The Undying Selfसांख्ययोग

तं तथा कृपयाऽविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम्।
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः॥

taṁ tathā kṛpayā ‘viṣṭam aśru-pūrṇākulekṣaṇam,
viṣīdantam idaṁ vākyam uvāca madhusūdanaḥ.

To Arjuna, overcome with pity, his eyes troubled and full of tears, sinking in despair, Madhusudana spoke these words.

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम्।
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन॥

kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṁ viṣame samupasthitam,
anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam akīrti-karam arjuna.

Where has this dejection come from, O Arjuna, to seize you in this hour of crisis? It is unworthy of the noble, it does not lead to heaven, and it brings disgrace.

क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप॥

klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayy upapadyate,
kṣudraṁ hṛdaya-daurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapa.

Do not give in to this loss of nerve, O Partha; it does not suit you. Cast off this petty weakness of heart and stand up.

Live it todayWhen your heart wavers, set the small fear down and stand up.

कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन॥

kathaṁ bhīṣmam ahaṁ saṁkhye droṇaṁ ca madhusūdana,
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāv ari-sūdana.

How can I fight Bhishma and Drona with arrows in battle, O Madhusudana? They are worthy of my worship.

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्
श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके।
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान्॥

gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke,
hatvārtha-kāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān.

It would be better to live in this world even by begging than to kill these noble teachers of mine. If I kill my teachers, even though they seek worldly gain, every pleasure I enjoy here will be stained with blood.

न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः।
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम-
स्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः॥

na caitad vidmaḥ kataran no garīyo
yad vā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ,
yān eva hatvā na jijīviṣāma-
ste ‘vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ.

Nor do we know which is better for us, that we conquer them or that they conquer us. The sons of Dhritarashtra stand before us, and after killing them we would not even wish to live.

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसंमूढचेताः।
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम्॥

kārpaṇya-doṣopahata-svabhāvaḥ
pṛcchāmi tvāṁ dharma-saṁmūḍha-cetāḥ,
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṁ brūhi tan me
śiṣyas te ‘haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam.

My very nature is overcome by weakness and pity, and my mind is confused about what is right. I ask you: tell me for certain what is best for me. I am your disciple and have taken refuge in you; teach me.

Live it todayWhen you cannot see the right path, ask humbly and truly listen.

न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्या-
द्यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्।
अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धम्
राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम्॥

na hi prapaśyāmi mamāpanudyā-
d yac chokam ucchoṣaṇam indriyāṇām,
avāpya bhūmāv asapatnam ṛddham
rājyaṁ surāṇām api cādhipatyam.

I see nothing that could drive away this grief that is drying up my senses, not even an unchallenged and prosperous kingdom on earth, nor rule over the gods themselves.

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप।
न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह॥

evam uktvā hṛṣīkeśaṁ guḍākeśaḥ parantapa,
na yotsya iti govindam uktvā tūṣṇīṁ babhūva ha.

Having spoken thus to Krishna, O King, Arjuna, the conqueror of sleep, said to him: I will not fight. Then he fell silent.

तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः॥

tam uvāca hṛṣīkeśaḥ prahasann iva bhārata,
senayor ubhayor madhye viṣīdantam idaṁ vacaḥ.

Then, O King, there between the two armies, Hrishikesha, as if smiling, spoke these words to the grieving Arjuna.

अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः॥

aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase,
gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ.

You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, and yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise mourn neither for the living nor for the dead.

Live it todayGrief is honest, but it is not the whole truth of what has happened.

न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः।
न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम्॥

na tv evāhaṁ jātu nāsaṁ na tvaṁ neme janādhipāḥ,
na caiva na bhaviṣyāmaḥ sarve vayam ataḥ param.

Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these kings. Nor will there ever be a time hereafter when any of us shall cease to be.

Live it todayNo one you love ever truly stops being.

देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति॥

dehino ‘smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā,
tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati.

As the embodied soul passes in this body through childhood, youth and age, so it passes to another body. The wise are not deluded by this.

Live it todayChange is the body’s nature; the self within is untouched.

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥

mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ,
āgamāpāyino ‘nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata.

The contacts of the senses with their objects give cold and heat, pleasure and pain. They come and go and are impermanent. Endure them patiently, O Arjuna.

Live it todayComfort and discomfort both pass; stay patient.

यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ।
समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते॥

yaṁ hi na vyathayanty ete puruṣaṁ puruṣarṣabha,
sama-duḥkha-sukhaṁ dhīraṁ so ‘mṛtatvāya kalpate.

The steady person who is not shaken by these passing experiences, O best of men, who stays the same in pain and pleasure, is fit for immortality.

Live it todayBe the same person on easy days and hard ones.

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः।
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः॥

nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ,
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo ‘ntas tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ.

The unreal has no being; the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have seen the conclusion of both.

Live it todayWhat is passing was never yours; what is real cannot be lost.

अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित् कर्तुमर्हति॥

avināśi tu tad viddhi yena sarvam idaṁ tatam,
vināśam avyayasyāsya na kaścit kartum arhati.

Know that what pervades this whole world is indestructible. No one can bring about the destruction of that which is imperishable.

Live it todaySomething in you lies beyond the reach of any loss.

अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः।
अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत॥

antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ,
anāśino ‘prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata.

These bodies are said to come to an end, but the embodied Self within them is eternal, indestructible and beyond measure. Therefore fight, O Arjuna.

य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम्।
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते॥

ya enaṁ vetti hantāraṁ yaś cainaṁ manyate hatam,
ubhau tau na vijānīto nāyaṁ hanti na hanyate.

One who thinks this Self is a slayer, and one who thinks it is slain, both fail to understand. It neither slays nor is slain.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि-
न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ,
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre.

The soul is never born and never dies. It has not come to be, nor will it cease to be. Unborn, eternal, ever-existing, ancient, it is not slain when the body is slain.

Live it todayWhat you truly are cannot be harmed or lost.

वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम्।
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम्॥

vedāvināśinaṁ nityaṁ ya enam ajam avyayam,
kathaṁ sa puruṣaḥ pārtha kaṁ ghātayati hanti kam.

One who knows this Self to be indestructible, eternal, unborn and unchanging, O Partha, how could that person kill anyone, or cause anyone to be killed?

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही॥

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya
navāni gṛhṇāti naro ‘parāṇi,
tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny
anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī.

As a person casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the embodied soul casts off worn-out bodies and enters new ones.

Live it todayEndings make room for beginnings; do not fear them.

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥

nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ,
na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ.

Weapons cannot cut the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot dry it.

Live it todayThe spirit in you is beyond every wound.

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च।
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः॥

acchedyo ‘yam adāhyo ‘yam akledyo ‘śoṣya eva ca,
nityaḥ sarva-gataḥ sthāṇur acalo ‘yaṁ sanātanaḥ.

This Self cannot be cut, cannot be burned, cannot be wetted or dried. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, unmoving and timeless.

Live it todayBeneath every storm in you is a stillness that does not move.

अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते।
तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि॥

avyakto ‘yam acintyo ‘yam avikāryo ‘yam ucyate,
tasmād evaṁ viditvainaṁ nānuśocitum arhasi.

The Self is said to be unmanifest, beyond thought and unchanging. Knowing it to be so, you should not grieve.

Live it todayWhen much is changing, lean on what never changes.

अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम्।
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि॥

atha cainaṁ nitya-jātaṁ nityaṁ vā manyase mṛtam,
tathāpi tvaṁ mahābāho naivaṁ śocitum arhasi.

And even if you think the Self is constantly born and constantly dies, even then, O mighty-armed one, you should not grieve like this.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥

jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca,
tasmād aparihārye ‘rthe na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi.

For one who is born, death is certain, and for one who dies, birth is certain. You should not grieve over what cannot be avoided.

Live it todaySpend your strength on what can change, not on what cannot.

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत।
अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना॥

avyaktādīni bhūtāni vyakta-madhyāni bhārata,
avyakta-nidhanāny eva tatra kā paridevanā.

All beings are unmanifest before birth, manifest in between, and unmanifest again at death, O Arjuna. Why then lament?

Live it todayLife rises from the unseen and returns there; let that soften your grief.

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन-
माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः।
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित्॥

āścaryavat paśyati kaścid ena-
m āścaryavad vadati tathaiva cānyaḥ,
āścaryavac cainam anyaḥ śṛṇoti
śrutvāpy enaṁ veda na caiva kaścit.

One sees the Self as a wonder, another speaks of it as a wonder, and another hears of it as a wonder. Yet even after hearing, no one truly knows it.

