Bhagavad Gita - Adhyay 4 - Renunciation of Action (Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yog) - Post 5

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The journey from the first chapter to the fourth chapter is anyhow integrating or turning our personality gradually in higher levels. The first chapter tells about selfish behavior where we can see benefits in all the actions. But as we move towards the second and the third chapter, we are introduced to the 'Nishkam Karma'  that is desire-less action.

The fourth chapter explains different aspects of transcendental knowledge. The spiritual knowledge of the soul, god and their relationship, both are pure and liberate. 

Shri Krishna first explains that one should attain knowledge as a student, then take it as an appearance and then as a mission. Shri Krishna says that your devotional service is his final goal. Next, Shri Krishna explains about the soul's relationship with Arjun as an eternal body. Here Shri Krishna glorifies transcendental knowledge and requests Arjun to arm himself with his knowledge, which will burn all sinful reactions to ashes and will give him hope to fight in the battlefield.

In this chapter, Shri Krishna is transmitting ancient teaching to Arjun, though all the knowledge was shared several times by Shri Krishna to many others before Arjun. However it has been diluted and lost with time. This has been possible because Shri Krishna has born countless eons.

Here Shri Krishna declares that he has born countless times. When righteousness falters and chaos threatens to prevail, he comes to the earth in human form. In this battlefield, Shri Krishna is there to help Arjun to understand the complex nature of action. Shri Krishna explains to Arjun that we can worship God through our action and in this, it is referred to both - an action and the doer of the action.

Worship can be done in many ways - meditation, self denial and study of scriptures in the right direction. Wisdom is the outcome of the right action and this is related to having the right teacher in life to guide. Shri Krishna teaches about the sacrifice. According to Hindu mythology, the meaning of sacrifice originally consists of rituals and offerings, such as water or food around sacred fire. In this path, Shri Krishna is specifically urging Arjun on the path of  'Karma- Yoga' means the right action. All paths are born primarily to do the right action, Shri Krishna insists to Arjun that wisdom is achieved through the right action or worship but the type of wisdom Shri Krishna is talking about comes from practicing 'Karma- Yoga', which can be attained by understanding the nature of existence and the ability to see the truth beyond the illusory world of the senses. 

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