yogam

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय

yoga-sthaḥ — being steadfast in yog

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

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला

yogam — Yog

When your understanding, no longer pulled about by scripture, stands still and steady in itself — then you will have reached yoga.

इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्

yogam — the science of Yog

I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan; Vivasvan taught it to Manu; and Manu to Ikshvaku.

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे

yoga-yajñāḥ — performance of eight-fold path of yogic practices as sacrifice

Some offer their possessions; some their austerity; some their practice; and some, holding to their vows, offer their study and their knowledge.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते

yoga — practice of yog

Nothing in this world purifies like knowledge. One perfected in practice finds it in time, within.

योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्

yoga-sannyasta-karmāṇam — those who renounce ritualistic karm, dedicating their body, mind, and soul to God

One who has given up action through practice, whose doubts are cut away by knowledge, who is established in the self — actions do not bind that person.

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः

yogam — in karm yog

So with the sword of knowledge cut away this doubt, born of ignorance and lodged in the heart, and take your stand in yoga, Arjuna. Stand up.

संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि

yogam — about karm yog

You praise the renunciation of action, Krishna, and then you praise yoga. Which of the two is better? Tell me clearly.

यत्सांख्यैः प्राप्यते स्थानं तद्योगैरपि गम्यते

yogaiḥ — by working in devotion

The place reached by renunciation is reached by yoga as well. One who sees that renunciation and yoga are one, sees.

संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दुःखमाप्तुमयोगतः

yoga-yuktaḥ — one who is adept in karm yog

But renunciation is hard to reach without yoga, mighty-armed one. The sage joined to yoga comes to Brahman before long.

योगयुक्तो विशुद्धात्मा विजितात्मा जितेन्द्रियः

yoga-yuktaḥ — united in consciousness with God

Joined to yoga, pure in nature, self-mastered, senses conquered, seeing the self in all beings — such a person acts and is not stained.

यं संन्यासमिति प्राहुर्योगं तं विद्धि पाण्डव

yogam — yog

Know that what they call renunciation is yoga, son of Pandu. No one becomes a practitioner without giving up the intention behind the act.

आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते

yogam — Yog

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

यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते

yoga-ārūḍhaḥ — elevated in the science of Yog

When a person is attached neither to the objects of sense nor to actions, having renounced every intention — that one is said to be established in yoga.

यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता

yoginaḥ — of a yogi

As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — that is the image held for one whose mind is disciplined, practising yoga of the self.

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया

yoga-sevayā — by the practice of yog

Where the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, comes to rest; where, seeing the self by the self, one is content in the self;

तं विद्याद् दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम्

yoga-saṁjñitam — is known as yog

know that to be yoga: the parting from union with pain. It should be practised with resolve, and without discouragement.

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि

yoga-yukta-ātmā — one united in consciousness with God

One joined in yoga sees the self in all beings and all beings in the self — sees the same everywhere.

अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः

yogāt — from Yog

One who has faith but is slack, whose mind wanders from yoga, and who fails to reach its perfection — where does such a person go, Krishna?

प्राप्य पुण्यकृतां लोकानुषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः

yoga-bhraṣhṭaḥ — the unsuccessful yogis

Having reached the worlds of the virtuous and dwelt there for many ages, one who has fallen from yoga is born again in the house of the pure and the prosperous;

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः

yogasya — about yog

Carried by that earlier practice, such a person is drawn on even without willing it. And even one who merely wishes to know of yoga goes beyond the letter of the scriptures.

मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः

yogam — bhakti yog

With your mind attached to me, son of Pritha, practising yoga and taking refuge in me — hear how you will know me completely and without doubt.

नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः

yoga-māyā — God’s supreme (divine) energy

I am not manifest to everyone; I am veiled by my own power. The deluded world does not know me, unborn and unchanging.

प्रयाणकाले मनसाऽचलेन भक्त्या युक्तो योगबलेन चैव

yoga-balena — through the power of yog

at the hour of departure, with a still mind, joined by devotion and the strength of practice, drawing the breath up between the brows, reaches that highest divine person.

सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च

yoga-dhāraṇām — the yogic concentration

Holding all the gates closed, the mind confined in the heart, the breath established in the head, settled in the practice of yoga,

नैते सृती पार्थ जानन्योगी मुह्यति कश्चन

yogī — a yogi

Knowing these two paths, son of Pritha, one who practises is not confused by them. So at all times be joined in yoga, Arjuna.

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते

yoga — supply spiritual assets

Those who think of nothing else and worship me constantly — for them, always steady, I carry what they need.

एतां विभूतिं योगं च मम यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः

yogam — divine powers

One who truly knows these glories and powers of mine is joined to me by unwavering practice. Of this there is no doubt.

विस्तरेणात्मनो योगं विभूतिं च जनार्दन

yogam — divine glories

Tell me again, and in detail, of your power and your glories. I am not sated by hearing them; your words are nectar to me.

मन्यसे यदि तच्छक्यं मया द्रष्टुमिति प्रभो

yoga-īśhvara — Lord of all mystic powers

If you think it can be seen by me, lord, master of yoga, then show me your imperishable self.

एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते

yoga-vit-tamāḥ — more perfect in Yog

Those devoted who worship you, steadfast and constant, and those who worship the imperishable and unmanifest — which of them know better?

अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः

yoga — spiritual

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

व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवानेतद्गुह्यमहं परम्

yogam — Yog

By the grace of Vyasa I have heard this highest secret, this yoga, spoken by Krishna himself, the master of yoga, in person.

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः

yoga-īśhvaraḥ — Shree Krishna, the Lord of Yog

Wherever Krishna is, the master of yoga, and wherever Arjuna is, the archer — there, I am certain, are fortune, victory, prosperity and steadfastness.