|
|
|
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17)
Death means the attainment of heaven; victory means the
enjoyment of the earth. Therefore, rise up…resolved to fight!
Having made yourself alike in pain and pleasure, profit and
loss, victory and defeat, engage in this great battle and you
will be freed from sin. |
18) Considering your dharma, you should not vacillate. For a
warrior, nothing is higher than a war against evil. The
warrior confronted with such a war should be pleased, Arjuna,
for it comes as an open gate to heaven. But if you do not
participate in this battle against evil, you will incur sin,
violating your dharma and your honour.
|
|
19)
After many births the wise seek refuge in me, seeing me
everywhere and in everything. Such great souls are very rare. |
20)
Both renunciation of action and the selfless performance of
action lead to the supreme goal. But the path of action is
better than renunciation. |
|
21)
As for those who seek the transcendental Reality, without
name, without form, contemplating the Un-manifested, beyond the
reach of thought and of feeling, with their senses subdued and
mind serene and striving for the good of all beings, they too
will verily come unto me. |
22)
Be aware of me always, adore me, make every act an offering to
me, and you shall come to me; this I promise; for you are dear
to me. Abandon all supports and look to me for protection. I
shall purify you from the sins of the past; do not grieve.
|
|
23)
That devotee who looks upon friend and foe with equal regard,
who is not buoyed up by praise nor cast down by blame, alike
in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, free from selfish
attachments, the same in honour and dishonour, quiet, ever
full, in harmony everywhere, firm in faith--such a one is dear
to me. |
24)
Among purifying forces I am the wind; among warriors, Rama. Of
water creatures I am the crocodile, and of rivers I am the
Ganges.
I am the beginning, middle, and end of
creation. Of all the sciences I am the science of
Self-knowledge, and I am logic in those who debate.
|
|
25)
Sri Krishna: With your mind intent on me,
Arjuna, discipline yourself with the practice of yoga. Depend
on me completely. Listen, and I will dispel all your doubts;
you will come to know me fully and be united with me.
I will give you both jnana and vijnana.
When both these are realized, there is nothing more you need
to know.
|
26)
Even a wise man acts within the
limitations of his own nature...The senses have been
conditioned by attraction to the pleasant and aversion to the
unpleasant. Do not be ruled by them; they are obstacles in
your path.
|
|
26) Even a wise man acts within the limitations of his own nature...The
senses have been conditioned by attraction to the pleasant and
aversion to the unpleasant. Do not be ruled by them; they are
obstacles in your path. |
27) The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead. There has
never been a time when you and I and the kings gathered here
have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease
to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through
childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he
attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these
changes. |
|
28) At the beginning, mankind and the obligation of selfless service were
created together. "Through selfless service, you will
always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your
desires": this is the promise of the Creator. |
29) Sri Krishna: I have
revealed to you the nature of the field and the meaning and
object of true knowledge. Those who are devoted to me, knowing
these things, are united with me. |
|
30) Listen to the principles of yoga. By practicing these you can break
through the bonds of karma. On this path effort never goes to
waste, and there is not failure. Even a little effort toward
spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.
Those who follow this path, resolving deep within themselves
to seek Me alone, attain singleness of purpose. For those who
lack resolution, the decisions of life are many--branched and
endless."
|
31) ..let the scriptures be your guide in what to do and what not to do.
Understand their teachings; then act in accordance with them. |
|
32) After many births the wise seek refuge in me, seeing me everywhere
and in everything. Such great souls are very rare.
|
33) Approach someone who has realized the purpose of life and question
him with reverence and devotion; he will instruct you in this
wisdom. Once you attain it, you will never again be deluded.
You will see all creatures in the Self, and all in me. |
|
34)Arjuna: O Krishna, you have recommended both the path of selfless
action and sannyasa, the path of renunciation of action. Tell
me definitely which is better.
Sri
Krishna: Both renunciation of action and the selfless
performance of action lead to the supreme goal. But the path
of action is better than renunciation.
Those
who have attained perfect renunciation are free from any sense
of duality; they are unaffected by likes and dislikes, Arjuna,
and are Arjuna, and are free from the bondage of self-will. |
35)
Arjuna: You are Vayu, god of wind; Yama, god of death; Agni,
god of fire; Varuna, god of water. You are the moon and the
creator Prajapati, and the great-grandfather of all creatures.
I bow before you and salute you again and again.
You
are behind me and in front of me; I bow to you on every side.
Your power is immeasurable. You pervade everything; you are
everything.
|
|
36)
Arjuna: O Krishna, you have said that knowledge is greater
than action; why then do you ask me to wage this terrible war?
Your advice seems inconsistent. Give me one path to follow to
the supreme god.
Sri
Krishna: At the beginning of time I declared two paths for the
pure heart; jnana yoga, the contemplative path of spiritual
wisdom, and karma yoga, the active path of selfless service.
|
37)
Arjuna: "What is the force that binds us to selfish
deeds, O Krishna? What power moves us, even against our will,
as if forcing us?"
Sri
Krishna: "It is selfish desire and anger, arising from
the guna of rajas; these are the appetites and evils which
threaten a person in this life."
|
|
38)
Arjuna: O Krishna, it is right that the world delights and
rejoices in your praise, that all the saints and sages bow
down to you and all evil flees before you to the far corners
of the universe.
How
could they not worship you, O Lord? You are the eternal
spirit, who existed before Brahman the Creator and who will
never cease to be. Lord of the gods, you are the abode of the
universe. Changeless, you are what is and what is not, and
beyond the duality of existence and nonexistence.
|
39) All actions are performed by the gunas of prakriti. Deluded by his
identification with the ego, a person thinks, "I am the
doer." But the illumined man or woman understands the
domain of the gunas and is not attached. Such people know that
the gunas interact with each other; they do not claim to be
the doer.
|
|
40) Wherever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for
satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the
Self. |
41) Those who know truly are free from pride and deceit. They are gentle,
forgiving, upright, and pure, devoted to their spiritual
teacher, filled with inner strength, and self-controlled.
