|| om tat sat ||

We started on this venture of Bhagavadgita exactly eighteen months ago without any mental preparation on what we might encounter and how we may go forward.

We are not regretting that.

We had the Bhagavadgita Slokas and an impeccable word translation that facilitated our understanding. We were also able to create a prose order for the Slokas which also facilitated in presenting the meanings.

Without doubt we learnt more about Karma Yoga, Jnyana Yoga and Bhakti yoga.

The Slokas in the eighteenth chapter tell us of Bhakti being the final result of Jnyana Yoga and Jnyana being the final step in the path of Devotion or Bhakti Yoga.

The Karma Yoga where in Nishkama karma or action without desire for fruits is propagated, that indeed is the way to achieve peace for people engaged in day to day life.

The Nishkama karma with the knowledge of self is the ultimate weapon for liberation.

The last two Slokas of the discourse between Krishna and Arjuna seem to say why worry about all these complicated processes simply take refuge in Him.

There is a solemn assurance in that utterance

सर्वधर्मान् परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥66||

"Abandoning all righteous acts seek me as your sole refugee. I will liberate you from all sins. Do not grieve !"

A true Bhakta may relish this assurance more than all the other explanations and teachings of Gita.

As we wind up the eighteenth chapter there may be lingering questions.

Are the paths of karma Yoga and Jnyana Yoga meant for different people? Like Arjuna's question which is better? Or does it matter ?

Then if renunciation of "all actions" is Tyaga , is such a true renunciation possible?

If avidya is the cause of "Action" does mere renunciation of fruits of "Action" eliminate Avidya or ignorance.

All of them have some answers as we understand these concepts.

But a deeper appreciation of some of the concepts may be possible with a study of Shankaracharya's Bhashya on Bhagavadgita.

So what we accomplished is probably only the start of a journey.

A journey of enquiry into knowledge of Self.

That may a journey with fits and starts.

But it will go on!

||om tat sat||

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