गीताGitaDeep

Chapter 3 · Read in flow

कर्म योग

Karma Yoga · The Yoga of Action

अर्जुन उवाच

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन

तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव

arjuna uvāca

jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana|

tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava||

Arjuna said: Krsna, if you consider Knowledge as superior to Action, then why do You urge me to this dreadful action, Kesava! (l) Feet er: ime Tecate pei’. ter, eet. —————— Yi

व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे

तदेकं वद निश्िचत्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम्

vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me|

tadekaṃ vada niśicatya yena śreyo'hamāpnuyām||

You are, as it were, puzzling my mind by y these seemingly involved expressions; there- fore, tell me difinitely the one discipline by K which I may obtain the bighest good

श्री भगवानुवाच

लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ

ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्

śrī bhagavānuvāca

loke'smindvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha|

jñānayogena sāṃkhyānāṃ karmayogena yoginām||

Sri Bhagavan said: Arjuna, in this world! two courses of Sadhana (Spiritual discipline) hhave been enunciated by Me in the past. In the case of the Sankhyayogi, the Sadhana proceedsalong the path of Knowledge; whereas inthe case of the Krmayogi, it proceeds along y x the path of Action

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते

न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति

na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo'śnute|

na ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati||

Man does not attain freedom from action culmination of the discipline of Action) without entering upon action; nor does he reach perfection (culmination of the discipline of / Knowledge) merely by ceasing to act. (4) k

न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्

कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः

na hi kaśicatkṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt|

kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ||

& Surely none can ever remain inactive even for a moment; for everyone helplessly driven 4 to action by nature-born qualities

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्

इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते

karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran|

indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate||

He who outwardly restraining the organs of sense and action, sits mentally dwelling on fics the objects of senses, that man of deluded e intellect is called a hypocrite. (6) WARS GurlrlgS LE 4A OS SSS

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन

कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते

yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate'rjuna|

karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate||

On the other hand, he who controlling the i ms organs of sense and action by the power of his — ce will, and remaining unattached, undertakes the Yoga ofAction through those organs, Arjuna, K he excels

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः

शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः

niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ|

śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ||

Therefore, do you perform your allotted for action is superior to inaction. Desisting) from action, you cannot even maintain your

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः

तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर

yajñārthātkarmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ|

tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṃgaḥ samācara||

Man is bound by his own action except: when it is performed for the sake of sacrifice. Therefore, Arjuna, do youefficiently perform your duty, free from attachment; for the sake Y of sacrifice alone

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः

अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्

sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ|

anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo'stviṣṭakāmadhuk||

Having created mankind along with the Spirit of sacrifice at the beginning of Creation G the Creator, Brahma, said to them, “You shall prosper by this; may this yield the enjoyment you seek. (0) i

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः

परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ

devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ|

parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha||

Foster the gods through this (sacrifice), and let the gods be gracious to you. Each fostering other disinterestedly, you will attain the highest good.

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः

तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः

iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ|

tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ||

Fostered by sacrifice, the gods will surely y bestow on you unasked all the desired: enjoyments. He whoenjoys the giftsbestowed them, without giving them in return, is j oy, undoubtedly a thief

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः

भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात्

yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ|

bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt||

The virtuous who partake of what is left over after sacrifice are absolved of all sins. Those sinful ones who cook for the sake of nourishing their body alone eat one sin.

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः

यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः

annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ|

yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ||

All beings are evolved from food; production mi of food is dependent on rain; rain ensues Sy from sacrifice, and sacrifice is rooted in prescribed action. Know that prescribed action has its origin in the Vedas, and the Vedas proceed from the Indestructible (God); hence Y the all-pervading Infinite is always present in sacrifice

verses 14–15

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्

तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम्

karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam|

tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam||

All beings are evolved from food; production mi of food is dependent on rain; rain ensues Sy from sacrifice, and sacrifice is rooted in prescribed action. Know that prescribed action has its origin in the Vedas, and the Vedas proceed from the Indestructible (God); hence Y the all-pervading Infinite is always present in sacrifice

verses 14–15

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः

अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति

evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ|

aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati||

Arjuna, he who does not follow the wheel G of creation thus set going in this world (i.e., ( doesnot his duties), sinfulandsensual he lives in vain

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः

आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते

yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ|

ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate||

He, however, who takes delight in the self a alone and is gratified with the Self,.and is, contented in the self, has no duty. (7)

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन

न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्िचदर्थव्यपाश्रयः

naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana|

na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaśicadarthavyapāśrayaḥ||

In this world that great soul has no use whatsoever for things done nor for things not y done; nor has he selfish dependence of any y kind on any creature

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर

असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः

tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara|

asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ||

Therefore, go on efficiently doing your duty without attachment. Doing work without attachment man attains the Supreme. (9) IN

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः

लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि

karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ|

lokasaṃgrahamevāpi saṃpaśyankartumarhasi||

It is through action (without oa: alone that Janaka and other wisemenreached perfection. Having an eye to maintenance of: the world order too you should take to

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः

स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते

yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ|

sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate||

For whatever a great man does, that very thing other men also do; whatever standard he sets up; the generality of men follow the same. (2l

