The Path of Actionकर्मयोग

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव॥

jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana,
tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśava.

If you hold that understanding is higher than action, O Keshava, then why do you urge me into this terrible deed?

व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम्॥

vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva me,
tad ekaṁ vada niścitya yena śreyo ‘ham āpnuyām.

Your words seem mixed, and they seem to confuse my mind. Tell me with certainty the one way by which I may reach the highest good.

लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ।
ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्॥

loke ‘smin dvi-vidhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha,
jñāna-yogena sāṁkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām.

O sinless one, as I said before, there are two paths in this world: the path of knowledge for those given to contemplation, and the path of action for those given to yoga.

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति॥

na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo ‘śnute,
na ca saṁnyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigacchati.

No one reaches freedom from action simply by not starting any action, nor does anyone reach perfection by renouncing alone.

Live it todayAvoiding the work is not the same as rising above it.

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः॥

na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt,
kāryate hy avaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair guṇaiḥ.

No one can remain without acting, even for a moment. Everyone is driven to act, whether they wish it or not, by the qualities born of nature.

Live it todayYou will act anyway, so choose your actions with care.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते॥

karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya ya āste manasā smaran,
indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate.

One who holds back the organs of action but sits dwelling in the mind on the objects of the senses is deluded, and is called a hypocrite.

Live it todayOuter restraint means little while the mind keeps feasting.

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते॥

yas tv indriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ‘rjuna,
karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate.

But one who governs the senses with the mind, O Arjuna, and without attachment takes up the yoga of action through the organs of action, excels.

Live it todayLet your hands work fully while your heart stays free of clinging.

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः॥

niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ,
śarīra-yātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ.

Do your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible without action.

Live it todayDoing the small duty well beats waiting for the great one.

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर॥

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ‘nyatra loko ‘yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ,
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṁgaḥ samācara.

Except for work done as an offering, all work in this world binds. So, O son of Kunti, do your work as an offering, free from attachment.

Live it todayMake today’s work an offering, and it stops weighing on you.

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः।
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्॥

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ,
anena prasaviṣyadhvam eṣa vo ‘stv iṣṭa-kāma-dhuk.

In the beginning, Prajapati, the Creator, brought forth beings together with yajna, the sacred offering, and said: By this may you flourish; may it be your wish-fulfilling cow, granting all you desire.

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।
परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ॥

devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ,
parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha.

Nourish the gods with this offering, and let the gods nourish you. Nourishing one another, you will reach the highest good.

Live it todayLife is a circle of giving; keep your part of it moving.

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः॥

iṣṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ,
tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ.

Nourished by the offering, the gods will give you the enjoyments you desire. One who enjoys their gifts without offering anything back to them is nothing but a thief.

Live it todayBefore you enjoy what you were given, offer thanks for it.

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः।
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात्॥

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ,
bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā ye pacanty ātma-kāraṇāt.

The good, who eat what remains after the offering, are freed from all sins. But the wicked, who cook only for their own sake, eat sin itself.

Live it todayDo not cook for yourself alone; offer first, then eat.

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः॥

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ,
yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ.

Living beings come from food, and food comes from rain. Rain comes from yajna, the sacred offering, and yajna is born of action.

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्।
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥

karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣara-samudbhavam,
tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam.

Know that action arises from the Veda, and the Veda from the Imperishable. So the all-pervading Supreme is ever present in yajna.

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति॥

evaṁ pravartitaṁ cakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ,
aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati.

One who does not help turn the wheel thus set in motion, O Partha, lives a sinful life, delighting only in the senses; that person lives in vain.

Live it todayKeep your part of life’s cycle turning; living only for pleasure is empty.

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते॥

yas tv ātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛptaś ca mānavaḥ,
ātmany eva ca santuṣṭas tasya kāryaṁ na vidyate.

One who delights only in the Self, is fulfilled in the Self, and is content in the Self alone has nothing left that must be done.

Live it todayJoy found within leaves nothing to prove to the world.

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन।
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः॥

naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana,
na cāsya sarva-bhūteṣu kaścid artha-vyapāśrayaḥ.

Such a person has nothing to gain here from acting, and nothing to lose from not acting, and depends on no being for anything.

Live it todayNeeding nothing from anyone is a quiet kind of freedom.

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः॥

tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samācara,
asakto hy ācaran karma param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ.

Therefore, always perform your duty without attachment, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

Live it todayGive the work everything except your need for its result.

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि॥

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ,
loka-saṁgraham evāpi saṁpaśyan kartum arhasi.

King Janaka and others reached perfection through action alone. Even with an eye only to the welfare of the world, you should act.

Live it todayEven when you need nothing, keep working for the good of others.

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ,
sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate.

Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world pursues.

Live it todaySomeone is watching how you live; lead by example.

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि॥

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana,
nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva ca karmaṇi.

O Partha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, and nothing I lack that I need to gain. Yet I go on acting.

Live it todayKeep working with care even when you have nothing left to gain.

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥

yadi hy ahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ,
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ.

For if I ever failed to engage tirelessly in action, O Partha, people everywhere would follow my path in every way.

