← All chapters · Chapter 18 / 18
The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation
मोक्षसंन्यासयोगः · Mokṣa-saṃnyāsa-yoga · 78 verses
The longest chapter gathers the whole Gita. Arjuna asks the difference between renunciation and giving up the fruit of action. Krishna says the answer is to keep doing what is yours to do while letting go of clinging and results. He then shows how goodness, passion and inertia colour knowledge, action, will, understanding and happiness, and how each person's own nature suits them to their own work. It ends with surrender, Arjuna's clarity and Sanjaya's closing words.
Traditionally linked with the 12th house, the house of release and endings, and read in the closing years of a Maha Dasha, when what you built is ready to be handed over and what comes next is not yet clear. It is the chapter for transitions: do your work, drop the grip, trust what is larger than you. It is a reflective practice, not a prediction.
अर्जुन उवाच
संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ।
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥
arjuna uvāca
saṃnyāsasya mahābāho tattvamicchāmi veditum |
tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa pṛthakkeśiniṣūdana ||
Arjuna asks: I wish to understand the truth of renunciation, mighty-armed one, and of giving up, Hrishikesha, and the difference between the two, slayer of Keshi.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः ।
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः ॥
śrībhagavānuvāca
kāmyānāṃ karmaṇāṃ nyāsaṃ saṃnyāsaṃ kavayo viduḥ |
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ prāhustyāgaṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ ||
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ।
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे ॥
tyājyaṃ doṣavadityeke karma prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ |
yajñadānatapaḥkarma na tyājyamiti cāpare ||
निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम ।
त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः सम्प्रकीर्तितः ॥
niścayaṃ śṛṇu me tatra tyāge bharatasattama |
tyāgo hi puruṣavyāghra trividhaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ ||
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् ।
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥
yajñadānatapaḥkarma na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat |
yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ||
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च ।
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् ॥
etānyapi tu karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalāni ca |
kartavyānīti me pārtha niścitaṃ matamuttamam ||
Krishna says: the wise understand renunciation as giving up actions done from desire, and the discerning call giving up the fruit of all actions letting go. Some thinkers say action should be given up as faulty; others say that sacrifice, giving and discipline should not be given up. Hear My conclusion on this letting go, best of the Bharatas: letting go is declared to be of three kinds. Sacrifice, giving and discipline should not be abandoned but done, for they purify the wise. Even these actions should be done, giving up attachment and the fruit; this is My settled, highest view.
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते ।
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः ॥
niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate |
mohāttasya parityāgastāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||
दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma kāyakleśabhayāttyajet |
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet ||
कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन ।
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥
kāryamityeva yatkarma niyataṃ kriyate’rjuna |
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ ||
न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते ।
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः ॥
na dveṣṭyakuśalaṃ karma kuśale nānuṣajjate |
tyāgī sattvasamāviṣṭo medhāvī chinnasaṃśayaḥ ||
Giving up a duty that is yours to do is not right; abandoning it out of confusion is declared to be of inertia. One who gives up an action because it is hard, or from fear of bodily discomfort, performs a giving-up of passion and gains none of its reward. When an action is done simply because it ought to be done, giving up attachment and the fruit, that letting go is considered one of goodness. The one who has let go, filled with goodness, wise and free of doubt, neither hates an unpleasant action nor clings to a pleasant one.
न हि देहभृता शक्यं त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः ।
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ॥
na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ |
yastu karmaphalatyāgī sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate ||
अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम् ।
भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित् ॥
aniṣṭamiṣṭaṃ miśraṃ ca trividhaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam |
bhavatyatyāgināṃ pretya na tu saṃnyāsināṃ kvacit ||
For an embodied being it is not possible to give up actions completely; but whoever gives up the fruit of action is truly called one who has let go. The threefold fruit of action, unwanted, wanted and mixed, comes after death to those who have not let go, but never to those who have renounced.
पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे ।
साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥
pañcaitāni mahābāho kāraṇāni nibodha me |
sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni siddhaye sarvakarmaṇām ||
अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् ।
विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥
adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham |
vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam ||
शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः ।
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ॥
śarīravāṅmanobhiryatkarma prārabhate naraḥ |
nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ||
तत्रैवं सति कर्तारमात्मानं केवलं तु यः ।
पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः ॥
tatraivaṃ sati kartāramātmānaṃ kevalaṃ tu yaḥ |
paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvānna sa paśyati durmatiḥ ||
यस्य नाहंकृतो भावो बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते ।
हत्वाऽपि स इमाँल्लोकान्न हन्ति न निबध्यते ॥
yasya nāhaṃkṛto bhāvo buddhiryasya na lipyate |
hatvā’pi sa imām̐llokānna hanti na nibadhyate ||
Learn from Me, mighty-armed one, these five causes for the accomplishment of every action, as stated in the Sankhya teaching: the body, the doer, the various instruments, the many kinds of effort, and fate as the fifth. Whatever action a person undertakes with body, speech or mind, right or wrong, these five are its causes. This being so, whoever, with an unrefined mind, sees only the self as the doer, does not see truly. One who has no sense of being the author, and whose understanding is not stained, even if they slay these people, does not slay and is not bound.