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन

नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana|

nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi||

Arjuna, there is nothing in all the three worlds for Me to do, nor is there anything vy worth attaining unattained by Me. Yet Icontinue to work

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः

मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ|

mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ||

Should I not engage in action, scrupulously wil at any time, great harm will come to the Y world; for, Arjuna, men follow My way in all matters

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्

सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः

utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham|

saṅkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ||

If I cease to act, these worlds will perish; nay, I should prove to be the cause of confusion, ¥ and of the destruction of these people. (24) V

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत

कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्िचकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्

saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata|

kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaśicakīrṣurlokasaṃgraham||

Arjuna, as the unwise act with attach-: x7 ment, so should the wise man, seeking maintenance of the world order, act without attachment

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्

जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन्

na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām|

joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran||

A wise man established in the Self, should A not unsettle the mind of the ignorant attached to action, but should get them to perform all their duties, duly performing his own duties. (26)

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः

अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ|

ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā kartā'hamiti manyate||

All actions are being performed by the; modes of Prakrti (Primordial Matter). The Y; fool, whose mind is deluded by egoism, thinks:: am the doer.”

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः

गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते

tattvavittu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ|

guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate||

He, however, who has true insight into the respective spheres of Gunas (modes of Prakrti) and their actions, holding that it is the Gunas (in the shape of the senses, mind, etc.,) that move among the Gunas (objects of perception), does not get attached to them, Arjuna.

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु

तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्

prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu|

tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet||

Those who are completely deluded by the Gunas (modes) of Prakrti remain attached to those Gunas and actions; the man of perfect i Knowledge should not unsettle the mind of k those insufficiently knowing fools. (29) S

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा

निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā|

nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ||

Therefore, dedicating all actions to Me RS with your mind fixed on Me, the Self of all ap freed from hope and the feeling of meum and ~ cured of mental fever, fight

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः

श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः

ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ|

śraddhāvanto'nasūyanto mucyante te'pi karmabhiḥ||

Even those men who, with an uncavilling and devout mind, always follow thisteaching ( of Mine are released from the bondage of all actions. (3l

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्

सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः

ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam|

sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstānviddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ||

They, however, who, finding fault with / this teaching of Mine, do not follow it, take K yp 4 those fools to be deluded in the matter of all knowledge, and lost

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि

प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति

sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi|

prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati||

Allliving creatures follow their tendencies; even the wise man acts according to the 4 Sahin "a tendecies of his own nature. What use is any Y) external restraint

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ

तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau|

tayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau||

Attraction and repulsion are rooted in all sense-objects. Man should never allow him-! self to be swayed by them, because they are Mp the two principal enemies standing in the way of his redemption

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः

śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt|

svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ||

One’s own duty, though devoid of merit,: is preferable to the duty of another well performed. Even death in the performance of: one’s own duty brings blessedness; another’s ~ duty is fraught with fear

अर्जुन उवाच

अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः

अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः

arjuna uvāca

atha kena prayukto'yaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ|

anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ||

Arjuna said: Now impelled by what, Krsna, does this man commit sin even involuntarily, y: as though driven by force? (36) 7 ren te 224 et on — Wa ZF MO yx See -7 ee a 5 Oe

श्री भगवानुवाच

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः

महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम्

śrī bhagavānuvāca

kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ|

mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam||

Sri Bhagavan said: It is desire begotten of the element of Rajas, which appears as wrath; nay, it is insatiable and grossly wicked Know this to be the enemy in this case

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च

यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्

dhūmenāvriyate vahniryathā''darśo malena ca|

yatholbenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam||

As a flame is covered by smoke, mirror by;. dirt,andembryo by the amnion, sois Knowledge ye coverd by it (desire

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा

कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च

āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā|

kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca||

And, Arjuna, Knowledge stand covered by this eternal enemy of the wise, known as desire, which is insatiable like fire

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते

एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्

indriyāṇi mano buddhirasyādhiṣṭhānamucyate|

etairvimohayatyeṣa jñānamāvṛtya dehinam||

SSSSSSEAX BESS MM lr UU lee SAM Mm AOTC V7 The senses, the mind and the intellect are a declared to be its seat; screening the light of ( Truth through these; it (desire) deludes the embodied soul

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ

पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम्

tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha|

pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam||

Therefore, Arjuna, you must first control your senses; and then kill this evil thing which obstructs Jiana (Knowledge of the Absolute or Nirguna Brahma) and vijfiiana (Knowledge: oN of Sakar Brahma or manifest Divinity

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः

मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः

indriyāṇi parāṇyāhurindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ|

manasastu parā buddhiryo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ||

The senses are said to be greater than the body; but greater than the senses is the mind. Greater than the mind is the intellect; and what is greater than the intellect is he (the Self).

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना

जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम्

evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā|

jahi śatruṃ mahābāho kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam||

Thus, Arjuna, knowing that which is higher than the intellect and subduing the mind by reason, kill this enemy in the form of Desire that is hard to overcome

Chapter diya: unlit

Thus ends the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gītā —

कर्म योग

Karma Yoga · The Yoga of Action

Continue to Chapter 4