Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Professor B Mahadevan
January 17, 2011
Relevance of Gita
Subtler 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
gives us broader ideas about Yajna
B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore
gives us broader ideas about Yajna
There are multiple ways we need to practice
Yajna in our life
It is a way of life that prepares an individual to
higher planes of existence
Sacrifice as a ritual
Significance
Yajna
Medium (H|P H|P H|P H|P) Doer (T6l T6l T6l T6l)
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Offering (4F6 4F6 4F6 4F6) Receiver ((46l (46l (46l (46l)
Effect
FP- (total annihilation), melting away
Giving away, parting off (+ PP )
Developing a sense of detachment over time
Relevance of Gita
Action leads to Knowledge
Performing everything with 4 l4-
completely liberates us from (absolves us of)
all sins
Everything in the world of action eventually
B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore
Everything in the world of action eventually
leads to knowledge
Making special efforts to acquire knowledge is
a worthwhile exercise
6l5\4l4- 6l5\4l4- 6l5\4l4- 6l5\4l4-
l+ l+ l+ l+-TP TP TP TP-B-4lB 4l- B-4lB 4l- B-4lB 4l- B-4lB 4l-
Slokas 29 - 30
Different types of Yajna
H9l+ =|6 9lT 9lT59l+ 6l59
9lTl9l+6l 6&4l 9lTl4lP9l4Tl-+4.29.
Some offer outgoing breath as sacrifice to incoming
breath and vice versa; Stopping the breath in
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breath and vice versa; Stopping the breath in
between they practice pranayama
H9 |+46l(ll- 9lTl-9lT9 =|6
B45-46 4|4(- 4|96T-P9l-+ 4.30.
With proper food habits sacrifice pranas into
pranas. By knowledge of Yajna they obliterate their
sins through Yajna
H O|6 -4=l+l6
Hl&4 G|-4Pl|+ 6l|+
=l4-6 H+ =l6l|+
=l4|-6
4|96T-P9l-
Why does it happen?
Everything is Brahman, including offering, process
etc. (4.24)
Senses, sense organs, sense objects are all offered in
Yajna (4.26)
Actions of sense organs, pranas offered in the Yajna
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Actions of sense organs, pranas offered in the Yajna
kindled 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 spirit
of 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!
Slokas 31 32
Practising Yajna thro work leads to immortality
4|H7lP6=- 4l|-6 O B+l6+P
+l4 lTl5Ft44F4 T6l5-4- T6BP+ 4.31.
What remains after Yajna is Immortality; they reach
Brahman; Even this world is not for those who dont
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Brahman; Even this world is not for those who dont
perform Yajana, where is the other world?
94 4|4l 4l- |466l OTl PG
TP=l|-4|& 6l-B4l+ 94 lt4l |4Pl4B+ 4.32.
All these types of Yajnas are from the Vedas; Know
them to be born out of work, knowing which one
can be liberated
Emphasis is in
practising thro actions
Slokas 33 - 34
Knowledge Yajna is superior
~4l--4P4lHl6 l+4- 969
B4 TPl|G 9l l+ 9|BP-46+4.33.
Knowledge Yajna is superior to Material Yajna for all
actions (end in) lead to realization of knowledge
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actions (end in) lead to realization of knowledge
6||& 9|T9l6+ 9|9++ B44l
79(4|-6 6 l+ l|++F6x4(|H+-+4.34.
Acquire this knowledge by prostrating, repeated
questioning (spirit of enquiry) and service. The
realized souls will (then) impart this to you.
Vivekachoodamani 34
42 deals with this in detail
Why l|++F6x4(|H+- ?
Vivekachoodamani
H6l |4l- T6-4- |=lBlltP4F6+-
BPlBlH (4l|B- O|4(t6PP+ (15)
66 |4l+l B P4l|76 B|P69l|T- ~l|4
O|+7lP (Katha Upanishad)
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O|+7lP (Katha Upanishad)
Katha Upanishad (1.2.8)
+ +Tl4T 9l 99 B|44l 4(l |-t4Pl+-
H+-49l |6 +l|F6 HTl4l+ G614PT9PlTl6+
Paninis Sutras - Guru annuls concealment of truth
Gu means concealment; Ru means annulment
H-(F6 H-TlF4l6 H-(F6|-+l(T-
H-Tl|+l|(t4l6 |t4|(l46+
Slokas 35 - 36
Knowledge is inevitable in attaining liberation
47lt4l + 9+Pl( 94 4lF4|B 9l'74
4+ 6l-4H9T 4F4ltP-4l P|4+4.35.
Knowledge ensures that you are not deluded again.
You will be able to see the creation in you and me.
Knowledge takes you
to oneness
9T B6 |49l -4(l 4(|-6+
B Mahadevan, IIM Bangalore
You will be able to see the creation in you and me.
H|9 (|B 9l9-4- B4-4- 9l9TP-
B4 l+-4+4 4|=+ B6|!4|B+ 4.36.
Even the most sinful among the sinners need the
raft of knowledge to cross the (ocean) of sin
Everything ultimately leads to
Knowledge
Vivekachoodamani on Knowledge Karma merely
purifies your mind
|t6F4 H&4 TP + 6 4F69-4
4F6|B|&|4lT + |T|6 TPTl||-+ (11)
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4F6|B|&|4lT + |T|6 TPTl||-+
Katha Upanishad As long as you see the world of
separatedness, you go into cycles of birth - death
P+B4( Hl-6-4 +( +l+l|F6 |T+
Pt4l- B Pt4 7|6 4 ( +l+4 974|6+