Chapter 18

अर्जुन उवाच |...

18.1 Arjuna said I desire to know severally, O mighty-armed, the essence or truth of renunciation, ...

श्रीभगवानुवाच |...

18.2 The Blessed Lord said The sages understand Sannyasa to be the renunciation of action with desi...

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः |...

18.3 Some philosophers declare that actions should be abandoned as an evil; while others (declare) t...

निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम |...

18.4 Hear from Me the conclusion or the final truth about this abandonment, O best of the Bharatas; ...

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् |...

18.5 Acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity should not be abandoned, but should be performed; sacrifi...

एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च |...

18.6 But even these actions should be performed leaving aside attachment and the desire for rewards,...

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते |...

18.7 Verily the renunciation of obligatory action is not proper; the abandonment of the same from de...

दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् |...

18.8 He who abandons action on account of the fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does n...

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन |...

18.9 Whatever obligatory action is done, O Arjuna, merely because it ought to be done, abandoning at...

न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते |...

18.10 The man of renunciation, pervaded by purity, intelligent, and with his doubts cut asunder, doe...

न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः |...

18.11 Verily, it is not possible for an embodied being to abandon actions entirely; but he who relin...

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम् |...

18.12 The threefold fruit of action (evil, good and mixed) accrues after death to the non-abandoners...

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे |...

18.13 Learn from Me, O mighty-armed Arjuna, these five causes as declared in the Sankhya system for ...

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् |...

18.14 The seat (body), the doer, the various senses, the different functions of various sorts, and t...

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः |...

18.15 Whatever action a man performs with his body, speech and mind whether right or the reverse t...

तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः |...

18.16 Now, such being the case, verily he who owing to untrained understanding looks upon his Self...

यस्य नाहंकृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते |...

18.17 He who is free from the egoistic notion, whose intelligence is not tainted (by good or evil), ...

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना |...

18.18 Knowledge, the knowable and the knower form the threefold impulse to action; the organ, the ac...

ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ताच त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः |...

18.19 Knowledge, action and actor are declared in the science of the Gunas (Sankhya philosophy) to b...

सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते |...

18.20 That by which one sees the one indestructible Reality in all beings, not separate in all the s...

पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् |...

18.21 But that knowledge which sees in all beings various entities of distinct kinds as different fr...

यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् |...

18.22 But that which clings to one single effect as if it were the whole, without reason, without fo...

नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम् |...

18.23 An action which is ordained, which is free from attachment, and which is done without love or ...

यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहंकारेण वा पुनः |...

18.24 But that action which is done by one longing for the fulfilment of desires or gain with egoism...

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् |...

18.25 That action which is undertaken from delusion, without a regard for the conseences, loss, inju...

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः |...

18.26 An agent who is free from attachment, non-egoistic, endowed with firmness and enthusiasm, and ...

रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः |...

18.27 Passionate, desiring to obtain the reward of actions, greedy, cruel, impure, moved by joy and ...

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः |...

18.28 Unsteady, vulgar, unbending, cheating, malicious, lazy, desponding and procrastinating such a...

बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु |...

18.29 Hear thou the threefold division of intellect and firmness according to the Gunas, as I declar...

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये |...

18.30 The intellect which knows the path of work and renunciation, what ought to be done and what ou...

यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च |...

18.31 That, by which one wrongly understands Dharma and Adharma and also what ought to be done and w...

अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता |...

18.32 That, which, enveloped in darkness, sees Adharma as Dharma and all things perverted that inte...

धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः |...

18.33 The unwavering firmness by which, through Yoga, the functions of the mind, the life-force and ...

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन |...

18.34 But that, O Arjuna, by which, on account of attachment and desire for reward, one holds fast t...

यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च |...

18.35 That, by which a stupid man does not abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair and also conceit tha...

सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ |...

18.36 And now hear from Me, O Arjuna, of the threefold pleasure, in which one rejoices by practice a...

यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् |...

18.37 That which is like poison at first but in the end like nectar that happiness is declared to b...

विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् |...

18.38 That happiness which arises from the contact of the sense-organs with the objects, which is at...

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः |...

18.39 That happiness which at first as well as in the seel deludes the self, and which arises from s...

न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः |...

18.40 There is no being on earth or again in heaven among the gods, that is liberated from the three...

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप |...

