Chapter 4 continued...
Verse
12
Kaangkshantah karmanaam
Siddhim yajanta iha
devataah;
Kshipram
hi maanushe loke
Siddhir bhavati karmajaa.
Those
who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods, because
success is
quickly attained by men through action.
Verse
13
Chaaturvarnyam mayaa
srishtam
Gunakarma vibhaagashah;
Tasya
kartaaram api maam
Viddhyakartaaram avyayam.
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 the non-doer and
immutable.
Verse
14
Na maam karmaani limpanti
Na me karmaphale sprihaa;
Iti
maam yo’bhijaanaati
Karmabhir na sa badhyate.
Actions
do not taint Me, nor have I a desire for the fruits of actions. He who knows Me
thus is not bound by actions.
Verse
15
Evam jnaatwaa kritam karma
Poorvair api mumukshubhih;
Kuru
karmaiva tasmaat twam
Poorvaih poorvataram
kritam.
Having
known this, the ancient seekers after freedom also performed actions;
therefore, do thou perform actions as did the ancients in days of yore.
Verse
16
Kim karma kim akarmeti
Kavayo’pyatra mohitaah;
Tat
te karma pravakshyaami
Yajjnaatwaa
mokshyase’shubhaat.
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 world of birth and
death).
Verse
17
Karmano hyapi boddhavyam
Boddhavyam cha vikarmanah;
Akarmanashcha
boddhavyam
Gahanaa karmano gatih.
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.
Verse
18
Karmanyakarma yah pashyed
Akarmani cha karma yah;
Sa
buddhimaan manushyeshu
Sa yuktah
kritsnakarmakrit.
He
who seeth inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he
is a Yogi and performer of all actions.
Verse
19
Yasya sarve samaarambhaah
Kaamasankalpa varjitaah;
Jnaanaagni
dagdhakarmaanam
Tam aahuh panditam
budhaah.
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.
Verse
20
Tyaktwaa karmaphalaasangam
Nityatripto niraashrayah;
Karmanyabhipravritto’pi
naiva
Kinchit karoti sah.
Having
abandoned attachment to the fruit of the action, ever content, depending on nothing,
he does not do anything though engaged in activity.
Verse
21
Niraasheer yatachittaatmaa
Tyaktasarvaparigrahah;
Shaareeram
kevalam karma
Kurvannaapnoti kilbisham.
Without
hope and with the mind and the self-controlled, having abandoned all greed, doing
mere bodily action, he incurs no sin.
Continued...
Love.
