The word mānavāḥ means men. It is derived from Manu the father of mankind, who wrote the Manu Samhitā which are the guidelines for the human race. Thus all mankind as the descendants of Manu are followers of Vedic scriptures.

The great personalities like Manu contemplating and reflecting on the Vedas determine what is the main import of the Vedas, which is precisely the formulised will of the Lord to act accordingly to this inner bg-sky directive.

There are persons who although unable to practice the prescribed injunctions enjoined in the Vedic scriptures still have faith and believe in the tenets inculcated therein.

There are others who although not fully understanding and believing still do not doubt the veracity and authority of the Vedic scriptures.

All these three classes of mankind shall be redeemed and delivered from the vast aggregate of past sins accumulated since time immemorial that keeps one locked in bondage to the material existence.

Lord Krishna uses the words te api meaning they also to emphasise that these even those not fully believing if they remain passive and do not blaspheme they are also entitled to absolution from past sins which is the cause of bondage and gradually attain mokṣa or deliverance from the cycle of birth and death.

The next verse tells the fate of the blasphemers and non-observers of this edict.

“विद्वद्विदुषाः कर्मभेदमाह - प्रकृतेः इति | प्रकृतेः गुणैः इन्द्रियाभिः | प्रकृतिमपेक्ष्य गुणभूतानि हि तानि | रसम्बन्धीन्नि च | न हि प्रतिविम्बस्य क्रिया ||” - The difference between actions of the wise one and of the ignorant one is shown here, qualifying with words like प्रकृतेः - by nature, गुणैः by attributes. इन्द्रियाभिः - influenced by the senses. The senses are lower than प्रकृति and गुणः. Further because of the association (of the senses), not actions of the प्रतिविम्ब - the Jiva.

“कर्मभेदस्य गुणभेदस्य च तत्त्ववित् | गुणाः इन्द्रयादीनि | गुणेषु विषयेषु | प्रकृतेः गुणेषु इन्द्रियादिषु समुद्याः इन्द्रियाद्यभिमानाद्वि विषयादिसङ्गः | गुणकर्मसु विषयेषु कर्मसु च | “शब्दाद्या इन्द्रियाद्याश्च सत्वाद्याश्च शुभानि च | अप्रधानानि च गुणा निगद्यन्ते निरुक्तिगैः || इत्यभिधानात् | सत्वाद्यङ्गीकारे गुणा गुणेषु इत्युक्तं स्यात्? ||” - Knowing in principle the distinction between actions and attributes). गुण here means the senses. Therefore, गुणेषु means by the senses-objects The attributes of nature are those influenced by senses, therefore become deluded. Being influenced by the ego-sense and associated with sense-objects. Here गुण कर्मसु means sense attributes and consequential actions. Sense objects like sound etc., senses like eye and the rest, auspicious attributes like luminosity (Satva) etc. should be understood as Secondary attributes, thus according to the meaning in the dictionary. By association of attributes like satva etc.

“अतः सर्वाणि कर्माणि मध्येय सन्न्यस्य भान्तितो जीवऽध्यारोपितानि मध्येय विमुच्य - भगवानेव सर्वाणि कर्माणि करोति इति मत्सुजा इति च | आत्मानं मामधिकृत्य यच्चेतः तदध्यात्मचेतः | सन्न्यस्यास्तु भगवान् करोति इति | निर्ममत्वं नाहं करोमि इति ||” - Surrendering all the actions to Me alone, giving up all the actions done by the Jiva from deluded feeling (that he is the doer), and (realizing that) the Lord alone performs all actions he (the wise-one) worships Me. सन्न्यास means realizing that all actions are performed by the Lord alone. निर्ममत्वम् means Jiva does not perform any actions at all.

“फलमाह - य मे इति | ये त्वेवं निवृत्तकर्मिणस्तेऽपि मुच्यन्ते ज्ञानद्वारा | किं वाऽपरोक्षज्ञानिनः ? न तु साधनान्तरमुच्यते - निवृत्तादीनि कर्माणि ह्यपरोक्षशुद्ध्य | अपरोक्षदृष्टिस्तु मुक्तौ किञ्चिद्मम मार्गते | सर्वे तादन्ताराधाय मुक्तये साधनं भवेत् | न किञ्चिदन्ताराधाय निर्वाणायापरोक्षदृक् || - इति ह्युक्तं नारायणाष्टाक्षकल्पे | अत एव समुच्चयनियमोऽपि निराकृतः ||” - Sri Krishna speaks about the fruits of listening to advise. Those who perform actions with the sense of renunciation, are released through the path of Wisdom. What is there then to be spoken of those who have attained realization? Performance of action is not suggested as an alternate medium. Renunciation etc. of the actions is for the sake of realization of the Lord alone. For realization of the Lord, liberation does not depend on anyone particular Path. All depending upon them (Performance of unattached actions) become liberated through its means. But renunciation by itself, not dependent on anything else, will liberate one completely. thus, in Narayanaa shtkakshara Kalpa Therefore, contention that Wisdom and performance of Action alone constitute for deliverance is not correct.

