This chapter describes 'The Yoga of Action'.
Being free from the desires of getting fruit of action and enabling oneself of attaining liberation, to perform duties for the whole life in the world is the Yoga of Action. Human being by nature is action-abiding. One can never live without action. Restraining organs of senses outwardly but dwelling mentally on object of senses, he is but a man of deluded intellect or a hypocrite. But it is good to restrain the organs of senses even if the mind runs after them while trying for the concentration of mind. For, the mind gradually goes stable as the outer organs of senses are restrained. It is therefore -
Let not body drift even if the mind does. Restrain five senses, as sayeth Das Kabir. - Sant Kabir.
This does not mean that it prohibits one from doing inevitable duties of the world. It is rather desirable to perform duties than leave them, for giving up of worldly duties and actions of doing good to others would do more harm than good and cause unhappiness among people. Hence, it is best to do the duties of the world, while at the same time keep on practicing 'Karmayoga' (the Yoga of Action). Rajarshi Janaka and other like him had also reached perfection through Karmayoga. The method of the Yoga of Action is thus that one should perform the duties through the organs of senses, keeping control over them through mind and being unattached to the fruit of action. At the same time, with such kind of action, he should pay special attention to the practice of 'Trikaala Sandhyaa' (practicing meditation thrice a day), so that he may stick to the self or become self-oriented. Giving up of 'Trikaala Sandhyaa' the 'Karmayoga' alone cannot enable oneself in becoming self-oriented. This is why Lord Krishna himself practised 'Trikaala Sandhyaa'.
Getting up early at 'brahma muhurta' - predawn time about three hours prior to sunrise and after washing face and feet, Lord Krishna used to practise meditation of his Self and feel unique enlightenment which is above the darkness of illusion. - extracted from Shrimadbhagawata, askandha 10, chapter 70.
The lack of self-orientation will deprive one of both: the conquest over the great powerful enemy in the form of desire and attainment of the perfection in Karmayoga. Duties should be performed along with a mind spiritual and God-surrendered, remaining free from affection, love and attachments. The senses are higher than their five objects viz. form, taste, smell, touch and sound. Higher is the mind than these senses. Higher than the mind is the intellect and higher is the Self than intellect. Self-realization will bring the control over mind and then the conquest over great powerful enemy in the form of desire.
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