant and intense meditation.  But worldly success can be attained quickly and easily.

The Vedic injunctions based upon castes and order is meant for the men of this world only.

The four means are: discrimination, dispassion, sixfold virtues, and longing for liberation.

The sixfold virtues are: control of the mind, control of the senses, fortitude (endurance), turning away from the objects of the world, faith and tranquility. 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda:

This could well have been the basis of the numerous ‘spiritual healing’ techniques evolved specially by the westerners. If one realises that God is good, perfect, full of light, life and love, then he experiences these qualities in him and around him; God himself comes to him as such. One who has no faith in an abiding truth or reality surrounds himself with darkness. He who regards God as a tyrant is terrified.

God has bestowed upon man intelligence which is but a spark of God’s consciousness, and free-will which is particularisation of God’s omnipotence; man can use them for his own uplift or downfall. He is free within wide boundaries.

Even in the ‘religious’ approach, the Hindu firmly believes that the countless viewpoints of God (which are the different religions) are all valid and will lead us to the same God. The ultimate experience, viz., God realising himself, is beyond the pale of the ego; but the highest spiritual experiences, too, may differ from man to man, as is revealed in the ‘different’ religions. This conviction fills us with tolerance and understanding, without loss of individuality.

Even they who seek material gains (or even spiritual perfection) resort only to God through the various divinities (powers of God’s nature); and God responds to them via the same channel, as the fruits of those actions (success or failure, pain and pleasure and so on). We adore God alone in various ways. This knowledge frees us from fear, attachment, anger, intolerance and proselytism.

-*-