Chapter 18 Shloka 26
मुक्तसंगोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकारः कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते।।२६।।
Now the Lord elucidates on the three kinds of doers, differentiated by their varied attributes.
One who is free from attachment, who is devoid of ego, equipped with resolution and enthusiasm and unaffected by success or failure, is deemed a sattvic doer.
My little one, first understand the connotation of mukta sang – or one who is free of attachment.
Mukta Sang (मुक्तसंग)
1. One who is devoid of attachment to action.
2. One who does not seek to enjoy the fruits of action, such as wealth, renown etc.
3. One who is not attached to any individual whatsoever.
4. One who is devoid of a possessive attitude where others are concerned.
5. One who is devoid of desire.
That one is mukta sang or free of the fetters of attachment.
Little one, it is only the selfless being who can be said to be mukta sang. Such a one is also devoid of ego.
Anahamvaadi (अनहंवादी) – One whose speech is devoid of ego
1. One who has no pride of doership.
2. One who does not speak egoistically.
3. One who speaks without conceit or vanity.
4. One who does not eulogise his or her own attributes.
5. One whose speech does not reek of his or her gross status.
6. One whose speech never derides another.
7. One who never criticises another.
8. One who never proclaims ‘I am this’ or ‘I am that’.
Such a one can be defined as anahamvaadi.
Dhriti (धृति) – Resoluteness
1. Dhriti connotes a state of imperturbability.
2. Dhriti connotes firm unity.
3. Dhriti is the ability to remain unmoved despite adversity.
4. Dhriti connotes infinite endurance and a satiated state.
5. To persevere in a job that demands great forbearance is dhriti.
Little one, if an individual is devoid of pride of doership, and if he engages in selfless deeds, he is bound to be of firm resolve. He will remain uninfluenced by any hindrances that may obstruct his path.
(For a further elucidation of dhriti, see Chp.16, shloka 2)
Utsah (उत्साह) – Enthusiasm
1. Utsah depends on one’s capability.
2. Utsah is capability.
3. The energy that does not permit one to get dejected and give up, despite hindrances and obstructions, is utsah.
The Lord says, the sattvic doer remains uninfluenced and untouched by success or failure.
Nirvikaar (निर्विकार) – Devoid of aberrations
Vikaar connotes:
a) aberration;
b) disease;
c) that which causes a change in one’s actual nature or form;
d) twists or knots which cause an abnormality in the otherwise pure mind-stuff;
e) the arousal of confusion in the mind;
f) dissatisfaction, remorse, greed – all these are aberrations;
g) ego is an aberration;
h) the perception of duality is also a mental aberration;
i) mental concepts are aberrations too.
All these aberrations veil the intellect and deprive the individual of his humane inclinations. Devoid of aberrations that cause duality, the sattvic doer performs elevated and pure, sattvic deeds.
Whilst performing such deeds:
1. He remains free from both excessive joy and sorrow.
2. He is not affected by adversity.
3. He is ever uninfluenced by ego or any idea of ‘me’ and ‘mine’.
Since he himself is ever satiated, he is unfettered by desire. Therefore his actions are ever selfless and to a great extent, devoid of doership. Such a one is indeed a sattvic doer.
