History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c91.184

v7.c91.184

Three *mārgas* (paths) are spoken of in ancient works viz. karmamārga, bhaktimārga and jñānamārga It is necessary to say here something about the path of *bhakti* and that of *jñāna*. Both these paths are deemed to lead to the same goal, viz. *mokṣa*. The mode of approach in the two is, however, different. In the path of knowledge (or *avyaktopāsanā*) it is not bare book knowledge of *brahman* as the Supreme Soul and as *nirguṇa* that will lead to mokṣa, for that purpose what is required is the *brāhmī-sthiti* (state of identifying oneself with *brahma*) mentioned in Gītā II. 72. This condition can be secured only by great efforts and long practice as described in Gītā II. 55 and the following verses. In the path of knowledge whatever actions the person concerned may do are *brahmāṛpaṇa*, as described in Gītā IV. 18-24. In the path of *bhakti* the bhakta resigns himself to God's grace and whatever he does he consigns to the God worshipped by him such as Vāsudeva (*saguṇa* and *vyakta*). Arjuna asks the Lord a question in Gītā XII. 1 ‘of the worshippers who thus constantly devoted meditate on you and those who (meditate) on the Unperceived and Indestructible, which best know devotion'. The reply given in XII. 2-7 is 'those who, being constantly devoted and possessed of the highest devotion, worship me with a mind fixed on me are regarded by me as the most devoted. But those who, restraining the group of the senses, and with a mind equable to all, meditate on the indescribable, indestructible, unperceived (Principle), which is all-pervading, inconceivable, unconcerned, immoveable, and constant, they, devoted to the good of all beings, certainly attain to me. In the case of those whose minds are attached to the unperceived (Principle or Spirit) the trouble is much greater, since the unperceived goal is attained by embodied beings with difficulty. In the case of those, however, who dedicating all their actions to me and regarding me as their highest goal worship me, meditating on me with a devotion towards none beside me and whose minds are placed on me, I, without delay, become their deliverer from the ocean of *saṁsāra* and death'. In chapter 9 the path of bhakti is spoken of in these terms 'it is the chief among vidyās (lores), chief among mysteries; it is the best means of sanctification; it can be directly apprehended, it is in accordance with dharma, imperishable and easy to practise'. According to the Gītā, therefore, the path of bhakti is easier than the path of knowledge.