CHAPTER - 2, SANKHYA YOGA, VERSE : 2.41 - 2.53 ??

Verse 2.41

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana

bahu-?hākhā hyanantā?h cha buddhayo ’vyavasāyinām

English Translation ??

Hey Arjuna, the minds of those who follow this path are strong and focused on one goal. But the minds of those who are unsure are distracted and unclear.

Lesson to learn

Attachment starts in the mind, shown when our thoughts keep returning to certain people, things, or situations. Shree Krishna teaches that wisdom can help us overcome this attachment. Inside us, there’s the mind, wisdom, and ego.

Wisdom acts as the decision-maker and shapes what the mind desires. For example, if wisdom values money, the mind will crave wealth. This means the mind’s desires depend on what wisdom sees as important.

Throughout the day, our wisdom helps control the mind. At home, we might sit casually, but at work, we behave formally because wisdom understands what’s required in each setting. Even if the mind would prefer relaxing, wisdom pushes us to work for a living.

These examples show that our wisdom can control our mind. To manage attachment, we need to develop our wisdom through good knowledge and focus on a higher purpose.

Buddhi Yog is the practice of training wisdom to guide the mind, helping it detach from outcomes. Strong wisdom stays focused, even through challenges, while weaker wisdom leads the mind to get easily distracted from the path.

Verse 2.42 - 2.43

yāmimā? pu?hpitā? vācha? pravadanty-avipa?hchita?

veda-vāda-ratā? pārtha nānyad astīti vādina?

kāmātmāna? swarga-parā janma-karma-phala-pradām

kriyā-vi?he?ha-bahulā? bhogai?hwarya-gati? prati

English Translation ??

People who don’t understand much are attracted to the fancy words in the Vedas, which talk about big rituals to go to heaven. They think that’s all the Vedas are about. They like the parts that make them feel good and do big ceremonies to get wealth, pleasure, high status, and a place in heaven.

Lesson to learn

The Vedas are important ancient texts that have three main parts:

Karm-kā?? (rituals) - This part explains how to perform rituals to get rewards, like wealth, health, or a good life. Many people who want to enjoy things in life focus on this part because it promises benefits and the chance to go to heaven, where life is better and more luxurious.

J?āna-kā??a (knowledge) - This section is all about understanding the truth and gaining knowledge about life, the universe, and God. It teaches people to think deeply and learn about the deeper meanings of existence.

Upāsanā-kā?? (devotion) - This part focuses on loving and worshiping God. It encourages people to connect with God through prayer and devotion rather than just seeking material things.

Heaven is a place with many comforts and pleasures, and people often think that getting there is a great achievement. However, just reaching heaven doesn’t mean someone is becoming more spiritually advanced. Heaven is still part of the physical world, and once a person runs out of good deeds that brought them there, they have to come back to Earth and continue the cycle of life.

Many people believe that the main goal of the Vedas is to get to heaven. Because of this, they go through life and death without trying to truly connect with God and often overlook the bigger picture.

Wise people know that heaven is not the main goal. They want a deeper relationship with God and focus on growing spiritually. The Mu??akopani?had says:

“People who do fancy rituals to enjoy heavenly pleasures think they are smart, but they are really foolish. They are like blind people leading other blind people.”

This means that if we only focus on rituals and rewards, we can miss true wisdom and understanding. Instead of just seeking enjoyment or aiming for heaven, we should look for a deeper understanding and connection with God.

Verse 2.44 - 2.45

bhogai?wvarya-prasaktānā? tayāpah?ita-chetasām

vyavasāyātmikā buddhi? samādhau na vidhīyate

trai-gu?ya-vi?hayā vedā nistrai-gu?yo bhavārjuna

nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-k?hema ātmavān

English Translation ??

With their minds deeply attached to worldly pleasures and their wisdom confused by such things, they are unable to have the strong determination for success on the path to God.

The Vedas talk about the three types of material nature, O Arjun. Go beyond these three types to reach a state of pure spiritual awareness. By freeing yourself from conflicts and being firmly rooted in Truth, without worrying about material gain and safety, stay connected to your true self.

Lesson to learn

People who focus on enjoying life are mainly interested in pleasure and luxury. They spend their time thinking about how to earn more money and acquire more things to enjoy. Because of this, they struggle to develop the strong determination needed to find a deeper connection with God. The material world ties our true spiritual selves to our physical existence through three main qualities: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Each person has a different mix of these qualities, shaped by their past experiences, which leads to different preferences and behaviors.

The Vedic scriptures recognize these differences and provide guidance for everyone. If they didn't include advice for those focused on material things, people would stray even further from the right path. The Vedas offer rewards for following certain rituals, helping people move from ignorance to passion and then to goodness. So, the Vedas have two types of knowledge: rituals for those attached to material life and spiritual wisdom for those seeking a deeper understanding. When Shree Krishna tells Arjun to ignore the Vedas, he means that Arjun should not be drawn to the parts of the Vedas that focus on rules and rewards for material gain. Instead, he should use the spiritual teachings of the Vedas to elevate himself to a higher truth.

Verse 2.46 - 2.48

yāvān artha udapāne sarvata? samplutodake

tāvānsarve?hu vede?hu brāhma?asya vijānata?

karma?y-evādhikāras te mā phale?hu kadāchana

mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te sa?go ’stvakarma?i

yoga-stha? kuru karmā?i sa?ga? tyaktvā dhana?jaya

siddhy-asiddhyo? samo bhūtvā samatva? yoga uchyate

English Translation ??

A small well of water serves its purpose, just like a big lake does. In the same way, a person who understands the Absolute Truth also achieves everything that the Vedas aim to teach.

