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KARMA YOGA IN THE GITA
should destroy these creatures. As the ignorant act from attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world. Let no wise man unsettle the minds of the ignorant attached to action, but acting in harmony with Me, let him render all action attractive." Ch. III-22 to 26.
2. SCOPE FOR PERSONAL EXERTION
In the Gita you will find "Even the man of knowledge acts in conformity with his own nature; beings follow nature; what shall restraint avail.” Ch. III-33.
The meaning of this Sloka is misunderstood by many people Many have become fatalists. They lead a life of inertia They say: "What is the use of our exertion? Nature is all-in-all. We cannot go against nature? Nature is irresistable All living beings follow their own nature. There is influence of man's nature on his conduct. What can coercion and inhibition do? Let us not exert ourselves.” This is a sad mistake. It is a lamentable misapprehension
There is a clear solution for this in the next Sloka 34 Slokas 33 and 34 should go together. Then the meaning is quite clear. Even the man of knowledge or a Jnani behaves according to his own nature. It needs no saying that a man of ignorance acts according to his own nature, because he does not know how to control it. If every individual behaves
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