Detached from sense objects and self-will, they have learned
the painful lesson of separate birth and suffering, old age,
disease, and death. |
|
42) Through constant efforts over many lifetimes, a person becomes
purified of all selfish desires and attains the supreme goal
of life. |
43) This supreme Self is without a beginning, undifferentiated,
deathless. Though it dwells in the body, Arjuna, it neither
acts nor is touched by action. As akasha pervades the cosmos
but remains unstained, the Self can never be tainted though it
dwells in every creature. |
|
44) Those whose consciousness is unified abandon all attachment to the
results of action and attain supreme peace. But those whose
desires are fragmented, who are selfishly attached to the
results of their work, are bound in everything they do. |
45) Those who realize the Self are always satisfied. Having found the
source of joy and fulfillment they no longer seek happiness
from the external world. They have nothing to gain or lose by
any action; neither people nor things can affect their
security. |
|
46) You and I have passed through many births, Arjuna. You have
forgotten, but I remember them all.
My true being is unborn and changeless. I am the Lord who dwells in every
creature. Through the power of my own maya, I manifest myself
in a finite form. |
47) The deluded do not see the Self when it leaves the body or when it
dwells within it. They do not see the Self enjoying sense
objects or acting through the gunas. But they who have the eye
of wisdom see. |
|
49) You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You
should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor
should you long for inaction. Perform work in this world,
Arjuna, as a man established within himself—without selfish
attachments, and alike in success and defeat. For yoga is
perfect evenness of mind. |
50)
When
a person is devoted to something with complete faith, I unify
his faith in that. Then, when his faith is completely unified,
he gains the object of his devotion. In this way, every desire
is fulfilled by me. Those whose understanding is small attain
only transient satisfaction: those who worship the gods go to
the gods. But my devotees come to me.
|
|
52) Those who know this truth, whose consciousness is unified, think
always, "I am not the doer." While seeing or
hearing, touching or smelling; eating, moving about, or
sleeping; breathing or speaking, letting go or holding on,
even opening or closing the eyes, they understand that these
are only the movements of the senses among sense objects. |
53) Through lack of understanding, people believe that I, the Unmanifest,
have entered into some form. They fail to realize my true
nature, which transcends birth and death. Few see through the
veil of maya. The world, deluded, does not know that I am
without birth and changeless. I know everything about the
past, the present, and the future, Arjuna; but there is no one
who knows me completely. |
|
54) Remembering me at the time of death, close down the doors of the
senses and place the mind in the heart. Then, while absorbed
in meditation, focus all energy upwards to the head. Repeating
in this state the divine Name, the syllable Om that represents
the changeless Brahman, you will go forth from the body and
attain the supreme goal. |
55) Those who live in accordance with these divine laws without
complaining, firmly established in faith, are released from
karma. Those who violate these laws, criticizing and
complaining, are utterly deluded, and are the cause of their
own suffering. |
|
56) Those who possess this wisdom have equal regard for all. They see the
same Self in a spiritual aspirant and an outcaste, in an
elephant, a cow, and a dog. Such people have mastered life.
With even mind they rest in Brahman, who is perfect and is
everywhere the same. They are not elated by good fortune nor
depressed by bad. With mind established in Brahman, they are
free from delusion. Not dependent on any external support,
they realize the joy of spiritual awareness. With
consciousness unified through meditation, they live in abiding
joy. |
57) Those who remember me at the time of death will come to me. Do not
doubt this. Whatever occupies the mind at the time of death
determines the destination of the dying; always they will tend
toward the state of being. Therefore, remember me at all times
and fight on. With your heart and mind intent on me, you will
surely come to me. When you make your mind one-pointed through
regular practice of meditation, you will find the supreme
glory of the Lord. |
|
58) Neither gods nor sages know my origin, for I am the source from which
all the gods and sages come. Whoever knows me as the Lord of
all creation, without birth or beginning, knows the truth and
frees himself from all evil. |
59) Pleasures conceived in the world of the senses have a beginning and
an end and give birth to misery, Arjuna. The wise do not look
for happiness in them. But those who overcome the impulses of
lust and anger which arise in the body are made whole and live
in joy. They find their joy, their rest, and their light
completely within themselves. United with the Lord, they
attain nirvana in Brahman. |
|
60) The wisdom they have acquired in previous lives will be reawakened,
Arjuna, and they will strive even harder for Self-realization.
Indeed, they will be driven on by the strength of their past
disciplines. Even one who inquires after the practice of
meditation rises above those who simply perform rituals. |
61)
You
have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You
should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor
should you long for inaction. Perform work in this world…as
a man established within himself - without selfish
attachments, and alike in success and defeat. For yoga is
perfect evenness of mind.
|
|
62) The six months of the northern path of the sun, the path of light, of
fire, of day, of the bright fortnight, leads knowers of
Brahman to the supreme goal. The six months of the southern
path of the sun, the path of smoke, of night, of the dark
fortnight, leads other souls to the light of the moon and
rebirth. |
63) Sometimes, because we were friends, I rashly said, "Oh,
Krishna!" "Say, friend!"—casual, careless
remarks. Whatever I may have said lightly, whether we were
playing or resting, alone or in company, sitting together or
eating, if it was disrespectful, forgive me for it, O Krishna.
