श्रीभगवानुवाच |
संन्यास: कर्मयोगश्च नि:श्रेयसकरावुभौ |
तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते || 2||
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
sannyāsaḥ karma-yogaśh cha niḥśhreyasa-karāvubhau
tayos tu karma-sannyāsāt karma-yogo viśhiṣhyate
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha—the Supreme Lord said; sanyāsaḥ—renunciation; karma-yogaḥ—working in devotion; cha—and; niḥśhreyasa-karau—lead to the supreme goal; ubhau—both; tayoḥ—of the two; tu—but; karma-sanyāsāt—renunciation of actions; karma-yogaḥ—working in devotion; viśhiṣhyate—is superior
Translation:
Renunciation and Yoga of Action, both lead to the highest bliss. But of these two, Yoga of Action is superior to the renunciation of action.
Commentary:
Jnana results in the renunciation of all actions, and Karmayoga consists of action without desire and attachment, both lead to the highest good. Both yield the fruit of liberation. But in the process of development, the Yoga of desireless action is superior to the renunciation of action. Karmayoga is better than Karmasannyasayoga. Arjuna has not yet attained the Self-state, devoid of the phenomenal universe. Millions of people live, move, and have their being in the objective world. It is not proper to teach them renunciation of action in the very beginning because they would not understand the true meaning of that doctrine. And, if a man without ripeness of Knowledge renounces action, he becomes a lost soul here and hereafter. The common man should act, work, carry out the injunctions of the Sastras, and do everything demanded of him as a duty in the course of his daily life. Such selfless devotion to duty will gradually purify the mind of all its latent tendencies, and then man becomes fit to enter the Self-state, where there is no actor, no action and nothing to act.
Question: Which is better, Karma or Karmasannyasa?
Answer: Both lead to the highest good. But of the two, action is better than the renunciation of action.