Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.12.14]

TEXT 12:

sreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj
jnanad dhyanam visishyate
dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas
tyagac chantir anantaram

 

TRANSLATION:

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind.

 

PURPORT:

As mentioned in the previous verses, there are two kinds of devotional service: the way of regulative principles and the way of full attachment in love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For those who are actually not able to follow the principles of Krishna consciousness it is better to cultivate knowledge, because by knowledge one can be able to understand his real position. Gradually knowledge will develop to the point of meditation. By meditation one can be able to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead by a gradual process. There are processes which make one understand that one himself is the Supreme, and that sort of meditation is preferred if one is unable to engage in devotional service. If one is not able to meditate in such a way, then there are prescribed duties, as enjoined in the Vedic literature, for the brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras, which we shall find in the last chapter of Bhagavad-gita. But in all cases, one should give up the result or fruits of labor; this means to employ the result of karma for some good cause.

 

In summary, to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal, there are two processes: one process is by gradual development, and the other process is direct. Devotional service in Krishna consciousness is the direct method, and the other method involves renouncing the fruits of one's activities. Then one can come to the stage of knowledge, then to the stage of meditation, then to the stage of understanding the Supersoul, and then to the stage of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One may take either the step-by-step process or the direct path. The direct process is not possible for everyone; therefore the indirect process is also good. It is, however, to be understood that the indirect process is not recommended for Arjuna, because he is already at the stage of loving devotional service to the Supreme Lord. It is for others, who are not at this stage; for them the gradual process of renunciation, knowledge, meditation and realization of the Supersoul and Brahman should be followed. But as far as Bhagavad-gita is concerned, it is the direct method that is stressed. Everyone is advised to take to the direct method and surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge Part [BG.12.14]

Even in the matter of evacuating stool,the refuse is controlled by
it's controlling demi-god,so How can the living entity claim to be
independent? SB#2.10.27

--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

Even in the matter of evacuating stool,the refuse is controlled by it's controlling demi-god,so How can the living entity claim to be independent? SB#2.10.27

Bhagavad-gita As It Is | Part [BG.12.13] 

TEXT 11:

athaitad apy asakto 'si
kartum mad-yogam asritah
sarva-karma-phala-tyagam
tatah kuru yatatmavan 

TRANSLATION:

If, however, you are unable to work in this consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all results of your work and try to be self-situated.

 

PURPORT:

It may be that one is unable even to sympathize with the activities of Krishna consciousness because of social, familial or religious considerations or because of some other impediments. If one attaches himself directly to the activities of Krishna consciousness, there may be objections from family members, or so many other difficulties. For one who has such a problem, it is advised that he sacrifice the accumulated result of his activities to some good cause. Such procedures are described in the Vedic rules. There are many descriptions of sacrifices and special functions of punya, or special work in which the result of one's previous action may be applied. Thus one may gradually become elevated to the state of knowledge. It is also found that when one who is not even interested in the activities of Krishna consciousness gives charity to some hospital or some other social institution, he gives up the hard-earned results of his activities. That is also recommended here because by the practice of giving up the fruits of one's activities one is sure to purify his mind gradually, and in that purified stage of mind one becomes able to understand Krishna consciousness. Of course, Krishna consciousness is not dependent on any other experience, because Krishna consciousness itself can purify one's mind, but if there are impediments to accepting Krishna consciousness, one may try to give up the results of his actions. In that respect, social service, community service, national service, sacrifice for one's country, etc., may be accepted so that some day one may come to the stage of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gita (18.46) we find it is stated, yatah pravrittir bhutanam: if one decides to sacrifice for the supreme cause, even if he does not know that the supreme cause is Krishna, he will come gradually to understand that Krishna is the supreme cause by the sacrificial method. 

Translation and commentary by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada


--
Yours
Dinesh
Blog:http://dinesh-krsna.blogspot.com

If u r unable2work in this consciousness of Me, then try2act giving up all results of ur work&try2be self-situated [BG.12.13]

Benediction & curse are both same in the material world SB # 4.2.27

Govindji in Jaipur