Chapter 18 - Thy Looking-glass
This chapter of 78slokas, known asmoksha sanyaasa yoga, Realization through Abnegation, describes such aspects of human behaviour based on the three natures - virtue, passion and delusion - and the path of selfless action. And in the end, the relevance of, and the reverence to, the Gita is described.
One can note that s12 breaks the continuity between s11 and s13 with hyperbolic averments, and s56 combines what is stated in the preceding and the succeedingslokas, and thus both are seemingly interpolations.
S41- s48 that describe the allotted duties of man on the basis of his caste are clearly interpolations. In essence, the discourse till s 40 is about the human nature and how it affects man. As can be seen, the duties on caste lines detailed in the said interpolations have no continuity of argument. As in earlier chapters, the text acquires continuity if only these verses are bypassed.
S61 avers that the Supreme dwells in humans and deludes them all by hismaya. This is contrary to what is stated in s14, ch.5, ‘It’s his nature, but not Spirit / Makes man act by wants induced’. Thus, s61 clearly is an interpolation as it contravenes the neutrality of the Supreme Spirit in the affairs of man affirmed throughout by Lord Krishna.
1
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Pray Thee tell, for my grasp
All about sanyaas, path forsake
And self-denial that’s tyaaga.
2
Thus spoke the Lord:
Lack inclination, it’s sanyaas
Sans wants work what makes tyaaga.
3
Fault some sages effort per se
Others give nod to deeds noble.
4
Make thee privy of three ways
By which, men all give up well.
5
Effort, gift ’n austerity
Take men all on road forsake.
6
Forsake I this vouchsafe when
Acts man with no axe to grind.
7
Avoid obligation, it’s no abnegation
Boils it down to, give up of delusion.
8
Forgo made easy passionate opt
Desist from duties that strain them.
9
Indulge virtuous in their work
With no thought of its outcome.
10
With no illusion but diligence
Carries renunciant his duties
Agreeable or otherwise too.
11
Needs one work to sustain life
Relinquients avoid, overloads all.
13
Factors five all deeds engulf
Know them well to free thyself.
14
Prone are acts to these aspects -
Body to sustain, ego that goads
Senses thy lure, life to guard
Faith in deities that tends thee.
15
Be well or so be ill
In word, thought ’n deed as well
Sourced are acts in these aspects.
16
Ignoramus in vain ascribe
Acts of theirs to Spirit in them.
17
It’s for thee to realize now
That by killing these Kauravs
Slay thee none of them thyself.