Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Supreme Lord said: I taught this eternal science of Yoga to Vivasvan (the Sun-god); Vivasvan taught it to Manu (the father of mankind); and Manu declared it to Ikshvaku (the founder of the solar dynasty).

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः |

This science was thus passed down in continuous succession, and the royal sages understood it. But, O subduer of enemies, by the long lapse of time, this Yoga was lost to this world.

स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः |

That very same ancient Yoga is today declared to you by Me, because you are My devotee and My friend; and this is indeed the supreme secret.

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said: Your birth was recent, whereas the birth of Vivasvan was in the distant past. How then am I to understand that You taught this yoga in the beginning?

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Supreme Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed, and also of yours, O Arjuna. I know all of them, but you do not know them, O subduer of enemies.

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् |

Although I am unborn, and My transcendental body never decays, and although I am the Lord of all living beings, yet, established in My own nature, I manifest Myself by My own divine energy.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in righteousness, O Bharata, and a rise in unrighteousness, at that time I manifest Myself.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked, and for the firm establishment of righteousness, I manifest Myself age after age.

जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः |

He who understands in truth the divine nature of My birth and activities, does not take birth again upon leaving the body, but attains Me, O Arjuna.

वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः |

Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, fully absorbed in Me, and taking refuge in Me, many purified by the penance of knowledge have attained My divine nature.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |

In whatever way people surrender unto Me, in that same way I reciprocate with them. O Partha, all human beings follow My path in every way.

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः |

Those who desire success in fruitive activities worship the celestial gods in this world; for in this human world, success born of action is quickly achieved.

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः |

The four divisions of human society were created by Me according to divisions of quality and work. Although I am the creator of this system, know Me to be the non-doer and eternal.

न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा |

Actions do not taint Me, nor do I desire the fruits of action. He who understands this truth about Me is also not bound by actions.

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः |

Knowing this truth, the seekers of liberation in ancient times also performed action. Therefore, you should perform your duty as did the ancients in former times.

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः |

What is action? What is inaction? Even the wise are bewildered on this point. I shall explain to you that action, knowing which you shall be liberated from all evil.

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः |

The truth about action must be understood, and also the truth about forbidden action, as well as the truth about inaction; for the path of action is deep and mysterious.

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः |

He who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is wise among men. He is a yogi and has completed all tasks.

यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः |

One whose undertakings are all free from desire and mental projections, and whose actions are burnt by the fire of divine knowledge, is called a sage by those who know.

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः |

Having abandoned all attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, and dependent on nothing, such a person, even though fully engaged in action, does not perform any action at all.

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः |

Free from desires, with mind and self controlled, having renounced all possessiveness, and performing actions solely for bodily maintenance, one incurs no sin.

यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः |

Content with whatever comes naturally, free from dualities and envy, and equal in success and failure, even though performing actions, one is not bound.

गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः |

For one who is unattached, liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, and who performs work as a sacrifice, all actions dissolve completely.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |

The offering is Brahman; the oblation is Brahman; it is offered by Brahman in the fire of Brahman; Brahman is attained by one who is fully absorbed in Brahman-action.

दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते |

Some yogis worship the demigods with sacrifice; while others offer sacrifice itself as an offering in the fire of Brahman.

श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति |

Some offer the hearing and other senses in the fires of restraint; while others offer sound and other sense objects in the fires of the senses.

सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे |

Still others offer all the actions of the senses and the life-breath in the fire of the yoga of self-control, which is illuminated by knowledge.

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे |

Some offer material possessions as sacrifice; others perform sacrifices of penance; others practice the yoga of eightfold path; while others, of rigid vows, offer study of scriptures and knowledge.

अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे |

Some offer the outgoing breath (prana) into the incoming breath (apana), and the incoming breath into the outgoing breath, restraining the flow of both breaths, practicing pranayama.

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति |

Others, restricting their food intake, offer the life-breath into the life-breath itself. All of these are knowers of sacrifice, and their sins are washed away by such sacrifice.

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् |

Those who eat the nectar-like remnants of sacrifice attain the eternal Brahman. O best of the Kurus, this world is not for the one who performs no sacrifice; how then can any other world be?

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे |

In this way, many varieties of sacrifices are spread out in the mouth of Brahman (or the Vedas). Know them all to be born of action; knowing this, you shall be liberated.

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप |

O subduer of enemies, the sacrifice of knowledge is superior to the sacrifice of material possessions. O Partha, all actions in their entirety culminate in wisdom.

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |

Learn this truth by surrendering to a spiritual master, by humble inquiry, and by service. The wise, who have seen the truth, will instruct you in this knowledge.

यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव |

Knowing this, O son of Pandu, you will never fall into such delusion again. By this knowledge, you will see all living beings in your own Self, and thus in Me.

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः |

Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners, you will cross over the ocean of all sins by the boat of transcendental knowledge alone.

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन |

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn all actions to ashes.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |

Indeed, in this world there is nothing as purifying as knowledge. One who is perfected in Yoga finds this wisdom within their own Self in course of time.

श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः |

A person of faith, who is dedicated to it and has controlled the senses, attains knowledge. Having attained knowledge, they quickly achieve the supreme peace.

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति |

But the ignorant, the faithless, and the doubting soul is ruined. For the doubting soul, there is happiness neither in this world, nor in the next.

योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसञ्छिन्नसंशयम् |

O conqueror of wealth, one who has surrendered all actions through yoga, whose doubts are slashed by knowledge, and who is self-possessed, is not bound by actions.

तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः |

Therefore, slash with the sword of knowledge this doubt in your heart born of ignorance. Establish yourself in Yoga and arise, O Bharata!