Dr. ShuddhanandaBharati

The Secret of Karma

Interpretation of Karma Yoga

ASSAEditions

Editor’s notes

We submit The Secret of Karma (Gita Yoga) at the divine feetof God and bow our heads in worship. The Bhagavad Gitais the Bible of India; it is an incomparable tome of Vedicphilosophy which the entire world should follow; it hasbeen interpreted in several different ways but it stillallows scope for new interpretations.

The Gita is an explanation of the Supreme Soul’s Yoga. Itexplains in detail the three distinct types of yoga, namelykarma, devotion and wisdom in the chapters 1-6, 7-12, 13-18.

We should study the Gita and its origin to understand itsmeaning. With this objective in mind, the Kavi Yogi haswritten and presented The Secret of Karma (Gita Yoga).

This rare book will be published in three parts. The firstpart will throw light on The Secret of Karma in the chaptersI – IV. The second part consists of the chapters VII – XII inwhich the practice of devotional yoga is explained. Thethird part will deal with the yoga of wisdom in the chap-ters XIII – XVIII.

Special features of this publication:

The slokas (Sanskrit verses) are written in Tamil script toenable the Tamil people to read the text easily.

This book shows that the Devanagari language can bewritten with the Tamil script.

Since the text and explanations are written first, followedby the Sanskrit verses, it will be easier to understand evenfor those who need to learn Sanskrit. We have presentedthe musical compositions separately as much as possible.

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The Gita incorporates elements of the Vedas and the Upan-ishad. In the elucidations provided in Gita Yoga, readerswill be able to perceive the essence of divine books relat-ing to the Hindu principles of life in many places.

Meditational verses are given at the beginning of the bookto enable our people to realize the spiritual path envi-sioned by Hindu sages and to meditate on God. Thesehave been uttered by divinely-endowed sages. Clarity ofmind can be obtained by chanting them in the morningsand evenings.

The profound doctrines found in each chapter have beenseparated into small sections for elucidation so that every-one is able to read them daily without difficulty.

This book also deals with the path shown by the Gita andcovers several new topics.

The philosophy of the Gita and ways to incorporate it ineveryday life is touched upon in the book, which is anexcellent guide for righteous conduct.

The crisis of war created many hurdles in our way as didalso the shortage of paper. With God’s grace, we havemanaged to bring out the first part. (The first edition isdated on 24th April 1942).

We have made all efforts to publish this edition in a properway and are making every effort to bring out the secondand third parts as soon as possible. May our efforts becrowned with success with the grace of God and the loveand support of well-wishers.

For the attention of readers:

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The Secret of Karma (Gita Yoga) is a beautiful book trans-lated by Savitri. It was not easy to translate a book meantfor the Tamil people. But she does that very nicely, thankyou to Savitri for her translation.

Devanagari slokas have been written in the Tamil script.The Tamil language does not have loud sounds. For thisreason, Kavi Yogi is following a simple method for a longtime. All the letters are in Tamil and known to Tamil peo-ple. Only loud sounds have been denoted by a dot and aline ( .-). Readers may please note.

Table

Only these 15 letters are new.

According to the Sanskrit script, the second letter isdenoted by 2 dots, the third letter by 1 dot, the fourth letterby a line. In this way, all letters can be correctly and easilywritten and read. Thanks to this method, there is no prob-lem of combined letters and new letters; all the letters areknown to the Tamil people. We have struggled a lot toenunciate Sanskrit sounds in Tamil and spent moreresources than we could afford. But a great bottleneck inthe Tamil language has been removed.

Now no one can mock our mother tongue. Not onlyIndian but international languages can also easily be writ-ten in Tamil with the help of 30 combined letters in themethod adopted by Kavi Yogi, which is a great boon to theTamil world. This book is also written in the same way.

With the support of people and by the grace of God, weintend to publish great books like the Upanishad and Sri-mad Bhagavatham in Tamil. Everything is God’s doing.

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It is a real pleasure for me to present The Secret of Karma toyou. We have so much to learn from this drama! Thankyou to Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati for having transmittedThe Secret of Karma to us. With the blessing of Aum ShuddhaShakti Aum.

Christian Piaget

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Courage!

