This chapter
focuses on various reasons why action is essential for the man; why
should one act according to one’s caste (Varna); how should one act;
which actions help take one to the path of liberation; which actions
cause the bondage of life-death cycle etc. Since this chapter’s main
theme is: How should one act or work and what methods to employ for
the end, this chapter is entitled "Karma-Yoga" or "The
Method of work"
Arjuna Uvacha
jyayasi cheta karmanah
te mata budhih janardana
tat kim karmanas ghore
mam niyojayasi keshava
Depeg&ve
GJee®e
p³ee³emeer ®eslkeÀce&Cemles celee yegef×pe&veeo&ve~
leeÅlkeÀ keÀce&efCe Ieesjs ceeb efve³eespe³eefme kesÀMeJe~1~
Arjuna said –
O Janardana (Krishna), if you regard knowledge to be superior to
action, why do you want me to undertake such gruesome action.
vyamishrena vakyena
buddhim mohayaseeve me
tadekam vad nishchitya
yena shreyoahmapnuyam
J³eeefceÞesCesJe Jeeke̳esve yegeE× ceesn³emeerJe ces~
leoskebÀ Jeo efveef½el³e ³esve Þes³eesçnceeHveg³eeced~2~
My mind is confused by the
ambiguous statement. Tell me the one definite knowledge by which I
may obtain the supreme goal.
Shribhagavan uvacha
loke asmin dvividha
nistha pura prokta maya anagha
gyanyogena sankhyanam
karmyogena yoginam
ÞeerYeieJeevegJee®e
ueeskesÀçeqmceefvefÜefJeOee efveÿe Hegje ÒeeskeÌlee ce³eeveIe~
%eeve³eesiesve mee*dK³eeveeb keÀce&³eesiesve ³eesefieveeced~3~
The Blessed Lord said :
O Blameless (Arjuna), two fold life had been preached by me in the
past. Way of knowledge for the contemplative minds and the ways of
works for those who are action oriented.
na karmnam anarambhata
naishkarmyam purushah ashrute
na cha sanyasanat eva
siddhim samadhigachhati
ve keÀce&CeeceveejcYeeVew<keÀc³e¥
Heg©<eesçÞvegles~
ve ®e meV³emeveeosJe efmeeE× meceefOeie®íefle~4~
By abstaining from work one
does not obtain freedom from action, nor by renouncing his work does
one reach perfection in life.
na hi kaschkshana api
jatu tishathati akarmkrit
karyate hi avashah karma
sarvah prakitijaih gunaih
ve efn
keÀef½el#eCeceefHe peeleg efleÿl³ekeÀce&ke=Àled~
keÀe³e&les ¿eJeMe: keÀce& meJe&: Òeke=Àeflepewie&gCew:~5~
A person cannot remain in a
state of worklessness for even a moment, undoubtedely all governed
by the nature, act as if forced to do so.
karmendriyani sanyamya yah
aste manasa smaran
indriyarthana vimudhatma
mithya charah sah uchayate
keÀcexeqvê³eeefCe meb³ec³e ³e Deemles cevemee mcejved~
Feqvê³eeLee&eqvJecet{elcee efceL³ee®eej: me G®³eles~6~
The unwise, who controls
his sense organs by force and whose mind is indulging in the objects
of desire, such one is called a man of false conduct (a hypocrite).
yah tu indriyani mansa
niyamya arbhate arjuna
karmendriyaih karmayogam
asaktah sah vishishyate
³eefmlJeeqvê³eeefCe cevemee efve³ec³eejYelesçpeg&ve~
keÀcexeqvê³ew: keÀce&³eesiecemekeÌle: me efJeefMe<³eles~7~
O Arjuna – the one whose
even mind is under control and who does the work without any desire
for its reward, he is superior.
niyatam karu karma tvam
karma jyayah hi akarmanah
shariryatra api cha te nav
prasidhyayeta karmanahv
efve³eleb kegÀ©
keÀce& lJeb keÀce& p³ee³ees ¿ekeÀce&Ce:~
Mejerj³ee$eeefHe ®e les ve Òeefme×îesokeÀce&Ce:~8~
Do your duty (as prescribed
by the scriptures), because it is better to work than to remain idle
and without work you cannot even take care of your body.
