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1004
GITA-RAHASYA OR KARMA-YOGA
om
तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम् । यतते च ततो भूयः संसिद्धौ कुरुनन्दन ॥४३॥ पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः। जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते ॥४४॥ प्रयत्नाद्यतमानस्तु योगी संशुद्धकिल्बिषः।
अनेकजन्मसंसिद्धस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ॥ ४५ ॥ born in the family of intelligent (Karma-) Yogins ; such (re-) births are very rare in (this) world. (43) The spiritual impressions acquired in the previous births, come to him again here (that is, in the birth which he has thus acquired); and, O Kurunandana! he attempts to acquire success in Yoga), which is bhūyah' (that is, even higher). (44) As a result of that practice, made by him in the previous births, he is necessarily (that is, though he may not wish it) drawn (towards complete siddhi). He, who has experienced the jijñāsā (that is, the desire to possess the knowledge of (Karma-) Yoga, such a man also goes beyond the sabda-brahma (that is, the desire-prompted ritual, such as, Yajñas, Vāgas, etc., prescribed by the Vedas-Trans.). (45) Becoming absolved of sin, while (thus) practising industriously, the (Karma-) Yogin, acquires success, after many births, and reaches a most superior state.
The words 'yoga', "yoga-bhrasta' and 'yogi' in these stanzas have been used as meaning 'Karma-Yoga', 'one who has fallen from the Karma-Yoga' and 'Karma-Yogin', respectively; because, being born in a rich family cannot be proper for anyone else. The Blessed Lord says that one should start the practice of the Karma-Yoga with as much pure-mindedness as possible in the beginning. Whatever Action is performed in this way, however little it be, that will gradually bring more and more of success; and in the next life, if not in this life, it will ultimately lead to Release. The stanzas, "if this course of conduct' (* dharma') is observed even to a small extent, it saves a person from the great danger" (GI. 2. 40), and “one reaches Vāsudeva after many births" (Gi. 7. 19) further
