BHAGAVADGEETA CHAPTER 3

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 VERSE 1 and 2

अर्जुन उवाच | ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन | तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव || 1|| व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे | तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् || 2||

arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava vyāmiśhreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva me tad ekaṁ vada niśhchitya yena śhreyo ’ham āpnuyām

Arjun uttered these words: "O Janardan, why do You ask me to wage this terrible war if You consider knowledge superior to action?" My mind is confused by Your vague counsel. Please clearly indicate to me the one route that will allow me to achieve the greatest happiness.

 VERSE 3

श्रीभगवानुवाच | लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ | ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् || 3||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha loke ’smin dvi-vidhā niṣhṭhā purā proktā mayānagha jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām

The Lord spoke, "O sinless one, I have already explained the two paths leading to enlightenment: the path of work for those who are inclined toward action and the path of knowledge for those who are inclined toward contemplation."

 VERSE 4

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते | न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति || 4||

na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnute na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati

Refusing to work is not enough to acquire freedom from karmic consequences, just as physical renunciation is not sufficient to reach knowing perfection.

 VERSE 5

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् | कार्यते ह्यवश: कर्म सर्व: प्रकृतिजैर्गुणै: || 5||

na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit kāryate hyavaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ

Nobody is able to do nothing, not even for a split second. Indeed, the three guṇas, or qualities arising from material nature, impel all beings to act.

 VERSE 6

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् | इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचार: स उच्यते || 6||

karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyāchāraḥ sa uchyate

People who control their external organs of action but keep their minds focused on sense things are delusional and should be referred to as hypocrites.

 VERSE 7

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन | कर्मेन्द्रियै: कर्मयोगमसक्त: स विशिष्यते || 7||

yas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjuna karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśhiṣhyate

However, the karmic yogis who utilize their intellect to regulate their knowing senses and direct their working senses to function without attachment are unquestionably better, O Arjun.

 VERSE 8

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मण: | शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मण: || 8||

niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ

Action is superior to inaction, so fulfill your specified Vedic duties. Your body won't be able to maintain itself if you stop acting.

 VERSE 9

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्ग: समाचर || 9||

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara

Work in this material world is a form of bondage; it must be done as a yajna to the Supreme Lord. Thus, O son of Kunti, fulfill your duties without regard to the outcome in order to please God.

 VERSE 10

सहयज्ञा: प्रजा: सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापति: | अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् || 10||

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ anena prasaviṣhyadhvam eṣha vo ’stviṣhṭa-kāma-dhuk

Brahma bestowed tasks upon humanity at the beginning of creation and declared, "Prosper in the performance of these yajñas (sacrifices), for they shall bestow upon you all you wish to achieve."

 VERSE 11

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु व: | परस्परं भावयन्त: श्रेय: परमवाप्स्यथ || 11||

devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śhreyaḥ param avāpsyatha

Your offerings will please the heavenly gods, and everyone will enjoy enormous wealth via human cooperation with the celestial gods.

 VERSE 12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविता: | तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव स: || 12||

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Once you fulfill your sacrifice, the celestial gods will grant you all of the needs of life that you desire. However, people who take pleasure in gifts without giving something in return are actually robbers.

 VERSE 13

यज्ञशिष्टाशिन: सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषै: | भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् || 13|||

yajña-śhiṣhṭāśhinaḥ santo muchyante sarva-kilbiṣhaiḥ bhuñjate te tvaghaṁ pāpā ye pachantyātma-kāraṇāt

All forms of sin are absolved of the spiritually astute who consume food that was previously offered as a sacrifice. Indeed, those who prepare meals for their own pleasure consume nothing but sin.

 VERSE 14

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भव: | यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञ: कर्मसमुद्भव: || 14||

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Food is what keeps all living things alive, and rain produces food. Rain is the result of sacrifice, and sacrifice is the result of carrying out the assigned duties.

 VERSE 15

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् | तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् || 15||

karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣhṭhitam

The Vedas outline human responsibilities, and God Himself made the Vedas evident. As a result, acts of sacrifice always manifest the all-pervading Lord.

 VERSE 16

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह य: | अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति || 16||

evaṁ pravartitaṁ chakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati

O Parth, you are a sinner if you do not take up the responsibility in the Vedic cycle of sacrifice. Their lives are meaningless since they exist solely to satisfy their senses.

 VERSE 17

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानव: | आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते || 17||

yas tvātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛiptaśh cha mānavaḥ ātmanyeva cha santuṣhṭas tasya kāryaṁ na vidyate

However, there is no duty for those who find fulfillment and illumination in themselves, who are content and joyful in themselves.

 VERSE 18

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन | न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रय: || 18||

naiva tasya kṛitenārtho nākṛiteneha kaśhchana na chāsya sarva-bhūteṣhu kaśhchid artha-vyapāśhrayaḥ

Such self-realized souls have nothing to lose or anything to gain from carrying out or abandoning their duties. They also don't have to rely on other living things to satisfy their own interests.

 VERSE 19

तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर | असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: || 19||

tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara asakto hyācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ

Hence, in order to fulfill your responsibilities, give up attachment and carry out your duties. By working without regard for the rewards, you will eventually reach the Supreme.

 VERSE 20

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादय: | लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि || 20|| यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जन: | स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते || 21||

karmaṇaiva hi sansiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

The others, like King Janak, became perfect by carrying out their assigned tasks. To further benefit the world, you ought to carry out your responsibilities and lead by example. Common people imitate the actions of exceptional individuals. Everyone in the world aspires to meet their expectations.

