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He who delights in his own Self is above all needs and cravings. He has nothing to gain by doing or not doing anything. He equally has no dependence of any kind on anything or anyone on any account whatever. Such a fulfilled person the Knower becomes.

Dear and blessed souls:

Harih Om Tat Sat.

Human life led bereft of Yajña – gravely sinful

Krishna just now declared that Yajña is the means to attain the Supreme. Having made this revolutionary statement, he does not stop, but hurriedly adds (3.16) that whoever is not adhering to this Yajña-cycle, thereby making his contribution to its benign prevalence and benevolence, lives a sinful life. His life will be totally in vain. Is this not sufficient warning for everyone to be conscious of what makes one’s life noble, rewarding and benevolent?

Do not be selfish at all any time. Know well that you are a cog in the wheel of creation, which is ceaselessly revolving. Nothing is still, inactive or idle. Like the earth, all beings thriving on it are supposed to be conscientious and vibrantly active to ensure the welfare of the world, wherein the human has a singular and creative role to ensure cohesion, happiness and harmony.

Coming back to our point of Yajña and its rewarding role in the world, especially for mankind, Krishna emphasizes the need to adhere to the great benevolent cycle of Nature. He also stresses how sinful it will be not to heed it. For, that will make human life a sheer waste. The two pronouncements together are sufficient to persuade the intelligent human to follow the rhythm of Nature everywhere every time in life.

The war-field dialogue was thus not alone for Arjuna in the battlefield. The discussion, due to Arjuna’s curiosity as well as legitimate enquiries, gets extended to cover the entire range of human rational thinking on life, the world around and what all these imply when properly explored.

Physical laws govern body, spiritual laws govern inner mind

Our body is what we readily see. It is a biological aggregate, which doctors deal with as a full subject for their research, experiment and treatment. But the greater part of human personality is hidden within the body, above the range of matter and energy. There none of the physical, chemical and allied laws work. The inner domain is completely covered by supra-material laws and processes, a point we have stressed earlier.

Spirituality deals with this inner domain. Seekers assiduously delve within and strive to uncover inner treasures as well as the means to access and harness them. In fact, ascetic life is meant only for this inner exploration and harnessing. Krishna is very particular about this greater inner, spiritual pursuit and all the austerities seekers undergo in this regard. Every one of these inner, austere efforts, when rightly evaluated, has its supreme place, importance and utility. The spiritual seeker, thus, loses nothing of the world, instead, gains greatly more!

Seekers and Knowers an exception to the rule

A question arises about adherence to the Cosmic Yajña-cycle. What about those given to inner spiritual pursuit, leaving all else? Do they also come under what Krishna has said about the need for adhering to the world-wheel and becoming sinful by disregarding it? Krishna hurries to make his standpoint clear not only for Arjuna but for all seekers every time.

Thus, in verse 3.17 he extols the spiritual seeker, given totally to inner pursuit, by which he rejoices in his own Self, remains contented, experiences overflowing joy in himself. For such a one, says Krishna, there is no duty of any kind at all, from any point of view. The sense of duty becomes relevant only as long as one has something to expect or gain from the world. Because his contentment and fullness emerge from his own within, where nothing or no one outside has any place or access, he is not bound by the revolving kārmic wheel Krishna described vividly.

See the transcendental life, reward and fulfilment the spiritual seeker gains, achieves. Nothing can be higher than spiritual life and the fulfilment it bestows.

Self-knower rises above rules and dicta

Krishna further clarifies (3.18) that he who delights in his own Self is above all needs and cravings. He has nothing to gain by doing or not doing anything. He equally has no dependence of any kind on anything or anyone on any account whatever. Such a fulfilled person the Knower becomes. Who can ascribe any duty to such a Knower, who exults in himself, to the exclusion of all other things? What or who can subject him to any kind of duty or obligation? Self-realization and the resulting inner abundance and fulfilment are such that they give no scope for anything or anyone to constrict the Knower or his inner fullness and fulfilment!

Have no delusional clinging (saṅga)

Krishna resumes his discussion on activity, the need for an active life, bereft of any idleness or indifference. Like the heart beating ceaselessly, lungs bellowing without stop and the other organs also doing their functions without any lack or deficiency, human life is meant to be vibrantly beneficial, says Krishna (3.19). But in doing so, the seeker must have no sense of delusional clinging (saṅga) about anything at all.

Make life a free flow, like a river

His life and movements must be a free flow like a river flowing or wind blowing. He can and will do any and all activities, which come to be done from time to time. These may bear upon him personally, his family or even the society around him. There may also be some acts traditional or otherwise by nature.

With due regard to each and all, let him act with full heart, but ensuring he has no delusional clinging to whatever he does or to the outcome it brings. Like rains falling and the earth becoming lush green thereafter, let his activities flourish with whatever outcomes they fetch. Imagine the kind and level of freedom and harmony the enlightened derives from his inner fullness and poise!

For such a one, there is no question of performing any religious or secular duties at all. All become irrelevant, as he is full inwardly and not dependent on anything for any gain or loss. Such a delusion-free life, pursuit, irresistibly brings about the Supreme goal of human life. See, the gain is full, comprehensive in its bounties. But the means leading to it is very individualistic. It is like a centre expanding to be an infinite circle!

However colossal the act, asaṅga dissolves all its effects

Note that Krishna does not forget the relevance to the battle-field. Arjuna’s doubt and question were about the need to take up the fierce task of fighting such a huge war, which involves slaying nearly 4.5 million warriors in the succeeding 18 days. What a gruesome or awesome undertaking! Krishna was resolving such a colossal crisis in Arjuna’s mind.

The size and nature of the activity one takes up do not matter at all. For, what we are concerned with is the effect these bring about in the mind, within the gross, physical body. In the inner, mento-intelligential domain, none of the external gross, physical laws can prevail. Inner laws are spiritual. Spiritual analysis and assessment will alone work there. And non-delusional activity has immense potential in this regard.

King Janaka, the model karma-yogi

So, Krishna cites (3.20) Janaka, the king of Mithila, the famous Rajarshi, royal Knower, whom all the enlightened ascetics and sages of the time adored heartily. Janaka’s spiritual assemblies were illustrious for the attendance they used to muster and the kind and quality of spiritual discussions they hosted. That Janaka, says Krishna, was sitting on his throne, ruling his subjects. The task involves taking various administrative measures, some of which are bound to be extremely painful.

Kings, assailed by the severity of punishments they inflicted on the criminals, used to abandon the throne and seek the woods to plunge in ascetic austerity, with a view to absolve themselves from the possible adverse outcomes their actions brought. Imagine how exacting the life of a king was! But Janaka was an exception. With his supreme royal spiritual-knowledge, he conducted all his activities without the least delusional clinging to what he did and the outcomes it fetched, ever abiding in his inner balance, harmony and delight!

Citing the great King, Krishna exhorts Arjuna, of the same ruling class, to perform his royal task of slaying the wicked and making earth peaceful and safe to live.

Krishna reminds Arjuna that others wish to emulate him

In the next verse (3.21) Krishna brings a new point emphasizing a socio-ethical value governing human conduct. “Arjuna”, says Krishna, “you are not just a fighter, like so many other common soldiers assembled here. You are an illustrious warrior, who carries a great deal of esteem from peers and others. Many fighters look up to you with lofty regard, and they will, if at all, want to follow your thoughts and ways. You are a śreṣṭha, an elevated person.

“Whatever such a person does, others try to emulate. Majority of the human society wishes to follow and copy others. They may not have their own will or wish. So, the illustrious have the duty of setting standards for the society at large. Being so, one like you cannot be indecisive in any matter. Others’ ways depend upon what you demonstrate. Hence, thinking of the society’s welfare and setting the right example for others to follow, you have to be vibrantly active and effective.