“नाहं कर्ता हरिः कर्ता तत्पूजा कर्मचारिलम् | तथाऽपि मत्कृता पूजा तत्प्रसादेन नान्यथा || तदभक्तिस्तत्फलं मह्यं तत्प्रसादात् पुनः पुनः | कर्मन्यासो हरावेवं विष्णोस्तुत्पत्तिकरः सदा || यस्मात् स्वतन्त्रकर्तृत्वं विष्णोरेव न चान्यगम् | तदधीनं स्वतन्त्रत्वं स्वावरापेक्षयैव तु || जीवस्य विकृतिर्नाम कर्तृत्वं जडसंश्रयम् | पुमान् देया च गौर्दीन्धी स्तनो दोग्धेतिवत् क्रमात् || इति ब्रह्मतर्कवचनादीशद्ववरजीवप्रकृत्यादीनां कर्तृत्वमकर्तृत्वं च विभागेन ज्ञातव्यं सर्वत्र |” - Jiva is not the doer but Sri Hari alone is the doer. His adoration, verily, is the performance of all actions. Even the worship done by one is due to His Grace alone, not otherwise. Devotion towards Him is its own reward and reiteration of Grace. Performance of such action towards Sri Hari alone constitutes the ordained action. Sri Vishnu alone is endless fulfillment. By Sri Vishnu alone is independent performance of action, not from any one else. Dependent on Him, who is independent of others. The actions of the Jiva are fraught with adaptations, due to existence of grossness. Like the person being free as the milkman, the cow being the dependent as the instrument and the nipples being affected due to modifications in that order. One should always understand the performance and non-performance of action as differentiate between those of the Lord, the Jiva and the Prakriti, thus, in Brahma Tarka.

