तरी मी आणि तू। आणि हे नृपनाथ समस्तू। येथ नसू ऐसे नव्हतू। मागांही कधीं॥
"Neither I, nor you, nor these kings, were ever non-existent in the past."
💡 Meaning
It is not that I, you, or these kings did not exist in the past.
तरी मी आणि तू। आणि हे नृपनाथ समस्तू। येथ नसू ऐसे नव्हतू। मागांही कधीं॥
"Neither I, nor you, nor these kings, were ever non-existent in the past."
It is not that I, you, or these kings did not exist in the past.
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar interprets Krishna's words regarding the beginningless nature of the soul. He emphasizes that the soul (Atman) transcends time. The physical forms we see are temporary, but the consciousness within has always existed and will continue to exist. This is the fundamental teaching of Sankhya Yoga to remove the fear of death.
This teaching can be applied to overcome the fear of loss. For example, when facing a major life change, remembering that our core identity is beyond physical circumstances provides stability.
Krishna addresses Arjuna's grief by explaining the concept of the eternal soul.
म्हणोनि समर्थें जे जे कीजे । तें तें इतरींही प्रमाण मानिजे । मग तयाचिपरी अनुष्ठिजे । सामान्यींही ॥ २०७ ॥
"Therefore, whatever is done by the great, that very thing is accepted as authority by others; and then the common people follow the same path."
Whatever a great person does, others accept as a standard; then common people also follow that same practice.
In this verse, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj elaborates on the psychological truth that the masses follow the elite. A 'Samartha' (a person of influence, wisdom, or power) acts as a role model for the rest of society. Whatever standards they set through their actions, the common people adopt them as the norm. Therefore, a wise person must continue to perform their duties with discipline, not for their own benefit, but to ensure that society does not fall into chaos or inaction by following a wrong example.
In a corporate setting, if a leader practices transparency and punctuality, the employees naturally emulate those traits. For example, a CEO who values work-life balance encourages their team to do the same.
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains how the actions of influential people serve as a benchmark for society.
म्हणौनि कर्माचेनि आधारें । जेणें अकर्मता होय साचोकारें । तेंचि ज्ञान हें निर्धारें । मानिजे गा ॥ २०९ ॥
"Therefore, through the support of action, that which truly results in actionlessness, consider that alone to be certain knowledge."
Therefore, that by which one truly attains the state of actionlessness through the support of action, should be recognized as certain knowledge.
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar emphasizes that true knowledge is not found in the renunciation of action, but in the realization of 'actionlessness' (Akarmata) while being fully engaged in action. When one performs their duties using the support of action but remains untouched by the results or the ego of being the 'doer', that state is true wisdom. It is the art of being in the world but not of the world, where actions no longer create karmic bondage.
In professional life, focus on the quality of your work rather than being anxious about the promotion or appraisal. For example, a surgeon performing a complex surgery with total focus on the procedure, detached from the personal gain, exemplifies this wisdom.
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains the essence of how performing one's duty without attachment leads to the highest state of knowledge.