"But, just because a thing has gone out of sight, how can you pronounce it 'destroyed'? No. A lump of sugar or salt placed in water disappears. You can see it no more; but can you say it has been destroyed? Or, do you say it has merged? It is there, the taste declares it; it has lost the form, but is present in its quality, its Guna. The Jiva also merges like this in Brahmam. It is not destroyed at all. When the Jiva is not merged like this, it can at best only wander between heaven and earth, deserving life in heaven for some time and descending again to earth for further efforts towards salvation."
Arjuna was still afflicted with doubt. He asked "Krishna! You say that no heaven, even the highest Brahmaloka, can save man from the cycle of birth and death; then, what is the royal road to salvation? Do you mean to say that those who strive for those heavens have to satisfy themselves with just that and no more?"
Krishna answered, "Partha! There is a state that knows no decline, beyond all these heavens. There are many roads by which that state can be won. Unaware of these roads or of the joy of that state, man is taking to others that are either crooked or comfortable. He does not know how to distinguish between the right road and the wrong.
"I may tell you that there are four roads which are now used by mankind:
- Karma-atheetha, beyond Karma, unaffected by Karma;
- Nishkaama-karma, Karma without any desire for the fruit thereof, Karma unaffected by any craving for the result thereof;
- Sakaama Karma that is, action with the desire to reap and enjoy its fruit and
- Karma-bhrashta, Karma that knows no restraint or control."
"The Karma-atheethas are the Jivan-mukthas, all their Karmas have been burnt up by the fire of Jnana; their impulses for action have been scorched by the wisdom they have gained. They have no further need for injunction and prohibition, (Vidhi and Nishedha). They need no Sadhana, like Dana, (charity), Dharma (virtuous living), Thapas (austerity). All that they do or feel or think will be divine, holy, virtuous, beneficial to mankind. The very earth they tread on is sacrosanct; every word they utter will be the word of God; their breath need not take them, on death, to realms that are heavenly; they merge, on the falling away of the bodily raiment, without delay, in Brahmam. Such are the Jivis who were described by Me now as having Kaivalyamukthi, Brahma-praapthi or Sadyomukthi."
