ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः
Chapter 4 — Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
The yoga of knowledge and the renunciation of action.
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श्री भगवानुवाच इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्। विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्।।
śrī bhagavānuvāca imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam vivasvān manave prāha manurikṣvākave'bravīt
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः। स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप।।
evaṃ paramparāprāptamimaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa
Meaning
This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Parantapa (burner of the foes).
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः। भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम्।।
sa evāyaṃ mayā te'dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ bhakto'si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam
Meaning
That same ancient Yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, for thou art My devotee and My friend; it is the supreme secret.
अर्जुन उवाच अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः। कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति।।
arjuna uvāca aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti
Meaning
Arjuna said Later on was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am I to understand that Thou taughtest this Yoga in the beginning?
श्री भगवानुवाच बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन। तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप।।
śrī bhagavānuvāca bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṃ vettha parantapa
Meaning
The Blessed Lord said Many births of Mine have passed as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know them all but thou knowest not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes).
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया।।
ajo'pi sannavyayātmā bhūtānāmīśvaro'pi san prakṛtiṃ svāmadhiṣṭhāya saṃbhavāmyātmamāyayā
Meaning
Though I am unborn, of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, governing My own Nature, I am born by My own Maya.
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।।
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata abhyutthānamadharmasya tadā''tmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham
Meaning
Whenever there is decline of righteousness, O Arjuna, and rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself.
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे।।
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya saṃbhavāmi yuge yuge
Meaning
For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः। त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन।।
janma karma ca me divyamevaṃ yo vetti tattvataḥ tyaktvā dehaṃ punarjanma naiti māmeti so'rjuna
Meaning
He who thus know, in their true light, My divine birth and action, having abandoned the body, is not born again, he comes to Me, O Arjuna.
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः। बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः।।
vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ
Meaning
Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained to My Being.
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्। मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः।।
ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ
Meaning
In whatever way men approach Me even so do I reward them; My path do men tread in all ways, O Arjuna.
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः। क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा।।
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhirbhavati karmajā
Meaning
Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods; because success is ickly attained by men through action.
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्।।
cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam
Meaning
The fourfold caste has been created by Me according to the differentiation of Guna and Karma; though I am the author thereof know Me as non-doer and immutable.
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा। इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते।।
na māṃ karmāṇi limpanti na me karmaphale spṛhā iti māṃ yo'bhijānāti karmabhirna sa badhyate
Meaning
Actions do not taint Me, nor have I a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions.
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्।।
evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam
Meaning
Having known this, the ancient seekers after freedom also performed action; therefore do thou also perform action, as did the ancients in days of yore.
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः। तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्।।
kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo'pyatra mohitāḥ tatte karma pravakṣyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt
Meaning
What is action? What is inaction? As to this even the wise are confused. Therefore I shall teach thee such action (the nature of action and inaction) by knowing which thou shalt be liberated from the evil (of Samsara, the wheel of birth and death).
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।
karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
Meaning
For verily (the true nature) of action (enjoined by the scriptures) should be known, also (that) of forbidden (or unlawful) action, and of inaction; hard to understand is the nature (path) of action.
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः। स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्।।
karmaṇyakarma yaḥ paśyedakarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsnakarmakṛt
Meaning
He who seeth inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a Yogi and performer of all actions.
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः। ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः।।
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāmasaṅkalpavarjitāḥ jñānāgnidagdhakarmāṇaṃ tamāhuḥ paṇḍitaṃ budhāḥ
Meaning
He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and (selfish) purposes and whose actions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge, him the wise call a sage.
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः। कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः।।
tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgaṃ nityatṛpto nirāśrayaḥ karmaṇyabhipravṛtto'pi naiva kiñcitkaroti saḥ
Meaning
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything though engaged in activity.
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः। शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्।।
nirāśīryatacittātmā tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ śārīraṃ kevalaṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam
Meaning
Without hope and with the mind and the self controlled, having abandoned all covetousness, doing mere bodily action, he incurs no sin.
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः। समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते।।
yadṛcchālābhasantuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ samaḥ siddhāvasiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate
Meaning
Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, even-minded in success and failure, though acting, he is not bound.
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः। यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते।।
gatasaṅgasya muktasya jñānāvasthitacetasaḥ yajñāyācarataḥ karma samagraṃ pravilīyate
Meaning
To one who is devoid of attchment, who is liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, who works for the sake of sacrifice (for the sake of God), the whole action is dissolved.
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्। ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना।।
brahmārpaṇaṃ brahmahavirbrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā
Meaning
Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the melted butter (ghee); by Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman; Brahman verily shall be reached by him who always sees Brahman in action.
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते। ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति।।
daivamevāpare yajñaṃ yoginaḥ paryupāsate brahmāgnāvapare yajñaṃ yajñenaivopajuhvati
Meaning
Some Yogies perform sacrifice to the gods alone; while others (who have realised the Self) offer the self as sacrifice by the Self in the fire of Brahman alone.
