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Bhagavad Geeta · Krishna

Chapter 3

कर्मयोग

Path of Selfless Service

Verses

  1. Verse 1

    arjuna uvāca jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana| tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava||3.1||

    Meaning

    Arjuna questioned: My Lord! If wisdom is superior to action, why do you advise me to engage in this terrible fight?

  2. Verse 2

    vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me| tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo'hamāpnuyām||3.2||

    Meaning

    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. Verse 3

    śrī bhagavānuvāca loke'smindvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha| jñānayogena sāṃkhyānāṃ karmayogena yoginām||3.3||

    Meaning

    Lord 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.

  4. Verse 4

    na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo'śnute| na ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati||3.4||

    Meaning

    No one can attain freedom from action by abstaining from action, nor can they reach perfection by simply not acting.

  5. Verse 5

    na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt| kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ||3.5||

    Meaning

    He cannot remain inactive even for a moment, for the qualities of Nature will compel him to act, whether he wills it or not.

  6. Verse 6

    karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran| indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate||3.6||

    Meaning

    He who remains motionless, refusing to act, yet brooding over sensuous objects, is that deluded soul simply a hypocrite.

  7. Verse 7

    yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate'rjuna| karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate||3.7||

    Meaning

    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.

  8. Verse 8

    niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ| śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ||3.8||

    Meaning

    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.

  9. Verse 9

    yajñārthātkarmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ| tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṃgaḥ samācara||3.9||

    Meaning

    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.

  10. Verse 10

    sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ| anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo'stviṣṭakāmadhuk||3.10||

    Meaning

    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."

  11. Verse 11

    devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ| parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha||3.11||

    Meaning

    Worship the powers of Nature, and let them nourish you in return; thus, supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare.

  12. Verse 12

    iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ| tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ||3.12||

    Meaning

    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.

  13. Verse 13

    yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ| bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt||3.13||

    Meaning

    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.

  14. Verse 14

    annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ| yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ||3.14||

    Meaning

    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.

  15. Verse 15

    karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam| tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam||3.15||

    Meaning

    All actions originate from the Supreme Spirit, which is Imperishable, and in sacrificial actions, the all-pervasive Spirit is consciously present.

  16. Verse 16

    evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ| aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati||3.16||

    Meaning

    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.

  17. Verse 17

    yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ| ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate||3.17||

    Meaning

    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.

  18. Verse 18

    naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana| na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ||3.18||

    Meaning

    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.

  19. Verse 19

    tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara| asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ||3.19||

    Meaning

    Therefore, do your duty perfectly, without worrying about the results, for he who does his duty without attachment attains the Supreme.

  20. Verse 20

    karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ| lokasaṃgrahamevāpi saṃpaśyankartumarhasi||3.20||

    Meaning

    King Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Even for the sake of enlightening the world, it is your duty to act.

  21. Verse 21

    yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ| sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate||3.21||

    Meaning

    For whatever a great man does, others imitate; people conform to the standard he has set.

  22. Verse 22

    na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana| nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi||3.22||

    Meaning

    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.

  23. Verse 23

    yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ| mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ||3.23||

    Meaning

    Were I not to act without ceasing, O prince, people would be inclined to do the same.

  24. Verse 24

    utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham| saṅkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ||3.24||

    Meaning

    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.

  25. Verse 25

    saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata| kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham||3.25||

    Meaning

    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.

  26. Verse 26

    na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām| joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran||3.26||

    Meaning

    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.

  27. Verse 27

    prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ| ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā kartā'hamiti manyate||3.27||

    Meaning

    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."

  28. Verse 28

    tattvavittu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ| guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate||3.28||

    Meaning

    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.

  29. Verse 29

    prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu| tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet||3.29||

    Meaning

    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.

  30. Verse 30

    mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā| nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ||3.30||

    Meaning

    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.

  31. Verse 31

    ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ| śraddhāvanto'nasūyanto mucyante te'pi karmabhiḥ||3.31||

    Meaning

    Those who always act in accordance with My precepts, firmly in faith and without caviling, they too are freed from the bondage of action.

  32. Verse 32

    ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam| sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstānviddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ||3.32||

    Meaning

    But they who ridicule My word and do not observe it, are ignorant, devoid of wisdom, and blind. They seek only their own destruction.

  33. Verse 33

    sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi| prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati||3.33||

    Meaning

    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?

  34. Verse 34

    indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau| tayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau||3.34||

    Meaning

    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.

  35. Verse 35

    śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt| svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ||3.35||

    Meaning

    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.

  36. Verse 36

    arjuna uvāca atha kena prayukto'yaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ| anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ||3.36||

    Meaning

    Arjuna asked, "My Lord, what is it that drives a person to sin, even against their will and as if by compulsion?"

  37. Verse 37

    śrī bhagavānuvāca kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ| mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam||3.37||

    Meaning

    Lord Shri Krishna: It is desire, it is aversion, born of passion. Desire consumes and corrupts all things. It is the greatest enemy of man.

  38. Verse 38

    dhūmenāvriyate vahniryathā''darśo malena ca| yatholbenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam||3.38||

    Meaning

    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.

  39. Verse 39

    āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā| kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca||3.39||

    Meaning

    It is the wise man's constant enemy; it tarnishes the face of wisdom, being as insatiable as a flame of fire.

  40. Verse 40

    indriyāṇi mano buddhirasyādhiṣṭhānamucyate| etairvimohayatyeṣa jñānamāvṛtya dehinam||3.40||

    Meaning

    It works through the senses, the mind, and the reason; and with their help, it destroys wisdom and confounds the soul.

  41. Verse 41

    tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha| pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam||3.41||

    Meaning

    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.

  42. Verse 42

    indriyāṇi parāṇyāhurindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ| manasastu parā buddhiryo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ||3.42||

    Meaning

    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.

  43. Verse 43

    evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā| jahi śatruṃ mahābāho kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam||3.43||

    Meaning

    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.

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