Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
42 Verses
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग
The fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga. In this chapter, Krishna glorifies the Karma Yoga and imparts the Transcendental Knowledge (the knowledge of the soul and the Ultimate Truth) to Arjuna. He reveals the reason behind his appearance in this material world. He reveals that even though he is eternal, he reincarnates time after time to re-establish dharma and peace on this Earth. His births and activities are eternal and are never contaminated by material flaws. Those persons who know and understand this Truth engage in his devotion with full faith and eventually attain Him. They do not have to take birth in this world again.
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श्रीभगवानुवाच |
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् |
विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ||४-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam .
vivasvānmanave prāha manurikṣvākave.abravīt ||4-1||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: I taught this eternal yoga to Vivasvan the sun god. Vivasvan taught it to Manu. And Manu passed it on to Ikshvaku.
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः |
स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ||४-२||
evaṃ paramparāprāptamimaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ .
sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa ||4-2||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Passed down in this way, the royal sages came to know it. But over a long stretch of time, that yoga was lost to the world.
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः |
भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ||४-३||
sa evāyaṃ mayā te.adya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ .
bhakto.asi me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam ||4-3||
Simple English
Primary Translation
That same ancient yoga is what I am teaching you today. You are my devotee and my friend, and that is why I am sharing this with you. It is a deep secret.
अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः |
कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ||४-४||
arjuna uvāca .
aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ .
kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti ||4-4||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Arjuna said: Vivasvan was born long before you. How am I to understand that you taught him this in the beginning?
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन |
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ||४-५||
śrībhagavānuvāca .
bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna .
tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṃ vettha parantapa ||4-5||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Krishna said: You and I have both passed through many births. I know all of them. You do not.
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् |
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ||४-६||
ajo.api sannavyayātmā bhūtānāmīśvaro.api san .
prakṛtiṃ svāmadhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmyātmamāyayā ||4-6||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Though I am unborn and my nature does not change, and though I am the lord of all beings, I still come into being by my own power, through my own nature.
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||४-७||
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata .
abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham ||4-7||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises up, I manifest myself.
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||४-८||
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām .
dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge ||4-8||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Age after age I come into being to protect the good, to destroy the wicked, and to establish what is right.
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः |
त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ||४-९||
janma karma ca me divyamevaṃ yo vetti tattvataḥ .
tyaktvā dehaṃ punarjanma naiti māmeti so.arjuna ||4-9||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The one who truly knows my divine birth and actions is not reborn after leaving the body. That person comes to me.
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः |
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ||४-१०||
vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ .
bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ ||4-10||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Many people, freed from desire, fear, and anger, absorbed in me, taking refuge in me, purified by the practice of knowledge, have reached my state.
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ||४-११||
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham .
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||4-11||
Simple English
Primary Translation
In whatever way people come to me, I receive them in that very same way. Everywhere, people are following my path.
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः |
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ||४-१२||
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ .
kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhirbhavati karmajā ||4-12||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Those who desire the results of their rituals worship the gods here. In the human world, success from such action comes quickly.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः |
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ||४-१३||
cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ .
tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam ||4-13||
Simple English
Primary Translation
I created the four divisions of society according to the qualities and duties of each. Though I am their creator, know me as the one who does not act and who does not change.
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा |
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ||४-१४||
na māṃ karmāṇi limpanti na me karmaphale spṛhā .
iti māṃ yo.abhijānāti karmabhirna sa badhyate ||4-14||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Actions do not bind me. I have no desire for the fruits of actions. One who understands this about me is not bound by actions either.
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः |
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ||४-१५||
evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ .
kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam ||4-15||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Knowing this, even the ancient seekers of liberation kept on acting. You too should act, just as those who came before you did.
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः |
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ||४-१६||
kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo.apyatra mohitāḥ .
tatte karma pravakṣyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣyase.aśubhāt ||4-16||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even the wise are confused about what action is and what non-action is. I will explain action to you in a way that will free you from harm.
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः |
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ||४-१७||
karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ .
akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ||4-17||
Simple English
Primary Translation
It is worth understanding what action is. It is worth understanding what wrong action is. And it is worth understanding what non-action is. The nature of action is hard to fathom.
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः |
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ||४-१८||
karmaṇyakarma yaḥ paśyedakarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ .
sa buddhimānmanuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsnakarmakṛt ||4-18||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The one who sees non-action in action, and action in non-action, is wise among people. That person is balanced and has fulfilled all that needs to be done.
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः |
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ||४-१९||
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāmasaṅkalpavarjitāḥ .
jñānāgnidagdhakarmāṇaṃ tamāhuḥ paṇḍitaṃ budhāḥ ||4-19||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The wise call someone learned when all their undertakings are free from desire and selfish intention, and when their actions are consumed in the fire of knowledge.
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः |
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ||४-२०||
tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgaṃ nityatṛpto nirāśrayaḥ .
karmaṇyabhipravṛtto.api naiva kiñcitkaroti saḥ ||4-20||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Having let go of attachment to the fruits of action, always content, not depending on anything, such a person does not really act at all, even while acting.
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः |
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ||४-२१||
nirāśīryatacittātmā tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ .
śārīraṃ kevalaṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||4-21||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Free from desire, with the mind and senses under control, giving up all sense of possession, acting only for the body's needs, such a person incurs no fault.
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः |
समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ||४-२२||
yadṛcchālābhasantuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ .
samaḥ siddhāvasiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate ||4-22||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Content with whatever comes on its own, beyond the pull of opposites, free from envy, steady in both success and failure, such a person is not bound even while acting.
