Chapter 4
ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
The fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita is "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga". In this chapter, Krishna glorifies the Karma Yoga and imparts the Transcendental Knowledge (the knowledge of the soul and the Ultimate Truth) to Arjuna. He reveals the reason behind his appearance in this material world. He reveals that even though he is eternal, he reincarnates time after time to re-establish dharma and peace on this Earth. His births and activities are eternal and are never contaminated by material flaws. Those persons who know and understand this Truth engage in his devotion with full faith and eventually attain Him. They do not have to take birth in this world again.
श्रीभगवानुवाच |...
4.1 The Blessed Lord said I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu pro...
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः |...
4.2 This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by long lapse of ...
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः |...
4.3 That same ancient Yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, for thou art My devotee and My frien...
अर्जुन उवाच |...
4.4 Arjuna said Later on was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am...
श्रीभगवानुवाच |...
4.5 The Blessed Lord said Many births of Mine have passed as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know the...
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् |...
4.6 Though I am unborn, of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, governi...
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |...
4.7 Whenever there is decline of righteousness, O Arjuna, and rise of unrighteousness, then I manife...
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |...
4.8 For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of r...
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः |...
4.9 He who thus know, in their true light, My divine birth and action, having abandoned the body, is...
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः |...
4.10 Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fir...
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |...
4.11 In whatever way men approach Me even so do I reward them; My path do men tread in all ways, O A...
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः |...
4.12 Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods; because success is ic...
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः |...
4.13 The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; t...
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा |...
4.14 Actions do not taint Me, nor have I a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me thus is ...
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः |...
4.15 Having known this, the ancient seekers after freedom also performed action; therefore do thou a...
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः |...
4.16 What is action? What is inaction? As to this even the wise are confused. Therefore I shall teac...
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः |...
4.17 For verily (the true nature) of action (enjoined by the scriptures) should be known, also (that...
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः |...
4.18 He who seeth inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a Yogi and ...
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः |...
4.19 He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and (selfish) purposes and whose actions have b...
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः |...
4.20 Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he...
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः |...
4.21 Without hope and with the mind and the self controlled, having abandoned all covetousness, doin...
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः |...
4.22 Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, even-...
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः |...
4.23 To one who is devoid of attchment, who is liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, wh...
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् |...
4.24 Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the melted butter (ghee); by Brahman is the oblation poured...
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते |...
4.25 Some Yogies perform sacrifice to the gods alone; while others (who have realised the Self) offe...
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति |...
4.26 Some again offer the organ of hearing and other senses as sacrifice in the fire of restraint; o...
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे |...
4.27 Others again sacrifice all the functions of the senses and those of the breath (vital energy or...
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे |...
4.28 Others again offer wealth, austerity and Yoga as sacrifice, while the ascetics of self-restrain...
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे |...
4.29 Others offer as sacrifice the outgoing breath in the incoming, and the incoming in the outgoing...
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति |...
4.30 Others who regulate their diet offer life-breaths in life-breaths. All these are knowers of sac...
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् |...
4.31 Those who eat the remnants of the sacrifice, which are like nectar, go to the eternal Brahman. ...
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे |...
4.32 Thus, manifold sacrifices are spread out before Brahman (literally) at the mouth or face of Bra...
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप |...
Swami Sivananda did not comment on this sloka...
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया |...
4.34 Know That by long prostration, by estion and by service; the wise who have realised the Truth w...
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव |...
4.35 Knowing ï1thatï1 thou shalt not, O Arjuna, again get deluded like this; and by that thou shalt ...
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः |...
4.36 Even if thou art the most sinful of all sinners, yet thou shalt verily cross all sins by the ra...
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन |...
4.37 As the blazing fire reduces fuel to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all a...
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |...
4.38 Verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. He who is perfected in Yoga finds it...
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः |...
4.39 The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued the senses obtains (thi...
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति |...
4.40 The ignorant the faithless, the doubting self goes to destruction; there is neither this world ...
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसञ्छिन्नसंशयम् |...
4.41 He who has renounced actions by Yoga, whose doubts are rent asunder by knowledge, and who is se...
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः |...
4.42 Therefore with the sword of the knowledge (of the Self) cut asunder the doubt of the self born ...