Jnana-Karma-Sannyasa-Yoga:
The Yoga of the knowledge of the
Renunciation of Action

4:1: The Blessed One said: I instructed this immutable yoga system to the sun god Vivasvan. He taught it to Manu and Manu taught it to Iksvaku.

4:2: Thus through disciplic succession the royal sages understood this knowledge, but with the passing of time this great yoga system was lost to this world, O chastiser of enemies.

4:3: Today this ancient yoga system is declared by Me unto you. Because you are My devotee and friend I will fully reveal this foremost of all mysteries.

Sanatana Dharma: Truth is Eternal. Truth is neither born nor created nor will it ever cease to be. Truth is.

What may be known of Truth is revealed by the Person of Truth, Ek Devata, the One God and thence dispersed by enlightened beings.

Time is not eternal. Time begins with the creation of stars and planets and ends with their eventual destruction. Everything that exists within Saguna Brahman (material existence) is subject to aging, decay and eventual death.

How one perceives time depends on many factors. We tend to be rather materialistic in our thinking and consider everything to be subject to our limited objective observations however in the Vedic realization everything is alive and governed, directly and indirectly, by the Supreme Lord. Hence we can understand that the controlling influence of time for our planet is the ruler of the sun. The relative relationships of the planets with the sun determine the duration of time and their reckonings.

The deva (demigod) in charge of the sun overseeing Bhuloka is named Sri Vivasvan. At some point -- estimated at about 120,400,000 years ago -- Ek Devata (God beyond all conception) revealed the Ultimate Truth to him so that through him it could be revealed to the human race.

According to the ancient Vedic scriptures, Sri Vivasvan revealed the One Truth to Manu approximately 2,005,000 years ago early in the second age (according to scholars such as His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami -- see his purport to Bhagavad-gita As It Is on this verse for more details). Some notable Indian Pundits (such as Srila Yukteswar) debate these dates but Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami presents a traditional understanding that is supported by the greater Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya and many of India's premiere pundits. Based on these reckonings we can say that the wisdom revealed by Sri Krsna in the Bhagavad Gita has existed among humans for least the past 2,005,000 years.

Manu was a great devotee of Lord Visnu (Second of the Vedic Trimurti or Trinity: Prajapati/Brahma, Visnu/Narayana, Rudra/Siva). From Manu comes the name of humanity: "man" and the instructions on how man should live: "manual." The great manual of course is the Vedas and the supreme of all manuals is the Srimad Bhagavad Gita because in it the Lord Himself reveals the Truth for those living in Kali Yuga.

Manu: Father of Mankind:

In brief, early in Treta Yuga, the second of the four ages, Manu was kneeling beside a river washing his hands. As he filled his water bowl a small fish swam into it. This was no ordinary fish however! It was an Avatar (Incarnation) of Lord Visnu Himself! And yet to Manu, it seemed to be only a small fish of no consequence. To Manu's amazement the fish looked up and spoke to him! It asked Manu to spare its life as a kindness! Out of compassion Manu agreed to spare the life of the fish and placed it in his water bowl where he planned to care for it as one might care for a pet. Soon however the fish outgrew Manu's water bowl and so he had to get a larger one, yet soon that jar was too small as well! Indeed the fish was growing so quickly that Manu could barely keep up with it needs!

Then one day the fish demonstrated his gratitude by promising to spare Manu's life during the coming world flood. This fish was none other than Lord Matsya (the celebrated fish avatar of Lord Visnu). Lord Matsya instructed Manu to build a very large boat. Manu obeyed, built the ark and brought in pairs of animals and a store of seeds. As the storm began to rage Manu tied the boat to the tail fins of the now immense Matsya Fish Avatar. Lord Matsya then pulled the boat to the "northern mountains" where the boat finally came to rest, saving Manu and all life.

The parallels to this account are too many and obvious to mention yet they all began here. Following the devastation that followed the War of Kuruksetra at the dawn of our present age -- about 5000 years ago -- memories and traditions of such Vedic period events provided the framework for the stories of Noah and the Ark, Ziusudra of Sumer (who was warned by the God Enki of the approaching world flood) and so on.

The line of disciplic succession (param param) thus passed from Sri Vivasvan through Manu. Manu then taught it to his son Maharaja Iksvaku, who was king of the earth and through him the Truth was spread throughout the earth.

The Four Yugas:
• Satya Yuga: 1,728,000 years
• Treta Yuga: 1,296,000 years
• Dvapara Yuga: 864,000 years
• Kali Yuga: 432,000 years (began circa 5561 B.C.E)

According to Sri Krsna then the earth was not created circa 5769 B.C.E. as taught in the Abrahamic traditions. This figure reflects the beginning of the fourth age, Kali Yuga. Our line of human beings have existed on this planet for about two million five thousand years. Prior to the days of Manu and Lord Matsya our human ancestors enjoyed the glories of Satya Yuga.

4:4: Arjuna asked: You were born after Vivasvan; how am I to understand that in the beginning You thus instructed him?

4:5: The Blessed One said: Many, many births both you and I have passed through. I can remember all of them, but you cannot, O chastiser of enemies.

4:6: Although I am unborn, being the imperishable and supreme Lord of all those who are born, I manifest and establish Myself within nature by My illusory power.

