Knowledge and Actionज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग

इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्।
विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्॥

imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam,
vivasvān manave prāha manur ikṣvākave ‘bravīt.

I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan, the sun god. Vivasvan passed it on to Manu, and Manu taught it to Ikshvaku.

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः।
स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप॥

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ,
sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa.

Handed down in this way from one to the next, it was known to the royal sages. But over a long span of time, O scorcher of foes, this yoga was lost to the world.

स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः।
भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम्॥

sa evāyaṁ mayā te ‘dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ,
bhakto ‘si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṁ hy etad uttamam.

That same ancient yoga I have taught to you today, for you are my devotee and my friend. This is the highest secret.

Live it todayThe deepest truths open to those who come as devotee and friend.

अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः।
कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति॥

aparaṁ bhavato janma paraṁ janma vivasvataḥ,
katham etad vijānīyāṁ tvam ādau proktavān iti.

Your birth came later, and the birth of Vivasvan long before. How am I to understand that you taught this in the beginning?

बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन।
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप॥

bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna,
tāny ahaṁ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṁ vettha parantapa.

Many births of mine have passed, and many of yours, O Arjuna. I know them all, but you do not know them.

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्।
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया॥

ajo ‘pi sann avyayātmā bhūtānām īśvaro ‘pi san,
prakṛtiṁ svām adhiṣṭhāya saṁbhavāmy ātma-māyayā.

Though I am unborn and my being is imperishable, though I am the Lord of all beings, I come into being by governing my own nature, through my own divine power.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata,
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham.

Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, O Bharata, then I manifest myself.

Live it todayWhen darkness rises, so does the light to meet it.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām,
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.

To protect the good, to destroy the wicked, and to establish dharma, I am born in every age.

Live it todayGoodness is never left without protection.

जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः।
त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन॥

janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ,
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma naiti mām eti so ‘rjuna.

One who truly understands my divine birth and actions, O Arjuna, is not born again on leaving the body, but comes to me.

वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः॥

vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhā man-mayā mām upāśritāḥ,
bahavo jñāna-tapasā pūtā mad-bhāvam āgatāḥ.

Free from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in me and taking refuge in me, many have been purified by the austerity of knowledge and have come to my own state of being.

Live it todayLet go of craving, fear and anger, and take refuge in God.

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥

ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham,
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ.

In whatever way people approach me, so do I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to me.

Live it todayHowever you come, you are received; there is no wrong door.

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा॥

kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṁ siddhiṁ yajanta iha devatāḥ,
kṣipraṁ hi mānuṣe loke siddhir bhavati karma-jā.

Those who want their actions to succeed worship the gods here, for in the human world, success born of action comes quickly.

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः।
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्॥

cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ,
tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhy akartāram avyayam.

The fourfold order of varnas was created by me, according to the division of qualities (gunas) and actions. Though I am its maker, know me to be the non-doer, the unchanging.

न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा।
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते॥

na māṁ karmāṇi limpanti na me karma-phale spṛhā,
iti māṁ yo ‘bhijānāti karmabhir na sa badhyate.

Actions do not stain me, and I have no longing for their fruits. One who knows me in this way is not bound by actions.

Live it todayWork without craving the result, and the work cannot bind you.

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः।
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्॥

evaṁ jñātvā kṛtaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣubhiḥ,
kuru karmaiva tasmāt tvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṁ kṛtam.

Knowing this, the seekers of freedom in ancient times also performed action. So you too should act, just as those before you did long ago.

Live it todayWalk the tested path of those who sought freedom before you.

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः।
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्॥

kiṁ karma kim akarmeti kavayo ‘py atra mohitāḥ,
tat te karma pravakṣyāmi yaj jñātvā mokṣyase ‘śubhāt.

What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. I will explain action to you, and knowing it, you will be freed from evil.

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः॥

karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ ca vikarmaṇaḥ,
akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ.

One must understand what action is, what wrong action is, and what inaction is. The way of action is deep and hard to grasp.

Live it todayPause before you act; the right choice is rarely as simple as it looks.

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्॥

karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyed akarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ,
sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt.

One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people. Such a person is a true yogi, even while doing every kind of work.

Live it todayStay still within while busy, and awake within while still.

यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः।
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः॥

yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ,
jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ.

One whose every undertaking is free from desire and selfish intent, and whose actions are burnt in the fire of knowledge, is called wise by the wise.

Live it todayBegin each task without a hidden want behind it.

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः।
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः॥

tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ,
karmaṇy abhipravṛtto ‘pi naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ.

Having given up attachment to the fruits of action, ever content and dependent on nothing, such a person does nothing at all, even while fully engaged in action.

Live it todayStay busy outside and content inside; that is true freedom.

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः।
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्॥

nirāśīr yata-cittātmā tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ,
śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam.

Free from expectation, with mind and body under control, having let go of all possessiveness, one who acts only with the body incurs no sin.

Live it todayHold your work and your things loosely, and expect nothing back.

यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः।
समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते॥

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ,
samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate.

Content with whatever comes on its own, beyond the pairs of opposites, free from envy, and even-minded in success and failure, such a person is not bound even while acting.

Live it todayTake what comes gladly, and meet success and failure with the same calm.

गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः।
यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते॥

gata-saṅgasya muktasya jñānāvasthita-cetasaḥ,
yajñāyācarataḥ karma samagraṁ pravilīyate.

For one who is free from attachment and liberated, whose mind is rooted in knowledge, and who acts only as an offering, all action melts away completely.

Live it todayWhen work becomes an offering, nothing of it clings to you.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥

brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma-havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam,
brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā.

The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, poured by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman. One who is absorbed in Brahman in every act reaches Brahman alone.

Live it todaySee the sacred in every act, even in a simple meal.

दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते।
ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति॥

daivam evāpare yajñaṁ yoginaḥ paryupāsate,
brahmāgnāv apare yajñaṁ yajñenaivopajuhvati.

Some yogis make their offering as worship of the gods. Others, into the fire of Brahman, offer the offering itself by means of the offering.

श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति।
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति॥

śrotrādīnīndriyāṇy anye saṁyamāgniṣu juhvati,
śabdādīn viṣayān anya indriyāgniṣu juhvati.

Some offer hearing and the other senses into the fires of restraint. Others offer sound and the other objects of the senses into the fires of the senses.

सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे।
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते॥

sarvāṇīndriya-karmāṇi prāṇa-karmāṇi cāpare,
ātma-saṁyama-yogāgnau juhvati jñāna-dīpite.

Others offer all the workings of the senses and of the life breath into the fire of the yoga of self-control, kindled by knowledge.

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे।
स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः॥

dravya-yajñās tapo-yajñā yoga-yajñās tathāpare,
svādhyāya-jñāna-yajñāś ca yatayaḥ saṁśita-vratāḥ.

Some make their offering with wealth, some with austerity, some with the practice of yoga, while others, disciplined and firm in their vows, offer the study of scripture and knowledge.

Live it todayThere are many ways to offer; find yours and give it sincerely.

अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे।
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः॥

apāne juhvati prāṇaṁ prāṇe ‘pānaṁ tathā ‘pare,
prāṇāpāna-gatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāma-parāyaṇāḥ.

Others, devoted to breath control, offer prana into apana and apana into prana, the two currents of breath, and restrain the movement of both.

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति।
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः॥

apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇān prāṇeṣu juhvati,
sarve ‘py ete yajña-vido yajña-kṣapita-kalmaṣāḥ.

Others, regulating their food, offer the life breaths into the life breaths. All of these know the meaning of yajna, and through yajna their impurities are washed away.

Live it todayEating with restraint is itself a kind of offering.

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्।
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम॥

yajña-śiṣṭāmṛta-bhujo yānti brahma sanātanam,
nāyaṁ loko ‘sty ayajñasya kuto ‘nyaḥ kuru-sattama.

Those who partake of the nectar left over from yajna reach the eternal Brahman. Even this world is not for one who makes no offering; how then the next, O best of the Kurus?

Live it todayLet some part of each day be an offering, not only a taking.

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे।
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे॥

evaṁ bahu-vidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe,
karma-jān viddhi tān sarvān evaṁ jñātvā vimokṣyase.

Many such forms of yajna are set out in the Vedas. Know them all to be born of action; knowing this, you will be set free.

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते॥

śreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ parantapa,
sarvaṁ karmākhilaṁ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate.

The offering of knowledge is greater than any offering of material things, O scorcher of foes. All action, without exception, finds its fulfilment in knowledge.

Live it todayUnderstanding is a richer offering than anything money can buy.

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः॥

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā,
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ.

Learn that truth by bowing humbly, by sincere questioning, and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will teach you this knowledge.

Live it todayLearn with humility: bow, ask honest questions, and serve.

यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव।
येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि॥

yaj jñātvā na punar moham evaṁ yāsyasi pāṇḍava,
yena bhūtāny aśeṣeṇa drakṣyasy ātmany atho mayi.

Knowing this, O son of Pandu, you will not fall into such confusion again. Through it you will see all beings, without exception, in your own Self, and then in me.

Live it todaySee yourself in every being, and every being in the Divine.

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः।
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि॥

api ced asi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛt-tamaḥ,
sarvaṁ jñāna-plavenaiva vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi.

Even if you were the worst of all wrongdoers, you would cross over every sin by the boat of knowledge alone.

Live it todayNo past is too heavy for true understanding to carry you across.

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा॥

yathaidhāṁsi samiddho ‘gnir bhasma-sāt kurute ‘rjuna,
jñānāgniḥ sarva-karmāṇi bhasma-sāt kurute tathā.

As a blazing fire turns firewood to ash, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all actions to ash.

Live it todayLet clear seeing burn away what you keep carrying from the past.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति॥

na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitram iha vidyate,
tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati.

There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One perfected in yoga finds it within the self in time.

Live it todayTrue understanding cleanses more than any ritual.

श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति॥

śraddhāvāl labhate jñānaṁ tat-paraḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ,
jñānaṁ labdhvā parāṁ śāntim acireṇādhigacchati.

One who has faith, is devoted to it and has mastered the senses, gains knowledge; and having gained it, quickly attains supreme peace.

Live it todayFaith is not the opposite of understanding, it is the door to it.

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति।
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः॥

ajñaś cāśraddadhānaś ca saṁśayātmā vinaśyati,
nāyaṁ loko ‘sti na paro na sukhaṁ saṁśayātmanaḥ.

One who lacks knowledge and faith, and whose mind is full of doubt, is lost. For the doubting mind there is neither this world, nor the next, nor any happiness.

Live it todayEndless doubt steals every joy; trust something enough to begin.

योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्।
आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय॥

yoga-saṁnyasta-karmāṇaṁ jñāna-saṁchinna-saṁśayam,
ātmavantaṁ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya.

Actions do not bind one who has renounced action through yoga, whose doubts are cut away by knowledge, and who is centered in the Self, O Dhananjaya.

Live it todayOnce doubt is cleared and you are centered, work stops binding you.

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः।
छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत॥

tasmād ajñāna-saṁbhūtaṁ hṛt-sthaṁ jñānāsinā ‘ ‘tmanaḥ,
chittvainaṁ saṁśayaṁ yogam ātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata.

So, with the sword of knowledge, cut through this doubt in your heart, born of ignorance. Take your stand in yoga, and rise, O Bharata.

Live it todayCut through the doubt in your heart, then get up and act.