The Ethics of the Gita

Abstract: Indian ethics aims at the spiritual growth of all men. The spiritual growth consists in the awareness or consciousness of atma-jnana or Brahma-Jnana. One realizes that the world is pervaded by Brahman. The particulars of the universe are potentially infinite. So everything is divine and every being kindred. Thus the concept of cosmic fraternity is the ethical paradigm, implied by this cosmo-centric ontology. During the present time the scientific and technological development has reached the apex, but the moral and spiritual values are constantly declining day by day. Though we have become economically rich, intellectually sound, and technologically advanced, still we are morally poor, and spiritually bankrupt. At this juncture of time, it is the philosophy of Gita which is out and out ethical, can really save the world from the over-blooming catastrophe. Indian ethics is holistic in its approach. As an aspect of Indian ethics, the Gita's ethics teaches how to harmonize an individual's desires, emotions and ambitions in order to lead a harmonious life on the earth with ultimate end of self realization and freedom. The Gita is a hand book of ethics. Its teachings are rational and scientific in approach. The Gita's ethics is discussed mostly in the concepts like, svabhava, svadharma and niskamakarma. In my paper I shall be discussing the concept of niskamakarma which constitutes the rock-button of the Gita's ethics. Niskakarma is the Philosophy of Karmayaga of the Gita which explicates that one has to perform actions with right ideation, having no desire for the consequences. My approach will be critical and analytical. hagavad-Gita, which means 'the songs of the Lord'. The Gita comes to us as a part of Bhisma.

Keywords: Karma Yoga, niskamakarma, svabhava, svadharma

Edition: Volume 9 Issue 3, March 2020,

Pages: 1025 - 1028