Expecting quick liberation shows a bloated self-esteem.

Acharya Prashant
4 min readApr 17, 2020

The following discussion is an excerpt from the ‘Course on Scriptures’ with Acharya Prashant.

Acharya Prashant: Verses 38 to 50 of the second chapter of Bhagwad Gita have been quoted.

Starting from verse 38 -

Treating happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, and conquest and defeat with equanimity, then engage in battle. Thus you will not incur sin. (Verse 38)

This buddhi regarding the self Samkhya has been imparted to you. Now listen to Yoga, by following which you will get rid of the bondage of Karma. (Verse 39)

Here there is no waste of an attempt not is there any harm. Even a little of this righteousness saves one from great fear. (Verse 40).

O scion of Kuru dynasty, in this there is a single, one-pointed conviction. The thoughts of the irresolute ones have many branches indeed and are innumerable. (Verse 41)

O son of Pritha, those undiscerning people who utter this flowery talk which promises birth as a result of rites and duties, and is full of various special rites meant for the attainment of enjoyment and affluence. (Verse 42–43)

They remain engrossed in the utterances of the Vedas and declare that nothing else exists; their minds are full of desires and they have heaven as the goal. (Verse 42–43)

One pointed conviction does not become established in the minds of those who delight in enjoyment and affluence, and who’s intellects are carried away by that speech. (Verse 44)

O Arjuna, the Vedas have the three qualities as their object. You become free from worldliness, free from the pairs of duality, ever poised in the quality of sattva, without desire for acquisition and protection, and self- collected. (Verse 45)

A Brahman with realization has that much utility in all the Vedas as a man has in a well when there is a flood all around. (Verse 46)

Your action is for, right is for, action alone, never for the results. Do not become the agent of the results of action. May you not have any inclination for inaction. (Verse 47)

By being established in Yoga, O Dhananjay ( Arjuna), undertake actions, casting off attachment and

Acharya Prashant