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Srimad Bhagavad GitaCha ter 4Cha ter 4

Professor B Mahadevan

January 31, 2011

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, ctuwaeR=Xyay>,, ctuwaeR=Xyay>,, ctuwaeR=Xyay>,, ctuwaeR=Xyay>,}an}an}an}an-kmRkmRkmRkmR-ssss

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Chapter 4Important transitions

Lord Krishna reveals himself as not the cousin

of Arjuna but as the Divine incarnation

Chapter 3 focused on the need to engage in

R

B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore

Chapter 4 focuses on reaching higher planesof}an through kmRand y} Attaining joy out of work

Transitioning from work to knowledge

Transition from one level of thought to another is a measure of evolution & progress.

It is also a natural process for all of us.

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Imd!-gvItaChapter 4

Main messages in the chapter

Relevance of

Avtar pu;> Practical Steps to enjoy work and attainfreedom from drudgery of work


Deeper ideas on the concept ofy} Knowledge Work: The connection, evolution

Some interesting concepts: Raja Rishi, }an tps! Varna, Unity in Diversity

Various aspects of knowledge

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Imd!-gvItaChapter 4

In a nutshell

4.1 4.3 Krishna takes Arjuna back in time

4.4 Arjuna seeks clarification on this 4.4 4.8 Krishnas reply

4.9 4.13 Ways of reaching the Divine 4.10 The concept of}an tps!


4.13 4.23 I eas on wor , ree om rom wor etc. 4.13 Ideas on 4 varnas 4.14 4.18 Some deeper ideas about work

4.19 4.23 12 steps to discover joy of work

4.24 4.33 Concept of Yajna explained in detail Conceptual ideas, different types of Yajna, subtler meaning etc.

4.34 4.42 The Path of Knowledge How to seek knowledge

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Slokas 1 2Krishna takes us back in time

IIII----gvanuvac,gvanuvac,gvanuvac,gvanuvac,#m< ivvSvte yaeg< aeKtvanhmVyym!,ivvSvaNmnve ah mnuirvakve=vIt!. 4.1.

mnu kul jata> manva>


I taught this Yoga to Vivaswan, who in turn taughtto Manu and Manu to Ikshvaku

@v< prMpraaPt< #m,s kaleneh mhta yaegae n> pr - Adi Shankaracharya

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Relevance of GitaPower practical issues of handling it

Easy to hold power, difficult to handle it properly

A little power can create inebriation

Mahabharata on Power and inebriation

iv*a mdae dan md> t&tIyae=i-}anaemda>,


@t md Av lPtana< @t @v sta< dma>. Signs of bad handling of power

Very lowly behaviour towards other holding less or no

power People who come into contact feel loss of dignity & self

respect

Once stripped of power, everything goes out of purview

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raji;concept

Key for management, Administration

rajan \;y #it raji;R> Issue is one of acquiring power (Raja) and

handling power (Rishi)


a a w ou s a u e as un ges e power Mahabharata on Raja Dharma:

iy Apu;a magR< svaRl, in-Rya> itp*Nte yda r]it -Uimpa>.

rajteivrajte#it raja

SvLpmPySy xmRSy aytemhtae-yat!.2.40.

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Relevance of GitaCardinal ideas behind building inner strength

Dharma and Incarnation are very relevant

principles of long term sustainability &stability


Switching on the Psychological refinery helps

us building great character and inner strength

We have no business to compete with animals! Unity in Diversity is a great enabler of

creativity and progress

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Religious Angle or is it? yda yda ihxmRSy Glain-Rvit -art,

A_yuTwanmxmRSy tdaTman< s&jaMyhm!. 4.7. pira[ay saxUna< ivnazay c :ktam!,


xmsSwapnaway s-va m yug yug. 4.8. When there is a deterioration of the Dharma and rise

of the evil forces, I incarnate and protect good

people, destroy evil forces and restore DharmaStability and long term sustainability of the system happens because there

are regenerative points in the system. When the system attains

disequilibrium and shows signs of being unstable and going out of control

corrective measures are taken to restore equilibrium in the system.