I did not know the greatness of your nature, unchanging and
imperishable. |
|
64) Those who are deluded by the operation of the gunas become attached
to the results of their action. Those who understand these
truths should not unsettle the ignorant. Performing all
actions for my sake, completely absorbed in the Self, and
without expectations, fight! - but stay free from the fever of
the ego |
65) Under my watchful eye the laws of nature take their course. Thus is
the world set in motion; thus the animate and inanimate are
created. |
|
66) He who shirks action does not attain freedom; no one can gain
perfection by abstaining from work. Indeed, there is no one
who rests for even an instant; every creature is driven to
action by his own nature. |
67) He who knows me as his own divine Self breaks through the belief that
he is the body and is not reborn as a separate creature. Such
a one is united with me. Delivered from selfish attachment,
fear, and anger, filled with me, surrendering themselves to
me, purified in the fire of my being, many have reached the
state of unity in me. |
|
68) Those who follow the rituals given in the Vedas, who offer sacrifices
and take soma, free themselves from evil and attain the vast
heaven of the gods, where they enjoy celestial pleasures. When
they have enjoyed these fully, their merit is exhausted and
they return to this land of death. Thus observing Vedic
rituals but caught in an endless chain of desires, they come
and go. |
69] The Supreme Reality stands revealed in the consciousness of those who
have conquered themselves. They live in peace, alike in cold
and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and blame. |
|
70) The states of sattva, rajas, and tamas come from me, but I am not in
them. These three gunas deceive the world: people fail to look
beyond them to me, supreme and imperishable. The three gunas
make up my divine maya, difficult to overcome. But they cross
over this maya who take refuge in me. Others are deluded by
maya; performing evil deeds, they have no devotion to me.
Having lost all discrimination, they follow the way of their
lower nature. |
71) The awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are
free from anxiety about results; all his selfish desires have
been consumed in the fire of knowledge. The wise, ever
satisfied, have abandoned all external supports. Their
security is unaffected by the results of their action; even
while acting, they really do nothing at all. Free from
expectations and from all sense of possession, with mind and
body firmly controlled by the Self, they do not incur sin by
the performance of physical action. |
|
72) The seven great sages and the four ancient ancestors were born from
my mind and received my power. From them came all the
creatures of the world. Whoever understands my power and the
mystery of my manifestations comes without doubt to be united
with me. |
73) The Lord is the supreme poet, the first cause, the sovereign ruler,
subtler than the tiniest particle, the support of all,
inconceivable, bright as the sun, beyond darkness. Remembering
him in this way at the time of death, through devotion and the
power of meditation, with your mind completely stilled and
your concentration fixed in the center of the spiritual
awareness between the eyebrows, you will realize the supreme
Lord. |
|
74)
Neither
the sense of acting, nor actions, nor the connection of cause
and effect comes from the Lord of this world. These three
arise from nature.
|
75) I am death, which overcomes all, and the source of all beings still
to be born. I am the feminine qualities: fame, beauty, perfect
speech, memory, intelligence, loyalty, and forgiveness. |
|
76) Because of your faith, I shall tell you the most profound of secrets:
obtaining both jnana and vijnana, you will be free from all
evil.
This
royal knowledge, this royal secret, is the greatest purifier.
Righteous and imperishable, it is a joy to practice and can be
directly experienced.
|
77) Self-important, obstinate, swept away by the pride of wealth, they
ostentatiously perform sacrifices without any regard for their
purpose. Egotistical, violent, arrogant, lustful, angry,
envious of everyone, they abuse my presence within their own
bodies and in the bodies of others. |
|
78)
Those
who abstain from action while allowing the mind to dwell on
sensual pleasure can not be called sincere spiritual
aspirants. But they excel who control their senses through the
mind, using them for selfless service.
|
79] Those who abstain while allowing the mind to dwell on sensual
pleasure cannot be called sincere spiritual aspirants. But
they excel who control their senses through the mind, using
them for selfless service. |
|
80) Those desiring success in their actions worship the gods through
action in the world of mortals, their desires are quickly
fulfilled. The distinctions of caste, guna, and karma have
come from me. I am their cause, but I myself am changeless and
beyond all action. Actions do not cling to me because I am not
attached to their results. Those who understand this and
practice it live in freedom. Knowing this truth, aspirants
desiring liberation in ancient times engaged in action. You
too can do the same, pursuing an active life in the manner of
those ancient sages. |
81) Make every act an offering to me (God); regard me as your only
protector. Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me
always. Remembering me, you shall overcome all difficulties
through my grace. But if you will not heed me in your
self-will, nothing will avail you. |
|
82) Under my watchful eye the laws of nature take their course. Thus is
the world set in motion; thus the animate and the inanimate
are created. |
83) They are completely fulfilled by spiritual wisdom and
Self-realization. Having conquered their senses, they have
climbed to the summit of human consciousness. To such people a
clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same. They are equally
disposed to family, enemies, and friends, to those who support
them and those who are hostile, to the good and the evil
alike. Because they are impartial, they rise to great heights. |
|
84) The Lord does not partake in the good and evil deeds of any person;
judgment is clouded when wisdom is obscured by ignorance. But
ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of the Self within. The
light of this knowledge shines like the sun, revealing the
supreme Brahman. Those who cast off sin through this
knowledge, absorbed in the Lord and established in him as
their one goal and refuge, are not reborn as separate
creatures. |
85) My highest nature, the imperishable Brahman, gives every creature its
existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. My
action is creation and the bringing forth of creatures. The
adhiyajna, the supreme sacrifice, is made to me as the Lord
within you. |
|
86) Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your
dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be
self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving, and full of the
desire to serve. Realize the truth of the scriptures; learn to
be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry
or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle;
show good will to all. Cultivate vigor, patience, will,
purity; avoid malice and pride. Then, Arjuna, you will achieve
your divine destiny. |
87) Because of your faith, I shall tell you the most profound of secrets:
obtaining both jnana and vijnana, you will be free from all
evil.
This
royal knowledge, this royal secret, is the greatest purifier.
