Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.30

Chitvish · Oct 30, 2008

For the question,
How then should actions be performed by the "ignorant" man who seeks liberation from his own sense of finitude, when he is qualified only for action?

The answer follows:

Mayi sarvaaNi karmaaNi samnyasaaadhyathmachethasaa
Niraasheer nirmamO bhoothva yudhyasva vigathajvara: 3.30

Renouncing all actions in ME, with the mind centred on the Self, free from hope and egoism (ownersip), free from (mental) fever, (you) do fight!

This verse is the very back-bone of the Bhagavad Gita.

This, being the most pregnant verse, there are chapters of suggestions packed in every phrase here employed.

In life, a human being generally acts, dedicated to the spouse or the parents or the children. Here, Krishna insists, we should undertake all actions dedicated to Him, the Infinite Lord. Our capacities then increase according to the glory of the altar of our dedication.

When an ordinary man becomes the President or Prime Minister, he represents first his country, than himself! So, when we "dedicate ourselves to Him" and act, always as His deputies in life, we draw unto ourselves infinite strength, power, capacity and intelligence. Be His servant, He being the mighty ideal of your heart.

Mayi sarvaaNi karmaaNi - Renouncing all actions in ME

Actions performed through attachment and desires are renounced the moment we take away from action, the ego-centric and the selfish "stink"!

A snake is dangerous only as long as its fangs are not removed. The moment these are taken out, it becomes a tame creature, incapable of harming anyone.
Similarly, action gives rise to bondage only when it is performed with a heart laden with selfish desires. Actions performed without desires are not actions at all, in as much as they are incapable of producing any painful reactions.
Here, the renunciation of action only means the giving up of the wrong motives behind the actions.

A superficial study of this stanza with the words
Niras(h)ee – without hope
Nirmama – without ego
Is sure to confuse the student and drive him to the dangerous conclusion that Hinduism preaches not a dynamic conscious life, but an insensient existence through life in a spirit of cultivated hopelessness!
But a closer study of the import of these two terms will make us understand clearly that, in this stanza, Krishna is hinting at a great psychological truth in life! This verse should be a surprise even to the modern psychologits!!
Krishna advises that Arjuna should renounce all actions unto the Lord and, getting rid of both hope and selfishness, must fight, free from all mental fever. How complete this technique is, will be evident now to all students of the Gita.
The term "fight" (yudhyasva) is to be understood here as "our individual fight with circumstances, in the silent battle of life". Thus the advice is not for Arjuna alone, but to all men who would like to live life fully and intelligently!

Love,
Chithra.

Cheeniya · Oct 30, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

In all our daily rituals, we utter the ‘Satvika Tyagamti’ as follows:
Kayena vacha manasendriyairva
Buddhyatmana va prakrite swabhavath
Karoomi yadyad sakalam parasmai
Narayanayeti samarpayami

Whatever I do with my mind, body, speech or with other senses of my body,
Or with my intellect or with my innate natural tendencies, I offer everything to Narayana!

This Mantra embodies the quintessence of Gita as revealed in this vital Verse. It is rather unfortunate that most of us utter this quite mechanically without applying our mind to it. We further think that Satvika Tyagamti relates only to religious rituals and not any other acts performed by us. There are some who even think that this Mantra is some kind of Kshama Prarthana, or begging the Lord for His Forgiveness for any lapses in the performance of our religious ritual!

The spirit of this mantra is to be followed in the entire gamut of our actions. This is the greatest antidote for egocentric actions. As long as we wallow in the thought that we are the doer of all actions, we get so drawn to them that the thought of the Divine Existence as the cause of all our actions recedes from us. In this context, the story of Mary and Martha sisters who are friends of Jesus is very significant. According to St.Luke, Martha was head of the household; she welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary was probably younger. Like most sisters, these two women had conflicts which emerged because of their different personalities, roles, and simply the fact that they were siblings.

This is how their story is narrated in the Bible:
“Now as they went on their way, he (Jesus) entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).”