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना ।
करणं कर्म कर्तेति त्रिविधः कर्मसंग्रहः ॥
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ parijñātā trividhā karmacodanā |
karaṇaṃ karma karteti trividhaḥ karmasaṃgrahaḥ ||
ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ताच त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः ।
प्रोच्यते गुणसङ्ख्याने यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि ॥
jñānaṃ karma ca kartāca tridhaiva guṇabhedataḥ |
procyate guṇasaṅkhyāne yathāvacchṛṇu tānyapi ||
Knowledge, the thing known and the knower are the threefold impulse to action; the instrument, the action and the doer are the threefold basis of action. Knowledge, action and doer are of three kinds according to the qualities, as the teaching on the qualities declares. Hear these too, as they are.
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते ।
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ॥
sarvabhūteṣu yenaikaṃ bhāvamavyayamīkṣate |
avibhaktaṃ vibhakteṣu tajjñānaṃ viddhi sāttvikam ||
पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् ।
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ॥
pṛthaktvena tu yajjñānaṃ nānābhāvānpṛthagvidhān |
vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu tajjñānaṃ viddhi rājasam ||
यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् ।
अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
yattu kṛtsnavadekasminkārye saktamahaitukam |
atattvārthavadalpaṃ ca tattāmasamudāhṛtam ||
The knowledge by which one sees one imperishable reality in all beings, undivided within the divided, know that to be of goodness. The knowledge that sees only separateness and many kinds of beings in all of them, know that to be of passion. But that knowledge which clings to one small thing as if it were the whole, without reason, without grasp of the truth and narrow, is declared to be of inertia.
नियतं सङ्गरहितमरागद्वेषतः कृतम् ।
अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ॥
niyataṃ saṅgarahitamarāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam |
aphalaprepsunā karma yattatsāttvikamucyate ||
यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म साहंकारेण वा पुनः ।
क्रियते बहुलायासं तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ॥
yattu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṃkāreṇa vā punaḥ |
kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tadrājasamudāhṛtam ||
अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसामनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ॥
anubandhaṃ kṣayaṃ hiṃsāmanapekṣya ca pauruṣam |
mohādārabhyate karma yattattāmasamucyate ||
Action that is regulated, free of attachment, done without liking or disliking, by one who wants no reward, is called good. Action done by one who longs for what they desire, or acts with ego, with great strain, is declared to be of passion. Action begun out of delusion, with no regard for the consequences, the loss, the harm or one's own ability, is called one of inertia.
मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकारः कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥
muktasaṅgo’nahaṃvādī dhṛtyutsāhasamanvitaḥ |
siddhyasiddhyornirvikāraḥ kartā sāttvika ucyate ||
रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः ।
हर्षशोकान्वितः कर्ता राजसः परिकीर्तितः ॥
rāgī karmaphalaprepsurlubdho hiṃsātmako’śuciḥ |
harṣaśokānvitaḥ kartā rājasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||
अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः ।
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko’lasaḥ |
viṣādī dīrghasūtrī ca kartā tāmasa ucyate ||
A doer free of attachment, who does not boast of I, who has resolve and enthusiasm, and is unmoved by success or failure, is called one of goodness. A doer who is passionate, who craves the fruit of action, who is greedy, harmful, impure and swayed by joy and sorrow, is called one of passion. A doer who is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, deceitful, spiteful, lazy, gloomy and a procrastinator is called one of inertia.
बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु ।
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ॥
buddherbhedaṃ dhṛteścaiva guṇatastrividhaṃ śṛṇu |
procyamānamaśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanañjaya ||
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये ।
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca kāryākārye bhayābhaye |
bandhaṃ mokṣaṃ ca yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ||
यया धर्ममधर्मं च कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च ।
अयथावत्प्रजानाति बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
yayā dharmamadharmaṃ ca kāryaṃ cākāryameva ca |
ayathāvatprajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
अधर्मं धर्ममिति या मन्यते तमसावृता ।
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥
adharmaṃ dharmamiti yā manyate tamasāvṛtā |
sarvārthānviparītāṃśca buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ||
Now hear, Arjuna, the threefold division of understanding and of steadiness according to the qualities, told fully and separately. The understanding that knows when to act and when to hold back, what ought and ought not to be done, what to fear and not fear, what binds and what frees, is of goodness. The understanding that does not rightly know what is right and wrong, or what ought and ought not to be done, is of passion. The understanding that is wrapped in darkness, takes wrong for right and sees everything upside down, is of inertia.
