Today’s Gita class discussed two important shlokas in the 4th chapter; 23 and 24.
Swami explained that shlokas 21-23 explain the state of two kinds of Jnanis.

One continues to perform actions for the benefit of society, even though action has no personal gain for him, having attained Knowledge of his true nature.

The other as verse 21 says, ‘shariram kevalam karma,’ performs only karmas for the sustenance of the body, and remains in the absorption of Self-knowledge.

This is continued in the 23rd shloka, ‘For one who is free of attachment, liberated from samsara, whose mind is established in Knowledge, the karma performed as a yagna is dissolved in the entirety.’

We may be confused as to how the Jnani continues to perform karma. Shankara explains that even though the Jnani has neither the feeling of doership nor anything to gain through karma, he continues to perform karma. However, ‘naiva kurvan na karayan,’ in truth, he neither acts nor causes to act.’ Swami quoted the verse by Shankara, ‘darpane drishyamana nagari,’ for the Jnani, the universe is like a city reflected in a mirror.’ If you touch your reflection in the mirror, it doesn’t cause a sensation on that part of the body. Like this, the Jnani is unaffected by the motion and activity of the world.

15 Oct 2006

— Piyush Goldenberg, USA