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Sankara Bhashya–Part 18

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Actions have limitations

Verse 2.45:

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥
 
Trai-guṇya-viṣayā vedā nistrai-guṇyo bhavārjuna |
Nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣema ātmavān ||
 
Vedas are about three subjects. The three qualities are of the nature of change and transformation as they illumine the three qualities in Samsara. You be beyond the three Gunas Arjuna. That is be free of desires is the implied meaning.
Free of duality means being same to what gives joy and sorrow. Therefore be free of the three gunas and free of dualities. Be ever in Satwa Guna or the seer who illumines all experiences. Always take refuge in Satwa Guna.
In the same way be free of acquiring what you do not have – yoga and maintaining what you have acquired – Kshema. For those who are focussed on acquiring and maintaining things, going on the path of the highest truth is going to be difficult. Therefore be free of acquiring and maintenance Arjuna, says Bhagavan.
Be integrated within and do not be slack in the practices to control the sense organs. This is the teaching for following your inherent duties.
Introducing the next verse Bhagavan says. in all the actions mention by the Vedas those results which are endless, if one does not hold on to them, then why do we follow the rule that actions are done and results are offered for Ishwara? It is said, hear:

Verse 2.46:

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके ।
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः॥
 
Yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake |
Tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ ||
 

Just as in the world where there is a flood the water in a well, a tank or lake which are separated by borders, to what extent they will be useful for drinking and bathing? When there is water everywhere, one does not depend on the well or the tank.
In the same way, to that extent only all the actions mentioned in the Vedas have a result of action for the Brahmana, the renunciate who has realised the truth. That truth of the Self which has been realised within the Vedas have that much need like the bodies of water are needed for quenching the thirst at the time of floods.
The Chandogya Upanishad says that when the peope do good actions everything flows into them. The one who knows this Truth, all good results of action reach them says the Shruti. It is said that all results of actions merge in knowledge of the Self.
Therefore before gaining the fitness to remain in the knowledge of the Self, the actions that were done take the place of wells and lakes. Yet action has to be done in this manner.

 Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya.

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