Sunday, Dec 15, 2013. Srimad Bhagavadgeeta : Chapter-4. ( Jnana-karma-sanyasa-yogam) Slokam-37.

Sunday, Dec 15, 2013.


Srimad Bhagavadgeeta :



Chapter-4. ( Jnana-karma-sanyasa-yogam)


Slokam-37.



Yathaidhaamsi     samiddhognih    basmasat    kuruterjjuna,


Jnanagnih   sarvvakarmaanni    bhasmasat    kurute   tatha.




Samiddhah   agnih    =    Blazing fire,  a well lighted fire;

Edhamsi      =       Pieces of wood,

Yatha    bhasmasat   =    ( How  make the fire wood ) to  ashes,

Tatha     jnanagnih   =    Similarly, the fire of Knowledge- ( Knowledge itself being the fire ); 

sarva-karmani        =      all actions, 

bhasmasat  kurute    =   reduces,  to ashes; 




i.e. it renders them ineffective, for the fire of Knowledge itself cannot directly [Knowledge destroys ignorance, and thereby the idea of agent-ship is eradicated. This in turn makes actions impossible.] burn actions to ashes, like pieces of wood. So, the idea implied is that full enlightenment is the cause of making all actions impotent.  




"Destruction of papam is done by Jnanam : one example is given in this slokam"  (How Knowledge destroys sin is being told with the help of an illustration:)
----------------------------------------------------------------



O Arjuna, as a blazing fire reduces pieces of wood to ashes, similarly the fire of Knowledge reduces all actions to ashes.
 Just as fire reduces sticks of wood to ashes the fire of Self knowledge reduces the results of your actions to ashes.
As the blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities.
Perfect knowledge of self and Super-self and of their relationship is compared herein to fire. This fire not only burns up all reactions to impious activities, but also all reactions to pious activities, turning them to ashes. There are many stages of reaction: reaction in the making, reaction fructifying, reaction already achieved, and reaction a priory. But knowledge of the constitutional position of the living entity burns everything to ashes. 



From the force the context [If the body were to die just with the dawn of Knowledge, imparting of Knowledge by enlightened persons would be impossible, and thus there would be no teacher to transmit Knowledge!] it follows that, since the result of actions owing to which the present body has been born has already become effective, therefore it gets exshausted only through experiencing it. Hence, Knowledge reduces to ashes only all those actions that were done (in this life) prior to the rise of Knowledge and that have not become effective, as also those performed along with (i.e. after the dawn of) Knowledge, and those that were done in the many past lives.



Whatever be the quality, quantity, colour, type, of wood,  once burned in fire the result is just a heap of ash only.  You cannot recognise the previous state of fire-wood from the ashes.  Likewise  all actions good or bad or a combination of both, once burn in Jnanagni and turn into ashes, soon,  their ( fire-wood )  cause and effect of previous state  is left and turn into some-thing else ( ashes ).


For all actions reward /result/ fruit is there. These things (reward /result/ fruit) will be according to the type  and  intensity of action, manifest at different times.  We have to experience the vasanas ( accumulated and deposited ) of many births.


Actions are classified into three parts : 1. Sangitam :- ( Past-accumulated deposits in the form of vasanas ), 2. Prarabdham :- ( experiences of this birth ), 3. Aagami :- ( Future- deposits of vasanas ). All actions becomes ashes here indicates the Sangitam and  Aagami actions only and not Prarabdham ( actions).