nishkAmya karma in Day to Day Life

vihAya kAmAn yah sarvAn pumAmScharati nisspruhah
nirmamO nirahankArah sa Santim adhigachchati

"That man attains peace who, after rejecting all desires, moves about free from hankering, without the idea of ('me' and) 'mine', and devoid of pride."

Yes, I read this Sloka several times from sAmkhya yoga chapter of the gIta. I wish Sankara, if not Sri kRshNa explained in detail how to be effective to us, the super-cool-know-all generation. I guess practising disattachment cannot be preached.

Let's see what I can infer from this one Sloka. Santim adhigachchati - attaing peace is the ultimate goal irrespective of the magnitude of karma performed. Several kinds of emotions that are caused to a human mind hamper this peace. One such emotion is stress. Stress links back to desires. Desire to perform, achieve, succeed. Stress can be controlled by realizing that such materialistic achievements lead to more desires and more stress. Human mind's inhibition to entertain such belief is its lack of enthusiasm for 'no gain'.

Voluntarily or involuntarily, we are always learning from and adapting to our surroundings. We take on simple challenges and adapt but restrain from trying bigger ones. If we brood long enough on nature (prakRti), our false notions to expect a reward for our efforts will vanish. Comparing one kind of action to other is also encouraging. For example, compare our acts out of compassion. We never expect anything in return. But we do expect bountiful results for those acts performed out of love or anger.

The significance of the word 'charati' should always be remembered. To move along and not be static is the key. All the attachments will make one's mind static, hindering its progress towards liberty, mOksha.

Symbolizing All Good Things

Even to the uneducated, the word lakshmi symbolizes all the good things in material life. For the rich, lakshmi brings more comforts. She brings fame and recognition to them in the society. For the deprived and hungry, lakshmi is a dream, the ideal goddess. Younger people crave for beauty. Lakshmi offers them supreme beauty and charm. The word lakshmi means one who has all the auspicious marks (sakala lakshaNa sampanna).

SlokA 11 and 12 from SrI sUktam:

kardamEna prajA-bhUtA mayi sambhava kardama
Sriyam vAsaya me kule mAtaram padma-mAlinIm (11)

Apah srijantu snigdhAni chiklIta vasa me gruhe
nicha devIm mAtaram Sriyam vAsaya me kule (12)

Lakshmi! You have progeny in kardama. (Hence) O kardama, may you reside in me. Make mother SrI with garlands of lotuses to have Her abode in my (ancestral) line. May the (holy) waters create friendship (they being of adhesive nature). O chikIIta (progeny of SrI)! Reside at my home; and arrange to make Divine mother SrI stay in my lineage!

The idea of SrI is profound because while satisfying our material desires, it directs our attention to the supreme power that gives us all that we need.