“क्वचित् स्वभावः प्रकृतिः क्वचित् त्रिगुणात्मिका | क्वचित् प्रकृष्टकर्तृत्वाद् भगवान् प्रकृतिर्हरिः | इति शब्दनिर्णये | स्वभावतस्त्रीधा जीवा उत्तमाधमध्यमाः | उत्तमास्तत्र देवाद्या मर्त्यमध्यास्तु मध्यमाः || अधमा असुराद्याश्च नैषामस्त्यन्यथाभवः | शरीरमात्रान्यथाल्ये स्वजातिं पुनरेष्यति || उत्तमा मुक्तियोग्याच्च मृत्तियोग्यास्तु मध्यमाः | अपरेऽन्यतमोयोग्याः प्राप्तिः साधनपूर्तितः || पूज्यभावे न सवपपानादि संसृति स्मृता | नैव पूतिश्च सवेषां नित्यकालहरिच्छया || अतोऽनुवर्तते नित्यं संसारोऽयमनादिमान् | अतोऽधमनां जीवानां मिथ्याज्ञानादयोऽखिलाः || स्वाभाविका गुणा ज्ञेया मध्यमर्त्येषु मिश्रिताः | तत्त्वज्ञानं विष्णुभक्तिरित्याद्या देवतादिषु || कार्यते स्ववशः कर्म सर्वैरैः प्राकृतगुणैः | स्वाभाविकगुणनेतान् हेतु कृत्यैव विष्णामाणेषु कर्ताहमिति मृदुधीः | मन्यते तत्त्वविद् विष्णुगुणा इच्छादयस्तु ये || स्वाभाविकेषु जीवस्य कामाद्येषु सदैव तु | प्रेरकत्वेन वर्तन्ते स्वातन्त्र्यं मम न क्वचित् || इति मत्वा न सक्तः स्यात् प्रीताऽस्य भवति प्रभुः | स्वभावगुणसमृद्धा ज्ञानादिगुणवत्तरम् || स्वातन्त्र्येणैव कर्तारं चाऽस्मानं प्रतिजानते | तान् गुणान् कर्म तच्चैव विष्णवधीनं न ते विदुः | तेष्वयोग्येषु तत्त्वज्ञस्तत्त्वं नातिप्रकाशयेत् || वेदेद् विवाहरूपेण नोपदेशात्मना क्वचित् | सभ्यरूपेण वा वीयात् पृष्ठेऽव्यक्तिकृदेव वा || बुद्धवाऽप्यसी यतो नित्यं स्वभावानुगच्छितः | स्वभावं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति || इत्यादिप्रकाशसंन्यासम् |” - Prakriti is to be understood in some cases as one's inclination (svabhaava) and in other cases as the three-fold attributes. Yet in other cases because of His superior creative act, Sri Hari should be so understood, thus, in Shabda Nirnaya. By attributes and inclination, the Jiva is three-fold, the best, the worst and the intermediate. The gods being the best, the asuras being the worst and the mortals being the intermediate. There can be no change in their (respective) attributes and inclination. Even though externally they may appear to be different (than what they are), internally they revert back to their own attributes and inclination. The best ones are qualified for moksha, deliverance, the intermediate ones are qualified for primordial life and others, the worst ones live in eternal darkness. The deliverance is only by performing actions fulfilling each one's attributes and inclination. In the absence of being properly inclined, all continue to flow indefinitely like a river. Since there is eternal continuity of the Primordial world according to the will of Sri Hari there is eternal continuity. Therefore for the worst of the Jivas there would always be distorted knowledge. The intermediate mortal beings will have mixed knowledge suited to their natural attributes and inclination. Wisdom of essential principles and devotion to Sri Vishnu will only be for gods and the like ones. Jivas being subservient to the Supreme Being each one performs their actions according to their natural attributes and inclination. Sri Vishnu gets the performance done from them according to their individual sva-bhaava. The deluded people consider themselves to be the performers of the actions. But those who know in principle that the nature of the attributes and inclination attributes and inclination are energized as willed by Sri Vishnu's will, have no independence of actions. In them the Lord becomes exceedingly pleased. The deluded ones influenced by their attributes and inclination consider themselves to be wise and independent and do not consider their attributes and inclination, knowledge and actions to be dependent upon Sri Vishnu. Being thus not qualified, they would not be illumined. They would only be convinced through arguments, and not through scriptural instructions. In general assembly, (where both noble and evil persons gather) general guidance may be given, so that it may enlighten at least the noble ones. Even though spoken by the wise, they (the evil ones) will react according to their attributes and inclination. Since they act according to their attributes, who and what is the use of controlling (their behaviour)? Thus, according to Prakasha Samhita.

31 “Those mortals who always act up to this mine teaching, confiding in it and not envious of it, they too are freed from (the bondage of) actions. (192)

Those that receive with devotion this definite and lasting teaching of mine and live by it, with full faith, O Arjuna, will be free from the bonds of all actions that they may perform. This advice, therefore, is an absolute rule of actions to be fully followed without any scruple.

'Ye me matamidaṁ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ śraddhāvan- to'nasūyanto'—A person belonging to any caste, creed, sect and order of life etc., who wants to be released from the bondage of actions, should practise this teaching. By realizing the fact, that the body, senses, mind, intellect, objects and actions etc., are not one's own, men are released from this bondage. 'Śraddhāvantaḥ', is he who has a firm faith in and devotion for the Lord and His teaching.

A man is released from bondage, when he regards the material objects, such as body etc., neither as his nor for him. Having faith in this truth, it becomes easy to renounce the assumed affinity for the insentient.

A striver having faith, only listens to the divine discourses and translates these into practice. This human body has been bestowed upon us, so that we may realize God. So we should try to arouse a yearning to realize Him. When this yearning is

aroused, other virtues such as faith, promptness and self-control etc., are naturally inculcated in our mind.

The Lord has laid emphasis on faith and also freedom from petty objections, because even a man of faith can have a carping nature, to some extent. So the Lord urges strivers to be totally free from cavil. The Lord also lays emphasis on this very fact, while glorifying the study of the Gītā when He declares, 'A man who hears this gospel with faith and uncritically is liberated (Gītā 18/71).

When a man holds that the teaching of the Lord is good, but it reveals His boastful and egoistic nature; or how could actions lead to salvation, when these are conducive to bondage—such opinions show a man's critical spirit. So, a striver should be free from this sort of attitude.

In fact, all objects belong to the Lord, but by an error, a man regards these as his own and so he is enslaved. It is because of his attachment and desire, that he has to suffer. Therefore, the Lord, out of His grace and affection, urges him to surrender all actions and things to Him, so that he may attain eternal bliss, though He lacks nothing, and is perfect.

