Sārathi

Chapter 3 of 18

कर्मयोग Karma Yoga

Path of Selfless Service. 43 verses.

Start reading
About this chapter

The third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Karma Yoga" or the "Path of Selfless Service". Here Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of karma in life. He reveals that it is important for every human being to engage in some sort of activity in this material world. Further, he describes the kinds of actions that lead to bondage and the kinds that lead to liberation. Those persons who continue to perform their respective duties externally for the pleasure of the Supreme, without attachment to its rewards get liberation at the end.

  1. 3.1ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdanaArjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action?
  2. 3.2व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।vyāmiśhreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva meWith this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one certain way by which I may attain bliss.
  3. 3.3लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ।loke’smin dvi-vidhā niṣhṭhā purā proktā mayānaghaThe Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the…
  4. 3.4न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnuteMan does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation.
  5. 3.5न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛitVerily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
  6. 3.6कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaranHe who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
  7. 3.7यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।yas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjunaBut whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
  8. 3.8नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥPerform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
  9. 3.9यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥThe world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone…
  10. 3.10सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः।saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥThe Creator, having in the beginning created mankind together with sacrifice, said, "By this shall you propagate; let this be the milch cow of your desires—the cow that…
  11. 3.11देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥWith this, nourish the gods, and may the gods nourish you; thus, nourishing each other, you shall attain the highest good.
  12. 3.12इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥThe gods, nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys the objects given by the gods without offering anything in return is indeed a…
  13. 3.13यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः।yajña-śhiṣhṭāśhinaḥ santo muchyante sarva-kilbiṣhaiḥThe righteous who eat the remnants of the sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those sinful ones who cook food solely for their own sake indeed consume sin.
  14. 3.14अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥFrom food come forth beings; from rain, food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.
  15. 3.15कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्।karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavamKnow that action comes from Brahma, and Brahma comes from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervasive Brahma ever rests in sacrifice.
  16. 3.16एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।evaṁ pravartitaṁ chakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥHe who does not follow the wheel thus set in motion, who is of sinful life, rejoicing in the senses, lives in vain, O Arjuna.
  17. 3.17यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।yas tvātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛiptaśh cha mānavaḥBut for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is content in the Self alone, indeed there is nothing to do.
  18. 3.18नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन।naiva tasya kṛitenārtho nākṛiteneha kaśhchanaFor him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
  19. 3.19तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samācharaTherefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme.
  20. 3.20कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥJanaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention of protecting the masses, you should perform action.
  21. 3.21यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥWhatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
  22. 3.22न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन।na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu kiñchanaThere is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that needs to be attained; yet I engage Myself in action.
  23. 3.23यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥFor, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
  24. 3.24उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्।utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched ahamThese worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion of castes and destruction of these beings.
  25. 3.25सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārataAs the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
  26. 3.26न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅgināmLet no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.
  27. 3.27प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।prakṛiteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśhaḥAll actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."
  28. 3.28तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥBut he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions, knowing that the Gunas, as senses, move amidst the Gunas, as…
  29. 3.29प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु।prakṛiter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasuThose deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one who is of…
  30. 3.30मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-chetasāRenouncing all actions in Me, with the mind centered on the Self, free from hope and egoism, and from mental fever, fight thou.
  31. 3.31ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।ye me matam idaṁ nityam anutiṣhṭhanti mānavāḥThose who constantly practice this teaching of Mine with faith and without caviling, they too are freed from actions.
  32. 3.32ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।ye tvetad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣhṭhanti me matamBut those who criticize My teaching and do not practice it, deprived of all knowledge and lacking discernment, know them to be doomed to destruction.
  33. 3.33सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān apiEven a wise man acts in accordance with his own nature; beings will follow their nature; what can restraint do?
  34. 3.34इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ।indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitauAttachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let no one come under their sway; for, they are his enemies.
  35. 3.35श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitātBetter is one's own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well discharged. Better is death in one's own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear.
  36. 3.36अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः।atha kena prayukto ’yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥArjuna said, "But what compels man to commit sin, even against his wishes, O Varshneya (Krishna), as if constrained by force?"
  37. 3.37काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः।kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥThe Blessed Lord said, "It is desire and it is anger, both of the quality of Rajas, all-devouring and all-sinful; know this as the foe here in this world."
  38. 3.38धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena chaAs fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as an embryo is surrounded by the amniotic sac, so is this enveloped by that.
  39. 3.39आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇāO Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, which is insatiable like fire.
  40. 3.40इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣhṭhānam uchyateThe senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it deludes the embodied one, veiling their wisdom.
  41. 3.41तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।tasmāt tvam indriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣhabhaTherefore, O best of the Bharatas, control your senses first and then kill this sinful thing, which destroys knowledge and realization.
  42. 3.42इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥThey say that the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and He (the Self) is superior even to the…
  43. 3.43एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanāThus, knowing Him who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, slay thou, O mighty-armed Arjuna, the enemy in the form of desire, hard to…