Arjuna said:
O Janardhana, if you consider that knowledge is superior to action, why do you urge me to the terrible action ?
3-1
You are confusing my understanding with these apparently conflicting words. Tell me therefore, with certainty the one method by which I may attain the highest good.
3-2
The Lord Said:
Sinless one, in this world a two fold path to heaven was taught by me long ago - the path of knowledge for sankhyas and the path of action for yogis.
3-3
No one attains liberation by mere non-commencement of work nor does he attain redemption by mere ascetism.
3-4
No one can possibly remain action less even for a moment. Every one is driven to action by qualities of nature under the power of the Lord who is the absolute controller of universe.
3-5
He, who restraining the organs of action keeps on contemplating the objects of senses inwardly, is entirely deluded and is rightly described a hypocrite.
3-6
But, O Arjuna, he who controlling the sense by the mind employs the organs of action without attachment to their fruits is doubtless superior.
3-7
Therefore, perform the duties ordained, for action is better than non-action. Even the maintenance of the body would not be possible without some sort of action.
3-8
Any act performed except as the worship of the Lord leads to bondage, Therefore, O Kunti's son, perform the duties without desire, but only for His sake.
3-9
At the beginning of the world Brahma created human beings together with sacrifice and said "by means of this obtain your wishes and this will give you desired objects."
3-10
Propitiate the gods by this. They bestow every comfort on you. By such mutual service, you shall attain liberation.
3-11
Propitiated by sacrifices, the gods bestow on you the enjoyments you desire. He who enjoys these gifts bestowed by them without reciprocatory offering by way of repaying them and who appropriates them to him self is certainly a thief.
3-12
The righteous who partake the remains of the sacrifice are freed from all sins, but the impious who cook food just for their own selfish use, eat sin.
3-13
From food creatures come into being; from the sun through cloud and rain food is produced; from sacrifice comes forth the sun; sacrifice springs from duties enjoined on human beings. Duty has its origin in Brahman and Brahman is revealed by the vedas. Therefore, the all pervading Brahman is ever established in sacrifice. O Partha, he who does not discharge the duties enjoined on him in this world, and who does not fall in with the rotations of the wheel thus set in motion leads a life of sin addicted to sensual pleasures and lives in vain.
3-14,15,16
One who rejoices in Atman alone, is content with Atma alone and has his mind fixed in Atman alone has no other duty to perform.
3-17
For such a person, there is no purpose to be served by performance of duties enjoined, nor any sin results from failure to perform them. Nor in the entire range of creation, can there be anything that can serve him in any way.
3-18
Therefore perform the duties enjoined on you always without attachment. It is he who does work without attachment that attains liberation.
3-19
It is well known that Janaka and others attained the goal only by performing there duties, having an eye to welfare of the world, you should do the duty befitting you.
3-20
Whatsoever a great man does, others copy, whatever he sets up as authoritative, that the world follows.
3-21
O Partha, surely, there is nothing in the three worlds that should be done by me, nothing un-attained nor to be attained by me, Yet I am ever engaged in action.
3-22
O Partha, if I do not always continue unwearyingly to work, all men throughout the world would follow my example.
3-23
If I do not perform action, the worlds fall to pieces and I would be the author of confusion of castes and world in effect be destroying the creatures.
3-24
Just as the ignorant perform duties attached to the fruits, O Bharata, so also the learned, free from attachment, should act setting an example to others by way of promoting the welfare of the world.
3-25
The wise men should not disturb the minds of the ignorant attached to action; but he should with devotion to me, perform the said duties and make offers agreeably and like wise cause others to do the same.
3-26
Ignorant man, deluded by egoism, fancies himself to be the doer in respect of all actions brought about (1)by the supreme Lord, His will and wisdom (2) in accordance with the inherent nature of their souls and (3) by the impact of qualities of nature known as Satva, Rajas and Tamas.
3-27
But O Mighty armed, he who knows the truth relating to the distinctions and details of qualities and their functions is not attached, understanding as he does that senses act upon their objects.
3-28
Confused by the qualities of Satva, Rajas and Thamas, having the false notion of agency the ignorant become attached to sense objects and work. He who has perfect knowledge should not try to divert the course of those foolish beings of little understanding.
3-29
With the mind full of devotion to me, dedicating all works to me, plunge into battle freed from desires, egoism and fever of anxiety.
3-30
Those, who full of faith and free from evil, follow for ever this teaching of mine, are released from the bondage of karma.
3-31
But those, who ridicule my teaching and fail to act up to it, know them to be devoid of all sense and ignorant of what ought to be known and therefore destined to ruin.
3-32
Even the man of knowledge acts in conformity to his own accumulated deeds and their effects. All beings thus automatically follow their own nature. What can control of mind do ?
3-33
In respect to the specific objects of different senses, likes and dislikes necessarily rise up; let no one come under their sway; for they surely are his enemies.
3-34
Of greater merit is one's own duty however imperfectly done, than the dharma of another performed to perfection. Worthy is death in the discharge of one's own duty; the duty of another is fought with fear.
3-35
Arjuna said:
Then, O Krishna, what is it which impels one to commit sin even against his will, as if driven by force ?
3-36
Sri Bhagavan said:
It is desire, it is wrath, born of Rajoguna, all-consuming and most sinful. Know each to be the enemy here.
3-37
As fire is enveloped by smoke, as mirror is covered by dirt, as an embryo is wrapped by the amnion, so this knowledge is enveloped by desire.
3-38
The knowledge of the learned, O Kunti's son, is enveloped by this eternal enemy in the form of desire, that is insatiable and limitless.
3-39
The senses, mind and reason, are described to be its abode; by these, it deludes, the soul by clouding his knowledge.
3-40
Therefore, O best of Bharatas, having controlled the senses first, kill the sinful desire, which destroys knowledge and wisdom.
3-41
It is said that senses are superior to the body; higher than the senses rank the mind; higher than the mind stands intelligence; but what is more exalted than Intelligence is he, the Supreme Lord.
3-42
Understanding him, who is more exalted than Intelligence in this order, and restraining the mind by means of wisdom, O mighty armed one, vanquish the enemy called desire hard to beat.
3-43
Thus ends the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita entitled "Karma Yoga" ( the Yoga of Action).