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Dharma

Governing principle Does not change with

time, place, person or context

Key pillar of sustainability

R


su or s or o s v ry ng

! It ensures stability in the long run A lens through which we plan & perform

interactions with the world (xmR-AwR-kam-mae]a>) The overall impact is great amount of

goodness

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Avtar pu;>The Concept A strong purpose/cause

Dharma needs to be restored Some great good has to be done to humanity

How does it manifest?


Enormous energy (world transforming energy) flows

World moving force they can touch 1000s of living beings

directly & indirectly

Buddha spoke to 5 disciples in the 6th

Century BC Christ spoke to his set of disciples 2000 years ago

Krishna spoke to Arjuna on the battlefield

They defeat the logic of time As time passes by they become known more

Unless we have spiritual development we cant understand the greatness of incarnationIt is not a zero one concept

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Slokas 9 10Ways of reaching God

jNm kmR c me idVy< @v< yae vei tvt>,TyKTva deh< punjRNm nEit mameit sae=juRn. 4.9.One who knows about my divine birth and action


.

vItrag-yaexa> mNmya mamupaita>,bhvae}antpsa pUta mavmagta>. 4.10.Freed from attachment, fear, anger and absorbed inme, taking refuge in me, purified by the fire of

knowledge, many have attained me.

This is not an utopian idea. Many have done it before!

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Relevance of GitaHow is the inner-self & character weakened?

kam>

maeh>Strengthening

Force


rag>

md> lae->maTsyR>aex>-y>e;>

Mental

Response

External

Responses Behavioural

Responses

rag -y aexa>contain enormous energy. How do wechannelize it properly? That is where }an tps!comes in

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What is Tapas? A psychological refinery for the body mind complex

Enables us to transcend sensory level Animal body ismeant for physical comfort & pleasures we cant

compete with them on this


oncen ra on o e m n sense organs

Experience is the ultimate a mechanism to

transcend beyond knowledge

Internal focus rather than the external focus (refineyour thoughts & emotions)

Ones own activity No outsourcing possible

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Slokas 11 12Universal Path & Options for us

ye ywa ma< p*Nte ta pawR svRz>. 4.11.I manifest myself to people in whatever way they


ka']Nt> kmR[a< isi< yjNt #h devta>,i]< ih manu;e laeke isi-Rvit kmRja. 4.12.Longing for success in action in this world, people

worship Gods since results of action are quickly

attained in the human world

Variety is the essence of life. Vedanta acknowledges thisRig Veda proclaims: @k bhuxabhuxabhuxabhuxa vdiNtvdiNtvdiNtvdiNt,,,,

Electric plug cook,

cool, radio, TV

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Shanti MantraAll roads lead to the same God

y< vEidka mNd&z> pura[a> #N< ym< matirZvanmahu>,

vedaiNtnae=invRcnIymek< y< zBden ivinidRziNt.

E < e < E: : N


! u ubutwahRiit baE jEna> sCD+I Akaleit c isOosNt>,

zaSteit keict!kitict!kumar> SvamIit mateit ipteit -KTya,y< awRyNte jgdIiztar< s @k @v -uritIy>/.Aae< zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>

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Sloka 13Varna Concept

catuvR{y mya s&,tSy ktaRrmip ma< iv(ktaRrmVyym!. 4.13.The four fold varna system was devised by me on


. -

doer and changless

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Varna SystemTime to clear misconceptions

Based on Guna & Karma No reference to heredity!

Acknowledging the principle of diversity (Father &Son need not have same composition of Guna)

A mechanism to enable freedom of choice


Important principle in Management First knownpiece of work in Orgn. Structure Design/Orgn. Theory

It is all but natural

It is dynamic (can evolve over time!)

Do you know the caste of 63 Nayanmars and 12 Alwars?