yagyarthata karmanah
anyatra lokah ayam karmabandhanah
tada artham karma kaunteya
mukta sangah samachar
³e%eeLe&&lkeÀce&Ceesçv³e$e
ueeskeÀesç³eb keÀce&yevOeve:~
leoLe¥ keÀce& keÀewvles³e cegkeÌleme²: mecee®ej~9~
All other works, not
prescribed by the scriptures, put the man in bondage. Therefore, O
Arjuna, you do the works prescribed by the scriptures without
attachment, meticulously.
sahayagyah prajah shristava
pura uvacha prajapatih
anena pravishyachhvan aishah
vah astu istakamdhuk
men³e%ee:
Òepee: me=ädJee HegjesJee®e ÒepeeHeefle:~
Devesve ÒemeefJe<³eOJeces<e JeesçeqmlJeäkeÀeceOegkedÀ~10~
In the ancient days, the
lord of creation (Brahma) created subjects through sacrifice and He
told them : May you grow and may these sacrifices bring forth
desired pleasures to you.
devah bhavayat anena te
devah bhavayanta vah
parasparam bhavayantah
shreyah param avapasyatha
osJeevYeeJe³eleevesve les osJee YeeJe³evleg Je~
HejmHejb YeeJe³evle: Þes³e: HejceJeeHm³eLe~11~
And may you cause progress
to the gods through these sacrifices, may the gods help you prosper,
thus progressing and prospering by mutual efforts may you attain the
supreme goal.
istan bhogan hi vo deva
dasyante yagyabhavitah
taih dattan apradaya aibhyo
yo bhungatte stayene eva sah
FäevYeesieeeqvn Jees osJee oem³evles ³e%eYeeefJelee:~
lewo&Êeeve Òeoe³ewY³ees ³ees Yeg*dkeÌles mlesve SJe me:~12~
Thus fostered, the gods
will grant you the desired pleasure. And the one who enjoys these
gifts without giving back them in return is a thief indeed.
yagyashistashinah santo
muchayante sarvakilvishaih
bhunjate te twagham papa
ye pachanti atma karnata.
³e%eefMeäeefMeve: mevlees ceg®³evles meJe&efkeÀequye<ew:~
Yeg¡eles les lJeIeb HeeHee ³es He®evl³eelcekeÀejCeeled~13~
The noble men who eat the
leftovers of the sacrifice are absolved of all sins, the sinful, who
cook for them alone, eat the sins only.
annat bhavanti bhutani
parjanyat annasambhavah
yagyat bhavati parjanyo
yagyah karma samudbhavah
DeVeeÓJeefvle
Yetleeefve Hepe&v³eeoVemecYeJe:~
³e%eeÓJeefle Hepe&v³ees ³e%e: keÀce&mecegÓJe:~14~
All the things are produced
by food, the food is produced by rain and the rain is produced by
sacrificial fires and sacrifice is created by work.
karma brahmodabhavan vidhhi
brahma akasharsamudbhavam
tastmat sarvagatam brahma
nityam yagye pratisthitam
keÀce&
ye´ïeesÓJeb efJeef× ye´ïee#ejmecegÓJeced~
lemceelmeJe&ieleb ye´ïe efvel³eb ³e%es Òeefleefÿlece~15~
Work is caused by Veda and
the Vedas are created by the imperishable. Therefore, know that, the
brahma, which is all pervading is always present in the sacrifice.
evam pravartitam chakram
na anuvartayati iha yah
aghayu indriyaramo
mogham partha sah jivati
SJeb ÒeJeefle&leb
®e¬ebÀ veevegJele&³eleern ³e:
DeIee³eg efjeqvê³eejecees ceesIeb HeeLe& me peerJeefle~16~
O Arjuna, who does not
conduct himself thus, in accordance with the wheel of life set in
motion, who indulges in sensual delights, is evil in his nature
wastes his life in vain
yah tu atmaratir eva syat
atmatriptah cha manavah
atmani eva cha santushtah
tasya karyam na viddyate
³emlJeelcejeflejsJe m³eeoelcele=Hle½e ceeveJe:
Deelcev³esJe ®e mevlegämlem³e keÀe³e¥ ve efJeÐeles~17~
But the man who rejoices in
the self only; who is satisfied in the self and who is content with
the self, for him no work remains to be done.
