April 12 – Bhagavadgita Chapter 4; Verses 4.32-4.33 (Day 103) Karma Yoga

 April 12 – Day 103

Verse 4.32-4.33

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे ।

कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥ ४-३२॥ 

evaṁ bahu-vidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe
karma-jān viddhi tān sarvān evaṁ jñātwā vimokṣhyase (4.32) 

ஏவம் ப³ஹுவிதா⁴ யஞ்ஞா வித¹தா¹ ப்¹ரஹ்மணோ முகே² |
க¹ர்மஜான்வித்³தி⁴ தா¹ன்ஸர்வான் ஏவம் ஞாத்வா விமோக்ஷ்யஸே ||4.32|| 

32. Thus, various kinds of sacrifices are spread out before Brahman (literally at the mouth or face of Brahman). Know them all as born of action, and knowing thus, thou shalt be liberated. 

Commentary: The word Brahmanah has also been interpreted to mean ‘In the Vedas’.

Various kinds of sacrifices are spread out at the mouth of Brahman, i.e., they are known from the Vedas. Know that they are born of action, because the Self is beyond action.  If you realise that “these actions do not concern me, they are not my action, and I am actionless”, you will surely be liberated from the bondage of Samsara by this right knowledge.  (Cf. IX.27; XIII.15) 

Wisdom and Work

(Verse 33-34) 

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।

सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥ ४-३३॥ 

śhreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ parantapa
sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate (4.33) 

ஶ்ரேயான்த்³ரவ்யமயாத்³யஞ்ஞாஜ்ஞானயஞ்ஹ ப¹ரந்த¹ப¹ |
ஸர்வம் க¹ர்மாகி²லம் பா¹ர்த ஞானே ப¹ரிஸமாப்¹யதே¹ ||4.33|| 

33. Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O Parantapa! (scorcher of the foes).  All actions in their entirety, O Arjuna, culminate in knowledge! 

Commentary: Sacrifices with material objects cause material effects and bring the sacrificer to this world for the enjoyment of the fruits, while wisdom-sacrifice leads to Moksha.  Therefore wisdom-sacrifice is superior to the sacrifice performed with material objects.  Just as rivers join the ocean, so do all actions join knowledge, i.e., they culminate in knowledge.  All actions purify the heart and lead to the dawn of knowledge of the Self.

All actions that are performed as offerings unto the Lord with their fruits are contained in the knowledge of Brahman.  (Cf. IX.15; X.25; XVIII.70) 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda:

The sacrifices given here in the Gītā are only examples. They indicate the essence of the art of life, the spirit of sacrifice or unselfishness. It is not an ideal known as unselfishness, but the direct realisation that there is no self independent of the totality. With this shall man flavour all the actions of his life. The Creator intended that this spirit should govern all activities of all beings here. Whereas the so-called ‘lower’ orders of creation (the plants, and the animals to a great extent) instinctively live in this spirit, man, instead of consciously participating in God’s will which this spirit inculcates, dares to flout it and arrogate the action to himself. He who knows that all sacrifices involve action and all actions should be performed as sacrifice, is liberated – from ignorance and egoism, sin and suffering.

Of the sacrifices described in this chapter and of the many more alluded to, the wisdom sacrifice is the best. All other gifts and all other activities are transitory in their effect. Life itself is short, and even the most spectacular action is reduced to a few lines in a book of history and one more tendency in the soul – if it is not accompanied by right knowledge. Knowledge, on the other hand, liberates the soul from bondage to saṁsāra or the ever-revolving wheel of birth and death. Do not forget that the giver of knowledge is a devotee who considers the recipient as his Lord!

Whereas actions are inevitable, knowledge is the goal. The inevitable actions should be performed in the spirit of sacrifice; but knowledge should be acquired and imparted at every turn. For self-knowledge is the goal of actions themselves. 

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