तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् |
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ||२-१||
sañjaya uvāca .
taṃ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭamaśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam .
viṣīdantamidaṃ vākyamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ ||2-1||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna overcome with pity, his eyes wet with tears, his mind filled with grief, Krishna spoke these words.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् |
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ||२-२||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
kutastvā kaśmalamidaṃ viṣame samupasthitam .
anāryajuṣṭamasvargyamakīrtikaramarjuna ||2-2||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: Arjuna, where does this despondency come from at such a critical moment? This is not fitting for a noble person. It will not lead to heaven. It only brings disgrace.
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते |
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ||२-३||
klaibyaṃ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitattvayyupapadyate .
kṣudraṃ hṛdayadaurbalyaṃ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapa ||2-3||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Do not give in to weakness. This does not become you. Shake off this faint-heartedness and get up.
कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन |
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ||२-४||
arjuna uvāca .
kathaṃ bhīṣmamahaṃ saṅkhye droṇaṃ ca madhusūdana .
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvarisūdana ||2-4||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: How can I fight Bhishma and Drona in battle with arrows? They are worthy of my reverence.
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके |
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ||२-५||
gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān śreyo bhoktuṃ bhaikṣyamapīha loke .
hatvārthakāmāṃstu gurūnihaiva bhuñjīya bhogān rudhirapradigdhān ||2-5||
Simple English
Primary Translation
It would be better to live as a beggar in this world than to kill these revered elders. Even if they are motivated by desire for wealth, they are still my teachers. Whatever we enjoy after killing them will be stained with their blood.
न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः |
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्- तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ||२-६||
na caitadvidmaḥ kataranno garīyo yadvā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ .
yāneva hatvā na jijīviṣāmaḥ te.avasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ ||2-6||
Simple English
Primary Translation
We do not even know which is better for us: conquering them or being conquered by them. The very sons of Dhritarashtra, by killing whom we would not wish to live, stand before us now.
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः |
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||२-७||
kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ .
yacchreyaḥ syānniścitaṃ brūhi tanme śiṣyaste.ahaṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam ||2-7||
Simple English
Primary Translation
My heart is overcome by a weakness that feels like compassion, and my mind is confused about what my duty is. I am asking you to tell me clearly what is good for me. I am your disciple. Please teach me.
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद् यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् |
अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ||२-८||
na hi prapaśyāmi mamāpanudyād yacchokamucchoṣaṇamindriyāṇām .
avāpya bhūmāvasapatnamṛddhaṃ rājyaṃ surāṇāmapi cādhipatyam ||2-8||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I cannot see what could remove this grief that drains my senses, not even winning an uncontested kingdom on earth or lordship over the gods in heaven.
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप |
न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ||२-९||
sañjaya uvāca .
evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśaṃ guḍākeśaḥ parantapaḥ .
na yotsya iti govindamuktvā tūṣṇīṃ babhūva ha ||2-9||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Krishna, Arjuna said "I will not fight" and fell silent.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत |
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ||२-१०||
tamuvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ prahasanniva bhārata .
senayorubhayormadhye viṣīdantamidaṃ vacaḥ ||2-10||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Sanjaya said: Then Krishna, as if smiling, spoke these words to the grief-stricken Arjuna, there between both armies.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे |
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ||२-११||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
aśocyānanvaśocastvaṃ prajñāvādāṃśca bhāṣase .
gatāsūnagatāsūṃśca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ ||2-11||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: You grieve for those who do not deserve grief, yet you speak words of wisdom. Those who truly know do not mourn for the living or the dead.
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः |
न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ||२-१२||
na tvevāhaṃ jātu nāsaṃ na tvaṃ neme janādhipāḥ .
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ sarve vayamataḥ param ||2-12||
Simple English
Primary Translation
There was never a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these kings. And there will never be a time when any of us ceases to exist.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा |
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ||२-१३||
dehino.asminyathā dehe kaumāraṃ yauvanaṃ jarā .
tathā dehāntaraprāptirdhīrastatra na muhyati ||2-13||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as a person in the same body passes through childhood, youth, and old age, the soul passes into another body at death. A wise person is not confused by this.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः |
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ||२-१४||
mātrāsparśāstu kaunteya śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥ .
