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Chapter Three: Karma-yoga

🔱अर्जुनउबाच✏
🔱ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१)✏

VERSE 1: Arjuna said: O Janārdana, O Keśava, why do You want to engage me in this ghastly warfare if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work?

🔱व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।

तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२)✏

VERSE 2: My intelligence is bewildered by Your equivocal instructions. Therefore, please tell me decisively which will be most beneficial for me.

🔱श्रीभगवानुवाच✏

🔱लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।

ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/३)✏

VERSE 3: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who try to realize the self. Some are inclined to understand it by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others by devotional service.

🔱न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्य पुरुषोऽश्नुते।

न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/४)✏

VERSE 4: Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

🔱न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।

कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/५)✏

VERSE 5: Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.

🔱कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते।। ✏
🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/६)✏

VERSE 6: One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.

🔱यस्त्विन्द्रियाणी मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।

कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/७)✏

VERSE 7: On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.

🔱नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।

शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्धयेदकर्मणः।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/८)✏

VERSE 8: Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.

🔱यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।

तदर्थ कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/९)✏

VERSE 9: Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way, you will always remain free from bondage.

🔱सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।

अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्तिवष्टकामधुक् ।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१०)✏

VERSE 10: At the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Viṣṇu, and blessed them by saying, “Be thou happy by this yajña [sacrifice] because its performance will bestow upon you everything desirable for living happily and achieving liberation.”

🔱 देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।

परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ।। ✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/११) ✏

VERSE 11: The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.

🔱 इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।

तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुंक्ते स्तेन एव सः।।✏ 🔱 

(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१२)✏

VERSE 12: In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief.

🔱 यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।

भुंजते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात्।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१३)✏

VERSE 13: The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.

🔱अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसंभवः ।

यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद् भवः।। 

कर्म ब्रह्मोद् भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुदभवम् ।

तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१४-१५) ✏

VERSES 14-15: All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties. Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Consequently, the all-pervading Transcendence is eternally situated in acts of sacrifice.

🔱एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।

अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१६)✏

VERSE 16: My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person lives in vain.

🔱यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।

आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते।। ✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१७)✏

VERSE 17: But for one who takes pleasure in the Self, whose human life is one of self-realization, and who is satisfied in the Self only, fully satiated – for him, there is no duty.

🔱नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।

न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ।।✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१८)✏

VERSE 18: A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfil in the discharge of his prescribed duties, nor has he any reason not to perform such work. Nor has he any need to depend on any other living being.

🔱 तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्य कर्म समाचर ।

असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/१९)✏

VERSE 19: Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

🔱 कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।

लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ।।✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२०)✏

VERSE 20: Kings such as Janaka attained perfection solely by the performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.

🔱 यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।

स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ।।✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२१)✏

VERSE 21: Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

🔱न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन ।

नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२२)✏

VERSE 22: O son of Pṛthā, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything – and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties.

🔱यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यन्द्रितः।

मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२३)✏

VERSE 23: For if I ever failed to engage in carefully performing prescribed duties, O Pārtha, certainly all men would follow My path.

🔱उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्या कर्म चेदहम्।

संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२४)✏

VERSE 24: If I did not perform prescribed duties, all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would be the cause of creating an unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all living beings.

🔱सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।

कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२५)✏

VERSE 25: As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, the learned may similarly act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path.

🔱न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।

जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२६)✏

VERSE 26: So as not to disrupt the minds of ignorant men attached to the fruitive results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not induce them to stop work. Rather, by working in the spirit of devotion, he should engage them in all sorts of activities [for the gradual development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness].

🔱प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।

अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२७)✏

VERSE 27: The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature.

🔱तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।

गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२८) ✏

VERSE 28: One who is in the knowledge of the Absolute Truth, O mighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and sense gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.

🔱प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।

तानकृत्स्न्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्न्नविन्न विचालयेत् ।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/२९)✏

VERSE 29: Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not unsettle them, although these duties are inferior due to the performers’ lack of knowledge.

🔱मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा ।

निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ।। ✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/३०)✏

VERSE 30: Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।

श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ।।✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३१)

VERSE 31: Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bondage of fruitive actions.

🔱ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।

सर्वज्ञाननिमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः।।✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३२)

VERSE 32: But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined in their endeavours for perfection.

🔱सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।

प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति।। ✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३३)

VERSE 33: Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can repression accomplish?

🔱इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।

तयोर्न वशमागच्छेतौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ।।✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३४) 

VERSE 34: There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion pertaining to the senses and their objects. One should not come under the control of such attachment and aversion, because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.

🔱श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।

स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः।।✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३५)

VERSE 35: It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, to follow another’s path is dangerous.

अर्जुन उवाच✏

🔱अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पुरुषः ।

अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः।। ✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३६) 

VERSE 36: Arjuna said: O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

🔱श्रीभगवानुवाच✏
🔱काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद् भवः
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्धेयनमिह वैरिणम् ।।✏
 (श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३७) 

VERSE 37: The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world.

🔱धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।

यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ।।✏

 (श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३८)

VERSE 38: As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust.

🔱आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।

कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ।।✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/३९) 

VERSE 39: Thus the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

🔱इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते ।

एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ।। ✏

(श्रीमद्भागवत भागवत गीता ३/४०) 

VERSE 40: The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust. Through them, lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.

🔱 तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।

पाप्मान प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम्।।✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/४१)✏

VERSE 41: Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bhāratas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.

🔱 इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।

मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः।।✏

🔱 (श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/४२)✏

VERSE 42: The working senses are superior to dull matter; the mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind, and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.

🔱एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद् ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।

जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम्।।✏

🔱(श्रीमद्भागवत गीता अध्याय ३/४३)✏

VERSE 43: Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Kṛṣṇa consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength – conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust