THE BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 2 : STANZAS 39 TO 53
THE YOGA OF SELFLESS ACTION (KARMA YOGA) DESCRIBED
exa
tE{¢B¢hta
sa|ÁyE
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEIgE
¢Ïvma|
S¦N¤
,
b¤Ñ¯DYa
y¤³aE
yya
paTI
kmIbÓD|
p#haÞy¢s ,, 39
,,
A¢B¢hta
|
kh£
gy£ |
is declared |
sa|ÁyE
|
sa|Áy
mE| |
in Samkhya |
yaEgE |
yaEg
mE| |
in the yoga |
b¤Ñ¯DYa
|
b¤¢Ñ¯D
sE |
with wisdom |
kmIbÓDm¯
|
kmaI|
kE bÓDn
kaE |
bondage of Karma |
p#haÞy¢s
|
naS
krEga |
you shall cast off |
hE
paTI
yh
b¤¢Ñ¯D
tErE ¢le
sa|Áy
mE|
kh£
gy£
AaWr iskaE
yaEg
mE|
s¤naE
¢js b¤¢ÑG
sE
y¤³
h^Aa
t¤m kmaI|
kE bÓDn
kaE
naS kr
skEga ,
O Partha,
(Arjuna), this wisdom of
the Sankhya has been
presented to
you. Now hear the
wisdom of the Yoga. Thus
endowed, it will enable
you to cast away
the bondage
arising from
Karma (works)
(39)
nEha¢B@mnaSaE{¢Þt
p#ÏyvayaE
n
¢vïtE ,
ÞvÚpmÔyÞy
DmIÞy
æOaytE
mhtaE
Byat¯ ,,
40 ,,
A¢B@mnaS:
|
AarØB
ka naS |
loss of effort |
p#Ïyvay:
|
ulza
Plãp daEx
|
production of contrary
results |
æOaytE |
rXa
krta hW |
protects |
is
mE|
( ¢nÝkam
kmIyaEg
mE| )
AarØB
ka naS
nh£|
hW
AaWr ulza
Plãp
daEx
B£ nh£|
haEta
hW ,
is
¢nÝkam
kmIyaEgãp
DmI ka
TaEfa
sa
B£ A|S
bfE
Bar£
By
sE rXa
krta
hW ,
In this path,
there is no loss of
effort, nor is there
fear of a
contrary result; even a
little practice of this discipline
saves one from great
fear. (40)
Ûyvsaya¢Ïmka
b¤¢Ñ¯DrEkEh
kânÓdn
,
bh^SaKa
/nÓtaà
b¤Ñ¯DyaE{Ûyvsa¢ynam¯
,, 41 ,,
Ûyvsaya¢Ïmka
|
¢nàyaÏmk
|
one pointed |
kânÓdn
|
hE
kânÓdn |
O joy of the Kurus |
bh^SaKa: |
bh^t
BEdaE|val£ |
many branched |
AnÓta:
|
AnÓt
haEt£ hW |
endless |
AÛyvsa¢ynam¯
|
AåOan£
p¤âxaE|
k£ |
of the irresolute |
hE
Aj¤In
is
mE|
¢nàyaÏmk
b¤¢ÑG
ek h£
hW
AaWr ¢nàyh£n
p¤âxaE|
k£
b¤¢Ñ¯Dya|
AnÓt
ev|
bh^t
BEdaE|val£
haEt£
hW
,
O joy of
the Kurus, (Arjuna), in
this Yoga the intellect is
decisive and one-pointed while the
intellect of the irresolute
wanders in
all directions, without end.