āgamāpāyino.anityāstāṃstitikṣasva bhārata ||2-14||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The contact between the senses and their objects gives rise to feelings of cold and heat, pleasure and pain. These come and go; they do not last. Bear them, Arjuna.
यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ |
समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ||२-१५||
yaṃ hi na vyathayantyete puruṣaṃ puruṣarṣabha .
samaduḥkhasukhaṃ dhīraṃ so.amṛtatvāya kalpate ||2-15||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The person who is not disturbed by these, who remains steady in both pain and pleasure, that person is fit for liberation.
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः |
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ||२-१६||
nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ .
ubhayorapi dṛṣṭo.antastvanayostattvadarśibhiḥ ||2-16||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The unreal has no existence. The real never ceases to be. Those who see the truth have understood the nature of both.
अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् |
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ||२-१७||
avināśi tu tadviddhi yena sarvamidaṃ tatam .
vināśamavyayasyāsya na kaścitkartumarhati ||2-17||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Know that what pervades all of this is indestructible. No one can bring about the destruction of what is imperishable.
अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः |
अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ||२-१८||
antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ .
anāśino.aprameyasya tasmādyudhyasva bhārata ||2-18||
Simple English
Primary Translation
These bodies of the eternal, indestructible, and incomprehensible soul are said to have an end. Therefore fight, Arjuna.
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् |
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ||२-१९||
ya enaṃ vetti hantāraṃ yaścainaṃ manyate hatam ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṃ hanti na hanyate ||2-19||
Simple English
Primary Translation
He who thinks the soul kills, and he who thinks the soul can be killed, both of them are mistaken. The soul does not kill, nor is it killed.
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन् नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः |
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ||२-२०||
na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṃ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ .
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato.ayaṃ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre ||2-20||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The soul is never born and never dies. It has not come into being and will not cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ancient, and undecaying. It is not killed when the body is killed.
वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम् |
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ||२-२१||
vedāvināśinaṃ nityaṃ ya enamajamavyayam .
kathaṃ sa puruṣaḥ pārtha kaṃ ghātayati hanti kam ||2-21||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When someone knows the soul to be indestructible, eternal, unborn, and unchanging, how does that person cause killing, or kill anyone?
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि |
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा- न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ||२-२२||
vāsāṃsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro.aparāṇi .
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāni anyāni saṃyāti navāni dehī ||2-22||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as a person discards worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, the soul discards worn-out bodies and takes on new ones.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः |
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ||२-२३||
nainaṃ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṃ dahati pāvakaḥ .
na cainaṃ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ ||2-23||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Weapons cannot cut it. Fire cannot burn it. Water cannot wet it. Wind cannot dry it.
अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च |
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ||२-२४||
acchedyo.ayamadāhyo.ayamakledyo.aśoṣya eva ca .
nityaḥ sarvagataḥ sthāṇuracalo.ayaṃ sanātanaḥ ||2-24||
Simple English
Primary Translation
It cannot be cut, burned, wetted, or dried. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, immovable, and changeless.
अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते |
तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२५||
avyakto.ayamacintyo.ayamavikāryo.ayamucyate .
tasmādevaṃ viditvainaṃ nānuśocitumarhasi ||2-25||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This soul is said to be unmanifest, inconceivable, and unchanging. Knowing this, you should not grieve.
अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् |
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२६||
atha cainaṃ nityajātaṃ nityaṃ vā manyase mṛtam .
tathāpi tvaṃ mahābāho naivaṃ śocitumarhasi ||2-26||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even if you believe the soul is constantly being born and constantly dying, even then, there is no reason for you to grieve.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च |
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-२७||
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyurdhruvaṃ janma mṛtasya ca .
tasmādaparihārye.arthe na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi ||2-27||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For whoever is born, death is certain. For whoever dies, rebirth is certain. There is no reason to grieve over what is inevitable.
अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत |
अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ||२-२८||
avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyaktamadhyāni bhārata .
avyaktanidhanānyeva tatra kā paridevanā ||2-28||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest in the middle, and unmanifest again after death. What is there to grieve about in any of this?
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन- माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः |
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ||२-२९||
āścaryavatpaśyati kaścidenam āścaryavadvadati tathaiva cānyaḥ .