na eva tasya kritena arthah
na akritena eha kaschan
na cha asya sarvabhuteshu
kaschit arthavya pashrayah
vewJe lem³e ke=ÀlesveeLeex
veeke=Àlesvesn keÀ½eve~
ve ®eem³e meJe&Yetles<eg keÀef½eoLe&J³eHeeÞe³e:~18~
No business, such a person,
has in this world to do nor is he concerned with not doing anything,
he retains no ties with other creatures.
tasmat asaktah satatam
karyam karma samachar
asakto hyacharankarma
param apnoti purushah
lemceeomekeÌle:
meleleb keÀe³e& keÀce& mecee®ej~
DemekeÌlees ¿ee®ejvkeÀce& HejceeHveesefle Het©<e:~19~
Therefore, you carryout
your works in accordance with the scriptures, with detachment,
because one who is not attached reaches the ultimate goal by just
performing his works.
karmana eva hi sansidhim
asthita jankadayah
lok sangraham eva api
sampashyam kartum arhasi
keÀce&CewJe
efn mebefmeef×ceeefmLelee pevekeÀeo³e:~
ueeskeÀmebûencesJeeefHe mecHeM³evkeÀleg&cen&efme~20~
Many wisemen like Janaka,
have attained to perfection by doing work without any attachment, so
you also should work for the sake of maintenance of the world order.
yat yat acharati shreshthah
tat tat eva itarah janah
sah yat pramanam kurute
lokah tat anuvartate
³eÐeoe®ejefle
ÞesÿemleÊeosJeslejes peve:~
me ³elÒeceeCeb kegÀ©les ueeskeÀmleovegJele&les~21~
What conduct is shown by
the superiormen, other men also conduct themselves accordingly,
whatever standard conduct is set by such men (of superior wisdom)
others behave in the same way.
na me parth asti kartavyam
trishu lokeshu kinchan
na unvaptam avaptavyam
varte eva cha karmani
ve ces HeeLee&efmle
keÀle&J³ebb ef$e<eg ueeskesÀ<eg efkeÀ¡eve~
veeveJeeHleceJeeHleJ³eb Jele& SJe ®e keÀce&efCe~22~
Therefore, O Arjuna –
though, I do not have any work to do in the three worlds and nothing
attainable is unavailable to me, yet I am involved in the works.
yadi hi aham na varteyam
jatu karmani atandritah
mama vartma anuvartante
manushyah parth sarvashah
³eefo ¿enb ve
Jelex³eb peeleg keÀce&C³eleeqvêle:~
cece Jelcee&vegJele&vles ceveg<³ee: HeeLe& meJe&Me~23~
O, Arjuna – if I do not
perform the work consciously, all men will start behaving like me.
utsideyuh ime lokah
na kuryam karma chet aham
sankarasya cha karta syam
uphanyam imah prajah.
Glmeeros³egefjces ueeskeÀe ve kegÀ³ee¥ keÀce& ®esonced~
me¹jm³e ®e keÀlee& m³eecegHenv³eeefcecee: Òepee:~24~
If I stop working ; the
whole world will sink into corruption (ruin) and I shall become
corruptor and destroyer of all these men.
saktah karmani avidvansah
yath kurvanti bharata
kuryat vidvan tatha asaktah
chikirshuh loksamghraham
mekeÌlee:
keÀce&C³eefJeÜebmees ³eLee kegÀJe&efvle Yeejle~
kegÀ³ee&efÜÜebmleLeemekeÌleeef½ekeÀer<eg&ueexkeÀmebûenced~25~
O Bharata (Arjuna) as the
unwise perform work being attached with it, so should the wise
perform the work without attachment to it to maintain the world
order.
