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TEXT 1 sri-bhagavan uvaca
SYNONYMS  sri-bhagavan
uvaca--the Lord said; anasritah--without shelter; karma-phalam--the
result of work; karyam--obligatory; karma--work; karoti--performs;
yah--one
who; sah--he; sannyasi--in the renounced order; ca--also;
yogi--mystic; ca--also; na--not;
nih--without;
agnih--fire; na--nor; ca--also;
akriyah--without
duty.
TRANSLATION The Blessed
Lord said: One who is unattached to the fruits of his work and who works
as he is obligated is in the renounced order of life, and he is the true
mystic: not he who lights no fire and performs no work.
PURPORT In this chapter
the Lord explains that the process of the eightfold yoga system
is a means to control the mind and the senses. However, this is very difficult
for people in general to perform, especially in the age of Kali. Although
the eightfold yoga system is recommended in this chapter, the Lord
emphasizes that the process of karma-yoga, or acting in Krsna consciousness,
is better. Everyone acts in this world to maintain his family and their
paraphernalia, but no one is working without some self-interest, some personal
gratification, be it concentrated or extended. The criterion of perfection
is to act in Krsna consciousness, and not with a view to enjoying the fruits
of work. To act in Krsna consciousness is the duty of every living entity
because all are constitutionally parts and parcels of the Supreme. The
parts of the body work for the satisfaction of the whole body. The limbs
of the body do not act for self-satisfaction but for the satisfaction of
the complete whole. Similarly, the living entity who acts for satisfaction
of the supreme whole and not for personal satisfaction is the perfect sannyasi,
the perfect yogi.
The sannyasis
sometimes artificially think that they have become liberated from all material
duties, and therefore they cease to perform agnihotra yajnas (fire
sacrifices), but actually they are self-interested because their goal is
becoming one with the impersonal Brahman. Such a desire is greater than
any material desire, but it is not without self-interest. Similarly, the
mystic yogi who practices the yoga system with half-open
eyes, ceasing all material activities, desires some satisfaction for his
personal
self. But a person acting in Krsna consciousness works for the satisfaction
of the whole, without self-interest. A Krsna conscious person has no desire
for self-satisfaction. His criterion of success is the satisfaction of
Krsna, and thus he is the perfect sannyasi, or perfect yogi.
Lord Caitanya, the highest perfectional symbol of renunciation, prays in
this way:
na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa
kamaye
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