Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 18.5
Gita Bhashya (Sri Ramanujacharya) 18.5 · 18 · Verse 5
Sanskrit Original
।।18.5।।यज्ञदानतपःप्रभृति वैदिकं कर्म मुमुक्षुणा न कदाचिद् अपि त्याज्यम् अपि तु आप्रयाणाद् अहरहः कार्यम् एव कुतः यज्ञदानतपःप्रभृतीनि वर्णाश्रमसम्बन्धीनि कर्माणि मनीषिणां मननशीलानां पावनानि। मननम् उपासनम्। मुमुक्षूणां यावज्जीवम् उपासनं कुर्वताम् उपासननिष्पत्तिविरोधिप्राचीनकर्मविनाशनानि इत्यर्थः।
18.5 Acts such as sacrifices, gifts, austerities etc., enjoined in the Vedas should not be relinished by the aspirant for release, but should be performed day after day until his death. Why? Acts like sacrifices, gifts and austerities associated with the different stations of life, are the means of purification for the wise., i.e., for those given to contemplation. Contemplation is worship. For the aspirants who perform such worship (Upasana) throughout their lives, they (sacrifices etc.) are a help to erase the previous Karmas which stand in the way of the fulfilment of such worship.