The Lord's teaching is called, an universal doctrine. Here the Lord's teaching or discipline has been described by the term 'Matam'. The Lord, out of His natural simplicity and absence of vanity, has called the universal principle, as mere 'Mata.' His teachings ever remain the same, without undergoing any modifications. It depends, upon a man whether he has faith in it or not.

Here, the adjective 'nityam' (constant) does not qualify 'Matam' (teaching) but it modifies 'anutiṣṭhanti' (practise) (follow), because the Lord is eternal (constant) and so all objects pertaining to Him, are also eternal. His teaching is also eternal. So the Lord emphasizes that it should be practised constantly.

**Question:**—What is the doctrine of the Lord, and how should it be practised (followed)?

**Answer:**—All acquired things are not ours—this is the considered view of the Lord. Whatever materials—body, senses, mind, intellect, life-breath, riches, property, objects etc., there are, these are the evolutes of nature and the world is also an evolute of nature. So, all of these have identity with the world; while the self, being a fragment of God, has its identification with Him. Therefore, all of these are not our personal possessions, but have been bestowed upon us, so that we may utilize them properly. Besides, these, the virtues such as good conduct, renunciation, dispassion, kindness and forgiveness etc., are, also not personal; being divine traits they also belong to God. Had these been ours these would have also remained with us and no one could have acquired them, without our permission. But it is not so. When we accept these as ours, we are proud of these and pride is a root of demoniac endowment.

When we regard a thing, which really is not ours, as ours, it captures us. Materialistic things, such as body etc., are neither ours nor for us. Had they been ours, they might have provided us full satisfaction, when we acquired them. But these never satisfy us, and add fuel to desires. But if we realize God, we are fully satisfied, and we attain perfection and nothing further remains to be gained (acquired). As, a lost child is not pleased and satisfied with any other woman (though she is also a mother), except his own mother, similarly, we are not satisfied with any other state except God-realization. Therefore, so long as we have the desire to acquire something, it, means that we have not acquired our very own object viz., God.

We neither brought the worldly things with us, nor can we carry these with us and at present also, these are deserting us, constantly. While presently these are under our possession. It behaves that, we use these for the welfare of the world, rather than lay claim to them. The Lord is so generous and gracious, that He bestows these upon us in, such a way, that they appear to us to be ours. If we use them for our selfish motive, it means

that we misuse His generosity and grace. Therefore, a striver in order to rectify his error, should surrender these to Him, with a discriminative insight.

If a striver whose only aim is God-realization, gives a serious thought to the topic, he will come to know the truth, that all the acquired things such as, the body, rank, right, education, knowledge, riches and property etc., belong to the world, and so they should be utilized, for the world. We may call them either of the world or of nature, or of God, but these are not ours. So how can they be for us.

A striver has, neither to regard a thing as his, nor has to perform any action for him. The actions, which are performed by him for himself, bind him because the Lord declares, 'One is bound by actions, other than those performed, for the sake of sacrifice (Yajña)' (Gītā 3/9), 'Actions including the stored ones of the person who performs them for the sake of sacrifice are dissolved entirely'(Gītā 4/23).

God is the almighty Lord of all the worlds (Gītā 5/29). When, a man regards himself as the lord of his objects and possessions, he forgets the real Lord, and thinks of those objects and possessions. Therefore, a striver should live like a servant to the Lord, Who is the only master of the entire universe. By becoming an instrument in His hands, he should perform his duty, with the body, senses, mind, intellect and material bestowed upon him by Him, without having any pride of ownership.

Having surrendered everything and action to God, he should not be swayed, by the pairs of opposites, such as profit and loss, honour and dishonour, pleasure and pain etc., because these are the gifts of God and so they are His. Performance of duty, joyfully, under the available circumstance means, the practice of His teaching.

'Mucyante te'pi karmabhih'—The Lord, seems to say to Arjuna, that He was ordering him in clear terms to surrender

actions to Him. By obeying Him, he will undoubtedly be released from bondage. Moreover, if other people also, whom He has not ordered this way practise His teaching, they will also be released from bondage even though they may not believe in Him.

**Appendix**—The Lord's opinion is the real and foremost principle, within which all views and doctrines are included. The Lord without pride with a simple and polite heart, calls His principle (Siddhānta) as opinion (Mata). It means that the Lord has not insisted upon his opinion or the opinion of anyone else but he has put forth his view being impartial.