(41)
ya¢mma|
p¤¢Ýptam¯
vac|
p#vdÓÏy¢vp¢àt:
,
vEdvadrta:
paTI
naÓydÞt£¢t
va¢dn:
,, 42 ,,
A¢vp¢àt:
|
A¢vvEk£
jn |
the unwise |
vEdvadrta: |
kEvl
Pl½¤¢t
mE| p#£¢t
rKnEvalE |
taking pleasure in the words of the Vedas
|
va¢dn: |
khnEvalE
hW| |
saying |
hE
paTI
A¢vvEk£jn
kEvl
Pl½¤¢t
mE p#£¢t
rKnEvalE
tTa ÞvgI
sE
bFkr
AaWr kC
nh£|
hW
eEsE khnEvalE
hW|
is
p#kar k£
¢js
s¤havn£
vaN£ kaE
khtE
hW| ,
O Partha
(Arjuna), the ignorant engage
in flowery speech over
the words of the Vedas,
say there is nothing other
than this. (42)
kamaÏman:
ÞvgIpra
jÓmkmIPlp#dam¯
,
¢@ya¢vSExbh^la|
BaEgWáyIg¢t|
p#¢t
,, 43 ,,
kamaÏman¯
|
skam£
p¤âx |
full of desires |
ÞvgIpra
|
ÞvgI
kaE h£
½E¿mannEvalE |
with heaven
as their highest goal |
jÓmkmIPlp#dam¯
|
jÓmãp
kmIPl
kaE dEnEval£
|
leading to birth as the result of their works
|
¢@ya¢vSExbh^lam¯
|
AnEk
¢@yaAaE| kE
¢vÞtarval£
|
exuberant with various specific actions
|
BaEgWáyIg¢tp#¢t
|
BaEg
AaWr eEáyI
k£
p#a¢çO
kE ¢le |
for the attainment of pleasure and lordship
|
skam£
p¤âx
ÞvgI
kaE
h£ prm
½E¿
mannEvalE
jÓmãp
kmIPl kaE
dEnEval£
AaWr
BaEg
tTa eEáyI
k£ p#a¢çO
kE
¢le
bh^t s£
¢@yaAaE|
kaE
krtE hW|
,
They are
full of desires and
hold heaven as the highest
goal, whose
actions are directed to
attainment of worldly
pleasure and
power.
(43)
BaEgWáyIp#s³ana|
tyap¶tcEtsam¯
,
Ûyvsaya¢Ïmka
b¤¢Ñ¯D:
smaDaW
n
¢vD£ytE ,, 44
,,
BaEgWáyIp#s³anam¯
|
BaEg
AaWr eEáyI
mE|
Aas¢³valE |
of the people attached to pleasure and power
|
Ap¶tcEtsam¯
|
Ap¶t
¢cäOvalE |
whose minds are bewildered |
Ûyvsaya¢Ïmka
|
¢nàyaÏmk
|
determinate |
smaDaW |
AÓt:krN
mE| |
in Samadhi |
¢vD£ytE
|
haEt£
hW |
is fixed |
us
vaN£
¹ara
AphrN ¢kyE
h^e
¢cäOvalE
tTa
BaEg AaWr
eEáyI
mE|
Aas¢³valE
mn¤ÝyaE|
kE
AÓt:krN
mE| ¢nàyaÏmk
b¤¢Ñ¯D
nh£|
haEt£
hW
Those whose
minds are carried away
by such words, and
Those who are
attached to worldly pleasure
and power, and whose minds
are bewildered, cannot attain a
resolute intellect. (44)
æOWg¤Îy¢vxya
vEda
¢nÞæOWg¤ÎyaE
Bvaj¤In
,
¢nd#vÓdvaE
¢nÏyst¯ÏvÞTaE
¢nyaIgXEm
AaÏmvan¯
,, 45 ,,
æOWg¤Îy¢vxya:
|
t£naE|
g¤NaE| kE
¢vxy
krnEvalE |
deal
with the three attributes |
¢nÞæOWg¤Îy:
|
t£naE|
g¤NaE| sE
r¢ht |
without these
three attributes |
¢nd#vÓdv:
|
smÞt
¹ÓdvaE|
sE r¢ht |
free from
the pairs of opposites |
¢nÏyst¯ÏvÞT:
|
sda
sÏvg¤N
mE| ¢ÞTt
|
ever remaining
in the goodness |
¢nyaIgXEm:
|
yaEg
XEm kaE
n cahnEvala |
free from the thought of acquisition and preservation
|
AaÏmvan¯
|
AaÏmprayN
|
established in the self |
hE
Aj¤In
sb
vEd (
st rj
AaWr
tm - in )
t£naE|
g¤NaE|
kE kayIãp
s|sar
kaE
¢vxy krnEvalE
hW|
is¢le
t¤m in
t£naE|
g¤NaE|
sE r¢ht
sda
sÏvg¤N
mE| ¢ÞTt
smÞt
¹ÓdvaE|
sE
r¢ht
yaEg
( sa|sa¢rk
pdaTaI| k£
p#a¢çO
) tTa
XEm
( unk£
rXa )
kaE n
cahnEvala
ev|
AaÏmprayN
haE ,
Arjuna, the
Vedas thus deal with the play of
the three Gunas (attributes of
