kuru

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः

kuru-kṣhetre — at Kurukshetra

On the field of dharma, at Kurukshetra, gathered and eager to fight — my sons, and the sons of Pandu — what did they do, Sanjaya?

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः

kuru-vṛiddhaḥ — the grand old man of the Kuru dynasty (Bheeshma)

To hearten him, the grand old man of the Kurus, the glorious grandsire, roared like a lion and blew his conch.

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन

kuru-nandana — descendent of the Kurus

On this path, son of Kuru, the resolute mind is single. The minds of the irresolute are many-branched and endless.

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय

kuru — perform

Steady in yoga, do your work — letting go of attachment, even in success and failure alike. That evenness is what yoga means.

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः

kuru — perform

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

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः

kuru — should perform

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

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्

kuru-sat-tama — best of the Kurus, Arjun

Those who eat what remains of the offering go to the eternal. But for one who makes no offering there is no place, either here or beyond.

तत्र तं बुद्धिसंयोगं लभते पौर्वदेहिकम्

kuru-nandana — Arjun, descendant of the Kurus

There the understanding gained in the former body returns, and from there one strives again for perfection, son of Kuru.

हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि दिव्या ह्यात्मविभूतयः

kuru-śhreṣhṭha — best of the Kurus

Very well — I will tell you of my divine glories, but only the chief of them, Arjuna, for there is no end to them.

न वेदयज्ञाध्ययनैर्न दानै र्न च क्रियाभिर्न तपोभिरुग्रैः

kuru-pravīra — the best of the Kuru warriors

Not by study of the Vedas, not by offerings, not by giving, not by rites, not by severe austerity can I be seen in this form in the world of men by anyone but you.

अथैतदप्यशक्तोऽसि कर्तुं मद्योगमाश्रितः

kuru — do

And if you cannot manage even this, then take refuge in being joined to me, and give up the fruit of all action, self-restrained.

अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च

kuru-nandana — the joy of the Kurus, Arjun

Darkness, inactivity, heedlessness and delusion arise when inertia has grown strong, Arjuna.

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया

kuru — do

So I have told you this knowledge, more secret than what is secret. Consider it fully, and then do as you choose.