An opinion is not universal but it is personal. Everyone can express his opinion but a principle is the basic and supreme truth of universal character which everyone has to follow. Therefore there can be difference of opinion between the teacher and the pupil but there can't be difference in principle. Sages, hermits and philosophers name their opinion as 'principle' but in the Gītā the Lord names His principle as 'Mata' (opinion). There are differences in the opinions of sages, hermits, philosophers and teachers etc., but the Lord's opinion viz., principle is universally accepted without any difference of opinion.

'कर्म करने चाहिये' ऐसा जो यह मत प्रमाणसहित कहा गया वह यथार्थ है (ऐसा मानकर)—

जो श्रद्धायुक्त मनुष्य गुरुस्वरूप मुझ वासुदेवमें असूया न करते हुए (मेरे गुणोंमें दोष न देखते हुए) मेरे इस मतके अनुसार चलते हैं, वे ऐसे मनुष्य भी पुण्य-पापरूप कर्मोंसे मुक्त हो जाते हैं

हें अनुपरोध मत माझें । जिहीं परमादरे स्वीकारिजे । श्रद्धापूर्वक अनुष्ठिजे । धनुर्धरा ॥ १९२ ॥

तेही सकळ कर्मी वर्ततु । जाण पां कर्मरहितु । म्हणोनि हें निश्चितु । करणीय गा ॥ १९३ ॥

(3.192) हे धनुर्धर! यह मेरा निश्चित मत जो अत्यन्त आदर के साथ स्वीकारेंगे और श्रद्धापूर्वक उसका आचरण करेंगे

(3.193) उन्हें भी, यद्यपि वे कर्मों में व्यवहार करते हो, तथापि, कर्म-रहित समझों। अतएव यह उपदेश निश्चय से आचरण करने के योग्य है।

संगति— अगले श्लोक में यह बताते हैं कि इस प्रकार निष्काम कर्म करने से कर्मों से मुक्ति हो जायगी।

भावार्थ— जो लोग दोषदृष्टि (शास्त्रवाक्यों की सत्यता में तर्क करने वाली बुद्धि) से रहित और श्रद्धासम्पन्न होकर मेरे इस मत का आचरण करते हैं, वे सम्पूर्ण कर्मों से छूट जाते हैं।

‘ये मे मतमिदं...श्रद्धावन्तोऽन-सूयन्तो’—किसी भी वर्ण, आश्रम, धर्म, सम्प्रदाय आदिका कोई भी मनुष्य यदि कर्म-बन्धनसे मुक्त होना चाहता है, तो उसे इस सिद्धान्तको मानकर इसका अनुसरण करना चाहिये। शरीर, इन्द्रियाँ, मन, बुद्धि, पदार्थ, कर्म आदि कुछ भी अपना नहीं है—इस वास्तविकताको जान लेनेवाले सभी मनुष्य कर्म-बन्धनसे छूट जाते हैं।

भगवान् और उनके मतमें प्रत्यक्षकी तरह निःसन्देह दृढ़ विश्वास और पूज्यभावसे युक्त मनुष्यको ‘श्रद्धावन्तः’ पदसे कहा गया है।

शरीरादि जड़ पदार्थोंको अपने और अपने लिये न माननेसे मनुष्य मुक्त हो जाता है—इस वास्तविकतापर श्रद्धा होनेसे जड़ताके माने हुए सम्बन्धका त्याग करना सुगम हो जाता है।

श्रद्धावान् साधक ही सत्-शास्त्र, सत्-चर्चा और सत्संगकी बातें सुनता है और उनको आचरणमें लाता है।

मनुष्यशरीर परमात्मप्राप्तिके लिये ही मिला है। अतः परमात्माको ही प्राप्त करनेकी एकमात्र उत्कट अभिलाषा होनेपर साधकमें श्रद्धा, तत्परता, संयतेन्द्रियता आदि स्वतः आ जाते हैं। अतः साधकको मुख्यरूपसे परमात्मप्राप्तिकी अभिलाषाको ही तीव्र बनाना चाहिये।

पीछेके (तीसवें) श्लोकमें भगवान्ने अपना जो मत बताया है, उसमें दोष-दृष्टि न करनेके लिये यहाँ ‘अन-सूयन्तः’ पद दिया गया है। गुणोंमें दोष देखनेको ‘असूया’ कहते हैं। असूया-(दोषदृष्टि-)से रहित मनुष्योंको यहाँ ‘अनसूयन्तः’ कहा गया है।

जहाँ श्रद्धा रहती है, वहाँ भी किसी अंशमें दोषदृष्टि रह सकती है। इसलिये भगवान्ने ‘श्रद्धावन्तः’ पदके साथ ‘अनसूयन्तः’ पद भी देकर मनुष्यको दोषदृष्टिसे सर्वथा रहित (पूर्ण श्रद्धावान्) होनेके लिये कहा है। इसी प्रकार

