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Bhagavad Gita 4.19

By Bhagavan Sri Krishna | Published 08/24/2005
Category: The Gita: Chapter 4
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Text 19

yasya sarve samarambhah
kama-sankalpa-varjitah
jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam
tam ahuh panditam budhah

Translation

One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavor is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker for whom the reactions of work have been burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge. 

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada 

Only a person in full knowledge can understand the activities of a person in Krishna consciousness. Because the person in Krishna consciousness is devoid of all kinds of sense-gratificatory propensities, it is to be understood that he has burned up the reactions of his work by perfect knowledge of his constitutional position as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is actually learned who has attained to such perfection of knowledge. Development of this knowledge of eternal servitorship to the Lord is compared to fire. Such a fire, once kindled, can burn up all kinds of reactions to work.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

This concept is further explained in five verses. One who completely engages in activity (samarambha) devoid of desires to attain objects of enjoyment performs actions consumed by the fire of knowledge, whether the actions are prescribed (karma) or forbidden (vikarma). Just as the qualified person sees karma as not leading to bondage, he also sees vikarma or forbidden action as not accruing bondage. This verse is in agreement with the previous verse (seeing inaction in action). Later it will be said:

api ced asi papebhyah sarvebhyah papa-krt-tamah sarvarh jnana-plavenaiva vrjinarh santarisyasi yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir bhasma-sat kurute 'rjuna jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasma-sat kurute tatha

Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries. As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities. BG 4.36-37


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