The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

Freedom & Renunciation ╯
In verse 13 the Sankhya philosophy is again mentioned.
Scholars believe that at the time the Gita was composed the
Sankhya school was at an early stage of development, yet even
here we see the characteristic method of thorough categorizing.
Using the Sankhya categories of the three gunas, the Gita
goes on to give more detail about work, which is of three kinds
– sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic. Similarly, the doer of the work
is shown to be dominated by one of these all-pervasive qualities.
In a very interesting passage Krishna talks of three kinds
of happiness – a practical application of the abstract theories
of Sankhya (18:36–39).
Pursuing the world of work, and how it contributes to
spiritual growth, the Gita gives a short explanation of caste
in this chapter. The Gita is not especially interested in caste
– the social hierarchy of Hindu society – but we do find a
short explanation here. The sannyasi, the renouncing monk,
has left society and therefore belongs to no caste, but Krishna
does not point out that course to Arjuna. Rather, he wants
Arjuna to lead an active life. Krishna tells him that devotion
to his own duty is best. It is better to do one’s own work, even if
imperfectly, than to try to take on some other work. The work
proper to each of the four castes is then described. In general,
the Gita takes a liberal view of caste, and it would be wrong to
interpret this chapter as supporting a rigid caste system.
The final part of this chapter, verses 50 and following, give
a picture of the person who has attained siddhi – success or
253 ╯