[Advaita-l] adhikara for jivanamukti

[jaldhar at braincells.com]

On Fri, 16 Sep 2022, Ven Balakrishnan via Advaita-l wrote:

> If I may add, my understanding of Sankara is that sannyasa, is an 
> inevitable outcome of Knowledge, as well as a means to achieve it. 
> Detachment from body-mind, like a snake shedding its skin, means that 
> there is no longer any attachment to me and mine.  Without attachment, 
> there is no holding to any possessions, as Sankara makes clear in 
> Aitreya Up.

Yes.

>
> Krishna in 3.22-3.23 is referring to one who works for the benefit of 
> the world, not himself.
>
>

Although Bhagavan is of course instructing Arjuna (and thereby all of us 
suffering mortals) He is referring to Himself as well.  Here is the text.
(I'll start from 3.21)

yadyAcharati shreShThastattadevetaro janaH |
sa yatpramANaM kurute lokastadanuvartate || 22 ||

"Whatever deeds a great man does, others do also.  The whole world tries 
to imitate the pramANa[1] he establishes."

[1] rule; standard of conduct.

na me pArthAsti kartavyaM triShu lokeShu ki~nchana |
nAnavAptamavAptavyaM varta eva cha karmaNi || 23 ||

"pArtha[1], I have nothing at all to achieve in all the three worlds[2]. 
Neither is anything unattained that should be attained; yet I do acts."

[1] i.e. Arjuna.
[2] Earth, sky and Heaven but metaphorically the entire universe.


utsIdeyurime lokA na kuryA karma chedaham |
sa~Nkarasya cha kartA syAmupahanyAmimAH prajAH || 24 ||

"These worlds would fall into ruin of I did not do actions.  I would be 
the cause of confusion[1] and the destruction of these people."

[1] Shankaracharya explains confusion of varnas and ashramas.  Without 
norms everyone would do as they please and society would break down.


-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>