4.17 karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ (Original)

SrI:  SrImathE SatakOpAya nama:  SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama:  SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

Chapter 4

<< Chapter 4 verse 16

Simple

karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ
boddhavyaṁ ca vikarmaṇaḥ
akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṁ
gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

‘Verily, karma has to be understood, vi-karma has to be understood, and a-karma, as well, has to be understood. Intricate, (or incomprehensible) is the way of karma

Inasmuch as:

  1. The nature of karma or action that is means to moksha, ought to be known; inasmuch as:

  2. Vikarma, or vividha-karma, or variety of actions, —comprised of the nitya[1. The daily duties (nitya) are Snāna, Sandhyā, Vaiśvadeva-brahma-yajña, Deva-ṛshi-pitṛi-tarpaṇa, and Aupāsana. The occassioned (naimittika) are the Śrāddhās, Tarpaṇas, etc., performed on the Eclipse-day, Saṇkranti, Mahālaya, etc., Pūrva-Mīmāmsa says: ‘nitya naimittika karmācharaṇe phalam nāsti; akaraṇe pratyavāyaḥ’.](daily) naimittika[2. The daily duties (nitya) are Snāna, Sandhyā, Vaiśvadeva-brahma-yajña, Deva-ṛshi-pitṛi-tarpaṇa, and Aupāsana. The occassioned (naimittika) are the Śrāddhās, Tarpaṇas, etc., performed on the Eclipse-day, Saṇkranti, Mahālaya, etc., Pūrva-Mīmāmsa says: ‘nitya naimittika karmācharaṇe phalam nāsti; akaraṇe pratyavāyaḥ’.](incidental) etc., done with some object (of enjoyment) in view (kāma-rūpa), and demanding for their due performance, the earning of money and other activities,— ought to be known; and inasmuch as :

  3. a-karma or jñāna (or wisdom), ought to be known, – therefore, the Path of Karma is abstruse to be understood by the moksha-seeker.

Why vi-karma, —that connotes the performance of motived, daily, casual etc., acts, involving the earning of money and a variety of other acts—ought to be known by the moksha-aspirer is, to know that the variety therein consists in each act having a specific fruit promised therefor, but he ought to perform them all with the one understanding that they all have one uniform fulfillment in his case, as Śāstras teach, viz: the achievement of moksha. This is the ‘fixed or cultured understanding’ (vyavasāyātmikā buddhi) (ii-41) that was inculcated already, and so the subject is not expatiated upon here.

What is to be known as regards karma and a-karma, —is now stated:—

>> Chapter 4 verse 18

archived in http://githa.koyil.org

pramEyam (goal) – http://koyil.org
pramANam (scriptures) – http://granthams.koyil.org
pramAthA (preceptors) – http://acharyas.koyil.org
SrIvaishNava education/kids portal – http://pillai.koyil.org