Live it todayStay in wonder at the mystery within you; it is never fully known.

देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत।
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥

dehī nityam avadhyo ‘yaṁ dehe sarvasya bhārata,
tasmāt sarvāṇi bhūtāni na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi.

The Self that dwells in every body is eternal and can never be slain, O Arjuna. Therefore you should not grieve for any being.

Live it todayGrief may come, but the Self in every being is forever safe.

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥

svadharmam api cāvekṣya na vikampitum arhasi,
dharmyād dhi yuddhāc chreyo ‘nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate.

Considering your own dharma as well, you should not waver. For a kshatriya, a warrior, there is nothing better than a battle fought for what is right.

Live it todayKnow your own duty, and do not waver when it turns hard.

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्॥

yadṛcchayā copapannaṁ svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam,
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśam.

Fortunate are the kshatriyas, O Partha, who meet such a battle, which has come of its own accord and is an open door to heaven.

अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि।
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि॥

atha cet tvam imaṁ dharmyaṁ saṁgrāmaṁ na kariṣyasi,
tataḥ svadharmaṁ kīrtiṁ ca hitvā pāpam avāpsyasi.

But if you will not fight this righteous battle, then, having abandoned your own dharma and your good name, you will incur sin.

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम्।
संभावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते॥

akīrtiṁ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te ‘vyayām,
saṁbhāvitasya cākīrtir maraṇād atiricyate.

People will speak of your disgrace for all time, and for one who has been respected, disgrace is worse than death.

भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्॥

bhayād raṇād uparataṁ maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ,
yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahu-mato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam.

The great chariot warriors will think you withdrew from battle out of fear, and those who held you in high regard will think little of you.

अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून् वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम्॥

avācya-vādāṁś ca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ,
nindantas tava sāmarthyaṁ tato duḥkhataraṁ nu kim.

Your enemies will say many things that should never be said, mocking your strength. What could be more painful than that?

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः॥

hato vā prāpsyasi svargaṁ jitvā vā bhokṣyase mahīm,
tasmād uttiṣṭha kaunteya yuddhāya kṛta-niścayaḥ.

If you are slain, you will gain heaven; if you win, you will enjoy the earth. So rise, O son of Kunti, resolved to fight.

Live it todayOnce the choice is clear, rise and act with your whole resolve.

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥

sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau,
tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi.

Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, engage in your battle. Thus you will not incur sin.

Live it todayFight your battle without needing it to feel good.

एषा तेऽभिहिता सांख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु।
बुद्ध्यायुक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि॥

eṣā te ‘bhihitā sāṁkhye buddhir yoge tv imāṁ śṛṇu,
buddhyā yukto yayā pārtha karma-bandhaṁ prahāsyasi.

What I have told you so far is the wisdom of Sankhya. Now hear the same understanding as yoga, O Partha; joined with it, you will cast off the bondage of karma.

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात्॥

nehābhikrama-nāśo ‘sti pratyavāyo na vidyate,
svalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt.

On this path no effort is ever lost and no harm ever comes of it. Even a little of this practice protects one from great fear.

Live it todayEven a small step on a good path is never wasted.

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन।
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम्॥

vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana,
bahu-śākhā hy anantāś ca buddhayo ‘vyavasāyinām.

On this path the resolute mind is single and focused, O Arjuna, but the thoughts of the irresolute branch out endlessly in every direction.

Live it todayChoose one clear aim; a scattered mind only tires itself out.

यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः।
वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः॥

yām imāṁ puṣpitāṁ vācaṁ pravadanty avipaścitaḥ,
veda-vāda-ratāḥ pārtha nānyad astīti vādinaḥ.

Those who lack discernment speak flowery words, O Partha. They delight in the letter of the Vedas and declare that there is nothing beyond it.

कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम्।
क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति॥

kāmātmānaḥ svarga-parā janma-karma-phala-pradām,
kriyā-viśeṣa-bahulāṁ bhogaiśvarya-gatiṁ prati.

Driven by desire and with heaven as their highest goal, they praise many elaborate rites aimed at pleasure and power, which yield rebirth as the fruit of action.

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम्।
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते॥

bhogaiśvarya-prasaktānāṁ tayāpahṛta-cetasām,
vyavasāyātmikā buddhiḥ samādhau na vidhīyate.