Righteous and imperishable, it is a joy to practice and can be
directly experienced.
|
|
88) O mighty Arjuna, even if you believe the Self to be subject to birth
and death, you should not grieve. Death is inevitable for the
living; birth is inevitable for the dead. Since these are
unavoidable, you should not sorrow. Every creature is
unmanifested at first and then attains manifestation. When its
end has come, it once again becomes unmanifested. What is
there to lament in this? |
89) Fulfill all your duties; action is better than inaction. Even to
maintain your body, Arjuna, you are obliged to act. Selfish
action imprisons the world. Act selflessly, without any
thought of personal profit. |
|
90) I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none
more dear. But those who worship me with love live in me, and
I come to life in them. |
91) Established within themselves, they are equal in pleasure and pain,
praise and blame, kindness and unkindness. Clay, a rock, and
gold are the same to them. Alike in honor and dishonor, alike
to friend and foe, they have given up every selfish pursuit.
Such are those who have gone beyond the gunas. |
|
92) Established within themselves, they are equal in pleasure and pain,
praise and blame, kindness and unkindness. Clay, a rock, and
gold are the same to them. Alike in honor and dishonor, alike
to friend and foe, they have given up every selfish pursuit.
Such are those who have gone beyond the gunas. |
93) Arjuna, those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much
or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. But those
who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation,
will come to the end of sorrow through meditation. Through
constant effort they learn to withdraw the mind from selfish
cravings and absorb it in the Self. Thus they attain the state
of union. |
|
94) But there is no end to my divine attributes, Arjuna; these I have
mentioned are only a few. Wherever you find strength, or
beauty, or spiritual power, you may be sure that these have
sprung from a spark of my essence. |
95) Behold, Arjuna, a million divine forms, with an infinite variety of
color and shape. Behold the gods of the natural world, and
many more wonders never revealed before. Behold the entire
cosmos turning within my body, and the other things you desire
to see.
But these things cannot be seen with your physical eyes; therefore I give
you spiritual vision to perceive my majestic power. |
|
96) All those who take refuge in me, whatever their birth, race, sex, or
caste, will attain the supreme goal; this realization can be
attained even by those whom society scorns. Kings and sages
too seek this goal with devotion. Therefore, having been born
in this transient and forlorn world, give all your love to me.
Fill your mind with me; love me; serve me; worship me always.
Seeking me in your heart, you will at last be united with me. |
97) "I got this today," they say; "Tomorrow I shall get
that. This wealth is mine, and that will be mine too. I have
destroyed my enemies. I shall destroy others too! Am I not
like God? I enjoy what I want. I am successful. I am powerful.
I am rich and well-born. Who is equal to me? I will perform
sacrifices and give gifts, and rejoice in my own
generosity." This is how they go on, deluded by
ignorance. Bound by their greed, and entangled in a web of
delusion, whirled about by a fragmented mind, they fall into a
dark hell. |
|
98)
After many births the wise seek refuge in me, seeing me
everywhere and in everything. Such great souls are very rare.
There are others whose discrimination is misled by many
desires. Following their own nature, they worship lower gods,
practicing various rites.
|
99) Arjuna: O Krishna, the stillness of divine union which you describe
is beyond my comprehension. How can the mind, which is so
restless, attain lasting peace? Krishna, the mind is restless,
turbulent, powerful, violent, trying to control it is like
trying to tame the wind.
Sri Krishna: It is true that the mind is restless and difficult to
control. But it can be conquered, Arjuna, through regular
practice and detachment. Those who lack self-control will find
it difficult to progress in meditation; but those who are
self-controlled, striving earnestly through the right means,
will attain the goal. |
|
100) You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of the work. You
should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor
should you long for inaction. |
101) Whatever you do, make it an offering to me--the food you eat, the
sacrifices you make, the help you give, even your suffering.
In this way you will be freed from the bondage of karma, and
from its results both pleasant and painful. Then, firm in
renunciation and yoga, with your heart free, you will come to
me. |
|
102) To know when to act and when to refrain from action, what is right
action and what is wrong, what brings security, what brings
freedom and what bondage: these are the signs of a sattvic
intellect. |
103) Those who aspire to the state of yoga should seek the Self in inner
solitude through meditation. With body and mind controlled
they should constantly practice one-pointedness, free from
expectations and attachment to material possessions. |
|
104) The practice of meditation frees one from all affliction. This is
the path of yoga. Follow it with determination and sustained
enthusiasm. Renouncing wholeheartedly all selfish desires and
expectations, use your will to control the senses. Little by
little, through patience and repeated effort, the mind will
become stilled in the Self. |
105) The demonic do things they should avoid and avoid the things that
they should do. They have no sense of uprightness, purity, or
truth.
"There is no God," they say, "no truth, no spiritual law,
no moral order. The basis of life is sex; what else can it
be?" Holding such distorted views, possessing scant
discrimination, they become enemies of the world, causing
suffering and destruction. |
|
106) It is not those who lack energy or refrain from action, but those
who work without expectation of reward who attain the goal of
meditation. Theirs is true renunciation. Therefore, Arjuna,
you should understand that renunciation and the performance of
selfless service are the same. Those who cannot renounce
attachment to the results of their work are far from the path. |
107) Sattvic knowledge sees the one indestructible Being in all beings,
the unity underlying the multiplicity of creation. Rajaistic
knowledge sees all things and creatures as separate and
distinct. Tamasic knowledge, lacking any sense of perspective,
sees one small part and mistakes it for the whole. |
|
108) They live in freedom
who have gone beyond the dualities of life. Competing with no
one, they are alike in success and failure and content with
whatever comes to them. They are free, without selfish
attachments; their minds are fixed in knowledge. They perform
all work in the spirit of service, and their karma is
dissolved. |
109)
I was born from the nectar of immortality as the primordial
horse and as Indra's noble elephant. Among men, I am the king.
