ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन |
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ||३-१||
arjuna uvāca .
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana .
tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ||3-1||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: Krishna, if you believe that knowledge is superior to action, why are you pushing me into this terrible war?
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे |
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ||३-२||
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me .
tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo.ahamāpnuyām ||3-2||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Your instructions seem to contradict each other and are confusing me. Please tell me clearly which one path will lead me to the highest good.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
लोकेऽस्मिन् द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ |
ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ||३-३||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
loke.asmina dvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha .
jñānayogena sāṅkhyānāṃ karmayogena yoginām ||3-3||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: Arjuna, in this world I have spoken of two paths. For those inclined toward knowledge, there is the path of knowledge. For those inclined toward action, there is the path of action.
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते |
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ||३-४||
na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo.aśnute .
na ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati ||3-4||
Simple English
Primary Translation
A person does not become free from action simply by not acting. Nor does anyone reach fulfilment through renunciation alone.
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् |
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ||३-५||
na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt .
kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ ||3-5||
Simple English
Primary Translation
No one can remain without acting even for a moment. Everyone is driven to act, whether they want to or not, by the qualities of nature.
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् |
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ||३-६||
karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran .
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate ||3-6||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One who restrains the organs of action but sits with the mind dwelling on the objects of the senses is a deluded person and a hypocrite.
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन |
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ||३-७||
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate.arjuna .
karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ||3-7||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But one who controls the senses with the mind and then engages the organs of action in work, without attachment, that person is superior.
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः |
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ||३-८||
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ .
śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ||3-8||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Perform your duty. Action is better than inaction. Without action, you cannot even maintain your own body.
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः |
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ||३-९||
yajñārthātkarmaṇo.anyatra loko.ayaṃ karmabandhanaḥ .
tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara ||3-9||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Action in this world leads to bondage unless it is done as an offering. Therefore, free from attachment, perform your actions as an offering.
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः |
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ||३-१०||
sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ .
anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo.astviṣṭakāmadhuk ||3-10||
Simple English
Primary Translation
In the beginning, the creator brought forth living beings along with the spirit of sacrifice and said: by this you shall prosper; let this fulfill all your desires.
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः |
परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ||३-११||
devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ .
parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha ||3-11||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By this, nourish the gods and the gods will nourish you. Nourishing one another in this way, you shall attain the highest good.
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः |
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ||३-१२||
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ .
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ||3-12||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The gods, nourished by sacrifice, will grant you the enjoyments you seek. But one who enjoys what the gods give without offering anything in return is simply a thief.
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ||३-१३||
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ .
bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt ||3-13||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those who eat the food left after offerings are freed from all faults. But those who cook only for themselves eat nothing but sin.
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः |
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ||३-१४||
annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ .
yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ ||3-14||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All beings come from food. Food comes from rain. Rain comes from sacrifice. And sacrifice comes from action.
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् |
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ||३-१५||
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam .
tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ||3-15||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Action comes from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading Vedas are ever rooted in sacrifice.
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः |
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ||३-१६||
evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ .
aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati ||3-16||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One who does not follow this cycle here on earth, living only for the senses, lives a sinful and wasted life, Arjuna.
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः |
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ||३-१७||
yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ .
ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ||3-17||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But for the person who finds joy only in the self, who is content and satisfied in the self alone, there is nothing left that needs to be done.
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन |
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ||३-१८||
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana .
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ||3-18||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For such a person there is no purpose to be gained by acting or by not acting. There is no need to depend on any other being for anything.
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ||३-१९||
tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara .
asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ ||3-19||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Therefore always perform the actions that need to be done, without attachment. Through action done without attachment, a person reaches the highest.
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः |
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ||३-२०||
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ .
lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ||3-20||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Janaka and others reached perfection through action alone. You should also act, keeping in mind the guidance it offers to the world.
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः |
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ||३-२१||
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ .
sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate ||3-21||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard such a person sets, the world takes it up.
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन |
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ||३-२२||
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana .
nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi ||3-22||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna, there is nothing in all three worlds that I need to do. There is nothing I have not attained or need to attain. And yet I keep working.
