II Chapter summary

Arjuna confused about Death is unavoidable for

Bodies-perishable. Even considering sva-
duty and overcome by anyone who is born. Re-
Spirit is imperishable. dharma, going to war is
pity towards the birth is also unavoidable.
Spirit is beyond better. Death in battle
opponents, and cannot Before birth and after
thought, unmanifest, results in heaven, victory
go ahead with the death we are unmanifest.
does not undergo leads to wealth and
battle. He stops fighting Spirit is not
change. Sadness and pleasure here. Fighting is
and surrenders to Lord comprehended by any
happiness are the best option either
Krishna seeking advice means of knowledge
unavoidable here. way. Do not get perturbed
one has to bear it. (aprameya). Hence fight. by gain or loss.
Till now nature of spirit
and body was discussed.
How Yoga relevant to This Yoga is safe and any
this situation is work done is never a Many pleasure minded The minds of those who
explained. waste. Spiritual progress people will extol these seek pleasure never get
has a single focus whereas multifarious activities any peace.
material pursuits are leading to sense
multi-pronged and are gratification here and
infinite, which pushes the here-after as the best goal
mind of a person to go in life.
helter-skelter.
II Chapter summary
The Vedas addresses Do your duties without
Do karmas without The one endowed with
everyone including the attachment to fruits.
expecting any result. equanimity discards here
people with all the Equanimity in dealing
Never be idle and now, the results of
three kinds of nature: with gain or loss is Yoga.
without doing any good and evil deeds. This
sattva, rajas and tamas. Doing actions with
karma. burns up the accumulated
You should focus on equanimity is far superior karmas which cause
only those karmas that to doing them with endless bondage. Hence
are sattvic in nature attachment. Yoga is skillful action.
With this kind of action,
You will understand this one ends up in a place
only when your intellect where there is no
can untangle your self suffering.
from the quagmire of When one gives up all
infatuation and then you Human effort is
Taught by great people, desires and one is insignificant. The senses
will feel sorry for how satisfied by in one’s self
you ran after petty goals when your focus of mind are too powerful. One
is firmly established, then then he is said to be of needs to realize self to
hearing those people. steady mind. (stitha
you will realize “self”. win over senses. One
prajna) needs to win over senses
to realize Self!
II Chapter summary
The other option is On the other hand, one who
not good. You will wins over the desires, even
Focus on ME. Then you though in contact of objects,
end up thinking on
will be able to focus since the senses are
objects. Slowly you
well and your mind will restrained, attains
will get the contact
be steady tranquility.
of objects. Contact
gives raise to desires.
Desires give rise to
anger. Anger leads to
total delusion.
Delusion to loss of
Brahmhi stitih one bramha
memory. This
nirvAnam
destroys the intellect
or discrimination.
One gets totally lost!
II Chapter summary
• Arjuna confused about duty and overcome by pity towards the
opponents, and cannot go ahead with the battle. He stops fighting
and surrenders to Lord Krishna seeking advice
• Bodies-perishable. Spirit is imperishable.
• Spirit is beyond thought, unmanifest, does not undergo change.
Sadness and happiness are unavoidable here. one has to bear it.
• Death is unavoidable for anyone who is born. Re-birth is also
unavoidable. Before birth and after death we are unmanifest. Spirit is
not comprehended by any means of knowledge (aprameya). Hence
fight.
II Chapter summary
• Even considering sva-dharma, going to war is better. Death in battle
results in heaven, victory leads to wealth and pleasure here. Fighting
is the best option either way. Do not get perturbed by gain or loss.
• Till now nature of spirit and body was discussed. Now Yoga relevant
to this situation is explained.
• This Yoga is safe and any work done is never a waste. Spiritual
progress has a single focus whereas material pursuits are multi-
pronged and are infinite, which pushes the mind of a person to go
helter-skelter.
• Many pleasure minded people will extol these multifarious activities
leading to sense gratification here and here-after as the best goal in
life.
II Chapter summary
• The minds of those who seek pleasure never get any peace.
• Do karmas without expecting any result. Never be idle without doing
any karma.
• Do your duties without attachment to fruits. Equanimity in dealing
with gain or loss is Yoga. Doing actions with equanimity is far superior
to doing them with attachment.
• The one endowed with equanimity discards here and now, the results
of good and evil deeds. This burns up the accumulated karmas which
cause endless bondage. Hence Yoga is skillful action. With this kind of
action, one ends up in a place where there is no suffering.
II Chapter summary
• You will understand this only when your intellect can untangle your
self from the quagmire of infatuation and then you will feel sorry for
how you ran after petty goals hearing those people.
• Taught by great people, when your focus of mind is firmly
established, then you will realize “self”.
• When one gives up all desires and one is satisfied by in one’s self then
he is said to be of steady mind. (stitha prajna)
• Human effort is insignificant. The senses are too powerful. One needs
to realize self to win over senses. One needs to win over senses to
realize Self!
II Chapter summary
• Focus on ME. Then you will be able to focus well and your mind will
be steady
• The other option is not good. You will end up thinking on objects.
Slowly you will get the contact of objects. Contact gives raise to
desires. Desires give rise to anger. Anger leads to total delusion.
Delusion to loss of memory. This destroys the intellect or
discrimination. One gets totally lost!
• On the other hand, one who wins over the desires, even though in
contact of objects, attains tranquility, since the senses are restrained,
• Brahmhi stitih one bramha nirvAnam