Bhagavad Gita · chapter 4

Verse 1

श्री भगवानुवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्
विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्

Krishna said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to the Sun god Vivasvan; Vivasvan taught it to Manu, the original man; Manu told it to Ikshvaku, the first king.

Commentary

Verse 2

एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः
स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप

The saintly kings received this science in a continuous succession, until after a long time, it was lost.

Commentary

Verse 3

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

It is this same ancient Yoga that I am now teaching you, for you are my devotee and my friend. This is the supreme secret.

Commentary

Verse 4

अर्जुन उवाच
अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः
कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति

Arjuna asked: You were born after Vivasvan, so how were you able to teach him this Yoga in the beginning?

Commentary

Verse 5

श्री भगवानुवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप

Krishna replied: Many of my births have passed, as well as many of yours. I know all of them, but you do not know any of yours, Arjuna.

Commentary

Verse 6

अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया

Although I am unborn and imperishable, and the Lord of all beings, I manifest myself in this world by illusion.

Commentary

Verse 7

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्

Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, and an increase in immorality, I manifest myself.

Commentary

Verse 8

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे

For the protection of the good, the destruction of the wicked, and the establishment of righteous action, I am born from age to age.

Commentary

Verse 9

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

One who understands the truth of my divine birth and actions is not born again. When they leave their body, they come to me.

Commentary

Verse 10

वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः

Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, they are completely absorbed in me and take my refuge. Many have attained me through the purification of austerity and wisdom.

Commentary

Verse 11

ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः

In whatever way one tries to worship me, I welcome them. Whichever path they take, it leads to me in the end.

Commentary

Verse 12

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

Those who desire the fruit of their actions perform rituals and sacrifices to the gods, achieving quick success in the human realm.

Commentary

Verse 13

चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्

The four divisions of society - priests and scholars, leaders and warriors, farmers and merchants, servants and laborers - were created by me, according to the natural distribution of qualities and instincts. Though I have authored this, I am not the creator, and remain unchanging.

Commentary

Verse 14

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

I am not contaminated by action, since I do not desire the fruit of actions. One who understands this is freed from the bondage of action.

Commentary

Verse 15

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

Be like the ancient sages, seekers of liberation who sought deliverance in the performance of their duties.

Commentary

Verse 16

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्

What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are perplexed by this. Therefore, I will tell you of the philosophy of action, by which you can achieve liberation.

Commentary

Verse 17

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः

It is necessary to consider what is righteous action, and what is immoral action, and what is inaction, for the paths of action are mysterious.

Commentary

Verse 18

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

One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is the wisest among the wise, and has accomplished all actions.

Commentary

Verse 19

यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः

The truly wise sage embarks on every undertaking without desire for material gain, and with actions that have been purified by the fire of knowledge.

Commentary

Verse 20

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः

Having surrendered all claim to the fruit of actions, ever contented with the inner self, one ceases to act even if they may be engaged in action.

Commentary

Verse 21

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्

Free from desire, with control of the mind and intellect, having renounced sensual pleasures, and performing actions with the body alone, one remains untainted by sin.

Commentary

Verse 22

यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः
समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते

Content with whatever comes without effort, transcending the dualities of nature, with a mind situated in goodwill and equanimous to both success and failure, one may act without being bound by the consequences.

Commentary

Verse 23

गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः
यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते

One who is without attachment has been liberated. Their mind has become established in knowledge, and they work only for the sake of sacrifice, leaving no residue of Karma.

Commentary

Verse 24

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना

Brahma is the instrument by which the offering is made. Brahma is the offering, and Brahma is the sacrificial fire into which the offering is poured. Brahma is what is to be attained by meditating on Brahma.

Commentary

Verse 25

दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते
ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति

Some sages perform sacrifice to the gods alone, while others offer themselves as sacrifice on the eternal altar.

Commentary

Verse 26

श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति

Some sacrifice their physical senses in the fire of self-control, while others sacrifice contact with external objects in the sacrificial fire of their senses.

Commentary

Verse 27

सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते

Others, kindled by wisdom, sacrifice their activities and their breathing into the fire of self-restraint.

Commentary

Verse 28

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे
स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः

With self-control and firm resolve, others sacrifice their material wealth and perform austerities. Some ascetics take rigid vows, offering the study of scriptures and knowledge as sacrifice.

Commentary

Verse 29

अपाने जुह्वति प्राण प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः

Others, with a controlled diet, are devoted to the control of breathing. One may sacrifice inhalation to exhalation, or sacrifice the outward breath to an inward one, or sacrifice all of their incoming and outgoing breathing.

Commentary

Verse 30

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः

Others regulate their diet and subsist on what remains after sacrifice. All such people, who understand the principle of sacrifice, have their sins washed away.

Commentary

Verse 31

यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतो़ऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम

They partake in the sacred nectar which remains after a sacrifice, and reach the eternal Brahma. This world is not for those who refuse to sacrifice. How can the heavens be any different?

Commentary

Verse 32

एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे

These various forms of sacrifice, dependent on action, are the path to your liberation.

Commentary

Verse 33

श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते

The sacrifice of wisdom is superior to any material sacrifice, for all actions culminate in knowledge.

Commentary

Verse 34

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः

You shall learn this by placing yourself at the master's feet, questioning them, and serving them. The wise who have realized the truth will teach you wisdom.

Commentary

Verse 35

यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव
येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि

Know that you shall never again be deluded like this, and by the power of that wisdom, you will see all people as if they were your own self.

Commentary

Verse 36

अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि

Even if you are the most sinful of sinners, you can cross the ocean of sin on the boat of knowledge alone.

Commentary

Verse 37

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा

Just as fire consumes the fuel, all actions are reduced to ashes in the fire of wisdom.

Commentary

Verse 38

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति

There is nothing in the world so purifying as knowledge. Those who have perfected the science of action eventually find it within themselves.

Commentary

Verse 39

श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति

One who is faithful and can control their senses acquires knowledge. Upon attaining this wisdom, they will soon attain the ultimate peace.

Commentary

Verse 40

अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः

The ignorant, faithless, and skeptics all perish. Those with doubtful minds have no happiness in store for them, in this world or the ones beyond.

Commentary

Verse 41

योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्
आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय

One whose doubts have been dispelled by knowledge, who has renounced all actions and has control of the self, is not bound by actions.

Commentary

Verse 42

तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः
छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत

Therefore, pick up the sword of wisdom and cut down this doubt in your heart, which your own ignorance has engendered, and arise on the path of wisdom!

Commentary

Summary

BG 4.1 - 42

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