āścaryavaccainamanyaḥ śṛṇoti śrutvāpyenaṃ veda na caiva kaścit ||2-29||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One person sees the soul as a wonder. Another speaks of it as a wonder. Another hears of it as a wonder. And even after hearing, most people do not truly know it.
देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत |
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ||२-३०||
dehī nityamavadhyo.ayaṃ dehe sarvasya bhārata .
tasmātsarvāṇi bhūtāni na tvaṃ śocitumarhasi ||2-30||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The soul that dwells in every body can never be killed. So you have no reason to grieve for any being.
स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि |
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ||२-३१||
svadharmamapi cāvekṣya na vikampitumarhasi .
dharmyāddhi yuddhācchreyo.anyatkṣatriyasya na vidyate ||2-31||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Besides, considering your own duty as a warrior, you should not waver. For a warrior, there is no greater good than a righteous battle.
यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् |
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ||२-३२||
yadṛcchayā copapannaṃ svargadvāramapāvṛtam .
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddhamīdṛśam ||2-32||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Warriors who find a battle like this come to them unsought are fortunate. It opens the door to heaven.
अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि |
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ||२-३३||
atha cettvamimaṃ dharmyaṃ saṃgrāmaṃ na kariṣyasi .
tataḥ svadharmaṃ kīrtiṃ ca hitvā pāpamavāpsyasi ||2-33||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But if you refuse to fight this righteous battle, you will abandon your duty and your honor and incur sin.
अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् |
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ||२-३४||
akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te.avyayām .
sambhāvitasya cākīrtirmaraṇādatiricyate ||2-34||
Simple English
Primary Translation
People will speak of your disgrace for a very long time. And for someone who has been honored, disgrace is worse than death.
भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः |
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ||२-३५||
bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyante tvāṃ mahārathāḥ .
yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam ||2-35||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The great warriors will think you fled the battlefield in fear. Those who held you in high esteem will think less of you.
अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः |
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ||२-३६||
avācyavādāṃśca bahūnvadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ .
nindantastava sāmarthyaṃ tato duḥkhataraṃ nu kim ||2-36||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Your enemies will say many hurtful things about your courage. What could be more painful than that?
हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् |
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ||२-३७||
hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm .
tasmāduttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ ||2-37||
Simple English
Primary Translation
If you are killed, you will attain heaven. If you win, you will enjoy the earth. So arise, Arjuna, and fight.
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ |
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ||२-३८||
sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau .
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpamavāpsyasi ||2-38||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as equal, go into battle. You will not incur any sin this way.
एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु |
बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ||२-३९||
eṣā te.abhihitā sāṅkhye buddhiryoge tvimāṃ śṛṇu .
buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karmabandhaṃ prahāsyasi ||2-39||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This is the wisdom I have given you from the standpoint of knowledge. Now listen to it from the standpoint of action. Armed with this understanding, you will free yourself from the bondage of karma.
नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते |
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ||२-४०||
nehābhikramanāśo.asti pratyavāyo na vidyate .
svalpamapyasya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt ||2-40||
Simple English
Primary Translation
On this path, no effort is wasted and no harm comes from it. Even a little of this practice protects you from great fear.
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन |
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ||२-४१||
vyavasāyātmikā buddhirekeha kurunandana .
bahuśākhā hyanantāśca buddhayo.avyavasāyinām ||2-41||
Simple English
Primary Translation
On this path, the resolute mind is focused on a single point. The minds of those without resolve branch off endlessly in many directions.
यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः |
वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः ||२-४२||
yāmimāṃ puṣpitāṃ vācaṃ pravadantyavipaścitaḥ .
vedavādaratāḥ pārtha nānyadastīti vādinaḥ ||2-42||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those without discernment, who are attached to the flowery words of the Vedas, declare there is nothing beyond this. They are full of desires and focused on heaven.
कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् |
क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति ||२-४३||
kāmātmānaḥ svargaparā janmakarmaphalapradām .
kriyāviśeṣabahulāṃ bhogaiśvaryagatiṃ prati ||2-43||
Simple English
Primary Translation
They speak of rites that promise good birth, power, and enjoyment. Their aim is sense pleasure and prosperity.
भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् |
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते ||२-४४||
bhogaiśvaryaprasaktānāṃ tayāpahṛtacetasām .
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ samādhau na vidhīyate ||2-44||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For those whose minds are carried away by the pursuit of enjoyment and power, steady wisdom does not take root.
त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन |
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ||२-४५||
traiguṇyaviṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna .
nirdvandvo nityasattvastho niryogakṣema ātmavān ||2-45||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The Vedas concern themselves with the three qualities of nature. Rise above them, Arjuna. Go beyond the pairs of opposites. Stay steady, and do not concern yourself with getting or protecting things.
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके |
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः ||२-४६||
yāvānartha udapāne sarvataḥ samplutodake .
tāvānsarveṣu vedeṣu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ ||2-46||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For a person with true understanding, all the Vedas are as useful as a small well when there is a flood on all sides.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||२-४७||
karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana .
mā karmaphalaheturbhūrmā te saṅgo.astvakarmaṇi ||2-47||
Simple English
Primary Translation
You have the right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not let the fruits be your motive. But do not be attached to inaction either.
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ||२-४८||
yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā dhanañjaya .
siddhyasiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṃ yoga ucyate ||2-48||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Act with evenness of mind, having given up attachment to results. This evenness of mind is called yoga.
दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय |
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ||२-४९||
dūreṇa hyavaraṃ karma buddhiyogāddhanañjaya .
buddhau śaraṇamanviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phalahetavaḥ ||2-49||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Action driven by desire for results is far inferior to action done with evenness of mind. Seek refuge in this evenness. Those who work only for rewards are to be pitied.
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते |
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ||२-५०||
buddhiyukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛtaduṣkṛte .
tasmādyogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam ||2-50||
Simple English
Primary Translation
A person with this evenness of mind casts off both good and bad actions in this life. Therefore aim for yoga. Yoga is skill in action.
कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः |
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम् ||२-५१||
karmajaṃ buddhiyuktā hi phalaṃ tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ .
janmabandhavinirmuktāḥ padaṃ gacchantyanāmayam ||2-51||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The wise who act with evenness and give up the fruits of their actions are freed from the bondage of birth and reach a state beyond suffering.
यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति |
तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च ||२-५२||
yadā te mohakalilaṃ buddhirvyatitariṣyati .
tadā gantāsi nirvedaṃ śrotavyasya śrutasya ca ||2-52||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When your mind crosses beyond the tangle of confusion, you will become indifferent to what you have heard and what is yet to be heard.
श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला |
समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ||२-५३||
śrutivipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā .
samādhāvacalā buddhistadā yogamavāpsyasi ||2-53||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When your mind, no longer scattered by what it has heard, stands steady and unmoving in deep stillness, then you will attain yoga.
स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव |
स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ||२-५४||
arjuna uvāca .
sthitaprajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhisthasya keśava .
sthitadhīḥ kiṃ prabhāṣeta kimāsīta vrajeta kim ||2-54||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: Krishna, what describes a person of steady wisdom, one who is established in that stillness? How does such a person speak? How do they sit? How do they move?
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् |
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ||२-५५||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
prajahāti yadā kāmānsarvānpārtha manogatān .
ātmanyevātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthitaprajñastadocyate ||2-55||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: When a person gives up all the desires that arise in the mind and is content within the self alone, by the self alone, that person is said to be of steady wisdom.
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः |
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ||२-५६||
duḥkheṣvanudvignamanāḥ sukheṣu vigataspṛhaḥ .
vītarāgabhayakrodhaḥ sthitadhīrmunirucyate ||2-56||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One whose mind is not shaken by sorrow, who does not crave pleasure, who is free from desire, fear, and anger, that person is called a sage of steady wisdom.
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् |
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-५७||
yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehastattatprāpya śubhāśubham .
nābhinandati na dveṣṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||2-57||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One who has no attachment to anything, who neither rejoices nor recoils when good or bad things happen, that person's wisdom is firmly established.
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-५८||
yadā saṃharate cāyaṃ kūrmo.aṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ .
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyastasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||2-58||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When a person withdraws the senses from the objects of the senses, the way a tortoise draws its limbs inward, that person's wisdom is firmly established.
विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः |
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ||२-५९||
viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ .
rasavarjaṃ raso.apyasya paraṃ dṛṣṭvā nivartate ||2-59||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Objects fall away from one who practices restraint, but the taste for them lingers. Even that taste disappears when the person realizes what is beyond the senses.
यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः |
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ||२-६०||
yatato hyapi kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ .
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṃ manaḥ ||2-60||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The senses are turbulent and forceful. They can drag away the mind of even a wise person who is striving hard to control them.
तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः |
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-६१||
tāni sarvāṇi saṃyamya yukta āsīta matparaḥ .
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||2-61||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Having restrained all the senses, let one remain in contemplation, taking me as the highest. For the person whose senses are under control, wisdom becomes steadfast.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ||२-६२||
dhyāyato viṣayānpuṃsaḥ saṅgasteṣūpajāyate .
saṅgātsañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmātkrodho.abhijāyate ||2-62||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When a person keeps thinking about the objects of the senses, attachment to them grows. From attachment comes desire. From desire comes anger.
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः |
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ||२-६३||
krodhādbhavati sammohaḥ sammohātsmṛtivibhramaḥ .
smṛtibhraṃśād buddhināśo buddhināśātpraṇaśyati ||2-63||
Simple English
Primary Translation
From anger comes confusion. From confusion comes loss of memory. From loss of memory comes the destruction of judgment. And with the destruction of judgment, the person is lost.
रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् |
(or वियुक्तैस्तु) आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति ||२-६४||
rāgadveṣavimuktaistu viṣayānindriyaiścaran .
orviyuktaistu ātmavaśyairvidheyātmā prasādamadhigacchati ||2-64||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But the person who moves through sense objects with the senses free from attraction and repulsion, under self-control, attains peace of mind.
प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते |
प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ||२-६५||
prasāde sarvaduḥkhānāṃ hānirasyopajāyate .
prasannacetaso hyāśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate ||2-65||
Simple English
Primary Translation
In that peace, all sorrow dissolves. For the person with a peaceful mind, wisdom quickly becomes firmly established.
नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना |
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ||२-६६||
nāsti buddhirayuktasya na cāyuktasya bhāvanā .
na cābhāvayataḥ śāntiraśāntasya kutaḥ sukham ||2-66||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For the person without steadiness there is no wisdom, and without wisdom there is no meditation. Without meditation there is no peace. Without peace, where is happiness?
इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते |
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ||२-६७||
indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ yanmano.anuvidhīyate .
tadasya harati prajñāṃ vāyurnāvamivāmbhasi ||2-67||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as wind blows a boat off course on the water, even one wandering sense that the mind follows can carry off a person's wisdom.
तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ||२-६८||
tasmādyasya mahābāho nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ .
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyastasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā ||2-68||
Simple English
Primary Translation
So the person whose senses are fully withdrawn from their objects on all sides, that person's wisdom is firmly established.
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी |
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ||२-६९||
yā niśā sarvabhūtānāṃ tasyāṃ jāgarti saṃyamī .
yasyāṃ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyato muneḥ ||2-69||
Simple English
Primary Translation
What is night for all creatures, the self-controlled person is awake to. What all creatures are awake to is night for the sage who truly sees.
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् |
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ||२-७०||
āpūryamāṇamacalapratiṣṭhaṃ samudramāpaḥ praviśanti yadvat .
tadvatkāmā yaṃ praviśanti sarve sa śāntimāpnoti na kāmakāmī ||2-70||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as rivers flow into the ocean without disturbing its stillness, the person into whom all desires flow without causing disturbance attains peace. Not so the person who chases after desires.
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः |
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ||२-७१||
vihāya kāmānyaḥ sarvānpumāṃścarati niḥspṛhaḥ .
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sa śāntimadhigacchati ||2-71||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The person who moves through the world having given up all desires, without longing, without a sense of mine, without pride, that person attains peace.
एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति |
स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति ||२-७२||
eṣā brāhmī sthitiḥ pārtha naināṃ prāpya vimuhyati .
sthitvāsyāmantakāle.api brahmanirvāṇamṛcchati ||2-72||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This, Arjuna, is the state of being established in Brahman. Reaching it, no one is deluded. Abiding in this state even at the moment of death, one attains liberation.