Chapter 2: Yoga of Knowledge - Verse 40, 41, 42 & 43

Karma yoga leads to the path of salvation. Only fools are attracted to the eloborate ceremonies mentioned in the Vedas for attainment of material benefits.

Verse 40:

"nehabhikrama-naso 'sti pratyavayo na vidyate svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat "

(40) Here there is no loss of effort, nor any accrual of evil. Even a little of Karma Yoga protects man from great fear.
Explanation: In Karma Yoga there is no loss of effort being put in.
A little of this Dharma known as Karma yoga or Niskama Karma(unselfish action without desire for reward) gives protection from fear.

Verse 41:

"vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana bahu-sakha hy anantas ca buddhayo 'vyavasayinam "

(41) In Karma yoga, O Arjuna, the resolute mind is one pointed; the minds of the irresolute are many branched and endless.
Explanation: In performing obligatory and occasional rituals, all fruits, primary and secondary, promised in the scriptures, should be abandoned, bearing in mind that liberation or salvation is the only purpose of all scripture ordained rituals. The rituals should be performed without any thought of selfish gains.
Acts motivated by desires also should be performed accoring to one's own capacity, after abandoning all desires for fruits and with the conviction that they also, when performed in that way, form the means of liberation.

Verse 42-43:

"yam imam puspitam vacam pravadanty avipascitah veda-vada-ratah partha nanyad astiti vadinah
kamatmanah svarga-para janma-karma-phala-pradam kriya-visesa-bahulam bhogaisvarya-gatim prati

"

(42-43)Men of small knowledge are very much attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, which recommend various fruitive activities for elevation to heavenly planets, resultant good birth, power, and so forth. Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say that there is nothing more than this.
Explanation: Due to their ignorance some people are most attached to the fruitive activities recommended in the karma-kanda portions of the Vedas. They do not want anything more than sense gratificatory proposals for enjoying life in heaven. In the Vedas many sacrifices are recommended for elevation to the heavenly planets, especially the jyotistoma sacrifices. In fact, it is stated that anyone desiring elevation to heavenly planets must perform these sacrifices, and men with a poor fund of knowledge think that this is the whole purpose of Vedic wisdom.

Such persons have no faith in liberation from material bondage, and they are very much attached to the pompous ceremonies of Vedic sacrifices.

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