 VERSE 22

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन | नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि || 22||

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu kiñchana nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva cha karmaṇi

O Parth, I have nothing to gain or achieve, nor is there anything I have to perform in any of the three worlds. However, I am performing my assigned tasks.

 VERSE 23

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रित: | मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: || 23||

yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ

Because all men would follow My footsteps in every way if I did not diligently carry out the assigned duties, O Parth.

 VERSE 24

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् | सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमा: प्रजा: || 24||

utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched aham sankarasya cha kartā syām upahanyām imāḥ prajāḥ

If I stop performing prescribed actions, all these worlds will be destroyed. I would be responsible for the pandemonium that would prevail, and would thereby destroy the peace of the humanity.

 VERSE 25

सक्ता: कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत | कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् || 25||

saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham

For the sake of guiding others towards the correct path, the intelligent should act without attachment, just as the ignorant fulfill their tasks with attachment to the consequences, O scion of Bharat.

 VERSE 26

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् | जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्त: समाचरन् || 26||

na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām joṣhayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācharan

However, even then, O mighty-armed Arjun, you should not grieve in this manner if you believe that the self is constantly undergoing birth and death.

 VERSE 27

प्रकृते: क्रियमाणानि गुणै: कर्माणि सर्वश: | अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते || 27||

prakṛiteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśhaḥ ahankāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate

The three modes of material nature carry out all activities. However, in ignorance, the soul believes it is the doer because it has mistakenly identified with the body.

 VERSE 28

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयो: | गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते || 28||

tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ guṇā guṇeṣhu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate

The soul is distinguished from guṇas and karmas by illumined individuals, O mighty-armed Arjun. They see that the only things that move among the guṇas (the objects of perception) are the guṇas themselves (the senses, the intellect, and others), and therefore they do not become entangled in them.

 VERSE 29

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढा: सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु | तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् || 29||

prakṛiter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasu tān akṛitsna-vido mandān kṛitsna-vin na vichālayet

Those who allow the guṇas to deceive them grow attached to the outcomes of their deeds. However, those who are intelligent and aware of these facts need not to disturb such naive and uneducated individuals.

 VERSE 30

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा | निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वर: || 30||

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-chetasā nirāśhīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ

Do all your works as a sacrifice to Me, and think of Me, the Almighty, all the time. Break free from selfishness and desire, and fight when your mental anguish has passed!

 VERSE 31

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवा: | श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभि: || 31||

ye me matam idaṁ nityam anutiṣhṭhanti mānavāḥ śhraddhāvanto ’nasūyanto muchyante te ’pi karmabhiḥ

The people who follow My teachings with a strong sense of faith and without envy are set free from the cycle of reincarnation.

 VERSE 32

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् | सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतस: || 32||

ye tvetad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣhṭhanti me matam sarva-jñāna-vimūḍhāns tān viddhi naṣhṭān achetasaḥ

However, those who criticize My teachings lack discrimination and knowledge, so they ignore these lessons and ultimately bring about their own destruction.

 VERSE 33

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि | प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति || 33||

sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati

Since all living things are driven by their innate tendencies, even wise people behave in accordance with their natures. What is the benefit of repression?

 VERSE 34

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ | तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ || 34||

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau tayor na vaśham āgachchhet tau hyasya paripanthinau

The senses are inherently attracted to and hostile toward sense objects, yet they are not under their control because they are enemies and way-layers.

 VERSE 35

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् | स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 35||

śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ

Performing one's natural designated duty imperfectly is considerably preferable to performing another person's given duty flawlessly. As a matter of fact, it is better to perish while carrying out one's duty than to take the risky route of another.

 VERSE 36

अर्जुन उवाच | अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुष: | अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजित: || 36||

arjuna uvācha atha kena prayukto ’yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥ anichchhann api vārṣhṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ

Arjun asked: "O descendant of Vrishni (Krishna), why is a person compelled to commit sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if by force?"

 VERSE 37

श्रीभगवानुवाच | काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भव: || महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् || 37||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam

The Divine declared: Anger is only a result of lust, which originates from interaction with the mode of passion. Recognize this as the world's sinful, all-devouring enemy.

 VERSE 38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च | यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् || 38||

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam

Knowledge becomes hidden by desire, much like smoke covers a fire, dust hides a mirror, and the womb hides an embryo.

 VERSE 39

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा | कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च || 39||

āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha

The knowledge of even the most discerning gets covered by this perpetual enemy in the form of insatiable desire, which is never satisfied and burns like fire, O son of Kunti.

 VERSE 40

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते | एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् || 40||

indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣhṭhānam uchyate etair vimohayatyeṣha jñānam āvṛitya dehinam

It is stated that the intellect, mind, and senses serve as fertile ground for desire. It distorts reality and fools the embodied soul through them.

 VERSE 41

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ | पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् || 41||

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣhabha pāpmānaṁ prajahi hyenaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśhanam

Thus, O greatest of the Bharatas, regulate your senses from the outset and defeat desire, the demon that represents sin and obliterates awareness and insight.

 VERSE 42

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्य: परं मन: | मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धे: परतस्तु स: || 42||

indriyāṇi parāṇyāhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

The mind is superior to the senses, and the senses are superior to the gross body. The intellect exists beyond the mind, and the soul exists even beyond the intellect.

 VERSE 43

एवं बुद्धे: परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना | जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् || 43||

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

Knowing then that the soul is superior to the material intellect, O powerful Arjun, tame the lower self (mind, senses, and intellect) by the higher self (soul strength), and destroy this powerful foe known as lust.