Chapter 5
Karma Yoga—Action in Krsna
Consciousness
• Bhakti is easier than sannyasa (renouncing all
work) 1-6
• The Performance of Nis-kama Karma ( 7-12)
• Knowledge: the three doers in perspective
(13-16)
• Liberation: Focusing on the Supersoul (17-26)
• Liberation: Astanga-yoga preview (27-28)
• Peace on the platform of liberation ( 29)
Arjuna asks the same question.
Which is better-- work with
devotion or renunciation of work?
Krsna seems to have said one thing in verse 41 and another in
Verse 42 chapter 4 so Arjuna is confused
How many ways can you ask the same question?
1. Which is better: intelligence or fruitive work?
2. If one is detached from the results why should one work?
3. If one has knowledge should one engage in prescribed
duties?
4. If knowledge is the goal of sacrifice then if one has
knowledge why should one continue to perform work as a
sacrifice?
Sri Krsna Responds
They are both good
But
Work with devotion is easier
and therefore better!
Arjuna’s confusion
You say: Work for sense activity must be given up.
Fighting for a kingdom, even with knowledge of the
soul, seems like activity of the senses to me.
Therefore it should be given up!
If one works with devotion then
how is work stopped?
You speak in riddles, action in
inaction, inaction in action.
I’m confused.
Where?
(4:16-23)
Verses 2-5 In many ways they are both the
same.
Neither hates nor
desires fruits
Free from dualities
Liberated
Comes to understand that
he is soul not this body
becomes detached from
matter
Neither hates nor desires
fruits
Free from dualities
Liberated
Comes to understand that
he is soul not this body
Becomes attached to
working for Krishna
But work for Krishna is easier, safer and
makes you happy faster
Merely renouncing all material activities will not make one
happy
By working in devotional service one can achieve the
Supreme without delay and be supremely happy.
At the same time the senses will be engaged without
attachment to the fruits.
When the senses are not engaged they may drag away
the mind of someone whose heart is not completely
free of lust.
By watering the root, serving Krsna, the devotee serves
everyone, and becomes dear to everyone.
And everyone is dear to him.
Can be practiced even when the heart is not pure by
following the instructions of the pure devotee. Verse
Purport 5:7
Materially work depends on 5 immediate
and remote causes:
fortune (the Lord)
the endeavor (Desire)
The Doer (the body)
The work (the action)
The situation (Nature)
And one becomes trapped in the 3
modes of nature
Although engaging all the working and knowledge acquiring
senses the self realized soul knows that the material senses
are engaged with their objects. He is aloof from them
One who performs duty without attachment, surrendering the
results to the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as
the lotus leaf is untouched by water. 5:10
What is the difference between a
person in Krishna Consciousness and a
person in bodily consciousness?
5:12
What causes anxiety over the
result of an activity?
Knowledge of the 3 doers Vs 13-16
Doer 1-- The self (Jiva)
Situated in the city of 9 gates
He’s not working or causing work
to be done
Does not create activities
Does not induce people to act
Doesn’t create the fruits of action
Since material happiness and
distress come from identifying
with the body when one is not
attached to the results he can
live happily.
Doer 2-- The modes of material nature.
They are doing everything, but they are under the direction of the
Lord.
Doer 3– Supersoul- is sanctioning but aloof.
The Lord, Paramatma, doesn’t take responsibility for
anyone’s pious or impious activities
Paramatma can detect the desire of the Jiva as one can smell
the fragrance of a flower without touching the flower with
ones nose!
What is it?
Understanding the 3 doers and how they work is
The soul desires- the Lord doesn’t interfere
The Lord sanctions these desires as the living
entity deserves
Then the modes carry things out.
This is knowledge in the mode of
Goodness and is called:
When, however, one is enlightened with the
knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then his
knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up
everything in the daytime. BG 5:16
When this knowledge is used to
focus on the Supersoul then one
can act in a transcendental way
Enlightenment can lead
to transcendence if it is
focused on the
Supersoul.
Why does the whole Bhagavad gita center
around the declaration that Krsna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead?
7:7 Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti
dhananjaya…no truth superior to
Me!
Brahmano hi pratisthaham–
I am the sourse of Brahman
Verse 18. The humble sages, by virtue of true
knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and
gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a
dog-eater (outcaste)
Verses 17-18
When one fixes his
consciousness on the
Supersoul
His intelligence, mind, faith and
refuge are focused
He is free from doubts because
he has knowledge of the 3
doers
He sees that the Supersoul is
sanctioning but impartial
He sees with equal vision
because he has knowledge he
is not this body & knowledge of
the Supersoul in every being
Then one attains the Brahman platform
vs 19-22
• He is transcendental to the 3 modes
• Mind is situated equanimity
– Sees everything as Krsna’s and Krsna’s energy
– Understands that whatever happens is the will of Supersoul
•
•
•
•
Doesn’t rejoice or lament over good or bad things
Self intelligent and unconfused
Knows the 3 does in proper perspective
Enjoys unlimited happiness from within
– Not attracted to material sense pleasure
– He sees sense pleasures as temporary and full of misery
• Concentrates on the Supersoul
What is the cause of all material
miseries?
And how long do I have to tolerate the
pushing of the senses?
One must tolerate the urges of the senses
Check the force of desire and anger
One must tolerate the urges of the senses
Check the force of desire and anger
Why should you tolerate the
urges of the body?
You will be happy even within this material world
You will find happiness within.
You will get a higher taste that will make it easy to
tolerate material life
You will be a perfect mystic & know the Supersoul
You will be liberated-- not affected by the 3 modes
You will develop faith beyond doubt and duality
You will do work for the welfare of all
You will become free from sin
Ultimately you will attain liberation in the Supreme
You will be assured of liberation in the very
near future.
Ultimately, by Krsna’s mercy, you will go to Him
A person in full
consciousness of Me,
knowing Me to be the
ultimate beneficiary of all
sacrifices and austerities,
the supreme Lord of all
planets and demigods,
and the benefactor
and well-wiser of all living
entities, attains peace
from the pangs of
material miseries.
5:29