The night is through,The chain of slaveryIt is already broken -I am full of courage!

Peace in the morning,A golden sun risesLike a lion superhumanTo accomplish my dream.

A hopeful smile,Docile as a childWho plays in the infiniteWith a fiery star.

My journey is over;I enjoy time;The universe is my nest;Of eternal spring.

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Song of Unity

Unite. Unite, Unite, Oh SoulsUnite and play your rolesUnite in mind, unite in heartUnite in whole, unite in partLike words and tunes and sense in songLet East and West unite and live longTrees are many; the grove is oneBranches are many; tree is oneShores are many; sea is oneLimbs are many; body is oneBodies are many; self is oneStars are many; sky is oneFlowers are many; honey is onePages are many; book is oneThoughts are many; thinker is oneTastes are many; taster is oneActors are many; the drama is oneNations are many; the world is oneReligions are many; Truth is oneThe wise are many; Wisdom is oneBeings are many; breath is oneClasses are many; college is oneFind out this One behind the manyThen life shall enjoy peaceful harmony.

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Peace Anthem

Peace for all, peace for allFor all the countries peaceJoy for all, joy for allFor all the nations joyA rosy morning peaceA smiling summer joy (Peace for all)

All for each and each for allThis is the golden ruleLife and Light and Love for allFor all that live our love (Peace for all)

Work and food and clothes for allEqual status for allHealth and home and school for allA happy world for all (Peace for all)

No idle rich, no more beggarsAll are equal workersNo more tears, no more fearsThe heart is full of cheers (Peace for all)

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No atom scare, no fat mammonNo room for war demonLike leaves in trees, like rays in the sunWe are one communion,One Divine communion (Peace for all)

The good in you is good for allYour life is life for allThe God in you is God for allYour love is love for all (Peace for all)

For he or she or it or restThis collective life is bestThis Universal Life is bestNorth or South, or East or West (Peace for all)

Peace for plants and birds and beastsFor hills and streams and woodsPeace in Home - land and air and seaDynamic peace we see

Peace for all, peace for all

Immortal Peace for All

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Presentation of Dr. Shuddhananda Bharati11th May 1897 – 7th March 1990

The wise one to the cosmic ageAlthough more than 90 years old, in his school in thesouth of India, Kavi Yogi Maharishi (great divine visionary,wise poet), Dr.Shuddhananda Bharati worked like ayoung man of twenty. When he was asked his age, heanswered: “My age is Courage!” The Yogi wrote severalhundred works in English, French, Tamil, Hindi, Teluguand Sanskrit; five thousand songs, and fifteen hundredpoems in French. The magnum opus of the man consciousof the presence of God in him, Bharata Shakti, (in 50,000verses) described his ideal: only One Humanity living incommunion with only One God in a transformed world!Bharata Shakti is a monumental and unique work. The Yogidepicts the essence of all the religions, of all the prophetsand saints, all the approaches of yoga and all the cultureson an allegorical fabric. It is a book for any age which allspiritual researchers and all nations should read and med-itate on. His commitment is summarized in his book cele-brating his life, Pilgrim Soul. The three poems mentionedin the opening express perfectly his ideal. His mantra,Aum Shuddha Shakti Aum, nourishes our souls and guidesour steps toward the inner joy Ananda. It means: The lightof Grace and power of the pure supreme Almighty blessus of peace, happiness and prosperity! Let the beauty andgreatness of soul of Dr.Bharati Shuddhananda bloom andscent the entire Earth of its divine message and his spiri-tual and unifying benefactor!

Editions ASSA

Yogi Shuddhananda Bharati

The Secret of Karma

Part I – Arjuna’s agitation

1. Meditation

Om poornamadha: poornamidhamPoornasya poorna maadhaayaPoorna mewa visishyatheOm shanthi shanthi shanthi

Aum; that which is God is complete in itself, that which isthe world is complete; from that completeness, this com-plete object has come into being. Even after taking outcompleteness out of completeness, it still remains com-plete. Aum Shanthi! Shanthi! Shanthi! (1)

Om brahma vidhapnodhi paramBarahmavin brahmaivabavathiSatyam nyanan anandham brahma

He who perceives the Aum Brahma attains a superiorstate. A truly enlightened one becomes one with God; Godis truth, wisdom, happiness. (2)

