ಶಿವಬಸವ - ಬಸವೇಶ್ವರ ವಚನಗಳು

Adiyen's thoughts about Bhagavadgita Shlokams about Swadharma , Sharanagathi and Varna based on Sri Ramanujacharya Geetha Bhashya

Srimathe  Ramanujaya Namaha 🙏
Sri Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum 🙏

Sri Krishna Bhagavan said to Arjuna 

"śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ" 

It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. In fact, it is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty, than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger. 

Arjuna was born as a Kshatriya and Sri Krishna told Arjuna to fight in War as a Kshatriya. Similarly Brahmins should learn Vedas and do Vedic Karma which is our Swadharma but most of us are doing Paradharma which Sri Krishna says is not good and it is better to die doing a duty of Brahmana.

I was checking explanation for this Shlokam in Sri Ramanuja Geetha Bhashya. Sri Ramanujar says Swadharma is Karma Yoga and Paradharma is Jnyana Yoga in this context. For common people with Prakruti Sambhanda doing Karma Yoga (His Swadharma) is better than doing Jnana Yoga or Atmasakshatkara (Paradharma) on which Adi Sankara gives more prominence.  So as per our Varnashrama Dharma we need to do Karma Yoga. So are we doing Karma yoga our Swadharma as per our Varnashrama Dharma even after performing Sharanagathi is the question? 

Question that arises now is can we chose our Varna or is it decided by our birth? What our Poorvaacharyas say about this?   Another question is as per Sharanagathi principle a Prapanna is not compelled to do Karma yoga but still has to perform? There is conflict or confusion here.

In the end Sri Krishna says Charma Shloka to Arjuna which is the essence of Sharanagathi and our Srivaishnava Religion 

“sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah” 

As per Sri Ramanuja Bhashya  this means “ Leave Phalas ( Phala Tyaga) of all Moksha Dharmas like Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga while doing them as per your Adhikaram(Varnashrama) and Surrender to me believing me as Aaradhya, Praapya and Upaaya. I will remove all Sin and obstacles( Poorva Karmas) to attain me( Moksha)... Don’t be sad... “  

Again here Sri Ramanujar insists Adhikaram as per Varnashrama to do Moksha Dharma. So is Varna by birth or can we chose? If it is by birth then what we are doing now (our life as Brahmin) is not correct as ordained by Sri Krishna and Acharya Ramanujar. If we can chose Varna then we have chosen a Varna which maybe Vaishya or Shudra Varna as per our work and character and we have to do Karma Yoga with Phala Thyaga as per that Varna even after Sharanagathi. 

Finally this is what Sri Ramanujar says about Varna as mentioned in Sri Krishna’s  Bhagavadgita Shloka 4.13 

“Chatur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah
tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam”  

Sri Krishna has created People of Four Varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vyshya and Shudra) based on their Poorva Janma Karmas and Gunas and he is not responsible for them born as a Particular Varna whether they are Devathas or Lower Births like insects and also as Brahmana or Shudra. Jeevathmas themselves are responsible for their births in a particular Varna and not him, even though he creates them in that Varna.   So Varna is based on our Birth due to Poorva Janma Guna Karmas. We can’t choose Varnas in this birth but we can improve our Varna in next births by following Dharma and Shastra as given by God.  But if we do Sharanagathi and perform Karma yoga with Phala Thyaga to Sriman Naryana, that Jeevathma will surely attain Mokhsa after experiencing his Prarabhda Karma in this life and leaving his body.  This is Sri Krishna's final word and preached by Sri Ramanujar 🙏 

Sri Krishnam Vande Jagadgurum 🙏
Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha 🙏

As per this we born in Brahmana Varna should live and do Karma as Srivaishnava Brahmana  even after Sharanagathi 🙏 but are we all doing is the million dollar question? 

Sadly many of us Srivaishnavas are living a materialistic worldly life than a Srivaishnava Adhyatmic or Spiritual life 😔 Can we change? Can I change? 

Jai Sri Krishna 🙏

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan 🙏