The Bhagavad Gita Interpreted - Part Four

Krishna said,

—I first revealed these everlasting truths to the Sun in the heavens. He revealed them to Manu, the father of mankind. Over immemorial ages, these truths were taught to kings and saints. Yet now, after the revolution of years, these truths are lost and forgotten. Now I reveal my mystery to you, Arjuna because I love you.

Arjuna said,

—You were born after the Sun in the heavens, O Krishna. How did you reveal these truths at the beginning that has no beginning?

Krishna said,

—I have been born into many lives before, and so have you. But I remember every life, yet you remember none of them.

—I am the ancient, changeless, everlasting Lord of Worlds. From age to age I manifest myself in the worlds of My creation. I arise among men when they have lost their way, when they exult in their base inclinations. I arise among men to redeem the good and to overturn evil in age after age.

—The one who knows the truth of Me and recognizes Me, he vanquishes death and, leaving life behind, he reaches Me. His faith in Me washes clean his heart. Free from desire, he reaches Me. Seeking shelter in Me, holding fast to the cord of love for Me, whatever road he walks, he reaches Me. But those who desire the trappings of the world, mere trapping are their reward. In selfish action they receive this reward.

—At My command, the world became ordered. This action is Mine, though I transcend all actions. I am untainted by desire; therefore My action are untainted. Those who know this are themselves untainted by action. In past ages, those who sought freedom engaged in selfless action. Do likewise, and the truth shall set you free.

—I will reveal what is action and what is inaction. I will reveal what is selfless action, and what actions will bind you to the world. At the heart of action, you may find inaction; at the heart of inaction you may find action. In stillness one may act. In action, one may fail to act. Seeing this, the wise find freedom from action.

—The wise rid themselves of desire in action, and purify their actions in the fire of sacrifice. Sacrificing the fruits of action, a man becomes independent of action, neither expecting nor requiring reward. He relinquishes expectations of action, and therefore action relinquishes him. Whatever he possesses is sufficient; unbound by action, he is neither envious nor expectant. In the sacrifice of selfless action, he gains peace and self-mastery, and his labors are pure. In his actions, he sees only the Most High, which is the sacrifice and the full reward.

—Some sacrifice to the gods, but the wise sacrifice themselves to the Most High. In the fire of restraint, some offer the senses. In the fire of the senses, others offer what is sensed. Some surrender life in the fire of union with the Most High. Still others offer their austerities, their penance, their learning and contemplation. Some offer every exhalation and others every inhalation, ever sacrificing in every breath. And some offer every crumb of bread, except what they need to live.

—All of these offerings into the fire of the Most High burn away sin. On these many paths of sacrifice, they each find the straight way. Whatever sacrifice they offer—this is selfless action; this is sacred work. The one who does not sacrifice loses this world and the next. The one who sacrifices reaches Me.

—But the best of earthly sacrifice is the offering of sacred insight, for sacred insight is the sweet smoke of sacrifice. Go to those who offer sacred insight and honor them as a servant honors his master. Go to them and their insight will dispel your confusion. Through the eyes of wisdom you will see all things within yourself, and yourself within Me. The barque of wisdom may carry even the most evil among men across the sea of evil. The fire of wisdom consumes the pollution of action, as fire burns tinder to ashes. There is no better purifier than wisdom. Those with insight discover this and purify themselves of the pollution of action.

—Faithfully the wise restrain the senses, acquire insight, and on the straight path find peace in Me. But the unfaithful acquire no insight, become lost in the wilds of doubt and illusion, and finds peace neither in this world nor the next.

—By the practice of selfless action, the wise overcomes all doubt, and is free from bondage to the world. Act without attachment, and wield the sword of wisdom against doubt. Act without expectation. Rise up and fight, Arjuna.