Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 of 18

Karma Yoga

कर्मयोग — The Yoga of Action · 43 verses

All 43 verses

Sanskrit, transliteration and English meaning for every verse.

1. 3.1 · Arjuna

   ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन ।
   तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥

   jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana |
   tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava ||

   Arjuna said: If you hold that understanding is superior to action, Janardana, why then do you urge me into this terrible deed, Keshava?

2. 3.2 · Arjuna

   व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे ।
   तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥

   vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me |
   tadekaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo’hamāpnuyām ||

   With words that seem to point two ways, you seem to confuse my understanding. Tell me with certainty the one thing by which I may reach the highest good.

3. 3.3 · Krishna

   लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।
   ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥

   loke’smindvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha |
   jñānayogena sāṃkhyānāṃ karmayogena yoginām ||

   The Lord said: In this world, sinless one, I taught long ago a twofold way: the yoga of knowledge for those given to contemplation (Sankhya), and the yoga of action for those given to action.

4. 3.4 · Krishna

   न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते ।
   न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ॥

   na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo’śnute |
   na ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati ||

   A person does not reach freedom from action simply by not beginning actions, nor attain perfection by renunciation alone.

5. 3.5 · Krishna

   न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।
   कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥

   na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt |
   kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ ||

   No one can remain for even a moment without acting; everyone is driven to act, whether they will it or not, by the gunas (qualities) born of nature (prakriti).

6. 3.6 · Krishna

   कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
   इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥

   karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran |
   indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate ||

   One who restrains the organs of action but sits dwelling in the mind on the objects of the senses is deluded, and is called a hypocrite.

7. 3.7 · Krishna

   यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
   कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥

   yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate’rjuna |
   karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ||

   But one who controls the senses through the mind, Arjuna, and without attachment sets the organs of action to the yoga of action — that person excels.

8. 3.8 · Krishna

   नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
   शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥

   niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ |
   śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ||

   Do the work that is yours to do, for action is better than inaction. Without action you could not even keep your body alive.

9. 3.9 · Krishna

   यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
   तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥

   yajñārthātkarmaṇo’nyatra loko’yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ |
   tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara ||

   This world is bound by action, except for action done as yajna (sacrifice). So, son of Kunti, act for that purpose, free from attachment.

10. 3.10 · Krishna

    सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।
    अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥

    sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ |
    anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo’stviṣṭakāmadhuk ||

    In the beginning, the Lord of creatures (Prajapati) brought forth beings together with sacrifice and said: “By this you shall flourish; let this be the cow that yields all you desire.

11. 3.11 · Krishna

    देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः ।
    परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥

    devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ |
    parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha ||

    Sustain the gods with this, and let the gods sustain you. Sustaining one another, you will attain the highest good.

12. 3.12 · Krishna

    इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
    तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥

    iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ |
    tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ||

    Sustained by sacrifice, the gods will grant you the enjoyments you desire.” One who enjoys their gifts without offering anything back to them is nothing but a thief.

13. 3.13 · Krishna

    यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।
    भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥

    yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ |
    bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt ||

    The good, who eat what remains of the sacrifice, are freed from every fault; but the wicked who cook only for themselves eat their own sin.

14. 3.14 · Krishna

    अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः ।
    यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥

    annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ |
    yajñādbhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ ||

    Beings come from food; food comes from rain; rain comes from sacrifice; and sacrifice is born of action.

15. 3.15 · Krishna

    कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् ।
    तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

    karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam |
    tasmātsarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ||

    Know that action arises from Brahman (the Veda), and Brahman arises from the Imperishable. So the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in sacrifice.

16. 3.16 · Krishna

    एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।
    अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ॥

    evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ |
    aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati ||

    Whoever does not help turn the wheel thus set in motion lives a sinful life, son of Pritha, delighting only in the senses — and lives in vain.

17. 3.17 · Krishna

    यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।
    आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥

    yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ |
    ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ||

    But for one who delights in the Self alone, who is satisfied in the Self and content in the Self alone, there is nothing left that must be done.

18. 3.18 · Krishna

    नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
    न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥

    naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana |
    na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ||

    Such a person has nothing to gain here by acting and nothing to lose by not acting, and depends on no being for any purpose.

19. 3.19 · Krishna

    तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।
    असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥

    tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara |
    asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ ||

    So always do the work that has to be done, without attachment; for by acting without attachment a person reaches the Supreme.

20. 3.20 · Krishna

    कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
    लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

    karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ |
    lokasaṃgrahamevāpi saṃpaśyankartumarhasi ||

    It was by action alone that Janaka and others attained perfection. And with an eye to holding the world together, you too should act.

21. 3.21 · Krishna · key verse

    यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
    स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥

    yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ |
    sa yatpramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate ||

    Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world follows.

22. 3.22 · Krishna

    न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन ।
    नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥

    na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiṃcana |
    nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi ||

    There is nothing in the three worlds, son of Pritha, that I am bound to do, nor anything unattained for me to attain — and yet I remain engaged in action.

