Arjuna: Krishna, what is Sanyasam and what is sacrifice? Please tell me their characteristics.
Krishna: Abandoning tasks that provide pleasure through lust is Sanyasam. Performing tasks and not taking the result of that task is Sacrifice. Never abandon Yagna, Donations and Penance. But, perform them without interest in the result.
Sacrifice performed is again of 3 types. The ones performed without rules and regulations, but with superstitions is Tamas sacrifice. Starting impractical tasks and abandoning in between is Rajas sacrifice. Performing prescribed tasks and sacrificing the result is Sath sacrifice.
Arjuna, there are 5 attributes that facilitate a task to be successful. They are, 1. Your body, 2. Pride, 3. Senses, 4. Atmosphere around you, and 5. Divine power. These are responsible for all the good and bad deeds performed by a person. Only an illogical fool will assume that the soul is responsible for the deeds performed.
He who doesn’t have pride about his power and status, whose thoughts won’t linger about the result of the task. That kind of person, even if he destroys the entire world, in reality he is not the destroyer and is not bound to any consequences.
Knowledge, the body which can receive the knowledge and the person who actually learns that knowledge forms the trinity of curiosity. Reason, deed and doer forms the trinity of action.
Believing that the soul is the same in different people is Sath knowledge. Believing that the soul is different for different people is Rajas knowledge. Believing that his soul is better than everyone and is the only true form is Tamas knowledge.
Understanding what is good and what is bad is Sath. Not able to distinguish good and bad is Rajas. Thinking good as bad and vice versa is Tamas.
Even the pleasure we experience is of 3 types. The one which looks dangerous at the beginning and becomes better over time is Sath. The one which looks great at the beginning and becomes worse over time is Rajas. The one which is addictive from beginning to end and gives pleasure through hallucination is Tamas.
Every living being belongs to these 3 attributes. According to these attributes tasks are distributed between Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysyas and Sudras. By practicing the tasks assigned to them, a person achieves better prospects. For a person, it is better to perform the tasks assigned based on their attributes. Just like the smoke comes out of fire, there will be some flaw in every task we do. One should remember that and perform the tasks assigned to them.
He who is pure minded, content, has no affection or hate, has control over his mind and body, has no lust or anger or pride, no desire for anything, stays in peace is eligible to reach the supreme being.
Arjuna, reach out to me and take refuge in me. I will take care of eliminating all your troubles. Not doing so will result in your downfall. Even if you want to take pride in avoiding the war, the warrior within you will make you participate in the war. Think through what I told you and do whatever you like.
Who listens to this Gita with devotion and without jealousy will get away with all the sins and reaches greater worlds.
Arjuna: Krishna, I got rid of my infatuations and attained wisdom. My doubts are cleared, I am now ready to follow your instructions.
Sanjaya: Oh King! I feel lucky to hear this conversation between Krishna and Arjuna with the help of divine eyes provided to me by Vyasa. I can now say that, the place where Krishna and Arjuna stay, victory, wealth and ethics stays there.
-- Bhagavad Gita Concludes --
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