Gita 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga, Knowledge of Atman

1. Introduction and summary of Chapter 4- The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (Jnana Karma Sannyasa)
2. Chapter reading the Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (version Gandhi's Gita, Comments by Swami Sivananda):
3. Key topics:
   1. Verses 1-11: Origins of Yoga, incarnations of the Lord to restore Dharma, religious tolerance
   2. Verses 12-18: Nishkama Karma (acting without expecting fruits): key principle of Karma Yoga. The secret of action in inaction
   3. Verses 19-23: The right conduct of the Jnani (Pandita)
   4. Verses 24-32: Kinds of sacrifices (Yajnas) dedicated to Brahman. Superiority of Knowledge Sacrifice (Jnana Yajna)
   5. Verses 33-42: The wonderful efficacy of Jnana. Get up, O Arjuna! (33-42)
4. Reading the versified adaptation of this chapter
5. Analysis of each verse and its comments from Chapter 4 (Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
6. Swami Vivekananda Readings on chapter Jnana Yoga
7. Exercises of Chapter 4

Outline of Chapter 4: Yoga of Knowledge of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga)

The seeker begins the study of the exciting chapter Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (Jnana Karma Sannyasa) of the Bhagavad Gita. Swami Sivananda translated this chapter as the “Yoga of wisdom”.

In this chapter, Sri Krishna delves into the teachings of the previous two (Sankhya Yoga and Karma Yoga), explains the beautiful and transcendental message that God's messengers are reincarnated in all times and places to reestablish the Dharma and also details other topics such as the different types of sacrifices (Yajna).

Sri Krishna begins the chapter by explaining how the primal Yoga (“the supreme mystery”) that He taught deteriorates with the passage of time:

«..- but with the passage of time this (yoga) decreased» Bhagavad Gita 4 2.

And that is why when evil increases, in any time or place, He incarnates in a human body (Jesus, Buddha, Sri Krishna, Muhammad...) to reestablish the path of good.

It is a message of optimism and strength for man: although evil seems to win, good always prevails, since the good, the right, the Truth can never be destroyed. Therefore, man should abstain from violence or lies, since although in the short term they may win, in the long term good will always triumph.

From this profound principle, one of the main teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Ramakrishna will enunciate the principle of Harmony between Religions (so many paths, so many religions) that we will study later.

Swami Vivekananda  will explain it to the West and will even base his vision on Training based on this principle (and which we humbly try to apply in our educational model).

For the director of this Course (Pedro Nonell), this verse is fundamental, along with Ahimsa, in a model of global ethics, which also favors dialogue between religions in a highly globalized world.

As Krishna explains to us: God accepts any path (religion):

This chapter also develops the concept of “sacrifice (Yajna)”, which, appearing in many verses, is crucial to understanding the Bhagavad Gita.

The rest of this summary on the subject “Yoga of Knowledge, the Action and the Renunciation (Jnana Karma Sannyasa)” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Sankhya Yoga Philosophy, Paths of Yoga, Renunciation of action, Gita and business

Example: Chapter 4, verse 42 (Bhagavad Gita): Jnana Karma Sannyasa

Chapter 4, verse 8 (Swami Vidya Prakashananda)

(c) Gita Institute

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