संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दु:खमाप्तुमयोगत: |
योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति || 6||
sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho duḥkham āptum ayogataḥ
yoga-yukto munir brahma na chireṇādhigachchhati
sanyāsaḥ—renunciation; tu—but; mahā-bāho—mighty-armed one; duḥkham—distress; āptum—attains; ayogataḥ—without karm-yog; yoga-yuktaḥ—one who is adept in karm-yog; muniḥ—a sage; brahma—Brahman; na chireṇa—quickly; adhigachchhati—goes
Translation:
O Arjuna! But renunciation is difficult to attain without the yoga of action. The sage who is harmonised in Yoga quickly goes to Brahman.
Commentary:
It is stated here that without the aid of Karma Yoga final renunciation and the realisation of Self is not possible. That is, perfection in Karma Yoga – doing work without desire and attachment, surrendering the fruits to the Lord – is absolutely necessary to rise to the plane of pure Knowledge. Certainly, it is not an easy task to remain established in Brahman, without outward pulls and pressures of the objective world. All the bad samskaras have to be overcome, and they cannot be overcome except by righteous action and desireless performance of good work. Karma yoga is therefore the elementary course, and jnana yoga is the higher course. Unless the foundation of karma yoga is strongly laid, the superstructure of jnana cannot stand for a minute. How can anyone hope to remain fixed in the Atmic state when the mind is impure and drawn to the objective world in a hundred ways? Let the mind be purified first. Hence the Lord insists on Karmayoga for all seekers. Out of compassion, the Lord explains the natural sequence and graded progress of spiritual laws.
Sage: From the word Muni (Contemplator) we understand that the seeker should also contemplate on the Supreme, besides the practice of Karmayoga.
In this manner, the Lord prescribes Karma marga and self-surrender to the Divine as the natural evolution of spiritual life. It is of no use to take to sannyasa by a formal renunciation of action. Purity and sinlessness are the characteristic features of sannyasa. Without acquiring them, if a man adopts sannyasa by some accidental calamity or suffering, he would suffer ignominious failure in the attempt. Such men are deprived of the benefits of Karma and Jnana. “Acquire purity through Nishkama Karma, surrender to God, learn the secret of action; and you can quickly reach Brahman.” This is the Lord’s message.
Question: When can Jnana Yoga be realised?
Answer: After perfection is attained in Karma Yoga.
Question: How can one reach Brahman quickly?
Answer: The Karma Yogi who has purified his mind reaches Brahman quickly.
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