THE BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 4 : STANZAS 1 TO 18
DETACHED PERFORMANCE OF DUTY ACCORDING TO BOTH KARMA AND JNANA YOGA
½£
Bgvan¤vac
im|
¢vvÞvtE
yaEg|
p#aE³vanhmÛyym¯ ,
¢vvÞvaÓmnvE
p#ah
mn¤¢rßvakvE{b#v£t¯
,, 1 ,,
½£
Bgvan uvac |
½£
Bgvan nE
kha |
Sri Bhagavan said |
¢vvÞvtE
|
s¥yI
kE p#¢t |
to Vivasvat |
AÛyym¯ |
A¢vnaS£ |
imperishable |
¢vvÞvan¯
|
s¥yI
nE |
Vivasvat |
ißvakvE |
ißvak
kE p#¢t |
to Ikshvaku |
mWnE
is
A¢vnaS£
yaEg kaE
kÚp
kE Aa¢d
mE|
s¥yI k
p#¢t
kha
Ta
AaWr s¥yI
nE
ApnE
p¤æO mn¤
kE
p#¢t
kha Ta
AaWr
mn¤
nE
ApnE
p¤æO raja
ißvak
kE p#¢t
kha ,
Sri Bhagavan
said: I taught this imperishable
Yoga to Vivasvan (Sun-god);
Vivasvan conveyed it to Manu;
and Manu imparted
it to Iksvaku. (1)
ev|
prØprap#açO¢mm|
rajxIyaE
¢vѤ:
,
s
kalEnEh
mhta yaEgaE
n¾:
pr|tp ,,
2 ,,
prØpra
p#açOm¯ |
prØpra
sE p#açO
h^e |
handed down in succession |
raj
§xy: |
raj¢xIyaE|
nE |
the royal sages |
kalEn |
kal
sE |
by lapse of time |
n¾: |
laEp
haE gya
Ta |
destroyed |
pr|tp |
hE
pr|tp |
O Parantapa |
is
p#kar
prØpra
sE p#açO
h^e
is
yaEg kaE
raj¢xIyaE| nE
jana
prÓt¤
hE
Aj¤In
vh yaEg
bh^t
kal sE
is
p¦Ðv£
laEk mE|
p#ay:
laEp
haE
gya Ta
,
Thus transmitted
in succession, this Yoga
remained known to
the royal sages.
However, over the ages
it was lost. (2)
s
evay|
mya tE{ï
yaEg:
p#aE³:
p¤ratn: ,
B³aE{¢s
mE
sKa
cE¢t rhÞy|
/EtѤäOmm¯
,, 3 ,,
p#aE³: |
kha
hW |
has been taught |
vh
h£
yh
p¤ratn yaEg
Ab
mWnE
tErE ¢le
vNIn
¢kya hW
ÀyaE|¢k
t¤m
mEra
B³
AaWr ¢p#y
sKa
hW
is¢le tTa
yh
yaEg
bh^t
uäOm
AaWr rhÞy
ka
¢vxy
hW ,
The same
ancient Yoga has this
day been imparted to you
by Me, because
you are My devotee and
friend; and this is
a supreme secret.
(3)
Aj¤In
uvac
Apr|
BvtaE
jÓm
pr| jÓm
¢vvÞvt:
,
kTmEt¢¹jan£ya|
ÏvmadaW
p#aE³va¢n¢t
,, 4 ,,
Aj¤In
uvac |
Aj¤In
nE kha |
Arjuna said |
prm¯ |
bh^t
p¤rana hW |
prior |
¢vvÞvt:
|
s¥yI
ka |
of Vivasvat |
¢vjan£yam¯
|
jan¥| |
am I to understand |
AadaW |
Aa¢d
mE| |
in the beginning |
Aj¤In
nE
kha
Aapka jÓm
taE
bad
mE| h^Aa
hW AaWr
s¥yI
ka
jÓm
bh^t
p¤rana
hW is¢le
is
yaEg
kaE kÚp
kE
Aa¢d
mE|
AapnE
kha Ta
eEsa
mW| kWsE
jan¥| ?
Arjuna said:
You are of later birth,
while the birth of
Vivasvan dates
back to remote antiquity.
