(From the discourses of Pujya Sri Swamiji)

Compiled by Swami Datta Pada Renu

"The Yogi, striving assiduously, gradually gaining perfection through many births, attains the supreme goal, all his sins having been washed away." (45-VI)

A person is born in this world to attain the supreme goal of God-realisation. But an ordinary man may find it difficult to achieve this aim in the course of a single life due to lack of self-control and detachment. All that he has to do is to put in more and more efforts and thus strive hard to achieve the aim. Even if he may not attain it in this life, he will certainly achieve it in his next birth or in the subsequent one.

Sometimes, he may attain in this life itself if the previous life's Yogic samskaras (tendencies) are strong with him. therefore, the seeker after Truth should not give much attention to the time taken in the process of his purification. Even remembering the words of the Lord in verse No. 40 : "the doer of good, Oh! My son, never comes to a bad state", he should go ahead with his practices with faith and determination.

The purification and subsequent washing away of sins are extremely necessary for one's elevation. If a man has done wicked acts he sill have to reap the results in the form of miseries, if he has not suffered the results in the present life, he will have to reap them in the next. The law of Karma is inexorable. We are bound on all sides by the law of action and reaction. We can not escape the consequences of our actions. But there will come a time in the case of all sinners and also the ordinary people who are immersed in the sensual world when they will sincerely repent and strive for the higher life. They may take many births to wash away their sins and purify themselves. But finally they will achieve the highest purity and perfection in life.

Therefore, the Lord says that the Yogi striving assiduously, meaning striving hard persistently, gaining more and more purity and elevation in every succeeding birth (Aneka janma samsiddhah) attains supreme goal (paraam gatim yaati), all his sins being washed away (samshuddha kilbishah).

"The Yogi is superior to the performers of austerities, also to the men of wisdom. He is also superior to the performers of action (enjoined in the Vedas). Therefore, O Arjuna, be a Yogi". (46-VI)

Practising austerities, acquiring knowledge by mastering the scriptural texts, performing actions as laid down in the scriptures (Vedic rites and rituals) and mastering the Yoga systems are all auspicious deeds indeed. But which of these is the greatest and most beneficial?

The lord says that a Yogi is superior to those who practice austerities like fasting and other rigorous penances. The Yogi is superior even to the men of wisdom. Here, in this context, the word wisdom means scriptural knowledge and not direct insight into the Supreme Truth. Knowledge of the scriptures must be followed by direct experience of the Truth. A Dhyana Yogi directly comes in touch with his Self within,. And so, he is definitely superior to those possessed of verbal knowledge.

Again the Lord says that a Yogi supersedes even those who are engaged in the scriptures to reap the results of their good actions. And as they have selfish motives in the action that they do, they certainly come within the wheel of actions and reactions. But the Yogi seeks the highest and does not care for the results. Absolute freedom, that is Moksha, is his aim. So, in all respects, he is superior even to a ritualist. The same truth conveyed in the verse No. 44 : "even the enquirer after Yoga rises superior to the performer of Vedic rites", is imparted here with greater emphasis. Therefore the lord wants Arjuna to be a Yogi.

"Even among all the Yogis, he who worships Me with mind fixed in Me, full of faith, is in my opinion, the most steadfast." (47-VI)

The Lord makes it clear in this verse that Yoga without devotion to the Lord cannot help anyone to achieve realisation. Hence the Lord points out the three important qualities of a Yogi. First, he has full faith in the Lord. Second, with his unwavering faith he fixes his mind on the Lord and the third, he worships the Lord wholeheartedly and becomes united with Him.

Therefore, a true Yogi is a true Bhakta also. God is love and wisdom. And so a Yogi become a lover of God and a man of wisdom.

Thus ends the Sixth Chapter