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः |
यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते ||४-२३||
gatasaṅgasya muktasya jñānāvasthitacetasaḥ .
yajñāyācarataḥ karma samagraṃ pravilīyate ||4-23||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For one who is free from attachment, who is liberated, whose mind rests in knowledge, who acts only as an offering, all karma dissolves completely.
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ||४-२४||
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havirbrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam .
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā ||4-24||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The offering is the absolute. The oblation is the absolute. It is poured by the absolute into the fire of the absolute. The one who is absorbed in action as the absolute reaches the absolute.
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते |
ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति ||४-२५||
daivamevāpare yajñaṃ yoginaḥ paryupāsate .
brahmāgnāvapare yajñaṃ yajñenaivopajuhvati ||4-25||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Some practitioners offer sacrifice to the gods. Others offer the self as sacrifice into the fire of the absolute.
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति |
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति ||४-२६||
śrotrādīnīndriyāṇyanye saṃyamāgniṣu juhvati .
śabdādīnviṣayānanya indriyāgniṣu juhvati ||4-26||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Some offer hearing and the other senses into the fires of self-restraint. Others offer sound and the other sense objects into the fires of the senses.
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे |
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ||४-२७||
sarvāṇīndriyakarmāṇi prāṇakarmāṇi cāpare .
ātmasaṃyamayogāgnau juhvati jñānadīpite ||4-27||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Others offer all the activities of the senses and the workings of the breath into the fire of the yoga of self-control, lit by knowledge.
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे |
स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः ||४-२८||
dravyayajñāstapoyajñā yogayajñāstathāpare .
svādhyāyajñānayajñāśca yatayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ||4-28||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Some make offerings of material wealth. Some offer austerity. Some offer the practice of yoga. Some offer study and knowledge. Others follow strict vows.
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे |
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः ||४-२९||
apāne juhvati prāṇaṃ prāṇe.apānaṃ tathāpare .
prāṇāpānagatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ ||4-29||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Some who restrict their food are devoted to breath control, offering the outgoing breath into the incoming and the incoming into the outgoing, aiming to stop both completely.
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति |
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ||४-३०||
apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇānprāṇeṣu juhvati .
sarve.apyete yajñavido yajñakṣapitakalmaṣāḥ ||4-30||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All of these know what sacrifice means, and their wrongs are wiped out through it. Those who eat what remains after a sacrifice reach the eternal.
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् |
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम ||४-३१||
yajñaśiṣṭāmṛtabhujo yānti brahma sanātanam .
nāyaṃ loko.astyayajñasya kuto.anyaḥ kurusattama ||4-31||
Simple English
Primary Translation
This world is not for one who makes no sacrifice. How much less the next world, Arjuna.
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे |
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ||४-३२||
evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe .
karmajānviddhi tānsarvānevaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase ||4-32||
Simple English
Primary Translation
All these many forms of sacrifice are laid out in the Vedas. Know that they all arise from action. Knowing this, you will be free.
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप |
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ||४-३३||
śreyāndravyamayādyajñājjñānayajñaḥ parantapa .
sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate ||4-33||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The sacrifice of knowledge is greater than any sacrifice of material things. All action without exception finds its completion in knowledge.
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ||४-३४||
tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā .
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ ||4-34||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Learn this through humility, through questioning, through service. Those who have seen the truth will teach you what they know.
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव |
येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि (var अशेषाणि) ||४-३५||
yajjñātvā na punarmohamevaṃ yāsyasi pāṇḍava .
yena bhūtānyaśeṣāṇi drakṣyasyātmanyatho mayi ||4-35||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Once you know this, you will not fall into confusion again. You will see all beings without exception in yourself, and then in me.
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः |
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ||४-३६||
api cedasi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpakṛttamaḥ .
sarvaṃ jñānaplavenaiva vṛjinaṃ santariṣyasi ||4-36||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even if you are the most sinful among all sinners, knowledge alone will carry you across all wrongdoing, like a boat across the water.
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन |
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ||४-३७||
yathaidhāṃsi samiddho.agnirbhasmasātkurute.arjuna .
jñānāgniḥ sarvakarmāṇi bhasmasātkurute tathā ||4-37||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Just as a blazing fire turns wood to ash, the fire of knowledge burns all actions to ash.
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ||४-३८||
na hi jñānena sadṛśaṃ pavitramiha vidyate .
tatsvayaṃ yogasaṃsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati ||4-38||
Simple English
Primary Translation
There is nothing in this world that purifies like knowledge. In time, the one who is perfected through yoga finds this knowledge within themselves.
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः |
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ||४-३९||
śraddhāvā.Nllabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ .
jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntimacireṇādhigacchati ||4-39||
Simple English
Primary Translation
One who has faith, who is devoted to it, and who has the senses under control gains knowledge. Having gained knowledge, they quickly reach lasting peace.
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति |
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ||४-४०||
ajñaścāśraddadhānaśca saṃśayātmā vinaśyati .
nāyaṃ loko.asti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ ||4-40||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The one who has no knowledge, no faith, and a doubting mind is lost. For the person of doubt there is no happiness in this world or the next.
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसञ्छिन्नसंशयम् |
आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय ||४-४१||
yogasaṃnyastakarmāṇaṃ jñānasañchinnasaṃśayam .
ātmavantaṃ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya ||4-41||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Actions do not bind the one who has given them up through yoga, whose doubts have been cut away by knowledge, and who is steady in the self.
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः |
छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ||४-४२||
tasmādajñānasambhūtaṃ hṛtsthaṃ jñānāsinātmanaḥ .
chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogamātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||4-42||
Simple English
Primary Translation
So cut away the doubt in your heart that comes from not knowing. Take up yoga and rise.