Prakriti); be thou free from
their control, and
rising above
pairs of opposites like
pain and pleasure, and unconcerned
over acquisition or preservation,
do thou remain
fixed in purity
and steadfast in the
self. (45)
yavanTI
udpanE
svIt:
s|Ôl¤taEdkE ,
tavaÓsvIx¤
vEdEx¤
b#a'NÞy
¢vjant:
,, 46 ,,
udpanE |
jlaSy
mE| |
in a tank |
s|Ôl¤taEdkE
|
jl
sE p¢rp¥NI
|
being flooded |
tavan¯ |
utna
h£ p#yaEjn
|
so much use |
vEdEx¤
|
vEdaE|
mE| |
in the Vedas |
b#a'NÞy
|
b#a'N
ka |
of the Brahmana |
¢vjant: |
b#'
kaE jannEvalE |
of the knowing |
svIæO
jl
sE
p¢rp¥NI
jlaSy mE|
jl
ka
¢jtna p#yaEjn
rhta hW
utna
h£ p#yaEjn
b#'
kaE
jannEvalE
b#a'N ka
sb vEdaE|
mE|
rhta hW
,
The enlightened
Brahmana, has the same
use for all
the Vedas as
for a tank flooded all
around with water. (46)
kmIÎyEva¢DkarÞtE
ma
PlEx¤
kdacn ,
ma
kmIPlhEt¤B¥ImaI
tE
sÄñaE{ÞÏvkmI¢N
,, 47 ,,
PlEx¤ |
Pl
mE| |
in the fruits |
kmIPl:
hEt¤: B¥:
|
kmIPl
karN |
let not the fruits
of action be the motive |
AkmI¢N |
kmI
n krnE
mE| |
in inaction |
tEra
kmI
krnE
maæO
mE| h£
A¢Dkar
haE
Pl
mE| kB£
nh£|
AaWr
t¤m kmaI|
kE
Pl
k£ vasnavala
B£
mt
haE
tTa tEr£
kmI
n krnE
mE|
B£ p#£¢t
n
haE ,
Your right
is to work only, but
never to the fruit thereof.
Be not motivated
by the fruit of your
action, and let there
be no attachment
to inaction. (47)
yaEgÞT:
kâ
kma¢NI
sÄñ|
ÏyÀÏva
Dn|jy ,
¢sѯDYa¢sѯDYaE:
smaE
B¥Ïva
smÏv|
yaEg uÅytE
,, 48 ,,
yaEgÞT:
|
yaEg
mE| ¢ÞTt
h^Aa |
steadfast in
yoga |
kmaI¢N
sÄñm¯ |
Aas¢³
kaE |
attachment |
ÏyÀÏva
|
Ïyagkr |
having abandoned |
Dn|jy |
hE
Dn|jy |
O Dhananjaya |
¢sѯDYa¢sѯDYaE:
|
¢s¢Ñ¯D
AaWr
A¢s¢Ñ¯D
mE| |
in success and
failure |
B¥Ïva
|
haEkr |
having become |
smÏvm¯
|
smÏvBav |
evenness of mind |
uÅytE |
kha
jata hW |
is called |
hE
Dn|jy
Aas¢³
kaE
Ïyagkr tTa
¢s¢Ñ¯D
AaWr
A¢s¢Ñ¯D
mE|
sman b¤¢Ñ¯Dvala
haEkr
yaEg
mE| ¢ÞTt
h^Aa
kmaI|
kaE kraE
,
yh smÏvBav
h£
yaEg kha
jata
hW ,
O Dhananjaya
(Arjuna), perform your duties
established in Yoga,
renounce attachment
and remain balanced in
success and failure;
such a balance
is called Yoga. (48)
Ñ¥rEN
/vr|
kmI
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEgaѯDn¸y
,
b¤Ñ¯DaW
SrNm¢ÓvÅC
k]pNa:
PlhEtv: ,,
49 ,,
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEgat¯
|
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEg
sE |
than control by the intellect |
Dn¸y |
hE
Dn|jy |
O Dhananjaya |
b¤Ñ¯DaW
|
smÏvb¤¢Ñ¯D
yaEg
ka |
in wisdom |
PlhEtv: |
Pl
k£ vasnavalE
|
seekers after fruits |
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEg
k£
ApEXa
AÓy
kmI AÏyÓt
t¤ÅC
hW|
is¢le
hE
Dn|jy
t¤m
smÏv
b¤¢Ñ¯DyaEg
ka
Aa½y
g#hN
kr ÀyaE|¢k
Pl k£
vasnavalE
AÏyÓt
d£n
hW| ,
Mere action
is far inferior to
this Yoga of control by
the intellect. Do you
seek refuge in this equipoise
of the
intellect, Arjuna;
for wretched are those
who seek the
fruits of
action.