How, then, am
I to understand
that you taught this Yoga,
long ago. (4)
½£
Bgvan¤vac
bh\¢n
mE
Ûyt£ta¢n
jÓma¢n
tv
caj¤In ,
taÓyh|
vEd
svaI¢N
n Ïv|
vEÏT
pr|tp ,,
5 ,,
½£
Bgvan uvac |
½£
Bgvan nE
kha |
Sri Bhagavn said |
Ûyt£ta¢n
|
haE
c¤kE hW| |
have passed away |
pr|tp |
hE
prÓtp |
O Parantapa |
hE
Aj¤In
mErE
AaWr tErE
bh^t
sE
jÓm haE
c¤kE
hW| prÓt¤
hE
prÓtp un
sbkaE
t¤m
nh£ janta
hW
AaWr
mW| janta
h\|
Sri Bhagavan
said: Arjuna, you and
I have passed through
many births,
I remember them all; but
you do not remember
them, O Parantapa
(Arjuna). (5)
AjaE{¢p
s°ÛyyaÏma
B¥tanam£áraE{¢p
sn¯
,
p#k]¢t|
Þvam¢D¿ay
s|BvaØyaÏmmayya
,, 6 ,,
AÛyyaÏma
|
A¢vnaS£
Þvãp |
of imperishable nature |
B¥tanam¯ |
sb
p#a¢NyaE| ka |
of beings |
p#k]¢tm¯
|
p#k]¢t
kaE |
nature |
s|Bva¢m |
p#kz
haEta h\| |
come into being |
AaÏmmayya |
yaEgmaya
sE |
by my own maya |
mW|
A¢vnaS£
Þvãp
AjÓma
haEnE pr
B£
tTa sb
B¥t p#a¢NyaE|
ka
iIár
haEnE
pr B£
Apn£
p#k]¢t kaE
AD£n
krkE
yaEgmaya
sE
p#kz haEta
h\| ,
Though not
born and being imperishable,
I, as the Lord of
all beings,
manifest Myself through My own
Yoga Maya
(divine potency),
keeping My nature (Prakrti) under
control. (6)
yda
yda
¢h DmIÞy
Âla¢nBIv¢t
Bart
,
A×y¤ÏTanmDmIÞy
tda{{Ïman|
s¦jaØyhm¯
,, 7 ,,
DmIÞy |
DmI
k£ |
of righteousness |
ADmIÞy |
ADmI
k£ |
of unrighteousness |
AaÏmanm¯
|
ApnE
ãp kaE |
myself |
s¦ja¢m
|
p#kz
krta h\| |
manifest |
hE
Bart
jb
jb DmI
k£
ha¢n AaWr
ADmI
k£ v¦¢ÑG
haEt£
hW
tb
tb
¢n¢àt
mW| ApnE
ãp
kaE p#kz
krta
h\| ,
O Bharata
(Arjuna), whenever righteousness,
is on the
decline, and
unrighteousness is on the ascendant,
then I bring Myself forth
in a manifestation.
(7)
p¢ræOaNay
saD¥nam¯
¢vnaSay
c
ѤÝk]tam¯ ,
DmIs|ÞTapnaTaIy
s|Bva¢m
y¤gE
y¤gE ,,
8 ,,
p¢ræOaNay
|
uÑGar
krnE kE
¢le |
for the protection |
saD¥nam¯ |
sÇjnaE|
ka |
of the good |
¢vnaSay |
naS
krnE kE
¢le |
for the destruction |
ѤÝk]tam¯
|
Ñ¥¢xt
kmI krnEvalaE|
ka |
of the wicked |
DmIs|ÞTapnaTaIy
|
DmI
ÞTapn krnE
kE ¢le |
for the firm establishment of righteousness
|
s|Bva¢m |
p#kz
haEta h\| |
I am born |
y¤gEy¤gE
|
y¤g
y¤g mE| |
in every age |
sÇjnaE|
ka
uÑGar
krnE kE
¢le
AaWr Ñ¥¢xt
kmI
krnEvalaE| ka
naS
krnE
kE
¢le tTa
DmI
ÞTapn
krnE kE
¢le
y¤g y¤g
mE|
p#kz haEta
h\| ,
For the protection
of the virtuous, for
the extirpation of evil-doers, and
for establishing Dharma (righteouness)
on a firm footing, I
take birth from age to
age.
(8)
jÓm
kmI
c
mE ¢dÛymEv|
yaE
vE¢äO
tÏÏvt: ,
ÏyÀÏva
dEh|
p¤njIÓm
nW¢t
mamE¢t saE{j¤In
,, 9 ,,
täO¯vt: |
tÏv
sE |
in true light |
ÏyÀÏva
|
Ïyagkr |
having abandoned |
hE
Aj¤In
mEra
jÓm AaWr
kmI
AlaW¢kk
hW is
p#kar jaE
p¤âx
tÏv
sE
janta
hW vh
Sr£r
kaE Ïyagkr
¢Pr
jÓm kaE
p#açO
nh£
haEta
hW
prÓt¤
m¤JE p#açO
haEta
hW ,
Arjuna, My
birth and activities are
divine. He who knows this
truth is not reborn; on
leaving his body, he comes
to Me. (9)
v£tragBy@aEDa
mÓmya
mam¤pa¢½ta:
,
bhvaE
åOantpsa
p¥ta
mëavmagta: ,, 10
,,
v£tragBy@aEDa
|
rag
By AaWr
@aED sE
r¢ht |
freed from attachment fear and anger
|
mÓmya |
AnÓyBav
sE mErE
mE| ¢ÞT¢tvalE |
absorbed in me |
upa¢½ta:
|
SrN
h^e |
taking refuge in |
åOantpsa |
åOanãp
tp sE
|
by the fire of knowledge |
mëavm¯ |
mErE
Þvãp kaE
|
my being |
Aagta: |
p#açO
haE c¤kE
hW| |
have attained |
rag
By
AaWr
@aED sE
r¢ht
AnÓyBav sE
mErE
mE ¢ÞT¢tvalE
mErE
SrN
h^e bh^t
sE
p¤âx
åOanãp
tp
sE p¢væO
haEkr
mErE Þvãp
kaE
p#açO
haE c¤kE
hW| ,
Completely rid
of passion, fear and anger,
wholly absorbed in Me,
depending on Me, and purified
by the penance of knowledge,
many have attained Me.