Do you know that they are worshipped as Gods?

Have you read their divine compositions?

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Sloka 18The paradox of Karma

kmR{ykmR y> pZyet!AkmRi[ c kmR y>,s buimaNmnu:ye;u s yuKt> kTSnkmRkt!. 4.18.One who sees action in inaction and inaction in


, ,

You see several examples in real life

Work done with a deep sense of devotion

Work done with selfless love (Mother attending to a child) Work done with enormous passion (Dr. V of Aravind Eye Hospital)

In a nutshell, all greatest achievers in this world will be part of this list!

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Relevance of GitaFreedom from work: Practical guidelines

Twelve Principles to be diligently practiced

and followed Enable us to have holiday while engaging in heavy


Lead us to get liberated from all effects of doing

work

Karma dissolves and it does not taint us in anyway

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Discovering Joy of WorkChecklist & Practical Guidelines

}anai dGx>}anai dGx>}anai dGx>}anai dGx>- Burnt by the fire of knowledge kam s

- Devoid of sensual desire & desire for results

kmR )l Aas-Forsaking the clinging to fruits of action inTy t&Pt>-Ever satisfied inray>- Depending on nothing


yt icTtaTmayt icTtaTmayt icTtaTmayt icTtaTma- Controlled mind/body inrazI>- Without any ambition Ty svR pirh>- Relinquishing personal possessiveness

yd&Cda la- sNtu:q>- Content with what comes without effort

ivmTsr>- Free from envoy N AtIt>- Transcending the world of dualities

is AisaE c sm>- Even minded in success & Failure

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Is this an Utopian idea? kam s- Devoid of sensual desire & desire for results

Service to someone who was responsible for what you are today Bhakti &

Shraddha

kmR )l Aas-Forsaking the clinging to fruits of action Mother attending to a child with pure love


& - A person attending to any work with a feeling of fullness of life

inray>- Depending on nothing One who believes that his/her work is Gods Work Those who work with a

great social cause and divine perspective

Ty svR pirh>- Relinquishing personal possessiveness People who feel that they have no premium for life Poor people in any

society have great propensity to take risk and participate in common good

yd&Cda la- sNtu:q>- Content with what comes without effort The pleasure of a 2 year old child can never be matched by anyone else

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Is this an Utopian idea or a

gateway to evolution of the self? We do have examples in real life but in varying

degrees we practice it Post-man delivers news without emotions

A mother attending to her infant


A dedicated social worker A devotee at the pinnacle of bhakti

Thomas Alva Edison with 100s of failed inventions

Great leaders who made an impact on the society Deep sleep do we not practice this daily?

Avatara Purshas: Rama, Krishna, Jesus

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Relevance of GitaSubtler concepts pertaining to Yajna

Practising Yajna is well beyond the normal

ritualistic part that we are used to. Observing the ritualistic aspects in some detail


There are multiple ways we need to practice

Yajna in our life

It is a way of life that prepares an individual tohigher planes of existence

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Slokas 24 - 25Deeper concepts of Yajna

apR[< hiv> aaE [a tm!,Ev ten gNtVy< kmR smaixna. 4.24.Process is Brahman, offered is Brahman, offered by

A{f ip{f@k -av>


, , ,

to be reached in the Samadhi of Brahman

dEvmevapre y}< yaeign> pyuRpaste,

aavpre y}< y}enEvaepjuit. 4.25.Some yogis perform yajna to devas, while othersoffer Brahman (the self) as sacrifice in the fire of

Brahman

External Orientation

Internal Orientation

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Sacrifice as a ritualSignificance

Medium (AiAiAiAi)Doer (ktaRktaRktaRktaR)


Offering (vStuvStuvStuvStu)Receiver (devtadevtadevtadevta)Effect-Sm>(total annihilation), melting awayGiving away, parting off (n mm)Developing a sense of detachment over time