18.41 Of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, as also of Sudras, O Arjuna, the duties are distributed ...

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च |...

18.42 Serenity, self-restraint, austerity, purity, forgiveness and also uprightness, knowledge, real...

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् |...

18.43 Prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity and also not fleeing from battle, generosity and lordl...

कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् |...

18.44 Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are the duties of the Vaisya (merchant), born of (their ...

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः |...

5.10 He who does actions, offering them to Brahman, and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin...

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् |...

18.46 He from Whom all the beings have evolved and by Whom all this is pervaded worshipping Him wit...

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |...

18.47 Better is one's own duty (though) destitute of merits, than the duty of another well performed...

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् |...

18.48 One should not abandon, O Arjuna, the duty to which one is born, though faulty; for, all under...

असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः |...

18.49 He whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who has subdued his self, from whom desire has fl...

सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म तथाप्नोति निबोध मे |...

18.50 Learn from Me in brief, O Arjuna, how he who has attained perfection reaches Brahman (the Eter...

बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च |...

18.51 Endowed with a pure intellect, controlling the self by firmness, relinishing sound and other o...

विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः |...

18.52 Dwelling in solitude, eating but little, with speech, body and mind subdued, always engaged in...

अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् |...

18.53 Having abandoned egoism, strength, arrogance, desire, anger and covetousness, and free from th...

ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति |...

18.54 Becoming Brahman, serene in the Self, he neither grieves nor desires, the same to all beings, ...

भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः |...

18.55 By devotion he knows Me in truth, what and who I am; then having known Me in truth, he forthwi...

सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः |...

18.56 Doing all actions always having taken refuge in Me, by My grace he obtains the eternal indestr...

चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः |...

18.57 Mentally renouncing all actions in Me, having Me as the highest goal, resorting to the Yoga of...

मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि |...

18.58 Fixing thy mind on Me, thou shalt by My grace overcome all obstacles; but if from egoism thou ...

यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे |...

18.59 If, filled with egoism, thou thinkest: "I will not fight", vain is this, thy resolve; Nature w...

स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा |...

18.60 O Arjuna, bound by thy own Karma (action) born of thy own nature, that which from delusion tho...

ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति |...

18.61 The Lord dwells in the hearts of all beings, O Arjuna, causing all beings, by His illusive pow...

तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत |...

18.62 Fly unto Him for refuge with all thy being, O Arjuna; by His grace thou shalt obtain supreme p...

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया |...

18.63 Thus has wisdom, more secret than secrecy itself, been declared unto thee by Me; having reflec...

सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः शृणु मे परमं वचः |...

18.64 Hear thou again My supreme word, most secret of all; because thou art dearly beloved of Me, I ...

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु |...

18.65 Fix thy mind on Me, by devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. Thou shalt come even to...

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |...

18.66 Abandoning all duties, take refuge in Me alone: I will liberate thee from all sins; grieve not...

इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन |...

18.67 This is never to be spoken by thee to one who is devoid of austerities or devotion, nor to one...

य इदं परमं गुह्यं मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यति |...

18.68 He who with supreme devotion to Me will teach this supreme secret to My devotees, shall doubtl...

न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः |...

18.69 Nor is there any among men who does dearer service to Me, nor shall there be another on earth ...

अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः |...

18.70 And he who will study this sacred dialogue of ours, by him I shall have been worshipped by the...

श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः |...

18.71 Also the man who hears this, full of faith and free from malice, he, too, liberated, shall att...

कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा |...

18.72 Has this been heard, O Arjuna, with one-pointed mind? Has the delusion of thy ignorance been d...

अर्जुन उवाच |...

18.73 Arjuna said Destroyed is my delusion as I have gained my knowledge (memory) through Thy grace...

सञ्जय उवाच |...

18.74 Sanjaya said Thus I have heard this wonderful dialogue between Krishna and the high-souled Ar...

व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवानेतद्गुह्यमहं परम् |...

18.75 Through the grace of Vyasa I have heard this supreme and most secret Yoga direct from Krishna,...

राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम् |...

18.76 O King, remembering this wonderful and holy dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, I rejoice aga...

तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः |...

18.77 And, remembering again and again, also that most wonderful form of Hari, great is my wonder, O...

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः |...

18.78 Wherever is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga; wherever is Arjuna, the wielder of the bow; there are p...