(10)
yE
yTa
ma| p#pïÓtE
ta|ÞtTWv
BjaØyhm¯
,
mm
vÏmaIn¤vtIÓtE
mn¤Ýya:
paTI
svIS: ,, 11
,,
p#pïÓtE
|
BjtE
hW| |
approach |
An¤vtIÓtE
|
An¤srN
krtE hW| |
follow |
svIS: |
sb
p#kar sE |
in all ways |
hE
Aj¤In
jaE m¤JkaE
jWsE
BjtE
hW| mW|
B£
unkaE vWsE
h£
dSIn dEta
h\|
mn¤Ýy
sb p#kar
sE
mErE magI
ka
An¤srN krtE
hW|
,
Arjuna, howsoever
men seek Me, even so
do I respond to them;
for all men follow My
path in everyway.
(11)
kaH¯XÓt:
kmINa|
¢s¢Ñ¯D|
yjÓt
ih dEvta:
,
¢Xp#|
¢h
man¤xE
laEkE ¢s¢Ñ¯DBIv¢t
kmIja
,, 12 ,,
kaH¯XÓt:
|
cahtE
h^e |
longing for |
kmINam¯ |
kmaI|
kE |
of action |
yjÓtE |
p¥jtE
hW| |
sacrifice |
dEvta: |
dEvtaAaE|
kaE |
gods |
man¤xE |
mn¤Ýy
|
in the human |
laEkE |
laEk
mE| |
in the world |
Bv¢t |
haEt£
hW |
is attained |
kmIja |
kmaI|
sE uÏp° |
born of action |
is
mn¤Ýy
laEk
mE|
kmaI| kE
Pl
kaE cahtE
h^e
dEvtaAaE| kaE
p¥jtE
hW|
AaWr un
kmaI|
sE uÏp°
h^iI
¢s¢ÑG
B£
S£G# h£
haEt£
hW ,
In this world
of human beings, mens seeking
the fruits of their activities
worship the gods; for success
follows actions quickly in
this world. (12)
cat¤vIÎyI|
mya
s¦¾|
g¤NkmI¢vBagS:
,
tÞy
ktaIrm¢p
ma|
¢vѯDYktaIrmÛyym¯
,, 13 ,,
cat¤vIÎyIm¯
|
caraE|
vNI |
the fourfold caste |
s¦¾m¯
|
rcE
gyE hW| |
has been created |
g¤NkmI¢vBagS:
|
g¤N
AaWr kmaI|
kE An¤sar |
according to their
qualities and skills |
ktaIrm¯ |
ktaI
kaE |
the author |
g¤N
AaWr
kmI
kE ¢vBag
sE
caraE|
vNI ( b#a'N
, X¢æOy
, vWÜy ,
S¥d# )
mErE
¹ara
rcE
gyE hW|
, unka
ktaI
haEnE pr
B£
m¤J A¢vnaS£
prmEár
kaE
t¤m
AktaI
h£ jan
,
The four
orders of society (viz.,
the Brahman, the Kshatriya, the
Vaisya and the the Sudra)
were created by Me, classifying
them according to the
qualities and skills, predominant in
each and apportioning corresponding
duties to them; though
I am the
author of this
creation, know Me, the
immortal Lord, to be passive
and immutable.