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः |
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ||३-२३||
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ .
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||3-23||
Simple English
Primary Translation
If I ever stopped working, people would follow my example and stop as well.
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् |
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ||३-२४||
utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham .
saṅkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ ||3-24||
Simple English
Primary Translation
If I did not act, these worlds would fall apart. I would cause chaos and bring harm to all these people.
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत |
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ||३-२५||
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata .
kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham ||3-25||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as people who do not know act with attachment to their work, the one who does know should act without attachment, for the benefit of the world.
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् |
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ||३-२६||
na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām .
joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran ||3-26||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The wise person should not unsettle the minds of those who are attached to their work and who do not know. Instead, acting with care, such a person should encourage others to act as well.
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः |
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ||३-२७||
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ .
ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā kartāhamiti manyate ||3-27||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All actions are being carried out by the qualities of nature. But the person whose mind is clouded by ego thinks, I am the one doing this.
तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः |
गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते ||३-२८||
tattvavittu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ .
guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate ||3-28||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But the one who knows the truth about how the qualities of nature work, and how they act on their own products, understands that qualities rest on qualities. That person is not attached.
प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु |
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ||३-२९||
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu .
tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet ||3-29||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those who are fully caught up in the qualities of nature become attached to actions driven by those qualities. The knower of the whole truth should not disturb those who only see part of it.
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा |
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ||३-३०||
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā .
nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ ||3-30||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Dedicating all your actions to me, with your mind focused on the self, free from desire and selfishness, fight without any inner agitation.
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः |
श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ||३-३१||
ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ .
śraddhāvanto.anasūyanto mucyante te.api karmabhiḥ ||3-31||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those who follow this teaching of mine with faith and without complaint are freed from the bondage of actions.
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् |
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ||३-३२||
ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam .
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstānviddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ ||3-32||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it, know them to be without wisdom, confused about everything, and lost.
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि |
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ||३-३३||
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi .
prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ||3-33||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even a person of knowledge acts according to their own nature. All beings follow their nature. What will suppression achieve?
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ |
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ||३-३४||
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau .
tayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau ||3-34||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Attraction and repulsion are built into each sense and its objects. No one should fall under the control of these two. They are one's enemies.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ||३-३५||
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt .
svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||3-35||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Your own duty done imperfectly is better than another's duty done well. It is better to die doing your own duty. Taking up another's duty brings danger.
अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः |
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः ||३-३६||
arjuna uvāca .
atha kena prayukto.ayaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ .
anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ ||3-36||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: Krishna, what is it that drives a person to commit sin, even against their own will, as if pushed by some force?
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः |
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ||३-३७||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ .
mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam ||3-37||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: It is desire, and it is anger, both born from the quality of passion. They consume everything and lead to sin. Know this to be the enemy here.
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च |
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ||३-३८||
dhūmenāvriyate vahniryathādarśo malena ca .
yatholbenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam ||3-38||
Simple English
Primary Translation
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, and as a child in the womb is covered by the membrane, so is knowledge covered by desire.
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा |
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ||३-३९||
āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā .
kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||3-39||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The knowledge of the wise is covered by this constant enemy in the form of desire, which is an insatiable fire, Arjuna.
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते |
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ||३-४०||
indriyāṇi mano buddhirasyādhiṣṭhānamucyate .
etairvimohayatyeṣa jñānamāvṛtya dehinam ||3-40||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its base. Through these, desire covers the knowledge of the embodied self and creates confusion.
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ |
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ||३-४१||
tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha .
pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam ||3-41||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Therefore, Arjuna, control the senses from the start and cut down this sinful thing that destroys both knowledge and wisdom.
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः |
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ||३-४२||
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhurindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ .
manasastu parā buddhiryo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ ||3-42||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The senses are greater than the body, the mind is greater than the senses, the intellect is greater than the mind, and what is greater than the intellect is the self.
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना |
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ||३-४३||
evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā .
jahi śatruṃ mahābāho kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam ||3-43||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Knowing the self to be beyond even the intellect, and steadying the mind through the intellect, destroy this enemy that takes the form of desire and is so hard to overcome.