Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 15 — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Sanskrit
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः | कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ||४-१५||
Transliteration
evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ . kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam ||4-15||
Hindi Meaning
।।4.15।। पूर्व के मुमुक्ष पुरुषों द्वारा भी इस प्रकार जानकर ही कर्म किया गया है; इसलिये तुम भी पूर्वजों द्वारा सदा से किये हुए कर्मों को ही करो।।
English Meaning
All the liberated souls in ancient times acted with this understanding of My transcendental nature. Therefore you should perform your duty, following in their footsteps.
Commentary
There are two classes of men. Some of them are full of polluted material things within their hearts, and some of them are materially free. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is equally beneficial for both of these persons. Those who are full of dirty things can take to the line of Kṛṣṇa consciousness for a gradual cleansing process, following the regulative principles of devotional service. Those who are already cleansed of the impurities may continue to act in the same Kṛṣṇa consciousness so that others may follow their exemplary activities and thereby be benefited. Foolish persons or neophytes in Kṛṣṇa consciousness often want to retire from activities without having knowledge of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Arjuna’s desire to retire from activities on the battlefield was not approved by the Lord. One need only know how to act. To retire from the activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and to sit aloof making a show of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is less important than actually engaging in the field of activities for the sake of Kṛṣṇa. Arjuna is here advised to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, following in the footsteps of the Lord’s previous disciples, such as the sun-god Vivasvān, as mentioned hereinbefore. The Supreme Lord knows all His past activities, as well as those of persons who acted in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the past. Therefore He recommends the acts of the sun-god, who learned this art from the Lord some millions of years before. All such students of Lord Kṛṣṇa are mentioned here as past liberated persons, engaged in the discharge of duties allotted by Kṛṣṇa.
Hinglish Commentary
Doston, yahan do tarah ke log hain. Ek to wo hain jinke dil mein bahut saare gande vichar hain, aur doosre wo hain jo material cheezon se azaad hain. Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti dono ke liye faida mand hai. Jo log gande vicharon se bhare hain, wo Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti ka path apna sakte hain, aur dheere dheere apne aap ko saaf kar sakte hain, bhakti ke niyamon ka palan karke. Aur jo log pehle se hi saaf hain, wo Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti mein lage rahe, taaki unki achi karne ki wajah se doosre log bhi unse seekh sakein. Lekin kuch log, jo Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti mein naye hain, wo aksar kaam se alag hona chahte hain bina Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti ki asli samajh ke. Jaise Arjuna ka battlefield par kaam se alag hone ka mann tha, wo Bhagwan ne nahi mana. Humein bas yeh samajhna hai ki kaise kaam karna hai. Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti se alag hokar bas baithe rehna, yeh Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti se zyada important nahi hai. Arjuna ko yahan Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti mein kaam karne ki salah di gayi hai, jaise pehle ke bhakt, jaise surya-dev Vivasvān, jo pehle bhi yeh sab seekh chuke hain. Bhagwan Kṛṣṇa ko sab kuch pata hai, unke purane karm aur un logon ke baare mein jo pehle Kṛṣṇa ki bhakti mein lage hue the. Isliye, unhone surya-dev ke karm ko recommend kiya, jo yeh kala Bhagwan se kuch millions saal pehle seekhi thi. Aise hi sab bhakt, jo Kṛṣṇa ke sath kaam karte hain, unhe yahan purane mukti prapt logon ke roop mein samjha gaya hai, jo Kṛṣṇa dwara diye gaye kartavya ko nibhate hain.
Chinmaya Commentary
परमात्मा में कर्तृत्व तथा फलासक्ति का अभाव है और उस आत्मस्वरूप का साक्षात् अनुभव कर लेने पर साधक में न इच्छा रहती है और न अहंकार जनित अन्य वृत्तियाँ। पूर्व अध्याय में वर्णित कर्मयोग का आचरण प्राचीन समय में अनेक बुद्धिमान मुमुक्ष पुरुषों ने किया था। अर्थ यह हुआ कि यह मार्ग कोई नवीन नहीं है।आपके उपदेशमात्र से मैं कर्मयोग का पालन करूँगा किन्तु इसमें पूर्व के मुमुक्षुओं का सन्दर्भ देने की क्या आवश्यकता है इसके उत्तर में भगवान् कहते हैं क्योंकि कर्म क्या है इस विषय को समझने में कठिनाई है कैसे कहते हैं