Essence of Gita Part 2

The twin pillars of Selfless work and renunciation are further elaborated in subsequent chapters. In the 6th chapter called dhyana yoga the point of equality of the two paths of yoga and renunciation are further emphasized as Gita claims that true sannyas or renunciation is renunciation of false ego in the form of fruits of work. Work one must, but one should give up false senses of ownership and fruits thereof. The greatest peace is derived from work where no sense of ownership is attached as attachment and aversion are causes of all miseries in this world. Therefore a true Yogi and a sannyasin never takes to inaction, nor does he resort to attachment to the action. Then this chapter leads an aspirant step by step to that highest goal and also assures them that even if they fail in achieving the highest aim, all is not lost, because good work is always rewarded and one normally strives for perfection over many births. Each successive birth and attempt towards perfection propels one towards that goal till in the end success is reached. That success is the convergence of the twin paths of Yoga (Action) and Renunciation (Knowledge). Bhakti or devotion is also a path of action here. 

In the next four chapters unfolds the greatest mystery around Personal and Impersonal God, Avatars or incarnations, the different aspects or major ways and means of contemplating on God through symbols, and finally the revelation of the divine form.The paths have been illustrated and now the focus is what awaits in the end - the aim of the knowledge and also that of selfless action without attachment, the means to attain that knowledge, the different grades of seekers and the best way of worship (devoid of any desires). However the next three chapters illustrate the paths further by getting into details of Devotion as one aspect of Action (the other aspect - selfless sacrifice has already been covered in chapters 3 and 4), the knowledge of Atman or Self as distinct from body-mind complex (Kshetra-Kshetrajna), and the knowledge of the Gunas or quality and their transcendence. The knowledge of the Self or Atman distinct from body-mind is known only to one who is established in Self, i.e. in Inaction, not to an aspirant. Also an aspirant is still under the sway of gunas or nature (consisting of the three qualities - sattva, rajas and tamas), while one who is beyond all actions is also beyond nature and has transcended the gunas.

Thus by transcending gunas one is fit enough to know the Purushottama or the Supreme Being. One who is still aspiring has to forcefully tear asunder the world-tree asvattha (one which is impermanent), to know the one who is beyond permanence and impermanence, i.e. the impersonal Brahman, which is even greater than Iswara - the highest soul. Thus ends the fifteenth chapter of Gita.