Live it todayYour effort, or your slackness, quietly teaches everyone around you.

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्।
सङ्करस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः॥

utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ced aham,
saṅkarasya ca kartā syām upahanyām imāḥ prajāḥ.

If I did not act, these worlds would fall into ruin. I would be the cause of confusion and disorder, and would destroy these beings.

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्॥

saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāṁso yathā kurvanti bhārata,
kuryād vidvāṁs tathāsaktaś cikīrṣur loka-saṁgraham.

As the unwise act with attachment to their work, O Bharata, so should the wise act, but without attachment, seeking the welfare of the world.

Live it todayWork as wholeheartedly as anyone, only without clinging, and for the good of all.

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन्॥

na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām,
joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran.

The wise should not unsettle the understanding of the unknowing who are attached to their work. Instead, acting well with a disciplined mind, they should lead others to take joy in all their work.

Live it todayDo not shake anyone’s footing; show a better way by doing it well.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते॥

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ,
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartā ‘ham iti manyate.

All actions are carried out entirely by the gunas, the qualities of nature. Yet one whose mind is clouded by ego thinks: I am the doer.

Live it todayMuch flows through you, not from you; hold the role of doer lightly.

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।
गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते॥

tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ,
guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate.

But one who knows the truth of how the gunas and their actions are distinct, O mighty-armed one, sees that it is only the gunas acting upon the gunas, and so does not become attached.

प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु।
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्॥

prakṛter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasu,
tān akṛtsna-vido mandān kṛtsna-vin na vicālayet.

Those deluded by the gunas of nature become attached to the workings of the gunas. One who sees the whole should not unsettle those slower ones who see only in part.

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः॥

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṁnyasyādhyātma-cetasā,
nirāśīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ.

Surrendering all your actions to me, with your mind resting on the Self, free from craving and from the sense of mine, fight, with your inner fever gone.

Live it todayOffer the outcome to God, and face your battle without inner fever.

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।
श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः॥

ye me matam idaṁ nityam anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ,
śraddhāvanto ‘nasūyanto mucyante te ‘pi karmabhiḥ.

Those who always follow this teaching of mine with faith and without finding fault are also freed from the bonds of action.

Live it todayPractice with faith rather than fault-finding, and the path opens.

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः॥

ye tv etad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam,
sarva-jñāna-vimūḍhāṁs tān viddhi naṣṭān acetasaḥ.

But those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it, know them to be confused in all knowledge, lost, and without discernment.

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति॥

sadṛśaṁ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api,
prakṛtiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣyati.

Even the wise act in keeping with their own nature. All beings follow their nature; what will forcing it achieve?

Live it todayMere suppression does not change your nature.

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ।
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ॥

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣau vyavasthitau,
tayor na vaśam āgacchet tau hy asya paripanthinau.

Each sense has its fixed attraction and aversion toward its objects. Do not come under their sway, for they are robbers on your path.

Live it todayNotice the pull of like and dislike, and do not let it steer you.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥

śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt,
sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ.

Better is one’s own duty, though imperfect, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another brings fear.

Live it todayWalk your own path, even imperfectly, rather than copy another’s.

अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः।
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः॥

atha kena prayukto ‘yaṁ pāpaṁ carati pūruṣaḥ,
anicchann api vārṣṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ.

Then what drives a person to sin, O Krishna, even unwillingly, as though compelled by force?

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः।
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम्॥

kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ,
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam.

It is desire, it is anger, born of rajas, the restless quality of nature. All-devouring and deeply sinful, know it to be the enemy here.

Live it todayWhen craving or anger rises, know it as the real opponent.

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्॥

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathā ‘ ‘darśo malena ca,
yatholbenāvṛto garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛtam.

As fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an unborn child by the womb, so is knowledge covered by desire.

Live it todayClear away the smoke of desire, and your inner light shows again.

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च॥

āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā,
kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca.

O son of Kunti, knowledge is clouded by this constant enemy of the wise: desire, a fire that is never satisfied.

Live it todayFeeding a craving never fills it; it only grows hungrier.

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्॥

indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣṭhānam ucyate,
etair vimohayaty eṣa jñānam āvṛtya dehinam.

The senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be its home. Through them it clouds knowledge and bewilders the embodied soul.

Live it todayKnow where craving hides: in your senses, your thoughts and your reasoning.

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम्॥

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau niyamya bharatarṣabha,
pāpmānaṁ prajahi hy enaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam.

Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first bring the senses under control, and then strike down this sinful thing that destroys knowledge and realization.

Live it todayStart with the senses; master small cravings before they grow.

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः॥

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ,
manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ.

The senses are said to be great; greater than the senses is the mind, greater than the mind is the intellect, and greater still than the intellect is the Self.

Live it todayYou are more than your senses, thoughts and reasoning; rest in that.

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना।
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम्॥

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā,
jahi śatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam.

So, knowing what lies beyond the intellect, steady yourself by the Self, O mighty-armed one, and slay this enemy in the form of desire, so hard to overcome.

Live it todayAnchor in your deeper Self, and desire loses its grip.