Bhagwad Gita - Post 38

Verse 14

Annaad bhavanti bhootaani parjanyaad anna sambhavah;

Yajnaad bhavati parjanyo yajnah karma samudbhavah.

From food come forth beings, and from rain food is produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is born of action.

Verse 15

Karma brahmodbhavam viddhi brahmaakshara samudbhavam;

Tasmaat sarvagatam brahma nityam yajne pratishthitam.

Know thou that action comes from Brahma, and Brahma proceeds from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading (Brahma) ever rests in sacrifice.

Verse 16

Evam pravartitam chakram naanuvartayateeha yah;

Aghaayur indriyaaraamo mogham paartha sa jeevati.

He who does not follow the wheel thus set revolving, who is of sinful life, rejoicing in the senses, he lives in vain, O Arjuna!

Verse 17

Yastwaatmaratir eva syaad aatmatriptashcha maanavah;

Aatmanyeva cha santushtas tasya kaaryam na vidyate.

But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied in the Self, who is content in the Self alone, verily there is nothing to do.

Verse 18

Naiva tasya kritenaartho naakriteneha kashchana;

Na chaasya sarvabhooteshu kashchidartha vyapaashrayah.

For him there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or what is not done; nor does he depend on any being for any object.

Verse 19

Tasmaad asaktah satatam kaaryam karma samaachara;

Asakto hyaacharan karma param aapnoti poorushah.

Therefore, without attachment, do thou always perform action which should be done; for, by performing action without attachment man reaches the Supreme.

Verse 20

Karmanaiva hi samsiddhim aasthitaa janakaadayah;

Lokasangraham evaapi sampashyan kartum arhasi.

Janaka and others attained perfection verily by action only; even with a view to the protection of the masses thou shouldst perform action.

Verse 21

Yadyad aacharati shreshthas tattadevetaro janah;

Sa yat pramaanam kurute lokas tad anuvartate.

Whatsoever a great man does, that other men also do; whatever he sets up as the standard, that the world follows.

Verse 22

Na me paarthaasti kartavyam trishu lokeshu kinchana;

Naanavaaptam avaaptavyam varta eva cha karmani.

There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that should be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that should be attained; yet I engage Myself in action!

Verse 23

Yadi hyaham na varteyam jaatu karmanyatandritah;

Mama vartmaanuvartante manushyaah paartha sarvashah.

For, should I not ever engage Myself in action, unwearied, men would in every way follow My path, O Arjuna!

Verse 24

Utseedeyur ime lokaa na kuryaam karma ched aham;

Sankarasya cha kartaa syaam upahanyaam imaah prajaah.

These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I should be the author of confusion of castes and destruction of these beings.

Verse 25

Saktaah karmanyavidwaamso yathaa kurvanti bhaarata;

Kuryaad vidwaam stathaa saktash chikeershur lokasangraham.

As the ignorant men act from attachment to action, O Bharata (Arjuna), so should the wise act without attachment, wishing the welfare of the world!

Verse 26

Na buddhibhedam janayed ajnaanaam karmasanginaam;

Joshayet sarva karmaani vidwaan yuktah samaacharan.

Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.

Verse 27

Prakriteh kriyamaanaani gunaih karmaani sarvashah;

Ahamkaaravimoodhaatmaa kartaaham iti manyate.

All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature only. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks: “I am the doer”.

Verse 28

Tattwavittu mahaabaaho gunakarma vibhaagayoh;

Gunaa guneshu vartanta iti matwaa na sajjate.

But he who knows the truth, Oh mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions, knowing that the Gunas as senses move amidst the Gunas as the sense-objects, is not attached.

Verse 29

Prakriter gunasammoodhaah sajjante gunakarmasu;

Taan akritsnavido mandaan kritsnavin na vichaalayet.

Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. A man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one of imperfect knowledge.

Verse 30

Mayi sarvaani karmaani sannyasyaadhyaatma chetasaa;

Niraasheer nirmamo bhootwaa yudhyaswa vigatajwarah.

Renouncing all actions in Me, with the mind centered in the Self, free from hope and egoism, and from (mental) fever, do thou fight.

Continued...