Bhagavad Gita: Understanding One Shloka at a time. (Chp. 4, Verse 15) — HBR Patel
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभि: |
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वै: पूर्वतरं कृतम् || 15 ||
All the liberated souls in ancient times, knowing this truth(the truth of karmayoga), performed actions. Therefore, following in their footsteps, you should also perform your duty.
Arjuna wants to retire from the action and his mind comes up with all emotions and reasons to further its cause.
Sometimes, he becomes delusional, occasionally his hands are shaking or he loses the grip of his bow.
Now and then, he presents a reason to bow out from the battle due to his attachment towards his relatives.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna clears all his doubts and in this Shloka, he explains to him that even the ancient sages/liberated souls performed the action as the eternal truth enlightened them.
They followed the path of Karma Yoga.
They performed action free from egoism or the ‘doership’ and without the desire for the results.
They performed duty only for the pleasure of the Bhagwan.
They know that doing nothing while following the path of liberation is less important than engaging in activities just for the sake of Bhagwan.
His ‘Rajipo’ (Pleasing God), should be the goal for all of our spiritual endeavours.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna highlights the fact that engaging in activities does not derail one from the path of liberation if the actions are free from doership and desires & focused on the ‘Rajipo’ of Bhagwan.
Thus, Arjuna should follow the path of the ancients and perform the assigned action without worrying about his liberation.
