Chapter 3 · 43 verses

कर्मयोगः

Karma-yogaḥ

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3.1ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou…
3.2व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।With this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one…
3.3लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ।The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of…
3.4न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।Man does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere…
3.5न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act…
3.6कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded…
3.7यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of…
3.8नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not…
3.9यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son…
3.10सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः।The Creator, having in the beginning created mankind together with sacrifice, said, "By this shall you…
3.11देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।With this, nourish the gods, and may the gods nourish you; thus, nourishing each other, you shall attain the…
3.12इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।The gods, nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys the objects given…
3.13यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः।The righteous who eat the remnants of the sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those sinful ones who cook…
3.14अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।From food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born…
3.15कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्।Know that action comes from Brahma, and Brahma comes from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervasive…
3.16एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।He who does not follow the wheel thus set in motion, who is of sinful life, rejoicing in the senses, lives in…
3.17यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is content in the Self…
3.18नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन।For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend on any being for any…
3.19तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions…
3.20कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention of protecting the…
3.21यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
3.22न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन।There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained…
3.23यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
3.24उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्।These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion of castes and…
3.25सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment,…
3.26न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in…
3.27प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism…
3.28तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions,…
3.29प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु।Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. The man of perfect…
3.30मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।Renouncing all actions in Me, with the mind centered on the Self, free from hope and egoism, and from mental…
3.31ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।Those who constantly practice this teaching of Mine with faith and without caviling, they too are freed from…
3.32ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।But those who criticize My teaching and do not practice it, deprived of all knowledge and lacking…
3.33सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।Even a wise man acts in accordance with his own nature; beings will follow their nature; what can restraint…
3.34इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ।Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let no one come under their sway;…
3.35श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।Better is one's own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death…
3.36अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः।Arjuna said, "But what compels man to commit sin, even against his wishes, O Varshneya (Krishna), as if…
3.37काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः।The Blessed Lord said, "It is desire and it is anger, both of the quality of Rajas, all-devouring and…
3.38धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is surrounded by the amniotic…
3.39आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, which is insatiable…
3.40इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one,…
3.41तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, control your senses first and then kill this sinful thing, which destroys…
3.42इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।They say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is…
3.43एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।Thus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O…