Chapter 18
THE YOGA OF LIBERATION BY RENUNCIATION
(…continued)
Verse 33
The unwavering firmness by which, through
Yoga, the functions of the mind, the life-force and the senses are
restrained—that firmness, O Arjuna, is Sattwic!
Verse 34
But that firmness, O Arjuna, by which, on
account of attachment and desire for reward, one holds fast to Dharma,
enjoyment of pleasures and earning of wealth—that firmness, O Arjuna, is
Rajasic!
Verse 35
That by which a stupid man does not
abandon sleep, fear, grief, despair and also conceit—that firmness, O Arjuna,
is Tamasic!
Verse 36
Now hear from Me, O Arjuna, of the threefold
pleasure, in which one rejoices by practice and surely comes to the end of
pain!
Verse 37
That which is like poison at first but in
the end like nectar—that pleasure is declared to be Sattwic, born of the purity
of one’s own mind due to Self-realisation.
Verse 38
That pleasure which arises from the
contact of the sense-organs with the objects, which is at first like nectar and
in the end like poison—that is declared to be Rajasic.
Verse 39
That pleasure which at first and in the
sequel is delusive of the self, arising from sleep, indolence and
heedlessness—such a pleasure is declared to be Tamasic.
Verse 40
There is no being on earth or again in
heaven among the gods that is liberated from the three qualities born of
Nature.
Verse 41
Of Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, as
also the Sudras, O Arjuna, the duties are distributed according to the
qualities born of their own nature!
Verse 42
Serenity, self-restraint, austerity,
purity, forgiveness and also uprightness, knowledge, realisation and belief in
God are the duties of the Brahmanas, born of (their own) nature.
Verse 43
Prowess, splendour, firmness, dexterity
and also not fleeing from battle, generosity and lordliness are the duties of
Kshatriyas, born of (their own) nature.
Verse 44
Agriculture, cattle-rearing and trade are
the duties of the Vaishya (merchant class), born of (their own) nature; and
action consisting of service is the duty of the Sudra (servant class), born of
(their own) nature.
Verse 45
Each man, devoted to his own duty,
attains perfection. How he attains perfection while being engaged in his own
duty, hear now.
Verse 46
He from whom all the beings have evolved
and by whom all this is pervaded, worshiping Him with his own duty, man
attains perfection.
Verse 47
Better is one’s own duty (though)
destitute of merits, than the duty of another well performed. He who does the
duty ordained by his own nature incurs no sin.
Verse 48
One should not abandon, O Arjuna, the
duty to which one is born, though faulty; for, all undertakings are enveloped
by evil, as fire by smoke!
Continued...
Love.
