81. Divine Actions

In the Gita, both Arjuna and Krishna use ‘I’ and ‘Me’, but the meaning and context of usage are entirely different. Arjuna’s ‘I’ is divisive or exclusive and Krishna’s ‘I’ is inclusive.

While Krishna is the ocean, we are but drops within it, living under the illusion of individuality known as ahankaar. When a drop sheds its illusion of individuality and unites with the ocean, then it becomes the ocean. Krishna indicates this when he says, “The ‘realised’ come to Me and will be free from the cycle of punar-janma (rebirth) when they realise about My life and actions which are divyam (divine)” (4.9). Certainly, realisation means inclusiveness or oneness and the ability to accept contradictions. All the actions are bound to be divine when they emerge from inclusiveness.

Punar-janma, is usually interpreted as a cyclic process of the attainment of a new life after death. However, it can also be interpreted as the birth of a new situation around us. When a situation ends, the ripples it creates within us give rise to many more situations through our responses and behaviour.  For example, a bad day at work can carry over and spoil the evening with family. On the other hand, when we realise His life and divine actions, we will be free of this cyclic process of punar-janma.

Krishna says, “Sanctified by the asceticism of wisdom (jnana-tapas), disengaged from attachment, fear and anger (veet-raag, bhay and krodh), engrossed and sheltered in Me, many beings have attained My nature” (4.10).

Krishna uses the word veet-raag, which is neither raag (attachment) nor viraag (aversion), but a third state where one is not affected or influenced while experiencing them. The same is the case with bhay (fear) and krodh (anger).

Krishna uses another word jnana-tapas. Tapas is nothing but a disciplined way of living and many of us practice it. Tapas done with ajnan (ignorance), becomes an intense chase to seek sensory pleasures and material possessions. Krishna advises us to pursue jnana-tapas, which is aware disciplined living.