Mary’s way of life is embodied in a spirit of total surrender. She is totally absorbed in the call of Jesus “Freed from passion, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, and purified by the fires of Knowledge, many have become one with my Being”
It is amazing how Jesus’ call to Martha closely resembles Lord Krishna’s advice to Arjuna.

In a democracy like India, when the elected representatives arrogate to themselves such powers that make us feel sick of them and we start lamenting how these elected representatives forget that they are there purely as our representatives and to work strictly within the mandate given to them. We launch a scathing tirade against self-enriching Ministers and their henchmen. How conveniently we forget that we are here as His representatives but act as if we are the monarch of all we survey! We think nothing of all the straying that we do away from the Divine Path. We make light of the purpose for which He has given us this life.

May this important verse of Gita help us to understand the purpose of our being here in greater perspective!

mkthpavi · Oct 30, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear C&C
Hope you had wonderful Deepavali festivities. Very nice to see your Gita posts once again It is a powerful concept which you have explained - that of dedicating all to Him.

In Mahabharatha, it is Lord Krishna who provides 'advisory services' to Yudishthra to say 'Ashwattama (Elephant) died'; to Arjuna to use Shikandi as an armour against Bhishmar; to Arjuna to slay Karna etc etc etc.
If these 'strategic' decisions had not been taken, Pandavas may not have defeated the Kauravas and the victory of good over evil could never have been established.
Thus, it feels justifiable to dedicate these decisions, although seemingly unfair, to God.

Similarly, in our lives, if we genuinely are devoted to God and dedicate all good and bad to Him, it might become easier for us to handle situations and face life with confidence.

Very beautiful write-ups.

Thanks and love
Your IL disciple
Pavithra

gayathriar · Oct 30, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear C and Sri

This is a profound sloka and just remembering this, would ensure we lead life prescribed as per Gita. You have both explained it in your usual inimitable styles.

The mere thought of 'I am the doer' causes so much of mental affliction( to the extent Sri Krishna calls it mental fever ). When something goes wrong, we tend to blame ourselves (mis)thinking we are the doer and when we are successful, due to the same reason let our ego reach sky high. Both these attitudes are detrimental. Instead dedicating all our actions to God ( sarvam Krishnaarpanam ), makes us more balanced and eventually, might also free us from our Karma, which as we have seen so far is our objective.

Thanks for the Mary and Martha story from the Bible. It is very interesting to note the similarity between Krishna's preaching and Jesus's call...!

-Gayathri.

corallux · Oct 31, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

My dear Gita Gurus,

"Dedicating our actions to him" is the best way of advancing on the spiritual ladder.

Dear Chithraji, when ego comes comes in way of doing our actions, it leads to destruction.

A simple story to illustrate this: When pilgrims make their way to Triveni Sangam (near Allahabad), the boatman shows them a half-submerged temple. There was this son who built this temple in memory of his parents.

After the consecration ceremony, the priests blessed him & remarked he was truly lucky as God had chosen him for this task.

The son replied that God had nothing to do with it. He built the temple to repay his debts to his parents. The temple immediately sank leaving the "Shikar" visible.

A fitting illustration of how ego can destroy even the best of actions.

Dear Cheeniyaji, your example of Martha & Mary reminds me of the monks & nuns of "Shri Ramakrishna Mission". Any natural/man made disaster sites are a home to them where selflessly they tend to the needy. All in the name of God.

No doubt we end each Karya with a chant that says "Shri Parameshwar Prithyartham", question is how many of us actually mean it?

As Baba said when the coconut was broken," Never take ownership of your actions. Everything takes place on my wish."

Hence, as the saints in Maharashtra said ,"Karta tu Karavita tu." You are the doer and the one who makes us perform actions.

A simple example, this post itself is due to you my Gurus. You inspire me to study this holy book by explaining each detail in a clear, concise & impartial manner.