Asathoma sadhgamayaTamasoma jyotirgamayaMrutyurma amrutham gamayaRudra yathe dhakshinam mugamThena maam maahi nithyam

Lead me from falsehood to the truth; from darkness tolight, from death to immortal life. O Lord Shiva, protectme always with Your compassionate face. (3)

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Sarve bhavathu sukithaSarve sandhu niraamayaSarve bhathrani bhavyanthuMaa kwasith dhukka paghbhaveth

May everyone be happy! May everyone be rid of disease!May everyone experience prosperity! May no one suffer! (4)

Kali sayano bhavathiSamji hanasthu dwaparaUthishta sathretha bhavathiGrutham sampath yathe charan saraivedhi!

When one sleeps, he is in Kali Yuga, when awake, in Dwa-para Yuga; when he stands, he is in Thretha Yuga andwhen he walks, he is in Grutha Yuga. O life traveller, goforward! (5)

Varnanaam arthasanganumRasaanum sandhasamabhiMangalanumsa kartharauVandhe vaani vinayakane!

I worship Goddess Saraswathi and Lord Ganesha whocreate letters, the collections of matter, the tastes, musicalverses and good fortunes. (6)

Athmaathavam girijaamadhi sahasaraPrana sareeram gruhamPoojaathe vishayobha bhogarasanaNithra samaadhisthithiSanjaara padhayo pradhakshinavidhiSthothraani sarvaghiroYathyath karma karomi dhathathathakilamSambo dhavaaradhagam!

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O God of happiness, Lord Shiva, You are my soul, myintelligence is Your wife Parvathi, my life force is Yourfamily, my body is Your house, all the physical, mentaland worldly experiences I undergo are a form of Yourworship. My sleep is the state of oneness obtained bymerging with You; the steps taken by my feet are to cir-cumambulate You; my speech is all about reciting wordsin Your salutation; all the trades I ply are but a form ofYour worship. (7)

Sarandhakaaram BhujagasayanamPadmanabham sooresamVisvadhaaram gaganasatrusamMeghavarnam soopaanghamLakshmikaantham kamalanayanamYogipirthyana kamyamVandhe vishnum bhavyaharamSarva logaikanaadham

A picture of calm, He who reclines on the serpent, Pad-manabha, Lord of all celestial beings, the fountainhead ofthe world, He who is omnipresent like the sky, He whohas a complexion like the clouds, He who is endowed withexceptional physical beauty, He with the lotus eyes, Hewho is the object of penance undertaken by the sages, Hewho erases fear, He who is the God of the universe, Hewho is the husband of Lakshmi and He who is LordVishnu, I worship Him.

Sarva mangala maangalye Sarve sarvartha saadhake Charanye thrayambike gauriNarayani namosthuthe

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Goddess of prosperity, You who bestows all wealth andsuccess, the consort of Lord Shiva, You who are the refugeof all devotees, the three-eyed Goddess, You who areGauri and Narayani Devi, I worship You.

Ahimsapradhamam punyam Punya mindhriya nikrahaSarva bhoodhadhaya punyamKshamapunyam vivoshathaNyanam punyam thapa punyamDhyanam punyam thadhaivasaSathva mashtavidham punyamVishnopreethikarambavedh

Non-violence is the first among good deeds, then comescontrol of the senses, followed by kindness shown to allhuman beings, forgiveness of others’ sins (this is a spe-cial attribute), attainment of spiritual wisdom, under-taking penance, and meditation on God in the heart.These eight good deeds serve to please Lord Vishnu,who is omnipresent.

Rooso hayo vedha savedha devaanYajoom shiyo vedha savedha yakyamSaamaani yovedha savedha sarvamYo maanasam vedha savedha brahman

He who has studied the Rig Veda will be familiar withangels, he who has studied the Yajur Veda has knowledge ofsacrifice; he who has studied the Sama Veda will have knowl-edge of everything else; only he who has knowledge ofMaanasa Veda (inner enlightenment) will perceive God.

Vasudevasoodham devamKamsa sanoormarathanam

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Devaki paramaanandhamKrushnam vandhe jagathgurum

Son of Vasudeva, the joy of Mother Devaki; He who killedthe murderous demon Kamsa, Krishna; He is the Lord ofthe universe. I worship Him.

