Chapter
3 - Path of Karma Yoga
Arjun
said:
If
you consider that Knowledge is superior to
Action, O Jnardana (Krsn), why do You urge
me to do this savage deed, O Kesav,?
(3.01)
You
are, as it were, puzzling my mind by these
seemingly involved expressions; therefore,
tell me definitely the one discipline, by
which I may attain the highest good or
bliss. (3.02)
The
Blessed Sri Krsn said:
O
sinless Arjun, in this world, there is a
twofold path; As I said before, the path
of Knowledge for men of contemplation (Samkhya
Yogi) and the path of Action for men of
action (Karma Yogi) (3.03)
Not
by non-performance of actions does a man
attain actionlessness; nor by mere
renunciation does he attain perfection.
(3.04)
Surely
none can remain inactive even for a
moment; everyone is helplessly driven to
action by nature-born qualities. (3.05)
He
who outwardly restraining the organs of
sense and action, sits mentally dwelling
on objects of senses, that an of deluded
intellect is called a hypocrite. (3.06)
But
he who controlling the senses by the mind,
O Arjun, engages himself in the path of
action with the organs of action, without
attachment is superior. (3.07)
Therefore,
do your allotted duty, for action is
superior to inaction. Desisting from
action, you cannot even maintain your
body. (3.08)
Man
is bound by shackles of Karma only when
engaged in actions other than work
performed for the sake of sacrifice.
Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform action
for that sake becoming free from all
attachment. (3.09)
Having
created mankind along with the spirit of
sacrifice at the beginning of creation,
the Creator, Brahma, said to them,
"do you multiply through this; may
this yield the enjoyment you seek. (3.10)
"Foster
the gods through this sacrifice and; let
the gods foster you. Thus fostering one
another disinterestedly, you will attain
the highest good. (3.11)
Fostered
by sacrifice the gods will give you the
desired objects. He who enjoys these
objects without giving to them in return,
is verily a thief. (3.12)
The
virtuous, who partakes of the remnants of
the sacrifice, are freed from all sins,
Those sinful ones, who cook for the sake
of nourishing their body alone, eat only
sin. (3.13)
All
beings are evolved from food; food is
produced by rain, rain comes by performing
sacrifice and sacrifice is rooted in
action. Know that action has its origin in
the Vedas, and the Vedas proceed from the
indestructible (God); hence, the
all-pervading Infinite is always present
in sacrifice. (3.14-15)
Arjun,
he who does not follow the wheel of
creation thus set going in this world, (ie.,
does not perform his duties), sinful and
sensual, he lives in vain. (3.16)
The
one who rejoices in the Self only, who is
satisfied with the Self, who is content in
the Self alone, for such a person there is
no duty. (3.17)
Such
a person has no interest, whatsoever, in
what is done or what is not done. A
Self-realized person does not depend on
anybody for anything. (3.18)
Therefore,
without attachment, constantly perform
action that has to be done, for by
performing action without attachment man
attains the supreme. (3.19)
It
was by action alone that King Janak and
others attained perfection. Thou should
perform action also with a view to the
maintenance of the world. (3.20)
For
whatsoever a great man does, that very
thing other men also do; whatever standard
he sets up, the generality of men follow
the same. (3.21)
O
Arjun, there is nothing in the three
worlds (earth, heaven, and the upper
regions) for Me to do, nor there is
anything worth attaining unattained by Me;
yet I engage Myself in action. (3.22)
For,
if I did not engage Myself in action
unwearied, men would in every way follow
My path, O Arjun. If I did not perform
action, these worlds would perish and I
should be the creator of confusion of
castes and destruction of these people.
(3.23-24)
As
the ignorant man act from attachment to
action, O Bharat, so should the wise act
without attachment, wishing the welfare o
the world. Let no wise man established in
the self unsettle the minds of ignorant
people who are attached to action; he
should set others to act, himself
performing his duties with devotion. (3.25
- 26)
All
actions are being done by the modes of
Prakiti (Primodial Matter). The fool,
whose mind is deluded by egoism, considers
himself to be the doer. (3.27)
He,
however, who knows the Truth about the
respective spheres of Gunas (modes of
Prakiti) and actions, holding that it is
the Gunas (in the shape of the senses,
mind, etc.,) that move among the Gunas
(objects of perception), does not get
attached to them, Arjun. (3.28)
Those
who are completely deluded by the Gunas
(modes) of Prakiti (nature) remain
attached to those Gunas and actions; the
man of perfect knowledge should not
unsettle the mind of those insufficiently
knowing fools. (3.29)
Surrendering
all actions to Me, with the mind
concentrated in the Self, free from desire
and egoism, fight, delivered from thy
mental fever, viz., grief or sorrow.
(3.30)
Even
those men, who, with an unavailing and
devout mind, always follow this doctrine
of Mine, are freed from the binding effect
of all actions. (3.31)
Those,
however, who finding fault with this
doctrine of Mine, do not follow it, know
them to be deluded in the matter of all
knowledge, senseless and lost. (3.32)
Even
a wise man acts in accordance with his own
nature. Beings follow their nature. What
can restraint do? (3.33)
Attachment
and aversion for the objects of the senses
abide in the senses. Let no one come under
their sway, for they are his waylayers
(foes). (3.34)
One's
own duty, though devoid of merit, is
preferable to the duty of another well
performed. Even death in the performance
of one's own duty brings blessedness;
another's duty is fraught with fear.
(3.35)
Arjun
said:
Now
impelled by what, O Krsn, does this man
commit sin even involuntarily, as though
driven by force? (3.36)
The
Blessed Sri Krsn said:
It
is desire, it is wrath, born of the mode
of passion, all devouring and most sinful.
Know this to be the enemy here. (3.37)
As
fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by
dust, and as an embryo by the placenta so
is this (knowledge) covered by that
(desire). (3.38)
So,
Arjun, Knowledge is covered by this
eternal enemy of the wise, the insatiable
fire in the form of desire. (3.39)
The
senses, the mind, and the intellect are
said to be its seat. Veiling, wisdom by
these, it deludes the embodied (soul).
(3.40)
Therefore,
O best of Bharats Arjun, controlling the
senses first, slay this sinful destroyer
of wisdom and realization. (3.41)
They
say that the senses are greater (than the
body); greater than the senses is the
mind; greater than the mind is the
intellect; but greater than the intellect
is that (the desire). Thus knowing that
(desire) with the intellect, restraining
the self by the self, slay thou, O
mighty-armed Arjun, the enemy in the from
of desire, hard to conquer. (3.42 - 43)
Thus,
in the Upanisad sung by the Lord, the
science of Brahma, thescripture on Yoga,
the dialogue between Sri Krsn and Arjun,
ends the third chapter entitled
"Karma Yoga" or the "Yoga
of Action"
Swami Veet Chintan T'Zorba-Krsna
Jyotish
Shastracharya
& Vedic Astrologer of India
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