Highlights supremacy of Jnana, Moksa is the true goal of all human endeavour and real purpose of human existence. The divine discourse of the Bhagavad-Gita is all about moksa which is the eternal summum bonum or greatest good eternally for all humanity.
The basic theme of this chapter highlights supremacy of gyana nishta couple with karama sanyasa.
1-11 - Vamsakathanam
Vidya Vamsa - Acharya parampara
Birth Lineage Vamsa - Janma Vamsa
12- 23 -Karma Yoga
24-32 Yagna
33-42 Jnani ( In praise of gnani)
42- Duties of arjunas to be followed
Pravrithii lakshanaha nivritthi laskshanaha
vakthum iccha - vivaksha
Summary of Shlokas 1-11
V1-11 Vamsha Kathanam - describe the originator of the shastra (Vamsa - lineage)
Jathi Vamsa - lineage of king
Vidya Vamsa - lineage of teacher
Karma - activity seen but no actor i.e absence of "I" Feeling.
Akarama - no activity seen, but presence of "I" feeling
vikarma (Nishiddha) - prohibited action
Krishna - explained he is an avatara, and recounted that this knowledge of the truth is given to Surya and subsequently to Royal Sages. Krishna re-incarnated time and again to establish this eternal principle and rejuvenate this understanding of the truth.
He says though he eternal and birth-less, his own nature(prakrti) is the born out of his own will. (4.6)... this requires more thinking and understanding what he really meant?
The most famous verse 4.8 parithranaya sadhunam, where he says has taken brith to establish dharam and destroy the evil doers. Seem very christian angelic concept but what i think that the destruction he is talking about is more of inner tendency in the beings rather than killing and punishing.
Those who are imbibed in this truth and the lorn in manner are saved from lower aspects of life.
12-23 - Karma Yoga
It is impossible to attain desirelessness if we give up swadharma and embrace the dharma which is not ours. A cobbler must do cobblers job. My inner nature must support my actions. When this happens the actions performed creates a certain contentment leads to not engage in karmaphala. The Gita uses the word 'karma' (action) in the sense of swadharma. The actions necessary for the purification of mind are called 'vikarma' by the Gita. Karma, vikarma and akarma—these three terms are important in the Fourth Chapter.
Karma means the outward actions done in the pursuit of swadharma.
Vikarma means total involvement of the mind therein.
Desireless, selfless karmayoga is attained only when outward actions are complemented with the inward action of the purification of mind.
When vikarma is united with karma, akarma results. What does it mean? It means that one does not then have the feeling of having done anything. Action does not weigh on the mind of the actor. We act, but still we are not the doers.
But if karma is coupled with vikarma, any amount of action does not tire. The mind remains calm, peaceful and radiant. When vikarma is poured into karma, it becomes akarma. It is as if karma is erased after it is over.
24-32 Elaborate the concept of Yagna - this was also touched upon in Chapter 3
All is brahman! Brahman alone is to be reached by him who meditates on Him in his works. One whose mind is absorbed in performing all actions as offerings to the Brahman exclusively, attains the Brahman without a doubt.
The ability to see the Brahman or spiritual substratum pervading all existence everywhere is factually a potent form of yagna or offerings of worship as propitiation to the Supreme Lord Krishns. This type of yagna is superior to all other yagnas.
Bhagavan purported different yagnas and sacrifices performed by various types of people at different stages of life. One can eradicate all thier sins through these sacrifices.
Bhagavan emphatically says those who does not perform sacrifices is not fit for then higher world out of question for such individual.
All yagna(sacrifices) born out of actions! this statement is a good segway into the discussion of Knowledge(JNANA).
33-42 - Talk about Jnani and how the Jnana path is superiror. Very last sloka says ARrjunas duty is KarmaYoga
Bhagawan starts with the statement in v4.345 saying one must obtain this knowledge from the one who realized the TRUTH. In other words Guru is very much required to realize this knowledge.
Knowledge will enable to perceive things as is, having reached this state the past does not matter.
In verse 4.38 we get a hint on how to attain this state of knowledge "One perfected by the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness automatically attains that knowledge in the self in course of time."
One can overcome all confusions and doubts when immersed in knowledge; actions can not bind one who is renounce the fruits of actions.