The Yoga of Action

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

Arjuna said: O Janardana, if You consider knowledge superior to action, why then do You ask me to engage in this terrible war, O Keshava?

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

My intellect is confused by Your ambiguous words. Tell me decisively that one path by which I can attain the highest good.

श्रीभगवानुवाच। लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ। ज्ञानयोगेन साङ्ख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्॥

The Supreme Lord said: O sinless one, I have previously explained two paths for the world — the path of knowledge for the contemplative and the path of action for the active.

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते। न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति॥

Not by merely abstaining from action does one attain freedom from karma, nor does one attain perfection by mere renunciation.

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

Indeed, no one can remain without action even for a moment. Everyone is driven to act helplessly by the qualities born of material nature.

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

One who restrains the organs of action but mentally dwells on sense objects is deluded and is called a hypocrite.

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन। कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते॥

But one who controls the senses with the mind, O Arjuna, and engages the organs of action in karma yoga without attachment — such a person excels.

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

Perform your prescribed duties, for action is superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible through inaction.

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः। तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर॥

Work done as a sacrifice for the Supreme frees one from bondage. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties for His sake, free from attachment.

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः। अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्॥

In the beginning, the Creator created humanity together with sacrifice and said: By this shall you prosper; may this fulfill all your desires.

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ॥

Nourish the gods with sacrifice, and the gods will nourish you. By nourishing one another, you will attain the supreme good.

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

Nourished by sacrifice, the gods will give you desired enjoyments. One who enjoys their gifts without giving back is verily a thief.

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

The righteous who eat the remnants of sacrifice are freed from all sins. But those who cook only for themselves eat only sin.

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः॥

All beings are sustained by food; food is produced by rain; rain comes from sacrifice; sacrifice is born of action.

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्। तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥

Know that prescribed duties arise from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading Brahman is eternally established in sacrifice.