63. Delusion and Hypocrisy.

Krishna says, “No one can stay even for a moment without performing karmas as all are compelled by gunas (characters) born of prakriti (nature) to perform karmas (actions)” (3.5). This resolves the question - if we are not the karta, then who is the real karta of action?

Three atomic particles, namely electrons, protons and neutrons form the entire physical world. Similarly, three gunas viz. satva, tamo and rajo are responsible for driving us to perform actions. In that sense, they are the real karta.

Krishna further says, “The individual who forcefully controls the organs of action, but whose mind rotates around thoughts of sense-objects is a hypocrite and is deluding himself” (3.6). These are tough words from Krishna for someone who enacts a pleasing personality to the outside world, but his mind is full of filth. This is the result of our domestication at an early age. We were rewarded for good behaviour and punished for bad behaviour. As a result, we focus on outward behaviour rather than improving our inner self. For example, when someone hurts us, we may restrain ourselves for the sake of good behaviour, but the mind gets filled with hatred. Similarly, when we suppress desires, they will come with a force in due course of time.

Krishna is never in favour of suppression or numbing which He calls mithya (delusion). He advocates for attaining samatva (equanimity) where criticism and praise are treated as equal.

At the core, nobody wants to live in this misery, but very few know how to come out of it. That’s why Krishna immediately gives a solution to engage one’s organs of action in karma yoga (yoga of action) without attachment (3.7).

The crux is ‘without attachment’. It’s performing karma without attachment to kartapan with the realisation that gunas are the real karta; performing karma without attachment to karma-phal (fruits of action). It’s the detachment of the senses (controller part) from the sense-objects. Unconditional love emerges when attachment ends.