Among
weapons I am the thunderbolt. I am Kamadhuk, the cow that
fulfills all desires; I am Kandarpa, the power of sex, and
Vasuki, the king of snakes.
|
|
110) The supreme Reality stands revealed in the consciousness of those
who have conquered themselves. They live in peace, alike in
cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and blame. |
111) You are the first among the gods, the timeless spirit, the resting
place of all beings. You are the knower and the thing which is
known. You are the final home; with your infinite form you
pervade the cosmos. |
|
112) When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they
were his own, he has attained the highest state of spiritual
union. |
113) Those who renounce attachment in all their deeds live content in the
"city of nine gates," the body, as its master. They
are not driven to act, nor do they involve others in action. |
|
114) Those established in the Self have renounced selfish attachments to
their actions and cut through doubts with spiritual wisdom.
They act in freedom. |
115) Those established in the Self have renounced selfish attachments to
their actions and cut through doubts with spiritual wisdom.
They act in freedom. |
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116) Reshape yourself through the power of your will; never let yourself
be degraded by self-will. The will is the only friend of the
Self, and the will is the only enemy of the Self. |
117) Whenever dharma declines and the purpose of life is forgotten, I
manifest myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect
the good, to destroy evil, and to re-establish dharma. |
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118) The scriptures describe the three gunas. But you should be free from
the action of the gunas, established in eternal truth,
self-controlled, without any sense of duality or the desire to
acquire and hoard. |
119) Those who are motivated only by desire for the fruits of action are
miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results
of what they do. |
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120) The impermanent has no reality; reality lies in the eternal. Those
who have seen the boundary between these two have attained the
end of all knowledge. Realize that which pervades the universe
and is indestructible; no power can affect this unchanging,
imperishable reality. The body is mortal, but he who dwells in
the body is immortal and immeasurable. |
121) What is action and what is inaction? This question has confused the
greatest sages. I will give you the secret of the action, with
which you can free yourself from bondage. The true nature of
action is difficult to grasp. You must understand what is
action and what is inaction, and what kind of action should be
avoided.
The
wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and
inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is
unified, and every act is done with complete awareness.
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122) You are the father of the universe, of the animate and the
inanimate; you are the object of all worship, the greatest
guru. There is none to equal you in the three worlds. Who can
match your power? O gracious Lord, I prostrate myself before
you and ask for your blessing. As a father forgives his son,
or a friend a friend, or a lover his beloved, so should you
forgive me. |
123) Use all your power to free the senses from attachment and aversion
alike, and live in the full wisdom of the Self. Such a sage
awakes to light in the night of all creatures. That which the
world calls day is the night of ignorance to the wise. |
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124) Seek refuge in the attitude of detachment and you will amass the
wealth of spiritual awareness. Those who are motivated only by
desire for the fruits of action are miserable, for they are
constantly anxious about the results of what they do. |
125) There are ignorant people who speak flowery words and take delight
in the letter of the law, saying there is nothing else. Their
hearts are full of selfish desires, Arjuna. Their idea of
heaven is their own enjoyment, and the aim of all their
activities is pleasure and power. The fruit of their actions
is continual rebirth. Those whose minds are swept away by the
pursuit of pleasure and power are incapable of following the
supreme goal and will not attain samadhi. |
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126) To those who have conquered themselves, the will is a friend. But it
is the enemy of those who have not found the Self within them. |
127) To those who have conquered themselves, the will is a friend. But it
is the enemy of those who have not found the Self within them. |
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128) By loving me he comes to know me truly; then he knows my glory and
enters into my boundless being. All his acts are performed in
my service, and through my grace he wins eternal life. |
129) I am death, which overcomes all, and the source of all beings still
to be born. I am the feminine qualities: fame, beauty, perfect
speech, memory, intelligence, loyalty, and forgiveness. |
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130) When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame
of a lamp in a windless place. In the still mind, in the
depths of meditation, the Self reveals itself. Beholding the
Self by means of the Self, an aspirant knows the joy and peace
of complete fulfillment. Having attained that abiding joy
beyond the senses, revealed in the stilled mind, he never
swerves from the eternal truth. He desires nothing else, and
cannot be shaken by the heaviest burden of sorrow. |
131) I am the father and mother of this universe, and its grandfather
too; I am its entire support. I am the sum of all knowledge,
the purifier, the syllable Om; I am the sacred scriptures, the
Rik, Yajur, and Sama Vedas. |
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132) Knowledge is hidden by selfish desire--hidden by this unquenchable
fire for self-satisfaction. |
133) I am easily attained by the person who always remembers me and is
attached to nothing else. Such a person is a true yogi, Arjuna.
Great souls make their lives perfect and discover me; they are
freed from mortality and the suffering of this separate
existence. Every creature in the universe is subject to
rebirth, Arjuna, except the one who is united with me. |
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134) Giving simply because it is right to give, without thought of
return, at a proper time, in proper circumstances, and to a
worthy person, is sattvic giving. Giving with regrets or in
the expectation of receiving some favour or of getting
something in return is rajasic. Giving at an inappropriate
time, in inappropriate circumstances, and to an unworthy
person, without affection or respect, is tamasic. |
135) Both renunciation of action and the selfless performance of action
lead to the supreme goal. But the path of action is better
than renunciation. |
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136) Selfish desire is found in the senses, mind, and intellect,
misleading them and burying the understanding in delusion.