Those who cling to pleasure and power, their minds carried away by such talk, do not gain the resolute understanding that rests in samadhi.

Live it todayChasing comfort and status steals the focus you need most.

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान्॥

traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna,
nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-kṣema ātmavān.

The Vedas deal with the three gunas; rise above the three gunas, O Arjuna. Be free of the pairs of opposites, ever rooted in purity, unconcerned with getting and keeping, and established in the Self.

Live it todayDo not spend your life only getting and guarding; rest in yourself.

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके।
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः॥

yāvān artha udapāne sarvataḥ saṁplutodake,
tāvān sarveṣu vedeṣu brāhmaṇasya vijānataḥ.

As much use as a small well has when water floods everywhere, so much use have all the Vedas for the brahmana who truly knows.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana,
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ‘stv akarmaṇi.

You have a right to your action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruit of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.

Live it todayDo today’s work with full care, and release the outcome.

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya,
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga ucyate.

Established in yoga, do your work, giving up attachment, O Arjuna, even-minded in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga.

Live it todayMeet success and setback with the same steady heart.

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय।
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः॥

dūreṇa hy avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya,
buddhau śaraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ.

Action done for its rewards is far below action guided by an even, wise mind, O Arjuna. Take refuge in that wisdom; those who act for the fruit are to be pitied.

Live it todayLet clear understanding, not hunger for results, guide what you do.

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्॥

buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte,
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam.

One united in wisdom casts off both good and bad deeds here. Therefore devote yourself to yoga. Yoga is skill in action.

Live it todayDoing your work with a calm mind is itself the practice.

कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः।
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम्॥

karmajaṁ buddhi-yuktā hi phalaṁ tyaktvā manīṣiṇaḥ,
janma-bandha-vinirmuktāḥ padaṁ gacchanty anāmayam.

The wise, united in this evenness of mind, give up the fruits born of action. Freed from the bondage of birth, they reach the state beyond all sorrow.

Live it todayLoosening your grip on the reward is where freedom begins.

यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति।
तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च॥

yadā te moha-kalilaṁ buddhir vyatitariṣyati,
tadā gantāsi nirvedaṁ śrotavyasya śrutasya ca.

When your understanding crosses beyond the thicket of delusion, you will grow indifferent to all you have heard and all that is yet to be heard.

Live it todayWhen clarity comes from within, the noise of opinions falls quiet.

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला।
समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि॥

śruti-vipratipannā te yadā sthāsyati niścalā,
samādhāv acalā buddhis tadā yogam avāpsyasi.

When your understanding, now unsettled by conflicting teachings, stands firm and unmoving in samadhi, then you will attain yoga.

Live it todayLet many voices settle into one quiet, steady knowing.

स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव।
स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम्॥

sthita-prajñasya kā bhāṣā samādhi-sthasya keśava,
sthita-dhīḥ kiṁ prabhāṣeta kim āsīta vrajeta kim.

O Keshava, what marks the person of steady wisdom, one who is absorbed in samadhi? How does such a person speak, how do they sit, and how do they walk?

प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान्।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते॥

prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān,
ātmany evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate.

When a person gives up every desire that rises in the mind, O Partha, and is content in the Self, through the Self alone, that person is called one of steady wisdom.

Live it todayContentment found within does not depend on what you get.

दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥

duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ,
vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir ucyate.

One whose mind is undisturbed in sorrow and without craving in pleasure, free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.

Live it todaySteadiness is not feeling less, it is being moved less.

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥

yaḥ sarvatrānabhisnehas tat tat prāpya śubhāśubham,
nābhinandati na dveṣṭi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā.

One who is free of clinging everywhere, who neither rejoices when good comes nor resents it when bad comes, is firm in wisdom.

Live it todayTake the good without clinging and the bad without bitterness.

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥

yadā saṁharate cāyaṁ kūrmo ‘ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ,
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā.

When one draws the senses back from their objects on every side, as a tortoise draws in its limbs, that person’s wisdom is firmly established.

Live it todayLike the tortoise, learn to draw back from what distracts you.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः।
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते॥

viṣayā vinivartante nirāhārasya dehinaḥ,
rasa-varjaṁ raso ‘py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate.

When a person stops feeding the senses, their objects fall away, but the longing for them remains. Even that longing ceases once the Highest is seen.

Live it todayRestraint holds a craving back; a higher vision lets it go.

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः॥

yatato hy api kaunteya puruṣasya vipaścitaḥ,
indriyāṇi pramāthīni haranti prasabhaṁ manaḥ.

Even for a wise person who keeps striving, O son of Kunti, the turbulent senses forcibly carry the mind away.

Live it todayEven the wise must keep watch; the senses pull hard.

तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः।
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥

tāni sarvāṇi saṁyamya yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ,
vaśe hi yasyendriyāṇi tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā.

Restraining all the senses, one should sit in yoga, intent on Me. For one whose senses are under control, wisdom is firmly established.

Live it todayGather your scattered senses and turn your heart toward the Divine.

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥

dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate,
saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ‘bhijāyate.

Dwelling on the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment to them. From attachment springs desire, and from desire arises anger.

Live it todayWatch where the mind lingers; that is where craving grows.

क्रोधाद्भवति संमोहः संमोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति॥

krodhād bhavati saṁmohaḥ saṁmohāt smṛti-vibhramaḥ,
smṛti-bhraṁśād buddhi-nāśo buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati.

From anger comes delusion, from delusion a confused memory, from a confused memory the loss of reason, and with the loss of reason a person is ruined.

Live it todayPause before anger speaks; it clouds the mind before it does harm.

रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन्।
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति॥

rāga-dveṣa-viyuktais tu viṣayān indriyaiś caran,
ātma-vaśyair vidheyātmā prasādam adhigacchati.

But one who is self-disciplined, moving among the objects of the senses with senses free of attraction and aversion and under control, attains serenity.

Live it todayLive fully in the world without being pushed by likes and dislikes.

प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते।
प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते॥

prasāde sarva-duḥkhānāṁ hānir asyopajāyate,
prasanna-cetaso hy āśu buddhiḥ paryavatiṣṭhate.

In that serenity all sorrows come to an end. For one whose heart is serene, understanding soon becomes firmly steady.

Live it todayA calm heart is the soil where clear thinking grows.

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना।
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम्॥

nāsti buddhir ayuktasya na cāyuktasya bhāvanā,
na cābhāvayataḥ śāntir aśāntasya kutaḥ sukham.

One who is not disciplined has no steady understanding and no deep contemplation. Without contemplation there is no peace, and without peace, where is happiness?

Live it todayMake room for quiet each day; peace comes before happiness.

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते।
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि॥

indriyāṇāṁ hi caratāṁ yan mano ‘nuvidhīyate,
tad asya harati prajñāṁ vāyur nāvam ivāmbhasi.

When the mind runs after the roaming senses, it carries away one’s wisdom, as the wind carries away a boat on the water.

Live it todayDo not let every passing pull steer your boat.

तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता॥

tasmād yasya mahābāho nigṛhītāni sarvaśaḥ,
indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā.

Therefore, O mighty-armed one, the person whose senses are fully held back from their objects has wisdom that is firmly established.

या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी।
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः॥

yā niśā sarva-bhūtānāṁ tasyāṁ jāgarti saṁyamī,
yasyāṁ jāgrati bhūtāni sā niśā paśyato muneḥ.

What is night for all beings is where the self-controlled one stays awake; and what all beings are awake to is night for the sage who truly sees.

Live it todayStay awake to what the busy world sleeps through.

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥

āpūryamāṇam acala-pratiṣṭhaṁ
samudram āpaḥ praviśanti yadvat,
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśanti sarve
sa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī.

As waters flow into the ocean which, though ever filling, stays still, so the one whom all desires enter attains peace, not the one who runs after desires.

Live it todayLet wants pass through you without pulling you off course.

विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति॥

vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān pumāṁś carati niḥspṛhaḥ,
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sa śāntim adhigacchati.

The one who gives up all desires and moves free of longing, without the sense of mine and without ego, attains peace.

Live it todayPeace arrives when the wanting quiets, not when the getting finishes.

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति।
स्थित्वाऽस्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति॥

eṣā brāhmī sthitiḥ pārtha naināṁ prāpya vimuhyati,
sthitvā ‘syām anta-kāle ‘pi brahma-nirvāṇam ṛcchati.

This is the state of Brahman, O Partha. Having reached it, one is never deluded again. Abiding in it even at the hour of death, one attains brahma-nirvana, the peace of Brahman.

Live it todaySteadiness built day by day becomes the peace you carry at the end.