23. 3.23 · Krishna

    यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
    मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥

    yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ |
    mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||

    For if I ever ceased to engage tirelessly in action, son of Pritha, people everywhere would follow my path.

24. 3.24 · Krishna

    उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।
    संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥

    utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham |
    saṃkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ ||

    If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin; I would be the cause of confusion and would bring these beings to destruction.

25. 3.25 · Krishna

    सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।
    कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥

    saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata |
    kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham ||

    Just as the ignorant act out of attachment to their work, Bharata, so the wise should act without attachment, seeking to hold the world together.

26. 3.26 · Krishna

    न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।
    जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥

    na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām |
    joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ samācaran ||

    The wise should not unsettle the understanding of the ignorant, who are attached to action. Acting with discipline themselves, they should lead others to take joy in all their work.

27. 3.27 · Krishna

    प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः ।
    अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥

    prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ |
    ahaṃkāravimūḍhātmā kartāhamiti manyate ||

    All actions are carried out entirely by the gunas of nature. But one whose mind is deluded by ego thinks, “I am the doer.”

28. 3.28 · Krishna

    तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।
    गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते ॥

    tattvavittu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ |
    guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate ||

    But one who knows the truth about the distinct roles of the gunas and their actions, mighty-armed one, sees that it is gunas acting upon gunas, and is not attached.

29. 3.29 · Krishna

    प्रकृतेर्गुणसंमूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।
    तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ॥

    prakṛterguṇasaṃmūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu |
    tānakṛtsnavido mandānkṛtsnavinna vicālayet ||

    Those deluded by the gunas of nature become attached to the workings of the gunas. One who knows the whole should not unsettle the slow-witted, who know only in part.

30. 3.30 · Krishna

    मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा ।
    निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ॥

    mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā |
    nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ ||

    Surrender all actions to me, with your mind fixed on the Self; free from craving and from the sense of “mine”, fight, with your fever of anguish gone.

31. 3.31 · Krishna

    ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ।
    श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ॥

    ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ |
    śraddhāvanto’nasūyanto mucyante te’pi karmabhiḥ ||

    Those who constantly follow this teaching of mine with faith and without finding fault are also freed from the bondage of action.

32. 3.32 · Krishna

    ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ।
    सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ॥

    ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam |
    sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstānviddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ ||

    But those who find fault with it and do not follow my teaching — know them to be blind to all knowledge, lost and without understanding.

33. 3.33 · Krishna

    सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
    प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥

    sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi |
    prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ||

    Even the wise act in keeping with their own nature. All beings follow their nature; what can mere suppression achieve?

34. 3.34 · Krishna

    इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।
    तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥

    indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau |
    tayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau ||

    Attraction and aversion lie in wait in each sense for its object. Do not fall under their sway, for they are the robbers on one’s path.

35. 3.35 · Krishna · key verse

    श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
    स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

    śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt |
    svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ||

    Better is one’s own duty, even imperfectly done, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another is fraught with danger.

36. 3.36 · Arjuna

    अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः ।
    अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः ॥

    atha kena prayukto’yaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ |
    anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ ||

    Arjuna said: Then what drives a person to commit sin, descendant of Vrishni, even against their will, as if compelled by force?

37. 3.37 · Krishna

    काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
    महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥

    kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ |
    mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam ||

    The Lord said: It is desire, it is anger, born of the guna of rajas (passion) — all-consuming and deeply sinful. Know this to be the enemy here.

38. 3.38 · Krishna

    धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
    यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥

    dhūmenāvriyate vahniryathādarśo malena ca |
    yatholbenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam ||

    As fire is veiled by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, so is this knowledge veiled by desire.

39. 3.39 · Krishna

    आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।
    कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ॥

    āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā |
    kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ||

    Knowledge is veiled, son of Kunti, by this constant enemy of the wise, which takes the form of desire, an insatiable fire.

40. 3.40 · Krishna

    इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते ।
    एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ॥

    indriyāṇi mano buddhirasyādhiṣṭhānamucyate |
    etairvimohayatyeṣa jñānamāvṛtya dehinam ||

    The senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be its stronghold. Through them it clouds knowledge and deludes the embodied one.

41. 3.41 · Krishna

    तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
    पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥

    tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha |
    pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam ||

    So first master your senses, best of the Bharatas, and strike down this evil thing that destroys both knowledge and realisation.

42. 3.42 · Krishna

    इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।
    मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥

    indriyāṇi parāṇyāhurindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ |
    manasastu parā buddhiryo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ ||

    The senses are said to be high; higher than the senses is the mind; higher than the mind is the intellect; and higher still than the intellect is he — the Self.

43. 3.43 · Krishna

    एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।
    जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥

    evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā |
    jahi śatruṃ mahābāho kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam ||

    Knowing thus what lies beyond the intellect, and steadying the self by the Self, slay this enemy in the form of desire, mighty-armed one, so hard to overcome.