Chapter 13 Shloka 8

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहंकार एव च।

जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदु:खदोषानुदर्शनम् ।।८।।

 “If you desire to know the kshetragya, bring these qualities within you!”

Dispassion towards the objects

of the sense organs, absence of ego,

the ability to constantly dwell on the

malefic effects of birth, death, old age, disease etc.

Chapter 13 Shloka 8

इन्द्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यमनहंकार एव च।

जन्ममृत्युजराव्याधिदु:खदोषानुदर्शनम् ।।८।।

The Lord bids us, “If you desire to know the kshetragya, bring these qualities within you!”

Dispassion towards the objects of the sense organs, absence of ego, the ability to constantly dwell on the malefic effects of birth, death, old age, disease etc.

Vairaagya (वैराग्य) – Dispassion

First understand the full connotation of the phrase ‘Dispassion towards the objects of the sense faculties’. Vairaagya or dispassion is a quality of the mind. The Lord is not speaking here of the renunciation of the objects of the senses, He simply states, ‘Divert your mind from them.’

An easy method of achieving this is:

a) Affix your mind on the Supreme; dwell only on That One.

b) If your mind is drawn with love towards the Supreme, the mind will automatically withdraw from the material objects of the senses.

Vairaagya is to forget. If a certain object is relinquished through dispassion, one simply does not remember the object any more. One is also oblivious then to any sense of renunciation. True vairaagya causes a transformation of the mind.

Anahamkaar (अनहंकार) – Absence of ego

Be free of the ego!

1. The truth is, only a thief can persist with his attachment to the ego.

2. If one possesses the requisite attributes of head and heart, ego simply becomes superfluous.

3. Ego exists only where there is some innate deficiency.

4. Ego is a means of concealing some lacunae.

When the body is not yours, then who can be the recipient of your egoistic antics and where is the need to exhibit them?

Janma, mrityu, jara, vyaadhi, dukh dosh anudarshanam – Birth, death, old age and disease – constantly witness the malefic effects of all these!

Kamla, the truth is:

1. What is there to see in the inevitable?

2. What is there to think about in what must come to pass?

3. There is no point in dwelling on factual reality.

Little one, you must understand the benefits of dwelling on birth, death, old age and disease and their accompanying sorrows.

Let us first consider the factors that accompany birth.

Dependency at the time of birth

a) One resides in one’s mother’s womb for the first nine months.

b) One is sustained by the flesh, bone, blood and the masticated food of the mother.

c) One is then cloaked with the amnion of the mother.

d) One is thus nurtured, helpless and dependent, in the mother’s womb.

e) As soon as one is born, one is once more completely dependent. One’s entire childhood passes in this complete dependency.

The sorrow of death

a) When you can see your entire world beginning to desert you, the mind is agonised.

b) When you can see that the time for separation from your loved ones has come, you experience extreme sorrow.

c) When the time comes for parting with your lifelong earnings, the mind is left witnessing it all with greedy and craving eyes.

d) The very body which was the focus of your lifelong attention and love, is now about to leave you.

e) The very body which you considered to be your very own, begins to part ways with you.

f) The very body which you considered to be immortal, is now being consumed by death.

g) Just imagine what will transpire within you when you learn that the moment has come when your body is about to be burnt on the pyre!

h) Just think, those very people without whom you cannot even live today will either leave you, or you will have to leave them.

i)  Then, those for whom you are doing your very best today:

­­–  will forget you after your death;

­­–  will become oblivious to the principles you upheld and cherished;

­­–  will in a moment distribute your material possessions amongst themselves;

­­–  will in reality erase you from their lives.

Dwell on this and be a witness to this event.

Jara (जरा) – Old age

Now consider old age.

1. The body becomes old and decrepit.

2. The body becomes devoid of strength.

3. You are unable to do anything for yourself.

4. Your mind is replete with desires but your body is unable to fulfil those desires.

5. Your power of digestion becomes weak.

6. Your limbs lose their strength.

7. You yourself become dependent on others.

8. Your intellect begins to fail you, yet attachment with the body remains.

You will then be drowned in sorrow.

Vyaadhi (व्याधि) – Disease

Now consider the various illnesses that could befall you. This body can become diseased. Headache and dizziness may follow, the body may get cancer, every part of the body may be wrecked with excruciating pain, the bones may get fractured. You just have to step into a hospital to witness people suffering from myriad illnesses – these could grip your body too.

Then why establish a relationship with such a body which could fall prey to so many diseases; which is prone to death; which is fickle and faithless; which troubles you every moment?