The Yoga of Knowledge and Action

श्रीभगवानुवाच। इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्। विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्॥

The Supreme Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan the sun-god, who taught it to Manu, who taught it to Ikshvaku.

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

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it that way. But in course of time, O Arjuna, it was lost.

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

That very ancient science is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee and friend. This is a supreme secret.

अर्जुन उवाच। अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः। कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति॥

Arjuna said: Your birth is recent, while Vivasvan's birth is ancient. How am I to understand that You taught this yoga in the beginning?

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

The Supreme Lord said: Many births have passed for you and for Me, O Arjuna. I know them all; you do not, O scorcher of foes.

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया॥

Although I am unborn, imperishable, and the Lord of all beings, I manifest Myself by controlling My own material nature through My divine power.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥

Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, O Bharata, at that time I manifest Myself.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥

To protect the righteous, to destroy the wicked, and to establish dharma, I appear in every age.

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

One who truly understands My divine birth and activities, O Arjuna, upon leaving the body, is not reborn but comes to Me.

वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः। बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः॥

Free from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, many have become purified by the austerity of wisdom and attained My divine nature.

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

In whatever way people surrender to Me, I reciprocate accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O Partha.

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

Those desiring success in actions worship the gods, for in this human world, success from action comes quickly.

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्॥

The four divisions of human society were created by Me according to differences in qualities and activities. Know that though I am the creator, I am the non-doer and eternal.

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

Actions do not taint Me, nor do I desire the fruits of action. One who understands this about Me is not bound by karma.

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

Having known this, ancient seekers of liberation performed action. Therefore, perform action as the ancients did in ancient times.