Lord Krishna orders or rather invites Arjun in Geeta, to abandon all duties i.e. Dharma. “Abandoning dependence on all duties that is Dharma take refuge in me alone. I shall liberate you from your sins; therefore grieve not.” ----- Geeta, chapter 18 vs.66. Does it mean giving up all duties? When we go into interpretation of any matter we take recourse to the ordinary meaning, the reference in which the words have been spoken, the logical purport, the implicit meaning, the real spirit behind the matter and finally how the same person has explained such a proposition before or after somewhere else. Various Geeta pandits have given their varied views. The three most popular ones are:- first, that abandonment of duties is not envisaged but dependence on Dharma that is, duties is to be given up; second, the fruits of duties are to be given up and not duties themselves; third, all duties have to be left and refuge to be taken in the Lord.
The votaries of the first view that is “dependence on duties is to be left but not duty itself ” cite Krishn: ‘Action of sacrifice yag, charity, dan and penance tap are not to be given up but should be performed for these are the purifier of the wise; even these actions as also other duties should be performed, giving up attachment and desire for fruits. O Parth ! ( another name of Arjun) this is my decisive and firm belief.--18.6. He also opines that without action ‘Karma’ a person cannot even live his life for nature (प्रकृति) compels action. Even for a moment a person cannot exist without doing some action---- Gita[गीता chapter 3 verses 4, 5 and 8 .
The upholders of the second view state that the keyword is ‘relinquishment’ (tyag, त्याग). And the fruit of duties is to be abandoned, not duties.These put reliance on chapter 18 vs 2. “The learned declare abandonment of the fruit of all actions as relinquishment Tyag’’. For them ‘Dharam’ has different connotations at different places in Geeta. In Chapter 2 vs 40 ‘Dharam’ is used in the context of karmayog. “In the path of karmyog there is neither loss of effort nor any adverse result. Even a little practice of this dharma protects one from the great danger of birth- and- death cycle.” In chapter 9 verse 3 the reference is to gyan Yog (ज्ञान योग)”. “People devoid of faith in this dharma, knowledge (ज्ञान) fail to reach me…... and remain caught up in the recurring cycle of births and rebirths. “In chapter 14 verse 27, it is used in the sense of devotion bhakti. “I am the Abode of Brahm, the Immortal and the Imperishable, of Eternal Dharma and of Absolute Bliss”. Thus the word “Dharm” is interpreted by them in the contexts of action (Karmyog) knowledge (Dhyan Yog) and devotion ( Bhakti Yog).
The third school believes in the literal meaning, that is, “give up all duties and come to me’’.They maintain that Lord up till now has revealed many ways to attain Him. Now Lord shows ‘The Way’ Rajpath (राजपथ), that is, the easiest path. Something like what Jesus says after about 3000 years in John chapter 14 verse 6, “I am the way, the truth, the light” no one comes to the Father except through ME. Lord Krishna before revealing The Way confides in Arjun that the lord is now going to open a top secret. Up till now, right from the very start of Gita, Bhagwan Krishn, was imparting his knowledge. In chapter 2vs1, Bhagwan says HE is unfolding mysterious knowledge. Again in chapter 9 verse 34 uses words My devotee ( मनमना; मद भक्ता:) “Fix your mind on Me”. Further in chapter 14 verse 27, “I am the basis and foundation of eternal Dharam….’’. From chapter 18 verse 63 it appears that Bhagwan Krishn is near about breaking hidden knowledge which is more secret than all secrets. In verse 64 the words used are “’My supremely secret word’’, just before the explosion. Vs.65: “Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, prostrate before Me; so shall you come to Me alone; I promise you truly for you are dear to Me….’’. Now the final unveiling in vs.66 : “Resigning all your duties to Me, all-powerful and all supporting Lord, take refuge in Me alone, I shall absolve you of all sins, worry not.’’ The sanctity and importance of this topmost secret is augmented when in verse 67 Lord forbids Arjun - “this is never to be mentioned by you to anyone who performs no austerity or has no devotion or is unwilling to hear, or who finds fault with Me. “Moreover Lord asks Arjun whether Arjun has understood the top most secret. To which Arjun replies, “Achutya (अच्युत) my delusion is destroyed and memory is gained through Your grace I stand firm with my doubts dispelled and I shall act according to your word.’’ The phrase used is ‘vachanam tvam’ meaning thereby, according to your word’ as you say’. Arjun is not saying as You talk but as You say. Now it is self-evident that a person who has surrendered to God or Guru does whatever God or Guru commands him to do. On the other hand, a person who follows the path of righteousness does what the dharma dictates. If it was that Lord was asking what he taught before in vs. 65 and 66 of chapter 18, Arjun’s answer would have been ” as you taught’’ However by using words ” as you say ’’ Arjun implies he has surrendered to and is a disciple of Krishna and is in total obedience. This surrendering to Krishna is later proved when Arjun kills Karan who was not on his chariot and unarmed. An act strictly not in accordance with Dharma. That Bhagvan (God) had only given up all Dharma for those who take refuge in him [when he lifted the veil from the secret most knowledge in vs.65 and 66 of chapter 18] can be interpreted from what Krishna has said about Dharma elsewhere. For example, in Bhagwat the very same Krishn says, “That alone which engenders devotion (Bhakti) for me is dharma.”---11:19:27. Again from Bhagwat--- “Has evil ever befallen him anywhere [ in womb or birth] who adores the Lotus feet of Sri Hari, neglecting his duty (धर्म); even if he dies at the stage when he is still unripened in his devotion, or falls from sadhana (साधना)? On the other hand what purpose has been achieved by those who fail to worship God but are devoted to their duty.-----1.5.17. These are the words of Sage Narad [नारद], from Bhagvat, who is considered an avatar of the Supreme. Krishn extols the person who neglect his duties [knowing fully well that doing duties is a virtue and neglect is a sin] for the sake of His worship.-----11.11.32 Bhagvat. What the Lord taught Arjun in Chapter 18 vs 65 and 66 of Geeta, the very same wisdom He again taught Udhav in Bhagwat--- “Therefore turning your back upon all do's and don'ts and renouncing all activity and the cessation of all activity and rejecting that which has been learnt and that which has yet to be learnt, O Udhav ! seek as your refuse Me alone---- you will be rid of fear from all quarters-11.12. 14-15---. No doubt is left now. Just before he put an end to His Leela (लीला) pass times on earth, Krishna shows The Way, the same one which was shown to Arjun, to Udhav also. That is dependence on the Lord alone, and nothing else. Your dependence should be like a newborn’s on his mother, the child knows nothing except crying. All needs are taken care of by the mother. Be the cat’s kitten.The best Dharma is that which has devotion (bhakti) for Krishn, without any worldly desire, again Bhagwat--- 11.2.6. Once the goal, that is, attainment of Shri Krishn is reached, what use are the means. If a person has found an infinite ocean of water, will he beg for a glass of it, he who has attained Braham Gyan (ब्रहम ज्ञान), will he study the Vedas ?-- Geeta chapter 2 v's 46. In layman's language if I have been gifted a big palace with many rooms, kitchens, gardens, drawing rooms etc. and I am in possession of the whole palace, will it be prudent for me to again ask the donor to give me the drawing room, which is already a part of the palace. No.The same with God. Once we have attained God by taking refuge in him, what need have we of Dharma, and for that matter Gyan too. The end result is God, which we already have.
Learned persons, like Sh.Paraser Bhatter, also hold this view. “To attain Me [liberation], I am the only means, decide this; leave aside all [karma yog, gyan yog and bhakti yog] that I have taught you in Gita till now and take refuge in Me only. I shall free you of all sins; grieve not looking to the gravity of sins. He who surrenders to Me becomes dependent on Me and fearless forever.’’ The recourse to surrender i.e. prapati [प्राप्ति ] is available to all at all times at all places and in all situations.Such is it's all-encompassing reach.
What about those who are only strivers and have not completely surrendered to or have taken full refuse in the Lord, but to a certain degree have surrendered to the Lord. Such as these can also skip duties but to a limited extent. “He should perform those duties which make him an introvert. he can avoid those that make an extrovert. Rules of cleanliness and other karmakand (कर्मकांड ) are not mandatory---11.10. 4,5 Bhagwat. People like these should follow only those precepts, conducive to devotion, bhakti, and those that come in the way of devotion are to be given up, that is, need not be followed.
The first conclusion that dependence on “Dharma to be left but not Dharma” cannot be said to be fully correct. It is like saying use money and material wealth but you should not be dependent on them. This just cannot be possible. If I use money and the things it can fetch me I am dependent on money. If in a given situation I follow my duties I am very much dependent on duties that is Dharma. Scholars admit, about abandonment of duties: “Krishn means to say that all duties must be performed for Him alone; by doing so one will not depend on duties but will depend on God only. The Lord declares that those dependent on duties are subject to both birth and death-- chapter 9 vs 21 Geeta. But depending only on Him one need not decide what to do or what not to do in a given situation. As already discussed above in the case of Arjun killing Karan. Here Arjun followed Krishna’s instructions and not Dharam. Those who hold this view are in reality advocating dependence of God and not on dharma. In the above illustration when Arjun killed Karan, what did he do? Did he follow dharma? The answer is no. Then what did he follow? He followed the advice or rather the command of Krishn; had he followed Dharma he would not have slain an unarmed person. So when you have taken refuge in the lord the Lord is with you. No more dharma, yag, yog or dan for you. Now only He is your All-sufficiency in all things. “I am His and He is mine’ is your dominant thought. He'll take care of your every need as per his promise in chapter 9 verse 22 Gita.
The second inference ‘that dharma is not to be abandoned but the fruits of Dharma are to be given up ‘cannot be regarded as the intent of Krishn in Verse 66 in Chapter 18. He has right from the beginning, that is, the 2nd chapter of Gita directed forsaking of fruits. Why would he repeat Himself? When we study Gita carefully we find that Lord has not repeated Himself even once. Even vs 47 of Chapter 6 and vs 2 chapter 12; and then again vs 34 chapter 9 and vs 65 of chapter 18 are not exactly the same. WHY what has already been revealed, that is “ giving up the fruit of action’’, would be called by Lord as the most secret knowledge. “Giving up fruit’’ is already revealed wisdom, so it cannot be a secret anymore.
To understand abandonment of Dharma that is vs .66 of chapter 18 we have to meditate on the special privileges and concessions granted to devotees. Shri Krishna goes to the utmost extent of being liberal towards devotees. Many devotees who surrender to the Lord have desire for pleasures, knowing fully well that they bring sorrow. For such devotees, the Lord says in book 11 chapter 20 verses 27, 28, 29 of Bhagvat that they may enjoy these desires but should pray to Him with resolve to free them from wishes. God says that those who worship and remember Him make Him enter their hearts. His entry into their hearts destroys the devotees’ passions and desires. Extolling devotion that is taking refuse exclusively in the Lord, He goes on to say that even wisdom Gyan (ज्ञान ) which is devoid of devotion is not adorable---- book 12 chapter 12 vs. 52 of Bhagvat.
From what we have discussed so far it is clear that the third view, that is, taking refuge in the Lord only and giving up on duties, is what the lord meant in vs 66 of chapter 18.
Nobody should think that we can practically give up all activity for human beings are not made up that way. Nature compels action. To live and for our very existence, we have to do action. What all the three views, in essence, try to bring home is that we have to follow the Lord first and all else, that is Dharma, Yog, Dhyan, yagya, and gyan are secondary. It is akin to what Jesus asserted in the Bible. Seek first The Kingdom of Heaven [that is God] and all else shall be added, i.e. material wealth--Matthew 6.33.(compare with 9.22 Geeta)
Thus from deep analysis, the third view seems to be correct, especially because Krishn gives the same advice to Udhav later on in Bhagvat which He had given to Arjuna in Geeta.
MATERIAL relied:--Geeta ,Bhagvat, Bible
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