Fight with all your strength, Arjuna! Controlling your senses,
conquer your enemy, the destroyer of knowledge and
realization. |
137) The immature think that knowledge and action are different, but the
wise see them as the same. The person who is established in
one path will attain the rewards of both. The goal of
knowledge and the goal of service are the same; those who fail
to see this are blind. |
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138) Those who live in accordance with these divine laws without
complaining, firmly established in faith, are released from
karma. Those who violate these laws, criticizing and
complaining, are utterly deluded, and are the cause of their
own suffering. |
139) The offering of wisdom is better than any material offering … for
the goal of all work is spiritual wisdom. |
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140) Strive constantly to
serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to selfless work
one attains the supreme goal of life. Do your work with the
welfare of others always in mind. |
141) Make every act an offering to me (God); regard me as your only
protector. Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me
always. Remembering me, you shall overcome all difficulties
through my grace. But if you will not heed me in your
self-will, nothing will avail you. |
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-142)
I am the goal of life, the Lord and support of all, the inner
witness, the abode of all. I am the only refuge, the one true
friend; I am the beginning, the staying, and the end of
creation; I am the womb and the eternal seed.
I am
heat; I give and withhold the rain. I am immortality and I am
death; I am what is and what is not.
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143) Even a sinner becomes holy when he worships me alone with firm
resolve. Quickly his soul conforms to dharma and he attains to
boundless peace. Never forget this, Arjuna: no one who is
devoted to me will ever come to harm. |
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144) Considering your dharma, you should not vacillate. For a warrior,
nothing is higher than a war against evil. The warrior
confronted with such a war should be pleased, Arjuna, for it
comes as an open gate to heaven. But if you do not participate
in this battle against evil, you will incur sin, violating
your dharma and your honor. |
145) Those who follow the path of service, who have completely purified
themselves and conquered their senses and self-will, see the
Self in all creatures and are untouched by any activity they
perform. |
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146) They are completely fulfilled by spiritual wisdom and
Self-realization. Having conquered their senses, they have
climbed to the summit of human consciousness. To such people a
clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same. They are equally
disposed to family, enemies, and friends, to those who support
them and those who are hostile, to the good and the evil
alike. Because they are impartial, they rise to great heights. |
147) The story of your dishonor will be repeated endlessly: and for a man
of honor, dishonor is worse than death. These brave warriors
will think you are withdrawn from battle out of fear, and
those who formerly esteemed you will treat you with
disrespect. Your enemies will ridicule your strength and say
things that should not be said. What could be more painful
than this? |
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148) The body is called a field, Arjuna; he who knows it is called the
Knower of the field. This is the knowledge of those who know.
I am the Knower of the field in everyone, Arjuna. Knowledge of
the field and its Knower is true knowledge. |
149) Select a clean spot, neither too high nor too low, and seat yourself
firmly on a cloth, a deerskin, and kusha grass. Then, once
seated, strive to still your thoughts. Make your mind
one-pointed in meditation, and your heart will be purified.
Hold your body, head, and neck firmly in a straight line and
keep your eyes from wandering. With all fears dissolved in the
peace of the Self and all desires dedicated to Brahman,
controlling the mind and fixing it on me, sit in meditation
with me as your only goal. |
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150) It is better to perform one's own duties imperfectly than to master
the duties of another. By fulfilling the obligations he is
born with, a person never comes to grief. No one should
abandon duties because he sees defects in them. Every action,
every activity, is surrounded by defects as a fire is
surrounded by smoke. |
151) He who is free from selfish attachments, who has mastered himself
and his passions, attains the supreme perfection of freedom
from action. |
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152) Among purifying forces
I am the wind; among warriors, Rama. Of water creatures I am
the crocodile, and of rivers I am the Ganges.
I am
the beginning, middle, and end of creation. Of all the
sciences I am the science of Self-knowledge, and I am logic in
those who debate.
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153) No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here
or in the world to come.
When such people die, they go to other realms where the righteous live.
They dwell there for countless years and then are reborn into
a home which is pure and prosperous. |
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154) Hypocritical, proud, and arrogant, living in delusion and clinging
to deluded ideas, insatiable in their desires, they pursue
their unclean ends. Although burdened with fears that end only
with death, they still maintain with complete assurance,
"Gratification of lust is the highest that life can
offer." |
155) The infinite joy of touching Brahman is easily attained by those who
are free from the burden of evil and established within
themselves. They see the Self in every creature and all
creation in the Self. With consciousness unified through
meditation, they see everything with an equal eye. |
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156) Closing their eyes, steadying their breathing, and focusing their
attention on the center of spiritual consciousness, the wise
master their senses, mind, and intellect through meditation.
Self-realization is their only goal. Freed from selfish
desire, fear, and anger, they live in freedom always. Knowing
me as the friend of all creatures, the Lord of the universe,
the end of all offerings and all spiritual disciplines, they
attain eternal peace. |
157) Be aware of me always, adore me, make every act an offering to me,
and you shall come to me; this I promise; for you are dear to
me. Abandon all supports and look to me for protection. I
shall purify you from the sins of the past; do not grieve. |
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158) Free from self-will, aggressiveness, arrogance, anger and the lust
to possess people or things, he is at peace with himself and
others and enters into the unitive state. United with Brahman,
ever joyful, beyond the reach of desire and sorrow, he has
equal regard for every living creature and attains supreme
devotion to me. By loving me he comes to know me truly; then
he knows my glory and enters into my boundless being. All his
acts are performed in my service, and through my grace he wins
eternal life. |
159) He is dear to me who runs not after the pleasant or away from the
painful, grieves not, lusts not, but lets things come and go
as they happen. |
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160) Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than
knowledge is meditation. But better still is surrender of
attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace. |
161) But those who fail to realize my true nature must be reborn. Those
who worship the devas will go to the realm of the devas; those
who worship their ancestors will be united with them after
death. Those who worship phantoms will become phantoms; but my
devotees will come to me. |
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162) As for those who seek the transcendental Reality, without name,
without form, contemplating the Unmanifested, beyond the reach
of thought and of feeling, with their senses subdued and mind
serene and striving for the good of all beings, they too will
verily come unto me. |
163) After many births the wise seek refuge in me, seeing me everywhere
and in everything. Such great souls are very rare. |
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164) As the sun lights up the world, the Self dwelling in the field is
the source of all light in the field. Those who, with the eye
of wisdom, distinguish the field from its Knower and the way
to freedom from the bondage of prakriti, attain the supreme
goal. |
165) I will tell you briefly of the eternal state all scriptures affirm,
which can be entered only by those who are self-controlled and
free from selfish passions. Those whose lives are dedicated to
Brahman attain this supreme goal. |
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166) Meditation is superior to severe asceticism and the path of
knowledge. It is also superior to selfless service. |
167) I am ever present to those who have realized me in every creature.