Namo vivaavasava rupaayaVisvasthithyantha hedhaveVisvesvaraaya visvaayaGovindhaaya namonamaha

He who personifies the world, He who protects anddestroys the world, He who is the master of the world andits form, He is Govinda, and I worship Him.

Prapanna paarijaathaayaThothra vedhraika paranayeNyana mudraaya krushnaayaGitamrutha thuhenamaha

He who bestows sweet fruit to His devotees, He who car-ries a stick in His hand to steer the cows, He who devisedthe wisdom sign, He who brought forth the nectar of Gita,Krishna, I worship Him.

Mugamkrodhi vaasaalamPangum sankhyadhekirimYath krupa thamaham vandheParamaanandha madhavam

He whose grace can give speech to a dumb person andmake a lame person cross a mountain, He who is theembodiment of supreme happiness, Madhava, I wor-ship Him.

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Yambrahma varunendhra rudhramarudhaSthunvanthi divya sadhaivaVedha saangapadhakromba nishathairGayanthi yam saamagaDhyanavasthitha thathkadena manasaBhavyanthi yamyoghinoYasyantham thavithu sooraa sooraganaaDevaaya thasmai namaha

He who is worshipped with divine verses by the celestialbeings such as Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and Vayu,He whose glory is eulogized by poets versed in SamaVeda, He who is perceived in the mind by sages immersedin meditation, He whose intention cannot be divined bycelestial beings or asuras, He who is the God of all souls, Iworship Him.

Karacharana krutham, vaak, kaayajam,karmajam varaSravana nayajam varamaanansam vara aparaadhamVihitham avihitham vara sarvamedha kshamasvaJaya jaya karunaapje sri maha devasambo

O Mahadeva, Shiva, ocean of kindness, jaya jaya, pleaseoverlook the mistakes I commit with my hand, foot,speech, ears and mind, and shower Your grace.

Dhvameva maadhaasa pitha dhvamevaDhvameva mathuvasa sagaathvamevaDhvamevasarvam mamadeva deva

O God, You are my Mother, You are my Father, You aremy family, You are my companion, You are my education,You are my wealth, You are everything.

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GurubrahmaguruvishnuGurudevo maheswaraGuru saakshaath parabrahma Dhasmai sri guruve namaha

The teacher is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara; theteacher is God incarnate, so I salute my teacher.

Namosthuthe vyaasa visaalabuddhePulsaara vindhaaya dhapathra nethraYena dhvayaa bharatha thaila poornaPrajvaalitho nyanamaya pradheepa

O God Vyasa, You who lit the lamp of the Gita filled withthe oil of the Mahabharata and made it glow with wisdom,You who are like the fully-bloomed petals of a lotus, Youwho have an exceptional intelligence, I worship You.

Parthaaya prathi bodhithaam bhagavathaamNarayanena swayamVyaasena krathithaam puraanamuninaamMadhye mahabharathamAdhvaithaamrutha varshineem bhagavatheemAshtaa dhavaathyayineemAmba dhvaam anusandhadhaami bhagavathGithe bhavathveshineem

That which was taught to Arjuna by none other than LordNarayana himself, that which was incorporated by Vyasamidway in the Mahabharata, that which overflows withpure nectar, that which has 18 chapters, that which isagainst sinful acts, Goddess of virtue, Mother Gita, I med-itate on You always.

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Bheeshma dronathadaa jayathrath jalaaGandhaara neelothpalaValya kraavathi krupena vahaneeKarnena velaakula Aswathaama vikarna loramakaraDuryodhanaavarthiSotheerna kalu paandavaiRanathi kaivarthaka kevaava

The battle of Mahabharata is a river of blood; Bhishma andDrona are its two banks; Jayathrathan is the water; Sakuniof the Gandhara court is the blue lotus; Salliyan is thecrocodile; Krupachaariyaar is the flood; Karna is the wavecluster; Ashwathaama and Vikarna are all dangeroussharks; Duryodhana is the water eddy; the Pandavascrossed this bloody river because Lord Krishna Himselfacted as the boatman and helped them with the crossing.

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