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5 types of YajnaAn evolutionary path to self-development

p y}a>vy y}> - Wealth as offeringtpae y}> - Austerity as offering


yag y}> - Self-restraint as offering SvaXyay y}> - Deeper study as offering

}an y}>- Knowledge as offering

At each stage we transcend it and see existence (& the meaning) beyond that

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5 types of YajnaFrom a perspective of our duties

p y}a> y}> - Study of Vedas (SvaXyay) dev y}> - Worship of God, making offerings


&- er ngs o paren s an ances ors

mnu:y y}> - Offering to fellow human beings -Ut y}> - Offering to other living creatures

There is a larger principle of thanks giving, showing gratefulness

to the larger system of beings in existence

Taittriya Upanishad:

SvaXyayaNma md>, sTyaNn midtVym!, xmaRNn midtVym!, kuzlaNn midtVym!,-UTyE n midtVym!, SvaXyayvcna_ya

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Relevance of GitaAction leads to Knowledge

Performing everything with y} -av>completely liberates us from (absolves us of)all sins


leads to knowledge

Making special efforts to acquire knowledge is

a worthwhile exercise

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Slokas 29 - 30Different types of Yajna

Apane juit a[< a[e=pan< twa=pre,a[apangtI va a[ayampray[a>. 4.29.Some offer outgoing breath as sacrifice to incoming


between they practice pranayama

Apre inytahara> a[aNa[e;u juit,

sveR=Pyete y}ivd> y}]iptkLm;a>. 4.30.With proper food habits sacrifice pranas intopranas. By knowledge of Yajna they obliterate their

sins through Yajna

A

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y}]iptkLm;a>Why does it happen? Everything is Brahman, including offering, process

etc. (4.24) Senses, sense organs, sense objects are all offered inYajna (4.26)


ct ons o sense organs, pranas o ere n t e a nakindled by spiritual knowledge (4.27)

Five different types of Yajnas are offered with self-restraint (4.28)

Breath control, Food habits are all done in the spiritof Yajna (4.29 4.30)

Spirit of Yajna is to give Not mine, Not mine, Detachment

From a mere act of pouring ghee, how far we have gone in understanding Yajna concept!

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Relevance of GitaKnowledge Vs Doubting mind

Knowledge obliterates every aspect pertaining to

action Pre-conditions for acquiring knowledge

Humilit


Attitude Shradda (Faith or Devotion)

A doubting mind is the villain for acquiring

knowledge

Knowledge & Yoga will eliminate doubts, enable us

achieve freedom from work

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Relevance of GitaDeveloping character thro spirituality

What does it mean to develop character?

Strength & Gentleness must coexist

Great Broadmindedness develops along with


Intense fearlessness and intense compassion

A-y< vE aPtaeis jnk> (Brihadaranya Upanishad)

ySmat!n %ijet laeka> laekat!n %ijet c y>(Gita chapter 12)

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Chapter 4 on Knowledge Reach ultimate (}an tpsa md!-avmagta> - 4.10) Sages call him wise (

}anaiGn dGx>-

tmahu> pi{ft< buxa>- 4.19)

Fire of Self-control is kindled by knowledge (AaTms

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Knowledge How to seek? Humility

Devotion or Faith

Attitude

Inquisitiveness

Why do we need?

All actions lead to

knowledge only

Only means to cross

the ocean of sins


What it does ?

Understand oneness

Burn action to ashes Ultimate Purifier

Help reach ultimate

Fire of self-control is kindled

Sages call Jnani as wise

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` tTsidit Imd` tTsidit Imd` tTsidit Imd` tTsidit Imd ----gvItasUgvItasUgvItasUgvItasU%pin;Tsu%pin;Tsu%pin;Tsu%pin;Tsu iv*aya< yaegzaeiv*aya< yaegzaeiv*aya< yaegzaeiv*aya< yaegzae


Ik:[ajuRns

Documents

Session 29 Jan 31 2011 (401-442)