Bhagavad Gita: Understanding One Shloka at a Time. (Chp. 4, Verse 22) — HBR Patel
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सर: |
सम: सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते || 22||
Satisfied with whatever gain comes by its own accord, tolerant of dualities, free from envy and while performing actions, equipoised in success or failure is never bound by the actions.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna continues to explain to Arjuna about the concept of karma. While looking from a worldly viewpoint, one might easily conclude that if anyone performs any action, naturally that person will be entangled in that action. The performer will be bounded to the performed action.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna explains that enlightened souls are free from the bondage of their actions as their every action is dedicated to pleasing the Bhagwan. They are satisfied with their action and also the results that originate from that action.
If we look closely at the world, especially the suffering souls devoid of any enlightenment, we can see that the suffering is somewhat directly related to the inability of those individuals to overcome their emotional reactions in response to the duality faced by them due to their actions.
A promotion can evoke joy and if the rival is also promoted, the joy turns to envy and ultimately anger and frustration.
I know how the duality of life can ignite suffering or spark joy in life. The enlightened soul remains steadfast in the face of life’s dualities, embracing success and failure, happiness and disappointment with equanimity. Unfettered by elation or depression, untouched by jealousy or envy, they are said to have Samatva Buddhi (equipoised) in all situations.
Such souls are never bound by their actions. Their every act puts them a step ahead in the journey to attain liberation from the chain of countless birth and death. Such souls transcend from the pull of material bondage to attain the infinite bliss of Bhagwan.