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति। शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति।।
śrotrādīnīndriyāṇyanye saṃyamāgniṣu juhvati śabdādīnviṣayānanya indriyāgniṣu juhvati
Meaning
Some again offer the organ of hearing and other senses as sacrifice in the fire of restraint; others offer sound and other objects of the senses as sacrifice in the fire of the senses.
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे। आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते।।
sarvāṇīndriyakarmāṇi prāṇakarmāṇi cāpare ātmasaṃyamayogāgnau juhvati jñānadīpite
Meaning
Others again sacrifice all the functions of the senses and those of the breath (vital energy or Prana) in the fire of the Yoga of self-restraint kindled by knowledge.
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे। स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः।।
dravyayajñāstapoyajñā yogayajñāstathāpare svādhyāyajñānayajñāśca yatayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
Meaning
Others again offer wealth, austerity and Yoga as sacrifice, while the ascetics of self-restraint and rigid vows offer study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice.
अपाने जुह्वति प्राण प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे। प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः।।
apāne juhvati prāṇa prāṇe'pānaṃ tathā'pare prāṇāpānagatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ
Meaning
Others offer as sacrifice the outgoing breath in the incoming, and the incoming in the outgoing, restraining the course of the outgoing and the incoming breaths, solely absorbed in the restraint of the breath.
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति। सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः।।
apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇānprāṇeṣu juhvati sarve'pyete yajñavido yajñakṣapitakalmaṣāḥ
Meaning
Others who regulate their diet offer life-breaths in life-breaths. All these are knowers of sacrifice, whose sins are destroyed by sacrifice.
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्। नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतो़ऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम।।
yajñaśiṣṭāmṛtabhujo yānti brahma sanātanam nāyaṃ loko'styayajñasya kuto़'nyaḥ kurusattama
Meaning
Those who eat the remnants of the sacrifice, which are like nectar, go to the eternal Brahman. This world is not for the man who does not perform sacrifice; how then can he have the other, O Arjuna?
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे। कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे।।
evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe karmajānviddhi tānsarvānevaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase
Meaning
Thus, manifold sacrifices are spread out before Brahman (literally) at the mouth or face of Brahman). Know them all as born of action and thus knowing, thou shalt be liberated.
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप। सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते।।
śreyāndravyamayādyajñājjñānayajñaḥ parantapa sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate
Meaning
Superior is wisdom-sacrifice to the sacrifice with objects, O Parantapa (scorcher of the foes). All actions in their entirely, O Arjuna, culminate in knowledge.
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया। उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः।।
tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ
Meaning
Know That by long prostration, by estion and by service; the wise who have realised the Truth will instruct thee in (that) knowledge.
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव। येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि।।
yajjñātvā na punarmohamevaṃ yāsyasi pāṇḍava yena bhūtānyaśeṣeṇa drakṣyasyātmanyatho mayi
Meaning
Knowing ï1thatï1 thou shalt not, O Arjuna, again get deluded like this; and by that thou shalt see all beings in thy Self and also in Me.
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः। सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि।।
api cedasi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpakṛttamaḥ sarvaṃ jñānaplavenaiva vṛjinaṃ santariṣyasi
Meaning
Even if thou art the most sinful of all sinners, yet thou shalt verily cross all sins by the raft of knowledge.
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन। ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा।।
yathaidhāṃsi samiddho'gnirbhasmasātkurute'rjuna jñānāgniḥ sarvakarmāṇi bhasmasātkurute tathā
Meaning
As the blazing fire reduces fuel to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge reduce all actions to ashes.
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते। तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति।।
na hi jñānena sadṛśaṃ pavitramiha vidyate tatsvayaṃ yogasaṃsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati
Meaning
Verily, there is no purifier in this world like knowledge. He who is perfected in Yoga finds it in the Self in time.
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः। ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति।।
śraddhāvā~llabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntimacireṇādhigacchati
Meaning
The man who is full of faith, who is devoted to it, and who has subdued the senses obtains (this) knowledge; and having obtained the knowledge he attains at once to the supreme peace.
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति। नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः।।
ajñaścāśraddadhānaśca saṃśayātmā vinaśyati nāyaṃ loko'sti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ
Meaning
The ignorant the faithless, the doubting self goes to destruction; there is neither this world nor the other, nor happiness for the doubting.
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्। आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय।।
yogasaṃnyastakarmāṇaṃ jñānasaṃchinnasaṃśayam ātmavantaṃ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya
Meaning
He who has renounced actions by Yoga, whose doubts are rent asunder by knowledge, and who is self-possessed actions do not bind him, O Arjuna.
तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः। छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत।।
tasmādajñānasaṃbhūtaṃ hṛtsthaṃ jñānāsinā''tmanaḥ chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogamātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata
Meaning
Therefore with the sword of the knowledge (of the Self) cut asunder the doubt of the self born of ignorance, residing in thy heart, and take refuge in Yoga. Arise, O Arjuna.
Sources
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4 — Gita Supersite, IIT Kanpur
- English translation by Swami Sivananda — Gita Supersite, IIT Kanpur
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Chapter 4 — Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga · ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः