Vyadha Gita - Teachings

Teachings

The surprised sannyasin asks the vyadha as to how he could became illumined by doing a "filthy, ugly work". The vyadha says that he is working as per the principles of karma, which placed him in a circumstance into which he is born.

The vyadha further advises, "no duty is ugly, no duty is impure" and it is only the way in which the work is done, determines its worth.

The vyadha advises that all work must be done by "dedicating to God" and by sincere and unattached performance of the allotted duty one can become illumined. The vyadha advises the sannyasin that ahimsa (non-violence) and satya (truth) are two main pillars of dharma through which the highest good of all can be achieved. He says that a decision on what is true under difficult circumstances should be made by sticking to that course of action which leads to the highest good of beings. The vyadha, teaches that not birth but dharma and virtuous conduct makes one a Brahmin.

The story describes the importance of performance of swadharma (prescribed duty or duty in life). According to the story, a Vyadha, considered low by birth, but engaged in dharma and doing good to others is capable of teaching a Brahmin, considered higher by birth, but practices austerities for his own good. The attainment of freedom, by the performance of swadharma, is also one of the central teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Philosopher Swami Vivekananda, describes the Vyadha Gita in one of his lectures in Karma Yoga and says that it contains one of the "highest flights of the Vedanta".