Learn·Bhagavad Gītā · Chapter 3

Karma-yoga

The yoga of action

0/43

3.1अर्जुन उवाचArjuna questioned: My Lord! If wisdom is superior to action, why do you advise me to engage in this terrible fight?
3.2व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।Your language confuses me and confounds my reason. Therefore, please tell me the only way by which I can, without doubt, secure my spiritual welfare.
3.3श्री भगवानुवाचLord Shri Krishna replied: In this world, as I have said, there is a twofold path, O sinless one! There is the path of wisdom for those who meditate, and the path of action for those who work.
3.4न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।No one can attain freedom from action by abstaining from action, nor can they reach perfection by simply not acting.
3.5न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।He cannot remain inactive even for a moment, for the qualities of Nature will compel him to act, whether he wills it or not.
3.6कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।He who remains motionless, refusing to act, yet brooding over sensuous objects, is that deluded soul simply a hypocrite.
3.7यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।But, O Arjuna! All honor to him whose mind controls his senses, for he is thereby beginning to practice Karma-Yoga, the Path of Right Action, keeping himself always unattached.
3.8नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।Do your duty as prescribed, for action for duty's sake is superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of the body would be impossible if one remained inactive.
3.9यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।In this world, people are fettered by their actions, unless they are performed as a sacrifice. Therefore, O Arjuna, let your actions be done without attachment, as a sacrifice only.
3.10सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः।In the beginning, when God created all beings through the sacrifice of Himself, He said to them: "You can procreate through sacrifice, and it shall satisfy all your desires."
3.11देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।Worship the powers of Nature, and let them nourish you in return; thus, supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare.
3.12इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।For, fed by sacrifice, nature will give you all the enjoyment you desire. But he who enjoys what she gives without returning is, indeed, a thief.
3.13यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः।The sages who enjoy the food that remains after the sacrifice is made are freed from all sins; whereas, the selfish who spread their feast only for themselves feed on sin alone.
3.14अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।All creatures are the product of food; food is the product of rain; rain comes from sacrifice, and sacrifice is the noblest form of action.
3.15कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्।All actions originate from the Supreme Spirit, which is Imperishable, and in sacrificial actions, the all-pervasive Spirit is consciously present.
3.16एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।Thus, he who does not help the revolving wheel of sacrifice, but instead leads a sinful life, rejoicing in the gratification of his senses, O Arjuna, is breathing in vain.
3.17यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।On the other hand, the soul who meditates on the Self is content to serve the Self and rests satisfied in the Self; there is nothing more for them to accomplish.
3.18नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन।He has nothing to gain from the performance or non-performance of action; his welfare does not depend on any contribution that an earthly creature can make.
3.19तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।Therefore, do your duty perfectly, without worrying about the results, for he who does his duty without attachment attains the Supreme.
3.20कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।King Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Even for the sake of enlightening the world, it is your duty to act.
3.21यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।For whatever a great man does, others imitate; people conform to the standard he has set.
3.22न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन।There is nothing in this universe, O Arjuna, that I am compelled to do, nor anything for me to attain; yet I persistently remain active.
3.23यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।Were I not to act without ceasing, O prince, people would be inclined to do the same.
3.24उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्।And if I were to refrain from action, the human race would be ruined; I would lead the world to chaos, and destruction would follow.
3.25सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।As the ignorant act, out of their fondness for action, so should the wise act without attachment, fixing their eyes, O Arjuna, only on the welfare of the world.
3.26न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।But a wise man should not disturb the minds of the ignorant, who are attached to action; let him perform his own actions in the right spirit, with concentration on Me, thus inspiring all others to do the same.
3.27प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।Action is the product of the qualities inherent in nature. It is only the ignorant man who, misled by personal egotism, says, "I am the doer."
3.28तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।But he, O Mighty One, who correctly understands the relationship between the Qualities and action, is not attached to the act, for he perceives that it is merely the action and reaction of the Qualities among themselves.
3.29प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु।Those who do not understand the qualities are interested in the act; however, the wise man who knows the truth should not disturb the mind of those who do not.
3.30मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।Therefore, surrender your actions to Me, keep your thoughts focused on the Absolute, free from selfishness and without expecting a reward, with a mind free from excitement, begin to fight.
3.31ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।Those who always act in accordance with My precepts, firmly in faith and without caviling, they too are freed from the bondage of action.
3.32ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।But they who ridicule My word and do not observe it, are ignorant, devoid of wisdom, and blind. They seek only their own destruction.
3.33सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।Even the wise man acts in accordance with his nature; indeed, all creatures act according to their natures. What is the use of compulsion then?
3.34इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ।The love and hate that are aroused by the objects of sense arise from Nature; do not yield to them, as they only obstruct the path.
3.35श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।It is better to do one's own duty, however lacking in merit, than to do that of another, even though efficiently. It is better to die doing one's own duty, for doing the duty of another is fraught with danger.
3.36अर्जुन उवाचArjuna asked, "My Lord, what is it that drives a person to sin, even against their will and as if by compulsion?"
3.37श्री भगवानुवाचLord Shri Krishna: It is desire, it is aversion, born of passion. Desire consumes and corrupts all things. It is the greatest enemy of man.
3.38धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।As fire is shrouded by smoke, a mirror is covered by dust, and a child is enveloped by the womb, so is the universe enveloped in desire.
3.39आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।It is the wise man's constant enemy; it tarnishes the face of wisdom, being as insatiable as a flame of fire.
3.40इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।It works through the senses, the mind, and the reason; and with their help, it destroys wisdom and confounds the soul.
3.41तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।Therefore, O Arjuna, first control your senses and then slay desire, for it is full of sin and is the destroyer of knowledge and wisdom.
3.42इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।It is said that the senses are powerful; however, beyond the senses is the mind, beyond the mind is the intellect, and greater than the intellect is He.
3.43एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।Thus, O Mighty-Armed One, knowing Him to be beyond the intellect, and with His help, subdue your personal ego and kill your enemy, Desire, even though it is extremely difficult.

← Chapter 2 Chapter 4 →