All ChaptersMAHABHARAT

Chapter 3 of 18

कर्म योग

The Yoga of Action

Krishna elaborates on the path of selfless action, explaining that all beings must act and that action done as a duty without attachment to results is the highest path.

43 verses

3.1

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O…

3.2

व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे |

With this apparently perplexing speech, Thou confusest, as it were, my understanding; ther…

3.3

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Blessed Lord said In this world there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless …

3.4

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते |

Not by non-performance of actions does man reach actionlessness; nor by mere renunciation …

3.5

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् |

Verily none can ever remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is m…

3.6

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् |

He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in mind, he o…

3.7

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन |

But whosoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga…

3.8

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः |

Do thou perform (thy) bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction and even the mainte…

3.9

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः |

The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do tho…

3.10

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः |

The Creator, having in the beginning (of creation) created mankind together with sacrifice…

3.11

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः |

With this do ye nourish the gods and may those gods nourish you; thus nourishing one anoth…

3.12

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः |

The gods, nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired objects. So, he who enjoys…

3.13

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः |

The righteous who eat the remnants of the sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those sin…

3.14

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः |

From food come forth beings; from rain food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain and sa…

3.15

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् |

Know thou that action comes from Brahma and Brahma comes from the Imperishable. Therefore,…

3.16

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः |

He who does not follow here the wheel thus set revolving, who is of sinful life, rejoicing…

3.17

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः |

But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and who is …

3.18

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन |

For him there is no interest whatever in what is done or what is not done; nor does he dep…

3.19

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |

Therefore without attachment, do thou always perform action which should be done; for by p…

3.20

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः |

Janaka and others attained perfection verily by action only; even with a view to the prote…

3.21

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः |

Whatsoever a great man does, that the other men also do; whatever he sets up as the standa…

3.22

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन |

There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that should be done by Me, nor is there an…

3.23

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः |

For, should I not ever engage Myself in action, unwearied, men would in every way follow M…

3.24

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् |

These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I should be the author of confusion…

3.25

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत |

As the ignorant men act from attachment to action, O Bharata (Arjuna), so should the wise …

3.26

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् |

Let no wise man unsettle the mind of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should…

3.27

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः |

All actions are wrought in all cases by the alities of Nature only. He whose mind is delud…

3.28

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः |

But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed (Arjuna), about the divisions of the alities an…

3.29

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु |

Those deluded by the alities of Nature are attached to the functions of the alities. The m…

3.30

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा |

Renouncing all actions in Me, with the mind centred in the Self, free from hope and egoism…

3.31

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः |

Those men who constantly practise this teaching of Mine with faith and without cavilling, …

3.32

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् |

But those who carp at My teaching and do not practise it, deluded of all knowledge, and de…

3.33

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि |

Even a wise man acts in accordance with his own nature; beings will follow Nature; what ca…

3.34

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ |

Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let none come u…

3.35

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |

Better is one's own duty, though devoid of merit than the duty of another well discharged.…

3.36

अर्जुन उवाच |

Arjuna said But impelled by what does man commit sin, though against his wishes, O Varshn…

3.37

श्रीभगवानुवाच |

The Blessed Lord said It is desire, it is anger both of the ality of Rajas, all-devouring…

3.38

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च |

As fire is enveloped by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the amnion, so is …

3.39

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा |

O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire, wh…

3.40

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते |

The senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these it deludes t…

3.41

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ |

Therefore, O best of the Bharatas (Arjuna), controlling the senses first, do thou kill thi…

3.42

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः |

They say that the senses are superior (to the body); superior to the senses is the mind; s…

3.43

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना |

Thus knowing Him Who is superior to the intellect and restraining the self by the Self, sl…