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1208
GITA-RAHASYA OR KARMA-YOGA
व्यासप्रसादाच्छूतवानेतदुह्यमहं परम् ।
योगं योगेश्वरात्कृष्णात्साक्षात् कथयतः स्वयम् ॥ ७५ ॥ hair-raising conversation between Vāsudeva and the noblesouled Arjuna. (75) By the favour of Vyāsa, I was enabled to hear this mystery of mysteries, that is, Yoga,-(of course, the Karma-Yoga),when Sri Krsņa, the Lord of all Yoga Himself was personally expounding it.
[It has been stated in the beginning of the Gītā, that as Vyasa had given super-natural vision to Sañjaya, he could, sitting in his own place, see in reality whatever was happening in the battle-field; and that he used to repeat everything he saw to Dhrtarāstra. The Yoga, expounded by Sri Krsna was nothing but the Karma-Yoga (GI 4. 1-3); and Arjuna himself has referred to it before (Gi. 6. 33), as "Yoga' (the Yoga of Equability); and now, Sanjaya also refers to the conversation between Sri Krsna and Arjuna in this stanza as 'Yoga'. From this, it becomes clear that Karma-Yoga is the subject-matter of exposition in the Gitā, according to the opinions of Sri Krsna and Arjuna, as also of Sanjaya; and the expression ( sankalpa ) used to denote the end of the chapter at the end of every chapter also contains the word "yoga-śāstra". But the word 'Yoga', in the phrase 'Yogesvara' is more comprehensive. The ordinary meaning of the word “Yoga' is the device of, or the skill or proficiency in, performing any Action'; and in this sense, the bahurūpi (one who shows many appearances) is said to perform his personifications by Yoga, that is, by skill. But, if one considers what is the best way in which Action can be performed, one has to say, that the way by which the Parameśvara, Who is essentially Imperceptible and Qualityless, gives Himself a perceptible appearance is the best 'Yoga' or device. This is referred to in the Gitā as the 'Tsvari-Yoga' (GI. 9.5; 11. 8); and this is what is known as 'Māyā' or 'Illusion' in Vedānta (Gi. 7. 25). For that man, who has successfully acquired this wonderful and unequalled Yoga, all other Yogas or devices are mere child's play. The Parameśvara is the Over-Lord of all these Yogas, or