Regards,

Corallux

Chitvish · Oct 31, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear Pavi,
Ley us see how to gain this continuous spirit of dedication to Him. This is possible only if we live a life centred on Self! We get distracted because we identify ourselves with the demands of our flesh, the urgencies of the mind or the restlessness of the intellect.
But, with
1 - intellectual dedication to the Self
2 - mentally centering in our ideal
we draw from some unexpected source in ourselves, into our bosom, a large amount of fresh vitality, a surge of enthusiasm and the mental-make up to face courageously all vicissitudes!
Love,
Chithra.

mkthpavi said: ↑

Dear C&C
Very beautiful write-ups.

Thanks and love
Your IL disciple
Pavithra
Click to expand...

Chitvish · Oct 31, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear Gayathri,
The purification of the (wrong, very often) motives is possible only when the mind is made to sing constantly, "naamas" praising the Self. Then gradually the heart begins to throb with the highest Divine impulses.Thus, gradually ordinary actions become the expressions of the Supreme will through that individual. When the limited ego is replaced by the constant feeling of the Lord, as - I am the Supreme - such an individual becomes the most efficient instrument for the expression of the Divine Will!
Not only should we renunce all wrong actions, we have also to mae a few adjustments in our inner instruments to bring out an unstructed flow of the Creator's will through us. These are indicated by the terms
Nirashee & Nirmama.
Love,
Chithra.

gayathriar said: ↑

Dear C and Sri

-Gayathri.
Click to expand...

Chitvish · Oct 31, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear Lux,
Our ego-centric concept of ourselves is nothing but " a bundle of happenings and achievements of ours which took place, or were gained by us in the past".
So, the corlollary is - ego is the shadow of the past!
So again, it has an existent reality only with reference to the moments of the past and the lingering memory of a dead paST!!
THAT IS WHY THE LORD ADVISES US TO CREATE, TO ADVANCE, TO ACHIEVE AND ENJOY.

Love,
Chithra

corallux said: ↑

My dear Gita Gurus,

Regards,

Corallux
Click to expand...

Cheeniya · Nov 1, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear Pavithra
There is a lot of difference between the epic battle fought by Lord Rama against the ten-headed Ravana in Tretha Yuga and the Kurukshetra battle towards the end of Dwapara Yuga. In the first battle, the Lord takes direct part and leads the army but in the second, Lord Krishna plays a secondary role of a charioteer. He is never up in arms against the Kauravas but as a strategist, he ensures that the Kauravas are routed. In Tretha Yuga, adharma was not rampant and people were bound by certain ethical standards. The battle between Rama and Ravana was a straight affair. You will recollect that Rama lets Ravana go and come back on the following day to resume the battle when Ravana is down on the field devoid of all weapons.

But Kurukshetra was fought at the end of Dwapara and the advent of Kaliyuga when deceit and cunning had already started sweeping over the earth. Lord Krishna had to uphold Dharma without directly involving Himself in questionable methods in doing so.As you rightly point out, many of His suggestions to the Pandavas to overcome their strong adversaries might appear to be controversial but the Pandavas had to deal with an enemy who was known for his cunning and deceit. The Lord made them 'do' all that was necessary to overcome extreme treachery and took all the responsibility upon Himself. This is the background of His advice to Arjuna in this important verse of Gita. This has greater relevance in this final Yuga than in the dying hours of Dwapara Yuga.
Sri

Cheeniya · Nov 1, 2008

Re: Sarvam Krishnarpanam, in the Spirit of Abject Dedication to Him – Bhagvad Gita 3.

Dear Gayathri
Sarvam Krishnaarpanam has greater significance now than ever before and its relevance will reach gigantic proportions in the centuries to come when the right-thinking man will be put through greater and greater stressful tests. We will face situations more agonising than what Arjuna faced in the battlefield. We may be summoned to do many things that will not be acceptable to our conscience but in the general interest of all. But all these internal conflicts will keep arising as long as we remain attached to our work. When there is One Who is willing to own up responsibility for all our deeds and misdeeds, will it not be prudent to surrender to Him totally? Even in the present corporate world, when we have an understanding and sympathetic boss who is willing to shield us perpetually, don't we feel more enthused to give our best?
Sri