New Delhi (16.01.2022): Arjun asks, "O Krishna, you praise renunciation of actions ( _karma -sanyas_ ) and yet you also advise their performance at the same time. Tell me with certainty, which is the better path." (5.1) On an earlier occasion too, Arjun was looking for certainty (3.2) between the paths of _Sankhya_ (wisdom or awareness) and _Karma_ (3.1).

Krishna, however, does not advise renunciation of _karma_ (action) and instead, he says that one doesn't attain _siddhi_ (perfection) by renunciation of _karma_ (3.4). One Is compelled to perform _karmas_ as per his _Gunas_ (qualities or characters) (3.5). In fact, even maintenance of the human body is not possible without _karma_ (3.8). Clarity comes from the subsequent reply of Krishna that _karma-sanyas_ is a part of _Sankhya_ yoga.

Basically, _Karma_ has two sides. One is the executor or _Karta_ and another is _Karmaphal_ (fruits of action). Dropping the sense of doership _(kartapan)_ by realising that _gunas_ are the real _Karta_ is referred to by Arjun as _Karma-sanyas_ . He subsequently refers to doing _karma_ without expecting _karma-phal_ as the performance of _karma_ . In essence, Arjun was enquiring whether to drop _Kartapan_ or _Karma-phal_ .

Krishna replies that salvation is found both by renunciation and the performance of actions. But of these, the yoga of action is better than the renunciation of actions (5.2). The point to be noted is that this reply is specific to Arjun who is worried about the fruits of action, which is the demise of his teachers, family and friends in the battle of Kurukshetra. Broadly, this applies to many of us being mind-oriented like Arjun.

Krishna clarifies that only children, not the wise, speak of _Sankhya_ and _Karma_ yoga differently. He who is truly established in one obtains fruits of both (5.4). In essence, the two paths may be different, but the destination is the same.

(Author K Siva Prasad is 1993 batch IAS officer, Punjab cadre)