Some of the common threads in the Bhagavad Gita are easy to understand but difficult to inculcate. On the other hand, some of them are very difficult to even comprehend. One such issue is ' ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐' (prescribed or obligatory action). The questions like what are our prescribed, obligatory duties; what should be tolerated and what shouldn't be -are always intriguing. Books and preachings of various enlightened masters add to the confusion as they outwardly look contradictory. Even our own understanding keeps changing with our age and experiences.
Eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty are natural ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ . But life is complex and presents many catch-22 situations. That's why Krishna earlier said that this issue is an intricate one and even the wise are confounded about the subtleties of ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ and ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ (inaction) (4.16). He further says that the nature of ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ is very difficult to know. Certainly, in order to fully understand the nature of right and prescribed action, one has to also understand the nature of ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ (forbidden action) and of ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ (4.17).
In the context of ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐๐ (renunciation) and ๐ฃ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ , Krishna says, " ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ should never be renounced. Such deluded renunciation is said to be ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ (18.7). He who relinquishes ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ which is painful, from fear of bodily discomfort is performing ๐ง๐๐๐๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐๐ . Such renunciation is never beneficial or elevating (18.8). When obligatory action is performed by relinquishing attachment and also fruit (of action) it is considered ๐จ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ renunciation" (18.9).
In this context, on an earlier occasion, Krishna said that some yogis perform sacrifices to gods; others perform sacrifice by offering sacrifice itself in the fire of Brahma (Supreme God). Essentially, it is renouncing the sense of renunciation from the mind. This is the state of ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐-๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐ who transcended the ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐จ.
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