Chapter 18 Shloka 50
सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म तथाप्नोति निबोध मे।
समासेनैव कौन्तेय निष्ठा ज्ञानस्य या परा।।५०।।
The Lord now reveals how one can attain union with the Supreme with a detached intellect and a selfless attitude, whilst fulfilling one’s ordained duty and dharma.
O Arjuna, now hear from Me in brief, how having attained perfection, one can attain Brahm Who is the pinnacle of knowledge.
Now the Lord speaks of the state of perfection in selfless deeds.
1. He speaks of the attainment of Brahm.
2. He speaks of the method whereby one who abides in a state of samadhi or absorption in the Self, attains the Supreme state of abidance in Brahm.
3. He describes the means whereby one can reach the pinnacle of knowledge.
So far, He has said the following:
1. Follow your natural attributes.
2. Follow your natural temperament.
3. Follow your natural duty.
4. Follow your natural dharma.
He then states:
1. Having done so, surrender all your deeds to the Lord.
2. Do all this as a worship of the Supreme.
3. Do all this without attachment.
4. Do all this having rid yourself of desire.
5. Do all this with a detached intellect.
6. Do all this with a selfless attitude.
a) Your worship of the Supreme should be selfless in nature.
b) Your deeds should be devoid of selfish interest.
c) Your knowledge should be selfless in essence.
One can explain this in yet another way:
1. This body belongs to the Lord – offer it to Him.
2. This mind belongs to the Lord – offer it to Him.
3. This intellect belongs to the Lord – give to Him what is His.
This is true renunciation – sanyas. This is what gives rise to perfection in selfless deeds.
The Lord explains next, how, one who has attained that perfection in selfless deeds, now attains the Supreme Brahm. The One who abides in samadhi has already attained selflessness in action.
This is the third level of Om.
(For an elaboration of the four stages of Om, refer to the Mandukya Upanishad.)