गीता-श्रवणका माहात्म्य बताते हुए भी भगवान्ने ‘श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च’ (गीता १८।७१) पद देकर श्रोताके लिये श्रद्धायुक्त और दोषदृष्टिसे रहित होनेकी बात कही है।

‘भगवान्का मत तो उत्तम है, पर भगवान् कितनी आत्मश्लाघा, अभिमानकी बात कहते हैं कि सब कुछ मेरे ही अर्पण कर दो’ अथवा ‘यह मत तो अच्छा है, पर कर्मोंके द्वारा भगवत्प्राप्ति कैसे हो सकती है? कर्म तो जड़ और बाँधनेवाले होते हैं’ आदि-आदि भाव आना ही भगवान्के मतमें दोष-दृष्टि करना है। साधकको भगवान् और उनके मत दोनोंमें ही दोष-दृष्टि नहीं करनी चाहिये।

वास्तवमें सब कुछ भगवान्का ही है; परन्तु मनुष्य भूलसे भगवान्की वस्तुओंको अपनी मानकर बँध जाता है और ममता-कामनाके वशमें होकर दुःख पाता रहता है। अतः इस अपनेपनका त्याग करवाकर मनुष्यका उद्धार करनेके लिये (कि वह सदाके लिये सुखी हो जाय) भगवान् अपनी सहज करुणासे सब कुछ अपने अर्पण करनेकी बात कहते हैं। अतः इस विषयमें दोष-दृष्टि करना अनुचित है। यह तो भगवान्का परम सौहार्द, कारुण्य, वात्सल्य ही है कि अपनेमें कोई अपूर्णता (कमी) और आवश्यकता न होनेपर भी केवल मनुष्यके कल्याणार्थ वे समस्त कर्मोंको अपने अर्पण करनेके लिये कहते हैं।

भगवान्का मत ही लोकमें ‘सिद्धान्त’ कहलाता है। सर्वोपरि सिद्धान्तको ही यहाँ ‘मतम्’ पदसे कहा गया है। भगवान्ने अपनी सहज सरलता एवं निरभिमानताके कारण सर्वोपरि सिद्धान्तको ‘मत’ नामसे कहा है। यह मत या सिद्धान्त त्रिकालमें एक-जैसा रहता है अर्थात् इसमें कभी कोई परिवर्तन नहीं होता, चाहे कोई श्रद्धा करे या न करे।

यहाँ ‘नित्यम्’ पद ‘मतम्’ का विशेषण नहीं, प्रत्युत ‘अनुतिष्ठन्ति’ पदका ही विशेषण है। कारण कि भगवान् नित्य हैं; अतः उनसे सम्बन्धित समस्त वस्तुएँ भी नित्य ही

हैं। भगवान्का मत भी नित्य है। भगवान्का मत सर्वोपरि सिद्धान्त है और सिद्धान्त वही होता है, जो कभी मिटता नहीं। अतः भगवान्का मत तो नित्य है ही, उसका अनुष्ठान नित्य होना चाहिये। इसलिये यहाँ क्रियाविशेषण 'नित्यम्' पद देनेका तात्पर्य है—भगवान्के मतपर नित्य-निरन्तर (सदा) स्थित रहना तथा इसके अनुसार अनुष्ठान करना।

**प्रश्न—** भगवान्का मत क्या है? और उसका सदा अनुष्ठान कैसे किया जाय?

**उत्तर—** मिली हुई कोई भी वस्तु अपनी नहीं है—यह भगवान्का मत है। शरीर, इन्द्रियाँ, मन, बुद्धि, प्राण, धन, सम्पत्ति, पदार्थ आदि सब प्रकृतिके कार्य हैं और संसार भी प्रकृतिका कार्य है। इसलिये इन वस्तुओंकी संसारसे एकता है तथा परमात्माका अंश होनेसे 'स्वयं' की परमात्मासे एकता है। अतः ये वस्तुएँ व्यक्तिगत (अपनी) नहीं हैं, प्रत्युत इनके उपयोगका अधिकार व्यक्तिगत है। इसके सिवाय सद्गुण, सदाचार, त्याग, वैराग्य, दया, क्षमा आदि भी व्यक्तिगत नहीं हैं, प्रत्युत भगवान्के हैं। ये दैवी सम्पत्ति अर्थात् भगवत्प्राप्तिकी सम्पत्ति (पूँजी) होनेसे भगवान्के ही हैं। यदि ये सद्गुण, सदाचार आदि अपने होते तो इनपर हमारा पूरा अधिकार होता और हमारी सम्पत्तिके बिना किसी दूसरेको इनकी प्राप्ति न होती। इनको अपना माननेसे तो अभिमान ही होता है, जो आसुरी सम्पत्तिका मूल है।

