Srimadh Bagawatham - Why is Karma Yoga mandatory?

Continued From:  http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/05/srimadh-bagawatham-artha-panchakam.html

Why is Karma Yoga mandatory?

Whether we want to follow Bakthi Yoga or Gnana Yoga, we have to survive in this world. Taking care of our body is required for survival. We have to sustain our body by following the actions prescribed in the Shastras which is nothing but Karma Yoga.

For examples, eating proper diet as prescribed by the ahara niyamam, not drinking alcohol or other stimulants that cloud our judgement etc come under Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga is required to progress in the path of Bakthi Yoga or Gnana Yoga. Sri U.Ve.Velukkudi Krishnan Swamy gave the following example to illustrate the neccesity to follow Karma Yoga.  Think of Bakthi Yoga and Gnana Yoga as a car. In winter, in order to traverse the streets, we require proper removal of snow and ice. Tools like a shovel are used to clear the path so that vehicles can proceed easily through the streets. Karma Yoga is a tool like the shovel; it is used to remove the obstacles which arise in the path of Bakthi Yoga or Gnana Yoga due to the Karmas (Papams & Punyams) we have accumulated from our previous births. Bakthi & Gnana Yoga is like a vehicle; they cannot remove the obstacles. Only Karma Yoga can remove obstacles. This makes it mandatory for us to follow Karma Yoga.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/05/srimadh-bagawatham-karma-yoga-continued.html