4:7: Surely, whenever and at whatever time righteousness declines, O descendant of Bharata, and there occurs a predominance of unrighteousness, at that time I manifest Myself.

4:8: In order to deliver saintly people, to destroy the wicked and to firmly reestablish religious principles, I appear age after age.

4:9: Those who accurately know the nature of My birth and divine activities, once the body is abandoned, are never born again but attain Me, O Arjuna.

4:10, 11: Freed from attachment, fear and anger, always absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified through the fires (or austerities) of knowledge, many have attained devotion to Me.
To those who betake themselves of Me in the manner mentioned I reward my path, but everyone follows Me in all ways, O Arjuna.

4:12: Desiring success in fruitive activities men in this world perform sacrifices to the gods and quickly become successful in their endeavors.

4:13: The fourfold caste system was created by Me in accordance with the divisions of qualities and works. Of that system know Me to be the author, even though I do nothing and am immutable.

4:14: Actions do not taint Me nor do I desire fruitive activities. One who thus desires Me is not bound by karmic reactions.

4:15: Knowing that the ancients, who also sought liberation, performed their actions in this way, you should follow their example and perform your activities.

:16: Even the great sages are deluded about what is action and what is inaction. I will explain action to you, knowing which you will be liberated from all misfortune.

4:17: The nature of action should be discerned. One should understand wrong actions as well as inaction, for the path of action is obscure.

4:18: One who sees action in inaction and inaction in action is intelligent among beings. Such a soul is perfectly yoked [to the truth] in all activities.

4:19, 20: One whose endeavors are without desire and ulterior motives, whose actions have been purified by the fires of right-knowledge, such a person is called a pundit or learned person by those who understand.
Abandoning all attachment to fruitive activities, he is always satisfied, depending on none, ever engaged in activities, yet doing nothing.

4:21: Hoping for nothing, controlling the mind and self, the wise renounce all material possessions. Their only actions are those demanded by the body. Thus no guilt is acquired.

4:22: Satisfied with whatever comes of its own accord, one is free from all dualities and envy; is equipoised in success or failure, and although acting, remains unfettered.

4:23: One who is liberated and who is devoid of attachment, whose mind is established in knowledge and who sacrifices all actions, has all reactions melt away.

4:24: Brahman is the oblation, Brahman is the clarified butter, Brahman is the fire of sacrifice. The offering is performed by Brahman to reach Brahman through completely concentrated actions.

4:25 -30: Some yogis sacrifice to the devas while others perform sacrifices into the fire of brahman, thus they also offer sacrifice.
Others offer the senses of hearing etc. into the fire of restraint while others offer sound vibrations and various objects of the senses into the fire of the senses.
Still others sacrifice all the functions of the senses and the breath/energy of life into the fire of the yoga of self restraint. Such sacrifice is sparked by knowledge.
Others sacrifice their possessions or offer the sacrifice of austerities and thus observe yogic austerities. Others offer the sacrifice of Vedic study and the sacrifice of knowledge while still others become ascetics and take upon themselves rigid vows.
Yet others sacrifice the incoming breath into the outgoing breath and the outgoing into the incoming, thus by restraining the movements of the outgoing and incoming breaths they are intent on restricting the life air.
Others regulate eating by sacrificing the life air into the life air. All those who understand the goal of sacrifice have their sins burnt up in the fire of sacrifice.

4:31: Those who have tasted the nectar of such sacrifices go to the Supreme. O best among the Kurus, this world is not eternal; for one who does not sacrifice, how can the other be attained?

4:32: Thus there are many types of sacrifices promulgated in Vedas. They are all born of actions conducted in the 'mouth of brahman.' Knowing them you will be liberated.

4:33: Superior to the sacrifice of material objects is the sacrifice of knowledge, O chastiser of the enemy [Arjuna] because all action [karma] culminates in knowledge [jnana].

4:34, 35: To learn that knowledge prostrate before, submissively question and render service to those who know the truth and those realized saints will instruct you in knowledge.
[Realizing that knowledge] you will never again be deluded, O son of Pandu, but will see all living entities within yourself and in Me.

4:36: Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners, still by this boat of knowledge you will cross over the great sea of sin.

4:37: Just as a blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so too does the fire of knowledge reduce all activities to ashes.

4:38: Indeed, nothing comparable to pure knowledge exists here in this world. One who is advanced in yoga finds this knowledge within himself in due time.

4:39: One who has faith and is determined to control the senses, achieves this knowledge. Having achieved it, such a soul very soon attains the highest peace.

4:40: Those who are devoid of knowledge and who doubt the scriptural conclusions perish. For one who is filled with doubts there is no happiness in this world or the next.

4:41: One who has renounced fruitive activities by yoga, whose doubts are cut asunder by knowledge, who has mastered the self, is not bound by actions, O Dhananjaya.

4:42: Therefore, cut off the ignorance which is abiding in your heart with the sword of knowledge. Taking refuge in yoga, O descendant of Bharata, stand and fight [or do your duty].

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Here Ends Chapter Three.

Of the Gitabhasya of Jagannatha Prakasa

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Go to: Chapter Five (coming soon)

Go to: Setting the Stage, the introduction.

Go to: Bhasya Homepage.

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Om Jai Jagannatha!	Sri Jagannatha.com Home Page
	Bhagavad Gita translated by Jagannatha Prakasa
	Gitabhasya of Jagannatha Prakasa