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The Path of Action · 43 verses
Ask Krishna about this chapterArjuna questioned: My Lord! If wisdom is superior to action, why do you advise me to engage in this terrible fight?
Your language confuses me and confounds my reason. Therefore, please tell me the only way by which I can, without doubt, secure my spiritual welfare.
Lord Shri Krishna replied: In this world, as I have said, there is a twofold path, O sinless one! There is the path of wisdom for those who meditate, and the path of…
Not by abstaining from actions does a person attain freedom from action, nor by renunciation alone does he achieve perfection.
He cannot remain inactive even for a moment, for the qualities of Nature will compel him to act, whether he wills it or not.
He who, restraining the organs of action, sits dwelling in the mind on the objects of the senses, that deluded soul is called a hypocrite.
But one who, controlling the senses by the mind, engages in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, O Arjuna — that person excels.
Do your duty as prescribed, for action for duty's sake is superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of the body would be impossible if one remained inactive.
In this world, people are fettered by their actions, unless they are performed as a sacrifice. Therefore, O Arjuna, let your actions be done without attachment, as a…
Having created beings together with sacrifice in the beginning, Prajapati said: "By this shall you prosper; let this be the wish-fulfilling cow that grants your desires.
Worship the powers of Nature, and let them nourish you in return; thus, supporting each other, you shall attain your highest welfare.
Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will surely bestow upon you the desired enjoyments. He who enjoys what is given by them without offering anything back to them is…
The sages who enjoy the food that remains after the sacrifice is made are freed from all sins; whereas, the selfish who spread their feast only for themselves feed on…
From food all beings come into existence; from rain food is produced; from sacrifice rain comes forth; and sacrifice is born of action.
Know that action originates from the Vedas, and the Vedas arise from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading Brahman is eternally established in sacrifice.
Thus, he who does not help the revolving wheel of sacrifice, but instead leads a sinful life, rejoicing in the gratification of his senses, O Arjuna, is breathing in…
But the person who delights only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self, and who is content in the Self alone — for him there is no duty to be done.
He has nothing to gain from the performance or non-performance of action; his welfare does not depend on any contribution that an earthly creature can make.
Therefore, do your duty perfectly, without worrying about the results, for he who does his duty without attachment attains the Supreme.
King Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone. Even for the sake of enlightening the world, it is your duty to act.
For whatever a great man does, others imitate; people conform to the standard he has set.
There is nothing in this universe, O Arjuna, that I am compelled to do, nor anything for me to attain; yet I persistently remain active.
For if I were not to engage tirelessly in action at any time, O Partha, men would follow My path in every way.
And if I were to refrain from action, the human race would be ruined; I would lead the world to chaos, and destruction would follow.
As the ignorant act, out of their fondness for action, so should the wise act without attachment, fixing their eyes, O Arjuna, only on the welfare of the world.
A wise person should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action; rather, remaining steadfast and properly performing all actions himself, he…
Action is the product of the qualities inherent in nature. It is only the ignorant man who, misled by personal egotism, says, "I am the doer."
But he, O Mighty One, who correctly understands the relationship between the Qualities and action, is not attached to the act, for he perceives that it is merely the…
Those who are deluded by the gunas of Prakriti become attached to the actions of the gunas. The one who knows the whole should not unsettle those dull-witted ones of…
Therefore, surrender your actions to Me, keep your thoughts focused on the Absolute, free from selfishness and without expecting a reward, with a mind free from…
Those who always act in accordance with My precepts, firmly in faith and without caviling, they too are freed from the bondage of action.
But they who ridicule My word and do not observe it, are ignorant, devoid of wisdom, and blind. They seek only their own destruction.
Even the wise man acts in accordance with his nature; indeed, all creatures act according to their natures. What is the use of compulsion then?
Attachment and aversion are situated in each sense toward its respective object; one should not come under the sway of these two, for they are surely one's adversaries.
It is better to do one's own duty, however lacking in merit, than to do that of another, even though efficiently. It is better to die doing one's own duty, for doing…
Arjuna asked, "My Lord, what is it that drives a person to sin, even against their will and as if by compulsion?"
The Blessed Lord said: It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of rajas, all-devouring and greatly sinful — know this to be the enemy here in this world.
As fire is shrouded by smoke, a mirror is covered by dust, and a child is enveloped by the womb, so is the universe enveloped in desire.
O son of Kunti, knowledge is enveloped by this perpetual enemy of the wise, which takes the form of desire and is insatiable like fire.
The senses, the mind, and the intellect are said to be its seat; through these, it veils knowledge and deludes the embodied soul.
Therefore, O Arjuna, first control your senses and then slay desire, for it is full of sin and is the destroyer of knowledge and wisdom.
It is said that the senses are powerful; however, beyond the senses is the mind, beyond the mind is the intellect, and greater than the intellect is He.
Thus, knowing that which is superior to the intellect, and steadying the lower self by the higher Self, O mighty-armed one, slay this formidable enemy in the form of…