and Yoga are distinct. One who stayeth in even
one (of the two) reapeth the fruit of both[181].
Whatever seat is attained by those who profess the
Sankhya system, that too is reached by those who profess
the Yoga. He seeth truly who seeth Sankhya and
Yoga as one.[182] But renunciation, O mighty-armed
one, without devotion (to action), is difficult to
attain. The ascetic who is engaged in devotion
(by action) reacheth the Supreme Being without delay.
He who is engaged in devotion (by action) and is of
pure soul, who hath conquered his body and subdued
his senses, and who indentifieth himself with all
creatures, is not fettered though performing (action).[183]
The man of devotion, who knoweth truth, thinking—I
am doing nothing—When seeing, hearing,
touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, breathing,
talking, excreting, taking, opening the eyelids or
closing them; he regardeth that it is the senses that
are engaged in the objects of senses.[184] He who
renouncing attachment engageth in actions, resigning
them to Brahma, is not touched by sin as the lotus-leaf
(is not touched) by water.[185] Those who are devotees,
casting off attachment, perform actions (attaining)
purity of self, with the body, the mind, the understanding,
and even the senses (free from desire). He who
is possessed of devotion, renouncing the fruit of
action, attaineth to the highest tranquillity.
He, who is not possessed of devotion and is attached
to the fruit of action, is fettered by action performed
from desire. The self-restrained embodied (self),
renouncing all actions by the mind, remains at ease
within the house of nine gates, neither acting himself
nor causing (anything) to act.[186] The Lord is not
the cause of the capacity for action, or of the actions
of men, or of the connection of actions and (their)
fruit. It is nature that engages (in action).
The Lord receiveth no one’s sin, nor also merit.
By ignorance, knowledge is shrouded. It is for
this that creatures are deluded. But of whomsoever
that ignorance hath been destroyed by knowledge of
self, that knowledge (which is) like the Sun discloseth
the Supreme Being. Those whose mind is on Him,
whose very soul is He, who abide in Him, and who have
Him for their goal, depart never more to return, their
sins being all destroyed by knowledge.[187] Those,
who are wise cast an equal eye on a Brahmana endued
with learning and modesty, on a cow, an elephant, a
dog, and a chandala.[188] Even here has birth been
conquered by them whose minds rest on equality; and
since Brahma is faultless and equable, therefore,
they (are said to) abide in Brahma.[189] He whose mind
is steady, who is not deluded, who knows Brahma, and
who rests in Brahma, doth not exult on obtaining anything
that is agreeable, nor doth he grieve on obtaining
that is disagreeable. He whose mind is not attached
to external objects of sense, obtaineth that happiness
which is in self; and by concentrating his mind on
the contemplation of Brahma, he enjoyeth a happiness