(49)
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³aE
jhat£h
uBE
s¤k]tѤÝk]tE
,
tÞmaïaEgay
y¤ÇyÞv
yaEg:
kmIs¤
kaWSlm¯ ,,
50 ,,
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³:
|
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³
|
endowed with wisdom |
jha¢t |
Ïyag
dEta hW |
casts off |
ih |
is
laEk mE| |
in this life |
s¤k]tѤÝk]tE
|
p¤Îy
AaWr
pap |
good and evil deeds |
yaEgay |
yaEg
kE ¢le |
to yoga |
y¤ÇyÞv
|
cE¾a
kr |
devote yourself |
kmIs¤ |
kmaI|
mE| |
in actions |
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³
p¤âx
p¤Îy
AaWr
pap
daEnaE| kaE
is
laEk mE|
h£
Ïyag
dEta
hW ,
issE yaEg
kE
¢le h£
cE¾a
kraE
, yh
smÏvb¤¢ÑGãp
yaEg h£
kmaI|
mE|
kSlta hW
,
Endowed with
wisdom, is one who
sheds in this life, both
good and evil. (fruits of
all action) Therefore, strive
for the practice of this
Yoga, which is skill in
action.
(50)
kmIj|
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³a
¢h
Pl|
ÏyÀÏva
mn£¢xN: ,
jÓmbÓD¢v¢nm¤I³a:
pd|gÅCÓÏynamym¯
,, 51 ,,
kmIjm¯ |
kmaI|
sE uÏp°
|
action born |
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³a:
|
b¤¢Ñ¯Dy¤³
|
possessed of knowledge |
ÏyÀÏva
|
Ïyagkr |
having abandoned |
jÓmbÓD¢v¢nm¤I³a:
|
jÓmbÓDn
sE
m¤³ |
freed from the fetters
of birth |
Anamym¯ |
¢ndaIx |
beyond evil |
ÀyaE|¢k
b¤¢ÑGy¤³
åOan£jn
kmaI|
sE
uÏp°
haEnEvalE Pl
kaE
Ïyagkr jÓmãp
bÓDn
sE
m¤³
¢ndaIx
prmpd kaE
jatE
hW| ,
For wise
men possessing a balanced
intellect, renouncing the
fruit of actions
and freed from the shackles
of birth, and
attain the
supreme state. (51)
yda
tE
maEhk¢ll|
b¤¢Ñ¯DÛy¢tt¢rÝy¢t
,
tda
gÓta¢s
¢nvId|
½aEtÛyÞy
½¤tÞy
c ,,
52 ,,
maEhk¢llm¯
|
maEhãp
dldl kaE |
mire of delusion |
Ûy¢tt¢rÝy¢t
|
¢blkl
tr jaeg£
|
crosses beyond |
gÓta¢s
|
p#açO
haEga |
you shall attain |
¢nvIdm¯
|
¢vr³
|
to indifference |
½aEtÛyÞy
|
s¤nnE
yaEÂy |
of what has to be heard |
½¤tÞy
|
s¤nE
h^e kE |
of what has been heard |
jb tEr£
b¤¢Ñ¯D
maEhãp
dldl
kaE
¢blkl
par kr
jaeg£
tb
t¤m phlE
s¤nE
h^e
AaWr
B¢vÝy
mE| s¤nE
janEvalE
( sb
p#kar
kE PlaE|
sE
Þvy|
h£ )
¢vr³
haE jaega ,
When your
mind will have fully crossed
the mire of delusion, you
will then grow indifferent to
the enjoyments of this
world and the next
one, known or yet to
be known. (52)
½¤¢t¢vp#¢tp°a
tE
yda
ÞTaÞy¢t
¢nàla ,
smaDavcla
b¤¢Ñ¯DÞtda
yaEgmvaÔs¯y¢s
,, 53 ,,
½¤¢t¢vp#¢tp°a
|
AnEk
p#kar kE
¢sÑGaÓtaE|
kaE s¤nnE
sE
¢vc¢lt h^iI
|
perplexed by what you have heard from texts |
ÞTaÞy¢t
|
Zhr
jaeg£ |
shall stand |
smaDaW |
prmaÏma
kE Þvãp
mE| |
in the self |
yaEgm¯ |
AaÏmdSInãp
yaEg
kaE |
self realization |
AvaÔs¯y¢s
|
p#açO
haEga |
you shall attain |
jb
tEr£
AnEk
p#kar kE
¢sÑGaÓtaE|
kaE
s¤nnE
sE ¢vc¢lt
h^iI
b¤¢ÑG
prmaÏma
kE Þvãp
mE|
Acl
AaWr ¢ÞTr
Zhr
jaeg£
tb t¤m
AaÏmdSInãp
yaEg kaE
p#açO
haEga
,
When your
intellect, which can be
confused by hearing
conflicting textual
injunctions, remains steady and
stable in
harmony with
the self, then you will
then attain Yoga (53)
PROCEED TO CHAPTER 2 : STANZAS 54 TO 72
RETURN TO CHAPTER 2 : STANZAS 31 TO 38
RETURN TO INDEX OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA