yajñaḥ

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः

yajñāḥ — sacrifices

In the beginning the Lord of creatures brought forth beings together with sacrifice, and said: by this, flourish; let this be what grants your wishes.

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः

yajñāt — from the performance of sacrifice

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

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्

yajñe — in sacrifice

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

गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः

yajñāya — as a sacrifice (to God)

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

दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते

yajñam — sacrifice

Some who practise offer sacrifice to the gods; others offer sacrifice itself into the fire of Brahman.

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे

yajñāḥ — sacrifices

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

yajñāt — than the sacrifice

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

वेदेषु यज्ञेषु तपःसु चैव दानेषु यत्पुण्यफलं प्रदिष्टम्

yajñeṣhu — in performance of sacrifices

Whatever merit is promised by the study of the Vedas, by offerings, by austerities and by giving — one who practises knows all of it, and goes beyond, to the first and highest place.

अहं क्रतुरहं यज्ञः स्वधाऽहमहमौषधम्

yajñaḥ — sacrifice

I am the rite, I am the offering, I am the oblation to the ancestors, I am the herb, I am the sacred word, I am the clarified butter, I am the fire, and I am the pouring.

अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च

yajñānām — sacrifices

For I am the one who receives every offering, and its lord. But they do not know me as I am, and so they fall.

महर्षीणां भृगुरहं गिरामस्म्येकमक्षरम्

yajñānām — of sacrifices

Among the great seers I am Bhrigu; among words, the single syllable; among offerings, the offering of silent repetition; and among unmoving things, the Himalaya.

अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः

yajñaḥ — performance of sacrifice

Fearlessness, purity of being, steadiness in knowledge and practice, giving, restraint, offering, study, austerity, straightness;

आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः

yajñaḥ — sacrifice

Even the food each person likes is of three kinds — and so are offering, austerity and giving. Hear how they differ.

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते

yajñaḥ — sacrifice

An offering made as the scriptures direct, by those who want no fruit from it, holding only that it is to be done, is of clarity.

तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः

yajñāḥ — sacrifice

Om, Tat, Sat — this is held to be the threefold naming of Brahman. By it the priests, the Vedas and the offerings were established of old.

यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते

yajñe — in sacrifice

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

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्

yajña — sacrifice

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

अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः

yajñena-tena — through the sacrifice of knowledge

And one who studies this dialogue of ours, which is holy, worships me by the offering of knowledge. This is my view.