You have the right to do your job, but you can't expect to benefit from what you do. Don't think of yourself as the reason for the results of your actions, and don’t get attached to not doing anything.

Stay committed to your duties, Arjun, without being attached to winning or losing. This balance is what we call Yoga.

Lesson to learn

The Vedas contain 1, 00,000 verses that explain various rituals, prayers, and important knowledge, all aimed at helping the soul connect with God. They also attract those focused on material benefits, but the true goal is to help the soul detach from the material world and grow closer to God. By focusing the mind on God, a person fulfills the purpose of the Vedic teachings.

Krishna teaches that while the Vedas describe many duties and rituals, the best devotees understand their true purpose and serve God wholeheartedly. One well-known verse from the Bhagavad Gita gives four key lessons about work - 1) Do your duty without worrying about the results, 2) The results aren’t just for your enjoyment, 3) Don’t take pride in being the doer of your actions, and 4) Don’t avoid work.

Worrying about results can lead to anxiety since many factors influence outcomes. Instead, Krishna encourages focusing on doing a good job. A funny way to remember this is NATO: Not Attached to Outcome. For example, in golf, focusing too much on scores can add pressure, while focusing on technique makes the game more enjoyable.

Krishna reminds us that the results of our actions are meant for God, not for personal enjoyment. We have various responsibilities based on our roles in life, but we are to serve God through our actions.

When we work, we should let go of the pride of being the doer and recognize that God gives us the ability to act. This idea is captured in a popular verse that says God is the true doer and the one who enjoys the results. In life, we will face challenges, just like waves in the ocean. Accepting what comes while still doing our best aligns us with God’s will, which is the essence of true Yoga.

Verse 2.49 - 2.51

dūre?a hy-avara? karma buddhi-yogād dhana?jaya

buddhau ?hara?am anvichchha k?ipa?ā? phala-hetava?

buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe suk?ita-du?hk?ite

tasmād yogāya yujyasva yoga? karmasu kau?halam

karma-ja? buddhi-yuktā hi phala? tyaktvā manī?hi?a?

janma-bandha-vinirmuktā? pada? gachchhanty-anāmayam

English Translation ??

Find safety in true understanding and wisdom, Arjun. Let go of actions that only aim for rewards, as they are less valuable than actions done with a clear mind based on true knowledge. Those who only want to enjoy the results of their work are greedy.

Someone who wisely does their work without getting attached to the results can free themselves from both good and bad outcomes in this life. So, aim for yoga, which is the skill of working with the right mindset.

Wise people who remain calm and balanced in their minds let go of their attachment to the results of their actions. This attachment keeps them stuck in the cycle of life and death. By working with this understanding, they reach a state free from all suffering.

Lesson to learn

The story talks about two important parts of work: what we do and how we feel about it. For example, some people building a temple in a place called Vrindavan care mostly about how much money they make. They might leave their job if someone else offers them more money. In contrast, a volunteer at the temple helps out because they want to do something good for God. Both are doing the same work, but their reasons for doing it are very different. Lord Krishna teaches Arjun that it’s better to work for a higher purpose instead of just for personal gain.

He says that people who only think about themselves are being selfish. Those who do their work without worrying about what they will get in return and focus on helping others are much better. Krishna explains that when we let go of wanting rewards, we can actually do our work better. For instance, a surgeon (a doctor who operates on people) can focus better when they are doing their job well instead of stressing about the results.

Similarly, when Arjun learns to fight for God instead of for his own glory, he feels more inspired and does a great job. The main idea is that true happiness doesn’t come from chasing after things like money or success. Instead, we find joy when we help others and serve God. By working selflessly and not being attached to what we get in return, we can feel more fulfilled and happy in our lives.

Verse 2.52 - 2.53

yadā te moha-kalila? buddhir vyatitari?hyati

tadā gantāsi nirveda? ?hrotavyasya ?hrutasya cha

?hruti-vipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati ni?hchalā

samādhāv-achalā buddhis tadā yogam avāpsyasi

English Translation ??

When your wisdom goes beyond confusion, you will become indifferent to what you have heard and what you will hear (about joys in this life and the next).

When your mind stops being attracted to the rewards mentioned in the Vedas and stays focused on spiritual awareness, you will reach a state of perfect yoga.

Lesson to learn

Shree Krishna teaches that people who love enjoying things in life often get attracted to the nice words of the Vedas. The Vedas talk about special rituals that can help people become wealthy or go to heaven. However, people who understand spiritual knowledge realize that these pleasures do not last and can actually bring sadness. Because of this, they stop caring about those rituals.

As people grow spiritually and become closer to God, they start to find these rituals boring and too time-consuming. They begin to wonder if they still need to do these rituals while also trying to be devoted to God. Shree Krishna tells them that it is okay to focus more on their spiritual practice instead of doing rituals. This is not a bad thing; in fact, it means they are reaching a higher level of spirituality.

Madhavendra Puri, a wise man from the 14th century, shared this same idea. He used to do many rituals as a Vedic Brahmin, but later, he decided to give up everything and fully devote himself to Shree Krishna. In his later years, he wrote that he didn’t have time for rituals anymore. He said that he wanted to apologize to the rituals because now, wherever he sat, he just thought about Shree Krishna, and that was enough to free him from being tied to the material world.

Shree Krishna also uses the term "samādhāv-achalā," which means being steady in the awareness of God. This idea of "Samādhi" means having a calm and balanced mind. When someone is focused on higher spiritual thoughts and is not tempted by worldly things, they can reach this state of Samādhi, which is a perfect form of yoga.