Seeing all life as my manifestation, they are never separated
from me. They worship me in the hearts of all, and all their
actions proceed from me. Wherever they may live, they abide in
me. |
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168) The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for
the welfare of the world, without thought for themselves. By
abstaining from work you will confuse the ignorant, who are
engrossed in their actions. Perform all work carefully, guided
by compassion. |
169) rejoice in seeing you as you have never been seen before, yet I am
filled with fear by this vision of you as the abode of the
universe. Please let me see you again as the shining God of
gods. |
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170) The brightness of the sun, which lights up the world, the brightness
of the moon and of fire--these are my glory. With a drop of my
energy I enter the earth and support all creatures. Through
the moon, the vessel of life-giving fluid, I nourish all
plants. I enter breathing creatures and dwell within as the
life-giving breath. I am fire in the stomach which digests all
food.
Entering into every heart, I give the power to remember and understand;
it is I again who take that power away. All the scriptures
lead to me; I am their author and their wisdom.
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171) The awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are
free from anxiety about results; all his selfish desires have
been consumed in the fire of knowledge. The wise, ever
satisfied, have abandoned external supports. |
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172)
The foolish do not look beyond physical appearances to see my
true nature as the Lord of all creation. The knowledge of such
deluded people is empty; their lives are fraught with disaster
and evil and their work and hopes are all in vain.
But
truly great souls seek my divine nature. They worship me with
a one-pointed mind, having realized that I am the eternal
source of all. Constantly striving, they make firm their
resolve and worship me without wavering. Full of devotion,
they sing of my divine glory.
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173) Some offer wealth; others offer sense restraint and suffering. Some
take vows and offer knowledge and study of the scriptures; and
some make the offering of meditation. Some offer the forces of
vitality, regulating their inhalation and exhalation, and thus
gain control over these forces. Others offer the forces of
vitality through restraint of their senses. All these
understand the meaning of service and will be cleansed of
their impurities. |
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174)
Life after life I cast those who are malicious, hateful,
cruel, and degraded into the wombs of those with similar
demonic natures. Birth after birth they find themselves with
demonic tendencies. Degraded in this way, Arjuna, they fail to
reach me and fall lower still.
There
are three gates to this self-destructive hell: lust, anger,
and greed. Renounce these three. Those who escape from these
three gates of darkness, Arjuna, seek what is best and attain
life's supreme goal. Others disregard the teachings of the
scriptures. Driven by selfish desire, they miss the goal of
life, miss even happiness and success.
|
175) Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice (of religious
ritual). Better than knowledge is meditation. But better still
is surrender of attachment to results (of one's actions),
because there follows immediate peace. |
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176) At the beginning, mankind and the obligation of selfless service
were created together. "Through selfless service, you
will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your
desires": this is the promise of the Creator. |
177) But truly great souls seek my divine nature. They worship me with a
one-pointed mind, having realized that I am the eternal source
of all. Constantly striving, they make firm their resolve and
worship me without wavering. Full of devotion, they sing my
divine glory. |
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178) Neither the sense of acting; nor actions, nor connections of cause
and effect comes from the Lord of this world. These three
arise from nature. |
179) Perfect renunciation is difficult to attain without performing
action. But the wise, following the path of selfless service,
quickly reach the Brahman. |
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180) It is true that the mind is restless and difficult to control. But
it can be conquered, Arjuna, through regular practice and
detachment. Those who lack self-control will find it difficult
to progress in meditation; but those who are self-controlled,
striving earnestly through the right means, will attain the
goal. |
181) listen to the principles of yoga. By practicing these you can break
through the bonds of karma. On this path effort never goes to
waste, and there is no failure. Even a little effort toward
spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.
Those who follow this path, resolving deep within themselves
to seek Me alone, attain singleness of purpose. For those who
lack resolution, the decisions of life are many--branched and
endless. |
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182) It is true that the mind is restless and difficult to control. But
it can be conquered, Arjuna, through regular practice and
detachment. Those who lack self-control will find it difficult
to progress in meditation; but those who are self-controlled,
striving earnestly through the right means, will attain the
goal. |
183) Listen to the principles of yoga. By practicing these you can break
through the bonds of karma. On this path effort never goes to
waste, and there is not failure. Even a little effort toward
spiritual awareness will protect you from the greatest fear.
Those who follow this path, resolving deep within themselves
to seek Me alone, attain singleness of purpose. For those who
lack resolution, the decisions of life are many--branched and
endless." |
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184) Honor and cherish the devas as they honor and cherish you; through
this honor and love you will attain the supreme good. All
human desires are fulfilled by the devas, who are pleased by
selfless service. But anyone who enjoys the things given by
the devas without offering selfless acts in return is a thief. |
185) This supreme Lord who pervades all existence, the true Self of all
creatures, may be realized through undivided love. |
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186) When consciousness is unified...all vain anxiety is left behind.
There is no cause for worry, whether things go well or ill.
