PART TWO

Na Karmana

"Na Karmana" is the last Vedic chant of both the morning
and evening Veda Parayanas at Sri Ramanasramam. It is
customary for devotees to stand as it is chanted and then
prostrate to the Guru at its conclusion. This tradition continues
in the Ashrama at the Master's samadhi shrine.

In 1938, A. W. Chadwick (Sadhu Arunachala), with the
help of some devotees, translated "Na Karmana" into English.
Sri Bhagavan corrected and approved his English
versification. About the same time Sri Bhagavan translated
"Na Karmana" into Tamil.

`Tis not by means of action immortality is gained,
Nor even yet by offspring, nor possession of much gold,
But by renunciation by some it is attained.

The Sages who their senses have all thoroughly controlled
Attain that Sat ^[?] than which high heaven's Supremacy is less,
Which ever doth within the Heart its radiance unfold.

The Adepts by renunciation and one-pointedness
Who have become both pure in heart and who have also known
The certainty of that one Truth Vedanta doth profess,
Attain Self-realization; when ignorance has flown
From body and its cause Maya they'll gain full liberty.

That only as minute Akash what has eternal shone,
That is within the Lotus-Heart, of every sorrow free,
of the Immaculate Supreme, the seat molecular,
Within the body's inner core, should meditated be.

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He verily is Lord Supreme. He is exalted far
Above the Primal Word, which is of Veda first and last;
In which blends the Creative Cause, so merged in one
they are.

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