(13)
n
ma|
kmaI¢N
¢lØp¢Ót
n mE
kmIPlE
Þp¦ha ,
i¢t
ma|
yaE{¢Bjana¢t
kmI¢BnI
s bÒytE
,, 14 ,,
¢lØp¢Ót
|
¢lçO
krtE hW| |
taint |
kmIPlE |
kmaI|
kE Pl
mE| |
in the fruit of action |
kmI¢B: |
kmaI|
sE |
by actions |
kmaI
kE
Pl
mE| mEr£
iÅCa
nh£
hW is¢le
m¤JkaE
kmI ¢lçO
nh£
krtE ,
is
p#kar jaE
m¤JkaE
janta hW
vh
B£ kmaI|
sE
nh£
b|Dta ,
Since I have
no craving for the fruit
of actions, actions do not
bind Me. He who knows
Me thus, is not bound
by actions. (14)
ev|
åOaÏva
k]t|
kmI
p¥vIr¢p m¤m¤X¤¢B:
,
kâ
kmIv
tÞmaäO¯v|
p¥vI:
p¥vItr| k]tm¯
,, 15 ,,
åOaÏva |
jankr |
having known |
m¤m¤X¤¢B:
|
m¤m¤X¤
p¤âxaE|
¹ara |
seekers after freedom |
p¥vI: |
p¥vIjaE|
¹ara |
by ancients |
p¥vItrm¯ |
phlE |
in the olden time |
p¥vIj
m¤m¤X¤
p¤âxaE|
¹ara
B£
is p#kar
jankr
h£ kmI
¢kya
gya hW
issE
t¤m B£
p¥vIjaE|
¹ara
phlE
¢kyE h^e
kmI
kaE
h£ kraE
,
Having known
this, actions were performed even
by the ancient seekers
for liberation; therefore, do you
also perform such actions
as have been
performed by the ancients
long ago. (15)
¢k|
kmI
¢kmkmI¢t
kvyaE{ÔyæO
maE¢hta: ,
täOE
kmI
p#vßya¢m
yÇåOaÏva
maEßysE{S¤Bat¯
,, 16 ,,
maE¢hta: |
maE¢ht
hW| |
deluded |
p#vßya¢m
|
kh\|ga |
I shall teach |
åOaÏva |
jankr |
having known |
maEßysE |
m¤³
haE jaega |
you shall be liberated |
AS¤Bat¯
|
AS¤B
sE |
from evil |
kmI
Àya
hW
AaWr AkmI
Àya
hW ? eEsE
is
¢vxy
mE| b¤¢ÑGman
p¤âx
B£
maE¢ht
hW| is¢le
mW|
vh
kmaI| ka
tÏv
tErE ¢le
AÅC£
p#kar kh\|ga
¢jskaE
jankr
t¤m AS¤B
ATaIt¯
s|sarbÓDn
sE
m¤³ haE
jaega
,
What is
action and what is inaction
? Even men of intelligence
are puzzled over this question.
Therefore , I shall expound to
you the truth about action,
knowing which you will
be freed from its
binding effect.
(16)
kmINaE
/¢p
baEѯDÛy|
baEѯDÛy|
c
¢vkmIN: ,
AkmINà
baEѯDÛy|
ghna
kmINaE
g¢t: ,, 17 ,,
baEѯDÛym¯
|
janna
ca¢he |
should be known |
baEѯDÛym¯
|
janna
ca¢he |
should be known |
¢vkmIN: |
¢n¢xÑG
kmI
ka |
of the forbidden action |
AkmIN: |
AkmI
ka |
of inaction |
baEѯDÛym¯
|
janna
ca¢he |
should be known |
kmI
ka
Þvãp
B£ janna
ca¢he
AaWr
AkmI ka
Þvãp B£
janna
ca¢he
tTa
¢n¢xÑG
kmI
ka Þvãp
B£
janna
ca¢he ÀyaE|¢k
kmI
k£
g¢t
ghn
hW ,
The truth about
action must be known and
the truth of inaction also
must be known; even so
the truth about prohibited action
must be known. For mysterious
are the ways of action.
kmIÎykmI
y:
pÜyEdkmI¢N
c
kmI y:
,
s
b¤¢Ñ¯DmaÓmn¤ÝyEx¤
s
y¤³:
k]Ïs"kmIk]t¯ ,, 18
,,
AkmI¢N |
AkmI
mE| |
in inaction |
b¤¢Ñ¯Dman¯
|
b¤¢ÑGman
hW |
wise |
mn¤ÝyEx¤
|
mn¤ÝyaE|
mE| |
in men |
k]Ïs"kmIk]t¯
|
sØp¥NI
kmaI| ka
krnEvala hW |
performer of
all actions |
jaE
p¤âx
kmI
mE| AkmI
dEKE
AaWr jaE
p¤âx
AkmI
mE kmI
kaE dEKE
vh
p¤âx
mn¤ÝyaE|
mE| b¤¢ÑGman
hW
AaWr
vh yaEg£
sØp¥NI
kmaI|
kaE krnEvala
hW
,
He who sees
inaction in action, and action
in inaction, (absence or
presence of motive) is
wise among men and is a
Yogi, who performs all
actions correctly. (18)
PROCEED TO CHAPTER 4 : STANZAS 19 TO 23
RETURN TO CHAPTER 3 : STANZAS 26 TO 43
RETURN TO THE INDEX OF THE BHAGAVAD GITA