धृत्या यया धारयते मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः ।
योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥
dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate manaḥprāṇendriyakriyāḥ |
yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ||
यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन ।
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥
yayā tu dharmakāmārthāndhṛtyā dhārayate’rjuna |
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ||
यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं विषादं मदमेव च ।
न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥
yayā svapnaṃ bhayaṃ śokaṃ viṣādaṃ madameva ca |
na vimuñcati durmedhā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ||
The steadiness by which one holds mind, breath and senses in their work through unwavering yoga is of goodness. The steadiness by which one holds on to duty, desire and wealth, craving the fruit through attachment, is of passion. The steadiness by which a dull mind will not let go of sleep, fear, grief, despair and arrogance is of inertia.
सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं शृणु मे भरतर्षभ ।
अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ॥
sukhaṃ tvidānīṃ trividhaṃ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha |
abhyāsādramate yatra duḥkhāntaṃ ca nigacchati ||
यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् ।
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तमात्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ॥
yattadagre viṣamiva pariṇāme’mṛtopamam |
tatsukhaṃ sāttvikaṃ proktamātmabuddhiprasādajam ||
विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् ।
परिणामे विषमिव तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥
viṣayendriyasaṃyogādyattadagre’mṛtopamam |
pariṇāme viṣamiva tatsukhaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ||
यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च सुखं मोहनमात्मनः ।
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥
yadagre cānubandhe ca sukhaṃ mohanamātmanaḥ |
nidrālasyapramādotthaṃ tattāmasamudāhṛtam ||
Now hear from Me the three kinds of happiness: the one in which a person delights through practice and which brings an end to sorrow; that which at first feels like poison but in the end is like nectar, born of the clarity of one's own mind, is called happiness of goodness. The happiness that comes from contact of the senses with their objects, nectar at first and poison in the end, is called passion. The happiness that deludes the self from beginning to end, born of sleep, laziness and negligence, is called inertia.
न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः ।
सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ॥
na tadasti pṛthivyāṃ vā divi deveṣu vā punaḥ |
sattvaṃ prakṛtijairmuktaṃ yadebhiḥ syāttribhirguṇaiḥ ||
ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां शूद्राणां च परन्तप ।
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः ॥
brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa |
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni svabhāvaprabhavairguṇaiḥ ||
शमो दमस्तपः शौचं क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च ।
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ॥
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca |
jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ brahmakarma svabhāvajam ||
शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् ।
दानमीश्वरभावश्च क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥
śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam |
dānamīśvarabhāvaśca kṣātraṃ karma svabhāvajam ||
कृषिगौरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् ।
परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥
kṛṣigaurakṣyavāṇijyaṃ vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam |
paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ||
There is no being on earth, or among the gods in heaven, that is free from these three qualities born of nature. The works of the four traditional orders of society, those of learning and contemplation, of governing and protecting, of farming and trade, and of service, are divided according to the qualities born of their own nature. Calm, self-control, discipline, purity, patience, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and faith are the work of the first order, born of its nature. Courage, brilliance, steadiness, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity and leadership are the work of the second, born of its nature. Farming, protecting cattle and trade are the work of the third, and work of service is the nature-born work of the fourth.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ।
स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ |
svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṃ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ||
यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥
yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṃ yena sarvamidaṃ tatam |
svakarmaṇā tamabhyarcya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ ||
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वभावनियतं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt |
svabhāvaniyataṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||
सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥
sahajaṃ karma kaunteya sadoṣamapi na tyajet |
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnirivāvṛtāḥ ||
Devoted to his own work, a person reaches perfection; hear how one who delights in his own work finds it. By worshipping, through his own work, the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person finds perfection. Better is one's own duty, even imperfectly done, than another's duty done well; doing the work set by one's own nature, one incurs no fault. One should not give up the work born with one, Arjuna, even if it is flawed, for all undertakings are clouded by fault as fire is by smoke.
असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः ।
नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिं परमां संन्यासेनाधिगच्छति ॥
asaktabuddhiḥ sarvatra jitātmā vigataspṛhaḥ |
naiṣkarmyasiddhiṃ paramāṃ saṃnyāsenādhigacchati ||
सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म तथाप्नोति निबोध मे ।
समासेनैव कौन्तेय निष्ठा ज्ञानस्य या परा ॥
siddhiṃ prāpto yathā brahma tathāpnoti nibodha me |
samāsenaiva kaunteya niṣṭhā jñānasya yā parā ||
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च ।
शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto dhṛtyātmānaṃ niyamya ca |
śabdādīnviṣayāṃstyaktvā rāgadveṣau vyudasya ca ||
विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः ।
ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः ॥
viviktasevī laghvāśī yatavākkāyamānasaḥ |
dhyānayogaparo nityaṃ vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ ||
अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।
विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥
ahaṃkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigraham |
vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto brahmabhūyāya kalpate ||
One whose understanding is unattached everywhere, who has mastered the self and is free from craving, reaches by renunciation the supreme perfection of freedom from action. Learn from Me briefly, Arjuna, how one who has reached perfection also reaches Brahman, which is the highest state of knowledge. Joined with a purified understanding, firmly controlling the self, giving up sound and the other objects of the senses, and setting aside attachment and aversion, living in solitude, eating lightly, with speech, body and mind restrained, always devoted to meditation and taking refuge in dispassion, one gives up ego, force, pride, desire, anger and possessions, becomes free of the sense of mine and is peaceful, and is fit to become one with Brahman.
ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु मद्भक्तिं लभते पराम् ॥
brahmabhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu madbhaktiṃ labhate parām ||
भक्त्या मामभिजानाति यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः ।
ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा विशते तदनन्तरम् ॥
bhaktyā māmabhijānāti yāvānyaścāsmi tattvataḥ |
tato māṃ tattvato jñātvā viśate tadanantaram ||
Having become Brahman, serene in self, one neither grieves nor craves; equal toward all beings, one gains supreme devotion to Me. Through devotion one knows Me truly, what and who I am; having thus known Me in truth, one then enters into Me.
सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः ।
मत्प्रसादादवाप्नोति शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ॥
sarvakarmāṇyapi sadā kurvāṇo madvyapāśrayaḥ |
matprasādādavāpnoti śāśvataṃ padamavyayam ||
चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः ।
बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य मच्चित्तः सततं भव ॥
cetasā sarvakarmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya matparaḥ |
buddhiyogamupāśritya maccittaḥ satataṃ bhava ||
मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि ।
अथ चेत्त्वमहंकारान्न श्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि ॥
maccittaḥ sarvadurgāṇi matprasādāttariṣyasi |
atha cettvamahaṃkārānna śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi ||
Even while always doing every kind of action, one who takes refuge in Me reaches, by My grace, the eternal, imperishable state. Offering all actions to Me in thought, with Me as your highest aim, rely on the yoga of understanding and keep your mind always on Me. With your mind on Me you will cross all difficulties by My grace; but if out of ego you will not listen, you will be lost.
यदहंकारमाश्रित्य न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे ।
मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ॥
yadahaṃkāramāśritya na yotsya iti manyase |
mithyaiṣa vyavasāyaste prakṛtistvāṃ niyokṣyati ||
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा ।
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोपि तत् ॥
svabhāvajena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā |
kartuṃ necchasi yanmohātkariṣyasyavaśopi tat ||
If, resting on ego, you think I will not fight, your resolve is false; your own nature will compel you. Bound by your own action, born of your own nature, what you do not wish to do out of confusion you will do even against your will.
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति ।
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया ॥
īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ hṛddeśe’rjuna tiṣṭhati |
bhrāmayansarvabhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā ||
तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत ।
तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥
tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha sarvabhāvena bhārata |
tatprasādātparāṃ śāntiṃ sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ||
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया ।
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥
iti te jñānamākhyātaṃ guhyādguhyataraṃ mayā |
vimṛśyaitadaśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru ||
The Lord dwells in the heart of every being, Arjuna, turning all beings by his power, as if mounted on a machine. Go to him alone for refuge with your whole being; by his grace you will reach supreme peace and the eternal abode. Thus I have given you knowledge more secret than any secret; reflect on it fully, and then do as you wish.
सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः शृणु मे परमं वचः ।
इष्टोऽसि मे दृढमिति ततो वक्ष्यामि ते हितम् ॥
sarvaguhyatamaṃ bhūyaḥ śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ |
iṣṭo’si me dṛḍhamiti tato vakṣyāmi te hitam ||
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु ।
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ॥
manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru |
māmevaiṣyasi satyaṃ te pratijāne priyo’si me ||
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥
sarvadharmānparityajya māmekaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja |
ahaṃ tvā sarvapāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ||
Listen again to My supreme word, the most secret of all. You are deeply dear to Me, therefore I will tell you what is for your good. Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, bow to Me; you will come to Me, I promise you truly, for you are dear to Me. Let go of all the duties and come to Me alone for refuge. I will free you from all wrongs; do not grieve.
इदं ते नातपस्काय नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥
idaṃ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana |
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo’bhyasūyati ||
य इदं परमं गुह्यं मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यति ।
भक्तिं मयि परां कृत्वा मामेवैष्यत्यसंशयः ॥
ya idaṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ madbhakteṣvabhidhāsyati |
bhaktiṃ mayi parāṃ kṛtvā māmevaiṣyatyasaṃśayaḥ ||
न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः ।
भविता न च मे तस्मादन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ॥
na ca tasmānmanuṣyeṣu kaścinme priyakṛttamaḥ |
bhavitā na ca me tasmādanyaḥ priyataro bhuvi ||
This is never to be spoken to one who lacks discipline or devotion, who does not wish to listen, or who speaks ill of Me. One who teaches this supreme secret among My devotees, having shown the highest devotion to Me, will come to Me without doubt. No one among people does more dear service to Me than such a person, and no one on earth will be dearer to Me.
अध्येष्यते च य इमं धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः ।
ज्ञानयज्ञेन तेनाहमिष्टः स्यामिति मे मतिः ॥
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṃ dharmyaṃ saṃvādamāvayoḥ |
jñānayajñena tenāhamiṣṭaḥ syāmiti me matiḥ ||
श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च शृणुयादपि यो नरः ।
सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥
śraddhāvānanasūyaśca śṛṇuyādapi yo naraḥ |
so’pi muktaḥ śubhām̐llokānprāpnuyātpuṇyakarmaṇām ||
कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा ।
कच्चिदज्ञानसम्मोहः प्रनष्टस्ते धनञ्जय ॥
kaccidetacchrutaṃ pārtha tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā |
kaccidajñānasammohaḥ pranaṣṭaste dhanañjaya ||
And whoever studies this sacred conversation of ours, I will have been worshipped by that person with the sacrifice of knowledge; so I hold. Even one who only listens, with faith and without scorn, is freed and reaches the bright worlds of those whose deeds are good. Have you heard this with a focused mind, Arjuna? Has the confusion born of ignorance been destroyed, Dhananjaya?
अर्जुन उवाच
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत ।
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥
arjuna uvāca
naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtirlabdhā tvatprasādānmayācyuta |
sthito’smi gatasandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ||
Arjuna says: my confusion is gone and I have recovered my memory, by your grace, Achyuta. I stand firm, my doubts are gone; I will do as you say.
सञ्जय उवाच
इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनः ।
संवादमिममश्रौषमद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम् ॥
sañjaya uvāca
ityahaṃ vāsudevasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ |
saṃvādamimamaśrauṣamadbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam ||
व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवानेतद्गुह्यमहं परम् ।
योगं योगेश्वरात्कृष्णात्साक्षात्कथयतः स्वयम् ॥
vyāsaprasādācchrutavānetadguhyamahaṃ param |
yogaṃ yogeśvarātkṛṣṇātsākṣātkathayataḥ svayam ||
राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य संवादमिममद्भुतम् ।
केशवार्जुनयोः पुण्यं हृष्यामि च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
rājansaṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya saṃvādamimamadbhutam |
keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaṃ hṛṣyāmi ca muhurmuhuḥ ||
तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः ।
विस्मयो मे महान् राजन्हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः ॥
tacca saṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya rūpamatyadbhutaṃ hareḥ |
vismayo me mahān rājanhṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ |
tatra śrīrvijayo bhūtirdhruvā nītirmatirmama ||
Sanjaya says: so I heard this wonderful, hair-raising conversation between Vasudeva and the great-souled Arjuna. By Vyasa's grace I heard this supreme secret of yoga directly from Krishna, the Lord of yoga, as he spoke it himself. O king, remembering again and again this holy, wonderful conversation between Keshava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again. And remembering again and again that most wondrous form of Hari, great is my amazement, O king, and I rejoice again and again. Wherever there is Krishna, the Lord of yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna the archer, there are fortune, victory, prosperity and firm righteousness; this is my conviction.
The verses are the traditional Sanskrit text. The explanations are original summaries, not a particular translator's words. The astrology guide is a devotional, reflective practice, not a prediction and not a substitute for professional advice.