Karma Yoga Inspirations

Sujatha Ratnala
Nov 5 · 4 min read

A few thoughts on the teachings of Karma Yoga. A few phrases to speak the language.

Of Karma Yoga and liberation

jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām

Gyana Yoga is the path to liberation for a few philosophers. For others, Karma Yoga is the means.

Of Universal material nature and Need to Act..

na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit

Not a moment can ever pass without any action

sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ

The material nature compels action

Of Unbaked control and desire..

karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran

restraining senses but thinking about it in the mind.

Aligning mind and senses

yas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjuna

aligning and controlling the senses and the mind


Yagna — Freedom from bondage ..

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ

Perform your work like Yagna.. otherwise it will cause bondage.

Creator’s workflow and Conservation of energy.

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ

This world was created as a big yagna.

parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śhreyaḥ param avāpsyatha

They pleased each other and there was abundance of goodness.

karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam
tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣhṭhitam

The acts were defined by the creator and he was born from the absolute. In every act of a yagna service, he is therefore present.

https://childsci.org/the-water-cycle/

A contented person’s work is no big work

yas tvātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛiptaśh cha mānavaḥ

No work is big deal for a person who is contended in self

Out of harmony -A conceited man

tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

He who enjoys without acknowledging the cycle behind him is indeed a thief

aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati

He who does not follow the cycle and lies in the leisure of his senses..he is wasting his life


Ode to the teachers, statesmen, industrialists, reformists and the countless Karma Yogis..

kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham

The great scholars leave aside their personal agenda and work very focussed for the welfare of the subjects.

On Role Modelling

yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ

The world resonates on the acts and standards set by the great leaders.

Carelessness and Entropy — be it Nature, Society, Home or Self

yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ

If I conduct myself carelessly, people would follow my steps.

utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched aham

I cause disharmony in people when I act carelessly.

Excite people around. Stop imposing.

na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām
joṣhayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācharan

Disharmony should not be caused in ordinary people who are attached with the results. Instead they should be excited by the wise men to perform work with enthusiasm.


Unity in Diversity — Lens of seeing attributes in Action

ahankāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate

The conceited man thinks he is the doer of the work

guṇā guṇeṣhu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate

The wise men know that it is the gunas and attributes under the hood which are in action.. Hence they dont get attached.


Unload yourself and tread your path

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-chetasā
nirāśhīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ

Submit everything unto me. Leave aside you desire, ego, passion and get going your orbit.


Dharma of the self. Flow in your Nature. Newton’s first law and Inertia of Motion

śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ

It is better to follow one’s nature even if it is not well established rather than following other’s dharma. For it is fearless to be in one’s orbit of dharma.

What is the point of Suppression? Newton’s third law..

prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati

Every being follows it’s nature. What’s the point of suppression?

https://unsplash.com/photos/c8_nS7lF3eo

The impending Force of obstacles.

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau

The likes and dislikes are very deep seated in the senses

kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam

Desire and Anger that are born our of Rajo guna are indeed very voracious and the real enemies.

Know yourself, Uncover and Recalibarate Reorganise self..

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā
jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

Knowing the hierarchy of body-senses-mind-intellect and superiority of soul.. uncover the desire at each of the layers and reestablish yourself with the guidance of the self.

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