“One who even knows that the position reached by renunciation can also be attained by works in devotional service, and who therefore sees that the path of renunciation and the path of works are one, sees things as they are.”

Context of the Verse:

            Krishna is still addressing Arjuna’s doubt as to which is superior between the path of knowledge (Sankhya) and path of action (Karma Yoga). In last verse Krishna mentioned that the wise do not discriminate them.

Here, he makes it very clear that both methods take you to the same destination – Moksha, so long as you do them properly.

Key Teachings in This Verse:

• Unity of Purpose: The final realization that is achieved by Gyana Yoga (Sankhya) and Karma Yoga is the same.
• Non-Dual Insight: The Real Knowledge is seeing the same unity in various methods.
• Every Road Leads to Rome: Ideally, practicing the various disciplines bring one to the same spiritual truth.

Relevance to Arjuna:

• Arjuna is confused about to do, should he renounce and be spiritual? with no doubt.
• Krishna insists him that acting in the right knowing and with detachment is nothing other than renunciation and leads to the same liberation.
• This serves to show Arjuna that he can fight and still achieve spiritual perfection.

Explanation:

            So, Yoga is one ladder, it has got different rungs. Lord Krishna will clarify this point in the 12th chapter of Bhagavad Gita. In Karma Yoga there are two varieties also. Karma means to work according to the Vedas. We all want to enjoy. But if we do as regulate by the Vedas then we shall enjoy but at the same time not violate consequences of nature but like a simple man just we are receiving the fruits of our past deeds. And if one from desire of fruits enjoys the fruits of all acts, and is nevertheless not content, and turns himself still more to the reading of the Vedas, he becomes a Yogi. My servant perceives by not partaking of the fruits of my labour. I’ll achieve that peace I’m always anchoring. And then he begins to yield the results of activities in the beginning because, as he has always been a materialist, he, materialist, cannot realize that God and the self are different from the body. So, he, bodily concept of life he is still in so he thinks the benefit of the bodies, benefit of the soul, so he becomes a philanthropist and he begins to fund things open-ended. Opening schools, colleges and welfare work based on welfare for body and in such a way by renouncing the results of activities when it reaches the platform of knowledge sanity.

            “Signs of the self (Aatma), signs of the Supreme Self (Paramaatma) and the relation between these two.” It is not that a person who does not have knowledge is just an animal, because he is a human being he will be able to understand: I am not body, I am a platform of peace. Thereafter he renounces the fruits of all his acts and becomes a Sanyasi. Then he returns to the source when he develops the knowledge more. You can develop a knowledge for a long time and that long time is actually spanning over so many births. It’s not an easy job, this work of research. Think about it, so many scientists have come and gone till today we hardly know about the planet which lies next to us. So how we might make sense not just of the information in. Not only all of our solar systems planets but the universes; not the universe but the creator so universe. That, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is speaking, “Yes, if you go on researching for many, many births, then you will be able to understand what is the knowledge about Myself, the supreme personality of Godhead,” as Krishna says in the Bhagavad-Gita.

            Again, when a person comes to this platform, when he becomes absorbed in devotional service to the Lord. So, he has known: Oh, I’m not the body. I’m part and parcel of God. Just as a leaf is integral to a tree. So let me water down the tree. Then I will be satisfied. On the other hand, he applies himself, his senses to the supreme Lord. This is also Karma Yoga, but this is the higher type of Karma Yoga. So, this Karma Yoga where he has no much knowledge, then one somewhere elevates cell to the platform of knowledge. And then further, as when one is himself and does in full Consciousness, though he acts he is not bound by the laws of Karma. So, then Arjuna is becoming confused. Another is I have to quit action or I have to take up action. So, there are two types of activities. One action done in ignorance, the second one done will knowledge in the middle of knowledge of life. So, simply by taking Sanyas and following the process of Gyana empirical philosophy is called Sankhya. Sankhya involves scrutinizing the elements and seeing how they are false. It is false. False in the sense in which it exists, as we have just seen, but our representation of it is false. If I’m looking at a dog that’s Infront of me, then that form exists but that individual is not dog – that individual is soul. Like me in this human form, I am just the dress of a dog. So that the soul is dog, that is illusion. So, anyone like this is to analyse that this is Maya, this material world, and then he knows what is real. This is called Sankhya. Process of Gyan, root of the tree. And when he perceives that the, that this is at the root of the tree, I Am a portion of God.

            My satisfaction is like the leaf is dependent on the root being watered, it cannot be disconnected – therefore my satisfaction means the satisfaction of the Lord. Now and then he lays himself down to love God. So, Sankhya also leads one to on loving service of God ultimately, just like four Kumar they also liberated and they went to Baikunth Loka, for Sankhya ( Shukdvev Goswami) also. He would also be on liberated platform and when he hears Srimad Bhagavatam like that and when they hear these liberated souls about Krishna, or when they see the form of Krishna. Then immediately they become attracted and begin their service to Krishna. And there are the other class of worshipers that out of the very beginning they become engaged in the service of Krishna and the knowledge is automatic.

            Therefore, Krishna is saying the situation when Sankhya is known. Yoga can make the similar situation too. So even these who are against knowledge, they preach Sankhya and Yoga, the same path, because without Sankhya there is no Yoga, so Yoga is a Krama path you know, right. It is the same path. One is more advanced in position, but they are to the same purpose.

            You are heading in the direction of Sankhya which leads to Yoga. And then the same target, love devotional service of Krishna. So, anything who is fortunate, he comes in direct touch with pure devotee and he is practicing direct process of Yoga. What Krishna is speaking to Arjuna, those are unfortunate, or who are not very fortunate, they analyse very nicely, some of them because every day we are just like, some of them when we say that you, please do this chant all this written into, in the Bhagavad Gita, in the Shastra, you have to do this process. Therein that who has seen Shastras as, what is this Gita? They can’t have faith then, alright. And then they get encouraged to do research and in many, many births of research, they get to this conclusion. Similar, already, scientists have studied. We can use that now or once again, start using the basics to do research.

            So, when somebody does some research, we apply that into our life and we soon have so many ways of technology.” So, this is what Krishna is saying here, one process is searching out the root and another process is watering that root. If a person waters the root. If we serve Krishna, then know automatically. We feel nourishment. I understand. Oh yes. I am also Krishna. It is not that I am separated from Krishna but I am an integral part of Krishna because as soon as I engage myself in the service of Krishna, I have full satisfaction. I had a craving for this pleasure at all times. So, you are there’s you know so instantaneously, there is a realization I am never not connected to Krishna. When I serve Krishna, I am satisfied. The leaf is fed as soon as you pour water at the base. So, the knowledge automatically comes. I’m a Krishna, part and parcel of that Krishna. I’m not the body. And so, Krishna says, anyone who perfectly applies themselves to either of these reaps the results of both!

So now the question then becomes, what should I do? That question is responded to in the next verse.