जो वस्तु अपनी नहीं है, उसे अपनी माननेसे और उसकी प्राप्तिके लिये कर्म करनेसे ही बन्धन होता है। शरीरादि वस्तुएँ 'अपनी' तो हैं ही नहीं, 'अपने लिये' भी नहीं हैं। यदि ये अपने लिये होतीं, तो इनकी प्राप्तिसे हमें पूर्ण तृप्ति या सन्तोष हो जाता, पूर्णताका अनुभव हो जाता। परन्तु सांसारिक वस्तुएँ कितनी ही क्यों न मिल जायें, कभी तृप्ति नहीं होती। तृप्ति या पूर्णताका अनुभव उस वस्तु-(भगवान्-) के मिलनेपर होता है, जो वास्तवमें अपनी है। अपनी वास्तविक वस्तुके मिलनेपर फिर स्वप्नमें भी कुछ पानेकी इच्छा नहीं रहती। जैसे, संसारमें सभी पुत्रवती स्त्रियाँ माताएँ ही हैं, पर बालकको उन सभी माताओंके मिलनेसे संतोष नहीं होता, प्रत्युत अपनी माताके मिलनेसे ही संतोष होता है। इसी तरह जबतक और पानेकी इच्छा रहती है, तबतक यही समझना चाहिये कि अपनी वस्तु मिली ही नहीं। मिली हुई वस्तुओंको भूलसे भले ही अपनी मान लें, पर वास्तवमें वे अपनी हैं नहीं और इसलिये उनसे अपनी तृप्ति भी नहीं होती। अतः मिली हुई कोई भी वस्तु

अपनी और अपने लिये नहीं है।

शरीरादि प्राप्त वस्तुओंको न तो हम अपने साथ लाये थे और न अपने साथ ले ही जा सकते हैं तथा वर्तमानमें भी ये हमारेसे प्रतिक्षण वियुक्त हो रही हैं। वर्तमानमें जो ये अपनी प्रतीत होती हैं, वह भी सदुपयोग करने अर्थात् दूसरोंके हितमें लगानेके लिये, न कि अपना अधिकार जमानेके लिये। अतः हमें प्राप्त वस्तुओंका सदुपयोग करनेका ही अधिकार है, अपनी माननेका नहीं। भगवान्ने मनुष्यको ये वस्तुएँ इतनी उदारतापूर्वक और इस ढंगसे दी हैं कि मनुष्यको ये वस्तुएँ अपनी ही दीखने लगती हैं। इन वस्तुओंको अपनी मान लेना भगवान्की उदारताका दुरुपयोग करना है। जो वस्तुएँ अपनी नहीं हैं, पर जिन्हें भूलसे अपनी मान लिया है, उस भूलको मिटानेके लिये साधक अध्यात्मचित्तसे गहरा विचार करके उन्हें भगवान्के अर्पण कर दे अर्थात् भूलसे माना हुआ अपनापन हटा ले।

जिसका एकमात्र उद्देश्य अध्यात्मतत्त्व-(परमात्मा-) की प्राप्तिका है, ऐसा साधक यदि गम्भीरतापूर्वक विचार करे तो उसे स्पष्टरूपसे समझमें आ जायगा कि मिली हुई कोई भी वस्तु अपनी नहीं होती, प्रत्युत बिछुड़नेवाली होती है। शरीर, पद, अधिकार, शिक्षा, योग्यता, धन, सम्पत्ति, जमीन आदि जो कुछ मिला है, संसारसे ही मिला है और संसारके लिये ही है। मिली हुई वस्तुओंको चाहे संसार-(कार्य-) का माने, चाहे प्रकृति-(कारण-) का माने और चाहे भगवान्-(स्वामी-) का माने, पर सार (मुख्य) बात यही है कि वे अपनी नहीं हैं। जो वस्तुएँ अपनी नहीं हैं, वे अपने लिये कैसे हो सकती हैं?