na buddhibhedam janayeta
agyanam karmasanginam
joshyeta sarvakarmani
vidvan yuktah samacharan
ve yegef×Yesob
peve³eso%eeveeb keÀce&meef²veeeced~
pees<e³eslmeJe&keÀcee&efCe efJeÜev³egkeÌle: mecee®ejved~26~
The wise should not cause
confusion in the minds of the unwise, while doing his work in unison
with the ultimate, he should make others (unwise) to do the same.
prakriteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvashah
ahankarvimudhatma
karta aham iti manya te
Òeke=Àles:
ef¬eÀ³eceeCeeefve iegCew: keÀcee&efCe meJe&Me:~
Den¹ejefJecet{elcee keÀlee&nefceefle cev³eles:~ 27~
All the works are performed
in accordance with the attributes of nature, yet whose mind is
deluded by the sense of ego, believes that he is the doer.
tatva vit tu mahabaho
guna karma vibhagayoh
gunah guneshu vartante
iti mattva na sajjate
leÊJeefJeÊeg
ceneyeenes iegCekeÀce&efJeYeeie³ees:~
iegCee iegCes<e Jele&vle Fefle celJee ve meppeles~28~
O, Arjuna, however, the one
possessing the true knowledge, knows the distinction between the two
modes of natures, knowing that the modes act upon each-other (self
remaining unattached) is not attached to the modes (Gunas).
prakriteh gunasammudhah
sajjante guna karmasuh
tan akritsnavidah
mandan kritsnavit na vichalayeta
Òeke=Àlesieg&Cemeccet{e:
meppevles iegCekeÀce&meg~
leeveke=ÀlmveefJeoes cevoevke=ÀlmveefJeVe efJe®eeue³esled~29~
Ignorants are attached to
the modes (gunas) of nature and the works produced by them, the wise
who knows the whole truth should not unsettle the ignorants who only
know the part.
mayi sarvani karmani
sanyas adhyatma chetasah
nirashih nirmamah bhutva
yudhyasva vigatjwarah
ceef³e meJee&efCe
keÀcee&efCe meV³em³eeO³eelce®eslemee~
efvejeMeerefve&ce&cees YetlJee ³egO³emJe efJeielepJej:~30~
Therefore, O Arjuna – with
your mind firmly in meditation all your deeds you consign to me,
without any expectations and without any attachments, freed from
your fever, join the war.
ye me matam idam nityam
anutisthanti manavah
shraddhavantah unsuyantah
muchyante te api karmabhih
³es ces
celeefceob efvel³ecevegefleÿefvle ceeveJee:~
Þe×eJevleesçvemet³evlees ceg®³evles lesçefHe keÀce&efYe:~31~
And O Arjuna – any person,
who, with a pure mind and with devotion, acts in accordance with my
opinion, they are freed from the bondage of their deeds.
ye tu etat abhyasuyantah
na anutisthanti me matam
sarvagyana vimudhan tan
viddhi nashtan achetasah.
³es
lJesleoY³emet³evlees veevegefleÿefvle ces celeced~
meJe&%eeveefJecet{ebmleeeqvJeef× veäeve®esleme:~32~
And the ones whose minds
are impure; who are ignorant and do no follow my advice, those are
deluded by ignorance and are beyond redemption.
sadrisham chestate svasyah
prakriteh gyanvan api
prakritim yanti bhutani
nigrahah kim karishyati
me¢Meb ®esäles
mJem³ee: Òeke=Àles%ee&veJeeveefHe~
Òeke=ÀeEle ³eeefvle Yetleeefve efveûen: efkebÀ keÀefj<³eefle~33~
Even wise act as per their
nature and creatures act according to their natures what can be
gained by stubborness?
idriyasya indriyasya arthe
rag dveshau vyasthitau
tayoh na vasham agachheta
tau hi asya paripanthinau
Feqvê³em³eseqvê³em³eeLex jeieÜs<eew J³eJeefmLeleew~
le³eesve& JeMeceeie®ísÊeew ¿em³e HeefjHeeqvLeveew~34~
The senses have attachment
or aversion to the objects coming into their contacts, one should
not be captivated by either (like or dislike) these are the two
impediments in the way to perfection.
shreyan svadharmah vigunah
pardharmat suanusthitat,
svadharm nidhanam shreyah
pardharmah bhayavah
Þes³eevmJeOeceex efJeiegCe: HejOecee&lmJevegefÿleeled~
mJeOecex efveOeveb Þes³e: HejOeceex Ye³eeJen:~35~
It is better to follow own
law even if it is imperfect, than to follow perfect law of the
others. Better one dies following his own law as it is ennobling
while law of others is dangerous.
