Bhagvad Gita Rahasya or Karmayoga Shastra VOL 02

SR No.: 011090
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bhalchandra S Sukhtankar
Publisher: R B Tilak Puna
Publication Year: 1936
Total Pages: 767
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 74 MB

Page 362

930
GITA-RAHASYA OR KARMA-YOGA
25th stanza, it has been stated that the Jñānin must achieve universal welfare (lokasangraha); and 'universal welfare' means enlightening people. But to this an objection may be raised that though 'lokasaņgraha' may be a duty, yet, it is not necessary on that account that a Jñānin should personally perform Action; and it will be quite enough if he imparts wisdom to people. To this objection, the Blessed Lord replies that: 'if knowledge is merely orally imparted to those persons, who have not got into the firm habit of righteous Action, (and ordinary people belong to this category), we see that they make use of that Knowledge of the Brahman for supporting their own misdeeds; and they talk nonsense, saying, "such and such a Jñānin says so". Besides, if a Jñānin absolutely gives up all Action, that becomes an illustration for the Ajñānin to become idle. When people thus become wicked in thought, or mischievous, or idlers, a 'buddhi-bheda' is said to have taken place; and it is not proper that a Jñānin should in this way unsettle (make a bheda of) the conviction (buddhi) of other people. Therefore, the Gitā has laid down the important doctrine that, it is an important duty of a man who has become a Jñānin, to remain himself in worldly life, for the purpose of 'lokasamgraha', that is, in order to make people wise, and put them on the righteous path, and thus to give a living example to others of performing righteous, that is, Desireless Action, and make them act righteously. (See Gītā-Rahasya pp. 561-2). But some commentators disregard this import of the Gītā, and put a perverse interpretation on this stanza to mean:"the Jñānin should hypocritically perform the same acts which are performed by the Ajñānins, in order that the Ajñānins should remain Ajñānins, and perform Actions"! As if the Gitä has been written in order to teach people hypocrisy, and in order to keep people in ignorance and make them perform Actions like beasts! Those persons, who firmly believe that Jñānins should not perform Action will naturally look upon lokasangraha' as hypocritical. But, that is not the true message of the Gītā. The Blessed Lord says that 'lokasangraha' is one of the important duties of a Jñanin, and that a Jñānin must perform Action