साधकको न तो कोई 'वस्तु' अपनी माननी है और न कोई 'कर्म' ही अपने लिये करना है। अपने लिये किये गये कर्म बाँधनेवाले होते हैं (गीता—तीसरे अध्यायका नवाँ श्लोक) अर्थात् यज्ञ-(निष्कामभावपूर्वक परहितके लिये किये जानेवाले कर्तव्य-कर्म) के अतिरिक्त अन्य (अपने लिये किये गये) कर्म मनुष्यको बाँधनेवाले होते हैं। यज्ञके लिये कर्म करनेवाले साधकके सम्पूर्ण कर्म, संचित-कर्म भी विलीन हो जाते हैं (गीता—चौथे अध्यायका तेईसवाँ श्लोक)। भगवान् समस्त लोकोंके महान् ईश्वर (स्वामी) हैं—'सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्' (गीता ५। २९)। जब मनुष्य अपनेको वस्तुओंका स्वामी मान लेता है, तब वह अपने वास्तविक स्वामीको भूल जाता है; क्योंकि वह अपनेको जिन वस्तुओंका स्वामी मानता है, उसे उन्हीं वस्तुओंका चिन्तन होता है। अतः भगवान्को ही विश्वका एकमात्र

स्वामी मानते हुए साधकको संसारमें सेवककी तरह रहना चाहिये। सेवक अपने स्वामीके समस्त कार्य करते हुए भी अपनेको कभी स्वामी नहीं मानता। अतः साधकको शरीर, इन्द्रियाँ, मन, बुद्धि, पदार्थ आदिको अपना न मानकर केवल भगवान्का मानते हुए अपने कर्तव्यका पालन कर देना चाहिये; कर्म करनेमें निमित्तमात्र बन जाना चाहिये। अपनेमें स्वामीपनेका अभिमान नहीं करना चाहिये।

सर्वस्व भगवदर्पण करनेके बाद लाभ-हानि, मान-अपमान, सुख-दुःख आदि जो कुछ आये, उनको भी साधक भगवान्का ही माने और उनसे अपना कोई प्रयोजन न रखे। कर्तव्यमात्र प्राप्त परिस्थितिके अनुरूप होता है। परिस्थितिके अनुरूप प्रसन्नतापूर्वक अपने

**परिशिष्ट भाव**—भगवान्का मत ही वास्तविक और सर्वोपरि 'सिद्धान्त' है, जिसके अन्तर्गत सभी मत-मतान्तर आ जाते हैं। परन्तु भगवान् अभिमान न करके बड़ी सरलतासे, नष्टतासे अपने सिद्धान्तको 'मत' नामसे कहते हैं। तात्पर्य है कि भगवान्ने अपने अथवा दूसरे किसीके भी मतका आग्रह नहीं रखा है, प्रत्युत निष्पक्ष होकर अपनी बात सामने रखी है।

मत सर्वोपरि नहीं होता, प्रत्युत व्यक्तिगत होता है। हरेक व्यक्ति अपना-अपना मत प्रकट कर सकता है; परन्तु सिद्धान्त सर्वोपरि होता है, जो सबको मानना पड़ता है। इसलिये गुरु-शिष्यमें भी मतभेद तो हो सकता है, पर सिद्धान्तभेद नहीं हो सकता। ऋषि-मुनि, दार्शनिक अपने-अपने मतको भी 'सिद्धान्त' नामसे कहते हैं; परन्तु गीतामें भगवान् अपने सिद्धान्तको भी 'मत' नामसे कहते हैं। ऋषि-मुनि, दार्शनिक, आचार्य आदिके मतोंमें तो भेद (मतभेद) रहता है, पर भगवान्के मत अर्थात् सिद्धान्तमें कोई मतभेद नहीं है।

कर्तव्यका पालन करता रहे। यही भगवान्के मतका सदा अनुसरण करना है।

**'मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः'**—भगवान् अर्जुनसे मानो यह कहते हैं कि मैं तुम्हें तो सर्वस्व मेरे अर्पण करके कर्तव्य-कर्म करनेकी स्पष्ट आज्ञा दे रहा हूँ, अतः मेरी आज्ञाका पालन करनेसे तुम्हारे मुक्त होनेमें कोई सन्देह नहीं है; परन्तु जिनको मैं इस प्रकार स्पष्ट आज्ञा नहीं देता हूँ, वे भी अगर इस मत-(मिले हुएको अपना न मानकर कर्तव्य-कर्मका पालन करना) के अनुसार चलेंगे, तो वे भी मुक्त हो जायेंगे। कारण कि यह मत ही ऐसा है कि चाहे मुझे माने या न माने, केवल इस मतका पालन करनेसे ही मनुष्य मुक्त हो जाता है।