karma

एषा तेऽभिहिता सांख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां श्रृणु

karma-bandham — bondage of karma

What I have told you so far is by way of analysis. Now hear it by way of practice: with this understanding you will cut the bonds of action.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन

karmaṇi — in prescribed duties

Your right is to the action alone, never to its fruits. Do not act for the sake of the fruit, and do not be attached to inaction either.

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय

karma — reward-seeking actions

Action for the sake of its fruit is far inferior, Arjuna, to action guided by understanding. Take refuge in understanding. Those who work only for the fruit are wretched.

कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः

karma-jam — born of fruitive actions

The wise, joined to understanding, let go of the fruit born of action, and freed from the bondage of birth they reach a state beyond harm.

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन

karmaṇaḥ — than fruitive action

If understanding is better than action, Krishna, why do you urge me into this terrible work?

लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ

karma-yogena — through the path of action

In this world there are two paths, as I have said before, sinless one: the path of knowledge, for those who reason; and the path of action, for those who act.

न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्

karma — work

No one can stay for even a moment without acting. Everyone is made to act by the strands of nature, whether they will it or not.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्

karma-indriyāṇi — the organs of action

Whoever restrains the organs of action while the mind still dwells on their objects is deluded, and is called a hypocrite.

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन

karma-indriyaiḥ — by the working senses

But one who controls the senses with the mind, Arjuna, and takes up action with the organs of action while remaining unattached — that one is better.

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः

karma — Vedic duties

Do the work that falls to you. Action is better than inaction. Even the keeping of your body would fail without it.

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः

karmaṇaḥ — than action

Action other than that offered as sacrifice binds the world. So do your work as an offering, son of Kunti, free of attachment.

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः

karma — prescribed duties

Beings live on food; food comes from rain; rain comes from sacrifice; and sacrifice arises from action.

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्

karma — duties

Know that action arises from the Veda, and the Veda from the imperishable. Therefore the all-pervading is present in every offering.

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर

karma — action

So do the work that falls to you, always, without attachment. Acting unattached, a person reaches the highest.

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन

kartavyam — duty

There is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, son of Pritha, nothing I lack and nothing I need to gain — and yet I act.

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः

karmaṇi — in the performance of prescribed duties

For if I did not always act, and act with care, people would follow my path,

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्

karma — prescribed duties

and these worlds would fall to ruin. I would be the cause of chaos, and I would destroy these beings.

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत

karmaṇi — duties

As the unwise act while attached to their work, so let the wise act while unattached, wishing only the good of the world.

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्

karma-saṅginām — who are attached to fruitive actions

The wise should not unsettle the minds of the unknowing who are attached to their work. Let them instead be encouraged in all they do.

जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः

karma — activities

One who truly knows my birth and my work as they are, on leaving the body is not born again, but comes to me.

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः

karmaṇām — material activities

Those who want their undertakings to succeed make offerings to the gods, and success in the human world comes to them quickly.

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः

karma — and activities

The four orders were brought forth by me, divided according to quality and work. Know me as their maker — and know also that I am not bound by it.

न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा

karmāṇi — activities

Actions do not stain me, and I have no craving for their fruit. One who knows me in this way is not bound by action either.

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः

karma — actions

Knowing this, those who sought freedom in earlier times did their work. So do your work as they did.

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः

karma — action

What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here. I will tell you what action is, and knowing it you will be free.

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः

karmaṇaḥ — recommended action

One must understand action, and also what should not be done, and also inaction. The way of action is deep.

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः

karmaṇi — action

The one who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is wise among people — joined, and complete in all their work.

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः

karma-phala-āsaṅgam — attachment to the fruits of action

Having given up attachment to the fruit of action, always content, dependent on nothing, such a person does not accumulate even while fully engaged.

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः

karma — actions

Free of expectation, mind and self restrained, having let go of every claim of ownership, performing only the action of the body — such a person takes on nothing.

गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः

karma — action

For one free of attachment, released, mind established in knowledge, acting as an offering — action dissolves entirely.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्

karma — offering

The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman is what such a one reaches, whose action is Brahman.

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे

karma-jān — originating from works

So many kinds of offering have been described. Know that all of them arise from action — and knowing this, you will be free.

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप

karma — works

The offering of knowledge is better than the offering of possessions, Arjuna. All action, without exception, finds its end in knowledge.

संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ

karma-yogaḥ — working in devotion

Both renunciation and the yoga of action lead to the highest. But of the two, the yoga of action is the better.

कायेन मनसा बुद्ध्या केवलैरिन्द्रियैरपि

karma — actions

With the body, the mind, the understanding, and even with the senses alone, those who practise act — letting go of attachment, for the purifying of the self.

युक्तः कर्मफलं त्यक्त्वा शान्तिमाप्नोति नैष्ठिकीम्

karma-phalam — the results of all activities

One who is joined, having given up the fruit of action, reaches lasting peace. One who is not joined, driven by desire and attached to the fruit, is bound.

न कर्तृत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य सृजति प्रभुः

kartṛitvam — sense of doership

The Lord creates neither doership nor actions for anyone, nor the joining of action to its fruit. It is one's own nature that acts.

अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः

karma-phalam — results of actions

One who does the work that must be done without depending on its fruit — that one is both a renouncer and a practitioner of yoga; not the one who lights no fire and does nothing.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते

karma — working without attachment

For the sage climbing toward yoga, action is said to be the means. For one already established in it, stillness is.

जरामरणमोक्षाय मामाश्रित्य यतन्ति ये

karma — karmic action

Those who take refuge in me and strive for release from old age and death know Brahman, and know the whole.

किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम

karma — the principle of karma

What is that Brahman? What is the self? What is action? What is called the ground of matter, and what the ground of the gods?

अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते

karma — fruitive activities

The imperishable is the highest Brahman. One's own nature is called the self. The bringing forth of beings and their states is called action.

शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः

karma — work

So you will be freed from the bonds of action and its good and bad fruits. Joined by the yoga of renunciation, with a steady self, you will come to me.

श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते

karma-phala-tyāgaḥ — renunciation of the fruits of actions

Knowledge is better than mere practice; meditation is better than knowledge; giving up the fruit of action is better than meditation — and from that giving up comes peace at once.

ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना

karma-yogena — union with God with through path of action

Some see the self in the self by meditation; some by the way of reasoning; and some by the way of action.

रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम्

karma-saṅgena — through attachment to fruitive actions

Know restlessness to be of the nature of craving, arising from thirst and attachment. It binds the embodied one by attachment to action.

सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रजः कर्मणि भारत

karmaṇi — toward actions

Clarity binds to happiness, restlessness to action, Arjuna. Inertia, covering over knowledge, binds to heedlessness.

रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते

karma-saṅgiṣhu — among people driven by work

Meeting the end in restlessness, one is born among those attached to action; dissolving in inertia, one is born in the wombs of the unknowing.

कर्मणः सुकृतस्याहुः सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम्

karmaṇaḥ — of action

The fruit of good action is said to be spotless and of the nature of clarity; the fruit of restlessness is pain; and the fruit of inertia is unknowing.

अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखा गुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवालाः

karma — actions

Its branches spread downward and upward, nourished by the strands; its shoots are the objects of sense; and its roots reach downward too, binding to action in the world of men.

तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ

karma — actions

So let the scriptures be your measure in deciding what is to be done and what is not. Knowing what they teach, act.

सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते

karmaṇi — action

Sat is used to mean what truly is and what is good. And the word Sat is used, Arjuna, for an act of praise.

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते

karma — action

Steadiness in offering, in austerity and in giving is also called Sat; and any action for the sake of that is called Sat.

काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः

karmaṇām — of actions

The wise know renunciation to be the giving up of actions driven by desire; and letting go, the giving up of the fruit of all action.

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः

karma — actions

Some learned people say action should be given up as a fault; others, that offering, giving and austerity should not be given up.

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्

karma — actions

The acts of offering, giving and austerity should not be given up; they should be done. To give them up is a mistake.

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते

karmaṇaḥ — actions

Renouncing the action that falls to you is not right. Giving it up out of delusion is said to be of inertia.

दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्

karma — duties

One who gives up action because it is troublesome, out of fear of bodily discomfort, has let go in the manner of restlessness, and gains nothing by it.

न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते

karma — work

One who neither hates unwelcome work nor clings to welcome work is a true renouncer, filled with clarity, free of doubt.

न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः

karmāṇi — activities

It is not possible for one who bears a body to give up action entirely. But one who lets go of the fruit of action is called a renouncer.

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः

karma — action

Whatever action a person undertakes with body, speech or mind, whether right or wrong, these five are its causes.

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना

karma-chodanā — factors that induce action

Knowledge, the object of knowledge and the knower are the three that prompt action; the instrument, the act and the doer are its three components.

ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः

karma — action

Knowledge, action and the doer are each of three kinds, distinguished by the strands. Hear of them too.

नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम्

karma — action

Action that is required, done without attachment, without craving or aversion, by one who does not seek its fruit, is said to be of clarity.

यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः

karma — action

But action done by one who seeks to satisfy desire, or with the sense of self, and with great strain, is said to be of restlessness.

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम्

karma — action

Action undertaken in delusion, without regard for consequences, for loss, for harm, or for one's own capacity, is said to be of inertia.

रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः

karma-phala — fruit of work

A doer who craves, who covets the fruit of action, greedy, harmful by nature, unclean, moved by elation and grief, is said to be of restlessness.

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च

karma — work

Calm, restraint, austerity, purity, patience, integrity, knowledge, insight and faith are the work born of the nature of the priestly.

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम्

karma — work

Valour, vigour, steadfastness, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity and leadership are the work born of the nature of the warrior.

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम्

karma — work

Farming, tending cattle and trade are the work born of the nature of the merchant; and service is the work born of the nature of the worker.

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः

karmaṇi — work

A person reaches perfection by devotion to their own work. Hear how one who is devoted to their own work attains it.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्

karma — duty

Better your own work done imperfectly than another's done well. One who does the work born of their own nature takes on no fault.

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत्

karma — duty

The work that comes with your own nature should not be abandoned even if it is flawed, son of Kunti. Every undertaking is wrapped in fault, as fire is wrapped in smoke.