Chapter 3 Lesson 3
We have already understood the term ‘sacrifice’ as a ‘prayer, an offering’ free from attachment (of the desire for the fruit).
Before we enter other verses of the Geeta let us understand the term ‘Yajna’



Swami Chinmayanandaji says:
Yajna could mean any self sacrificing work undertaken in a spirit of Self-dedication…The following stanzas will become more and more clear and universally appropriate in their meaning when we understand Yajna as “any social, communal, national or personal activity into which the individual is ready to pour himself forth entirely in a spirit of service and dedication…Only when people come forward to act in a spirit of cooperation and self dedication, can the community get itself freed from its shackles of poverty and sorrow.

Now let us understand what Krishna says:
Having created mankind along with the spirit of sacrifice at the beginning of creation, the Creator Brahma said: “You shall prosper by this, may this yield the enjoyment you seek”

My note:
Why has mankind not prospered? The Yajna spirit is seen in the Sun, the moon, the Sea, the Earth…But is it seen in Man? Has he not only cheated his brothers and sisters but the very Mother Earth who brought him forth and nurtured him?

I am reminded of a song:

Jagat bhar ki roshni ke liye
Karoron ki zindagi ke liye
Suraj re jalte rehna
Suraj re jalte rehna…

Jagat kalyaan ki khaatir tu janma hai
Tu jag ke vaaste har dukh utha re
Bhaley hi ang tera bhasm ho jaaye
Tu jal jal ke yahaan kirne luta re

Likha hai yeh hi tere bhaag mein
Ki tera jeevan rahe aag mein
Suraj re jalte rehna
Suraj re jalte rehna

Which means:
Oh Sun! Keep burning for the sake of
Bringing Light
And (keep burning for the sake of) the lives of millions (of human bengs)

You are born for the the ‘good’ of the world,
So carry the burden of every unhappiness,
No matter if you burn,
You distribute your rays of sunshine,
It is so written in your fate,
That you live ‘in fire’ (yet)
Oh Sun, keep burning!

EXTENDED YAJNA OF SURYA......
KARODON LOG PRITHVI KE BHATAKTE HAIN,
KARODON AANGANO MEIN HAI ANDHERA,
ARAY JAB TAK NA HO GHAR GHAR MEIN UJIYARA,
SAMAJ LENA HAI ADHURA KAAM TERA,

JAGAT UDDHAR MEIN ABHI DER HAI,
ABHI TO DUNIYA MEIN ANDHER HAI.....
SURAJ RE, .....JALTE REHNA.....SURAJ RE....JALTE REHNA...

To read what I have written so far, click:
http://www.dalsabzi.com/wisdom_script/bhagvad_gita.htm