Persons engaged in day-to-day actions, self-ordained or ordained by divine intuition, is better than an ordinary person who works for his livelihood. Such of those who offer all their actions, karma, to Lord is free from the bindings (karmaphala) and will not be reborn (karma mukta)! But, better is the person who adopts the path of devotion (Bhakti yoga), or path of divine knowledge / Wisdom (Jnayna yoga); much better is the ascetic, a sanyasi who has surrendered everything to Lord and waits for redemption (mukti). But, the highest one is the yogin who has attained the "knowledge of the Self " (Atma-jnyan). Therefore, be thy a yogi. tasmaadyogirbhavaarjunaa|| (VI. 46)
Why should Bhagavan Shree Krishna talk of yoga in the Battlefield of Kurukshetra?
Already Arjuna has put down his Bow and arrows and said, "I shall not fight". Shree Krishna should have asked him to leave the battlefield and go to forests for penance as a renunciate. Instead, He, the Lord, us instructing him, as yogacharya, the elementary principles of yoga.Moreover, it has been clearly stated at the end of each and every chapter that the "Discourse of Krishna-Arjuna is the yogopanishad and brahma jnyana." The Sixth Chapter is specially concerned with different aspects of yoga- karma-yoga, sankhya-yoga, bhakti-yoga, jnyana-yoga, dhyana-yoga, mukti-yoga, etc. Arjuna depicted here as the confused mind is given instructions in yoga by Yogacharya Shree Krishna (pure consciousness). In fact, Arjuna, the mantrasya putra, the blessed son, granted boon by Lord Indra who is Vishnu svaroopi needs no guidance as such. However, the situation is such that he has forgotten his true nature in the grip of maya, moha, Bhagavan is reminding him of the true nature of the soul, Atman and teaching him the means of knowing it. this comes handy to all of us to understand the true nature of the jiva.
The lord is hereby advocating, Raja yoga as the ideal path to spiritual development and ultimate attainment of Atmasakshatkara. A number of spiritual teachers have deviated from the main path advocated by Sages Shandilya and Patanjali (ashtanga yoga sutra) and devised their own methods such as Kriya yoga, Vipassana, sahaja siddhi yoga, sudarshana kriya, hatha yoga, etc. There is not much difference in all these! 'Hiding the source is originality', they say. Asana, mudra, Pranayama are the essential ingredients of Yoga sutras here. However, these do not yield any result if the aspirant is not keen on emancipation of the embodied soul (mukti). Moreover, none of the teachers of yoga insist on their pupils perfecting the yama, niyama, pratyahara and Ishvarapranidana before coming to asana and pranayama. In fact, there is no need for yoga at all if the seeker has successfully passed the test of yama and niyama and, 'Ishvara pranidana' will redeem once for all the jiva from embodiment in future. Even to pass the test of 'yama' and 'niyama' sutras is very very difficult for ordinary mortals who have to survive eking out a living, meeting the basic requirements of life, overcoming hunger and thirst. It is a tall order to advise them to seek redemption (for such ignorant people) to take to yoga; but, it is for such people only that the path of yoga is advised so that they may live successfully, happily, peacefully, and joyfully!
(to be continued...)
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