Verse 18.5

Verse 18.5: “Activity relating to Sacrifice, Charity, and Austerity should not be relinquished, but should assuredly be carried out. Sacrifice, Charity, as also Austerity are means of purification for the thoughtful. (149)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

One should not relinquish Sacrifices, (making) Charities, and Austerities, which are all necessary actions, in the way a wayfarer (wishing to reach his destination) should not stop taking steps forward. The search of a thing lost should not be given up until it is found out; or one should not push aside his (food) dish until his hunger is satisfied: or one should not desert (i.e. get out of) a boat he is rowing in, till he reaches the bank; or a plantain tree should not be cut down until it bears fruit; or a light should not be put out before seeing (finding) a thing placed (in a particular place). In that way, one should not be indifferent to sacrifices, so long as he is not quite definite within himself, in regard to the knowledge of the (Supreme) Self, but should continue performing sacrifices or giving charities and practising austerities with ardent application to the extent he is qualified to do.

The faster the walk, the nearer comes (the time for taking) rest; in that way, full measure of actions becomes useful in attaining ‘action-free’ status. The greater the readiness one shows for taking medicines, the greater the freedom from ailments one secures; in that way the more speedily and the more carefully the actions are performed, the more effectively and totally, Rajas and Tamas get swept out. The more the gold is given acid coatings, the more speedily is destroyed the alloy, making the gold quite pure. In that way the performance of actions with firm faith sweeps out Rajas and Tamas, bringing within (easy) view the Temple of the purity of Sattva (righteousness).

Therefore, Oh Dhananjaya, the actions come up to the level of the holy waters and secure the purity of righteousness. The holy waters wash out the external filth while actions brighten the interior; Thus it is only the right actions, that are fit to be called pure holy waters. (It is like) a thirsty person being provided with a nectar-drink by hot breeze (of the Sun) in a dry (waterless) region, or the eyes of a blind one securing the lustre of the Sun, or the river itself running to the rescue of one getting drowned, or the very earth sustaining one about to fall down, or the very, death prolonging (increasing) the longevity of one on the point of death. In that way activism itself rescues the seekers from the fetters of the action, in the way mercury (which in itself is a poison), when it is turned into a life-giving medicine through chemical process, saves a dying person. I now explain to you in the best way possible, Oh Kiriti, that process by which the (fetters of) actions are removed by the actions themselves.