Arjuna uvacha
atha kena prayuktah ayam
papam charati purushah
anichhan api varshaneya
balat eva niyojitah
Depeg&ve
GJee®e
DeLe
kesÀve Òe³egkeÌleesç³eb HeeHeb ®ejefle Het©<e:~
Deefve®íVeefHe Jee<Cex³e yeueeefoJe efve³eesefpele:~36~
Arjuna said : O Krishna,
why the man commits sin without his will, as if forced to do so?
Shribhagvan uvacha
kamah aish krodhah aish
rajoguna samudbhavah
mahashanah mahapapma
viddhi enam iha varinam
ÞeerYeieJeevegJee®e
keÀece
S<e ¬eÀesOe S<e jpeesiegCemecegÓJe:~
ceneMevees ceneHeeHcee efJe×îesveefcen JewefjCeced~37~
The blessed Lord said :
Produced by the mode of passion (rajaguna) this desire is anger and
like the fire it is all consuming and extremely sinful. Regard it to
be the enemy here.
dhumen avriyate vahinah
yatha adavshah malena cha
yatha ulben avritah garbhah
ten idam avritam
OetcesveeefJe´³eles JeefÛ³e&LeeoMeex ceuesve ®e~
³eLeesuyesveeJe=lees ieYe&mleLee lesvesoceeJe=leced~38~
Like smoke covers fire and
dust covers mirror and like embryo is covered by the womb similarly
knowledge is covered by passions.
avritam gyanam etena
gyaninah nityavairina
kama rapena kaunteya
dushpurena analena cha
DeeJe=leb %eeveceslesve
%eeefvevees efvel³eJewefjCee~
keÀece©HesCe keÀewvles³e og<HetjsCeeveuesve ®e~39~
O Arjuna, the knowledge is
covered by the craving, which is like the unsatiable fire, and is a
constant enemy of the wise.
indriyani manah buddhi
asya adhisthanam uchyate
aitaih vimohayati aishah
gyanam avritya dehinam
Feqvê³eeefCe
cevees yegef×jm³eeefOeÿeveceg®³eles~
SlewefJe&ceesn³el³es<e %eeveceeJe=l³e osefnveced~40~
Sense organs, mind and
intelligence are the abodes (of passion) and it covers the wisdom
through these (senses, mind and intelligence) to delude the soul.
tasmat tvam indriyani adau
niyamya bharatarshabhah
papamanam prajahi hi enam
gyan, vigyan-nashanam
lemceeÊJeefceeqvê³eeC³eeoew efve³ec³e Yejle<e&Ye~
HeeHceeveb Òepeefn ¿esveb %eeveefJe%eeveveeMeveced~41~
O Arjuna, therefore, first
control your senses and kill this sinful corruptor of knowledge and
discernment .
indriyani parani ahuh
indriyebhyah param manah
manasah tu para budhih yah
buddheh paratah tu sah
Feqvê³eeefCe
HejeC³eengefjeqvê³esY³e: Hejb ceve:~
cevememleg Heje yegef׳eex yeg×s: Hejlemleg me:~42~
Senses are great but it is
said that the mind is greater, intelligence is still greater and
greater than the intelligence is He (the Supreme Being).
evam buddheh param budhvah
samstabhya atmanam atmana
jahi shatrum mahabaho
kamarupam durasadam
SJeb yeg×s:
Hejb ye×Jee mebmleY³eelceeveceelcevee~
peefn Me$egb ceneyeenes keÀeceªHeb ogjemeoced~43~
Thus knowing that which is
beyond intelligence, controlling the mind by intelligence, O Mighty
Armed (Arjuna), slay this foe disguised as craving, and so difficult
to subdue.
Iti karmayoga nama tritiyo dhyaya
This Third Chapter is entitled "Karmayoga" is.
The Yoga of Action.