What is Karma Yoga?

Karma yoga is known as the yoga of action. It involves learning to act selflessly in the service of others. Karma yoga teaches us to be kind and compassionate without expecting anything in return. The concept behind this is that through learning these lessons, we are able to let go of our ego and advance on the path to enlightenment by just a little bit. Karma Yoga is most suited for people who lead active, extroverted, or social lives. It is the desire we incorporate into our deeds that sustains more actions and the enduring psychological state.

Chanakya’s Karma Yoga

The life of Chanakya serves as an example of how a true Karma Yogi should conduct themselves.
In Takshashila, Chanakya worked as a teacher. At that period, India was ruled by numerous minor kings. India was in risk of being dominated by a foreign force at the time since Alexander, the Greek conqueror, had already begun to make inroads into the country. As soon as Chanakya realised this, he made the decision to take action to bring all the important kings together. It is thought that during this procedure, when he contacted the then-ruler of the Nanda Dynasty in Magadh, the King of Magadh insulted him and expelled him. Chanakya made the decision to topple his dynasty.

As for him, he had no desire to become a king. But he took in a young boy, the son of a lady servant of the Nanda dynasty, and raised him to be a king who established the illustrious Maurya Empire, which went on to rule India for many years and included the great King Ashoka as one of its rulers. ‘Chandragupta Maurya’ was his name. This king deposed the Nanda dynasty and brought nearly all of North India—including Vindhyachal—under his rule. Chanakya was appointed prime minister by Chandra Gupta Maurya. Chanakya’s political and economic manoeuvres contributed to the Maurya empire’s rise to power.

Chanakya planned to retire shortly after completing his life’s purpose. But he wanted to choose a deserving successor for his place. So he persuaded Rakshasha, the defeated Prime Minister of the Nanda empire, to join this side and take up his own position. Chanakya was skilled in spotting talent. He believed Rakshasha to be extremely brilliant, trustworthy, and sincere and he was able to persuade him to join this side, handed up his position to him, and then retired.

How did Chanakya become a true Karma Yogi with karma yoga?

Karma yoga refers to performing one’s duties without procrastination, selfishness, or ego. In his life, Chanakya constantly adhered to this. He was never egotistical. He always behaved in the nation’s best interests. Using all four tools—Sham (encouragement to the righteous), Daam (paying one’s debts), Danda (Punishment to defaulters) and Bhed (discrimination between good and evil), he did his part admirably. He didn’t unwind until he succeeded.

But as soon as the objective was accomplished, he gave up his post and retired into isolation. It is reported that he lived in a tiny hut within the grounds of his palace even while serving as prime minister. Such was his means’ utmost purity.
Chanakya never claimed he was the one who chose Chandra Gupta Maurya, the ancestor of the Maurya

Dynasty, to rule as king. He was merely performing his political duties. He had no ambition to rule as the King. He pretended to be a true back-office aide for the Maurya Empire and oversaw its growth. He also left at the appropriate time. He was a genuine Karma Yogi.

Chanakya developed into a true gyani and produced a number of books of wisdom, including his best-known work, “Arth Shastra.”