Therefore, devote yourself to the disciplines of yoga, for
yoga is skill in action. |
187) Even among those who meditate, that man or woman who worships me
with perfect faith, completely absorbed in me, is the most
firmly established in yoga. |
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188) Just as a reservoir is of little use when the whole countryside is
flooded, scriptures are of little use to the illumined man or
woman who sees the Lord everywhere. |
189) In this world there are two orders of being: the perishable,
separate creature and the changeless spirit. But beyond these
there is another, the supreme Self, the eternal Lord, who
enters into the entire cosmos and supports it from within. |
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190) The glory of the Self is beheld by a few, and a few describe it; a
few listen, but many without understanding. The Self of all
beings, living within the body, is eternal and cannot be
harmed. Therefore, do not grieve. |
191) The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the dead. There has
never been a time when you and I and the kings gathered here
have not existed, nor will there be a time when we will cease
to exist. As the same person inhabits the body through
childhood, youth, and old age, so too at the time of death he
attains another body. The wise are not deluded by these
changes. |
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192) Arjuna: You are Vayu, god of wind; Yama, god of death; Agni, god of
fire; Varuna, god of water. You are the moon and the creator
Prajapati, and the great-grandfather of all creatures. I bow
before you and salute you again and again.
You are behind me and in front of me; I bow to you on every side. Your
power is immeasurable. You pervade everything; you are
everything. |
193) Arjuna: O Krishna, it is right that the world delights and rejoices
in your praise, that all the saints and sages bow down to you
and all evil flees before you to the far corners of the
universe.
How could they not worship you, O Lord? You are the eternal spirit, who
existed before Brahman the Creator and who will never cease to
be. Lord of the gods, you are the abode of the universe.
Changeless, you are what is and what is not, and beyond the
duality of existence and nonexistence. |
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194) Arjuna: Of those steadfast devotees who love you and those who seek
you as the eternal formless Reality, who are the more
established in yoga?
Sri Krishna: Those who set their hearts on me and worship me with
unfailing devotion and faith are more established in yoga. |
195) Sri Krishna: I have revealed to you the nature of the
field and the meaning and object of true knowledge. Those who
are devoted to me, knowing these things, are united with me.
|
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196) Arjuna: O Krishna, you have said that knowledge is
greater than action; why then do you ask me to wage this
terrible war? Your advice seems inconsistent. Give me one path
to follow to the supreme god.
Sri Krishna: At the beginning of time I declared two paths for
the pure heart; jnana yoga, the contemplative path of
spiritual wisdom, and karma yoga, the active path of selfless
service.
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197) Sri Krishna: With your mind intent on me, Arjuna,
discipline yourself with the practice of yoga. Depend on me
completely. Listen, and I will dispel all your doubts; you
will come to know me fully and be united with me.
I will give you both jnana and vijnana. When both these are
realized, there is nothing more you need to know.
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198) Arjuna: O Krishna, the stillness of divine union which
you describe is beyond my comprehension. How can the mind,
which is so restless, attain lasting peace? Krishna, the mind
is restless, turbulent, powerful, violent, trying to control
it is like trying to tame the wind.
Sri Krishna: It is true that the mind is restless and
difficult to control. But it can be conquered, Arjuna, through
regular practice and detachment. Those who lack self-control
will find it difficult to progress in meditation; but those
who are self-controlled, striving earnestly through the right
means, will attain the goal.
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199) Arjuna: "What is the force that binds us to selfish
deeds, O Krishna? What power moves us, even against our will,
as if forcing us?"
Sri Krishna: "It is selfish desire and anger, arising from the
guna of rajas; these are the appetites and evils which
threaten a person in this life."
|
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200) Arjuna: O Krishna, you have recommended both the path of
selfless action and sannyasa, the path of renunciation of
action. Tell me definitely which is better.
Sri Krishna: Both renunciation of action and the selfless
performance of action lead to the supreme goal. But the path
of action is better than renunciation.
Those who have attained perfect renunciation are free from any
sense of duality; they are unaffected by likes and dislikes,
Arjuna, and are free from the bondage of self-will.
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201) All actions are performed by the gunas of prakriti.
Deluded by his identification with the ego, a person thinks,
"I am the doer." But the illumined man or woman understands
the domain of the gunas and is not attached. Such people know
that the gunas interact with each other; they do not claim to
be the doer.
|
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202) Pleasures conceived in the world of the senses have a
beginning and an end and give birth to misery, Arjuna. The
wise do not look for happiness in them. But those who overcome
the impulses of lust and anger which arise in the body are
made whole and live in joy. They find their joy, their rest,
and their light completely within themselves. United with the
Lord, they attain nirvana in Brahman.
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203) Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by
devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal of
life. Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.
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204) Whatever I am offered in devotion with a pure heart--a
leaf, a flower, fruit, or water--I partake of that love
offering. Whatever you do, make it an offering to me--the food
you eat, the sacrifices you make, the help you give, even your
suffering. In this way you will be freed from the bondage of
karma, and from its results both pleasant and painful. Then,
firm in renunciation and yoga, with your heart free, you will
come to me.
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205) let the scriptures be your guide in what to do and what
not to do. Understand their teachings; then act in accordance
with them.
|
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206) Every selfless act…is born from Brahman, the eternal,
infinite Godhead. He is present in every act of service. All
life turns on this law … Whoever violates it, indulging his
senses for his own pleasure and ignoring the needs of others,
has wasted his life. But those who realize the Self are always
satisfied. Having found the source of joy and fulfillment,
they not longer seek happiness from the external world. They
have nothing to gain or lose by any action; neither people nor
things can affect their security.
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207) The Lord does not partake in the good and evil deeds of
any person; judgment is clouded when wisdom is obscured by
ignorance. But ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of the Self
within.
|
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208) The practice of meditation frees one from all affliction.
This is the path of yoga. Follow it with determination and
sustained enthusiasm. Renouncing wholeheartedly all selfish
desires and expectations, use your will to control the senses.
Little by little, through patience and repeated effort, the
mind will become stilled in the Self.
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209) Approach someone who has realized the purpose of life and
question him with reverence and devotion; he will instruct you
in this wisdom. Once you attain it, you will never again be
deluded. You will see all creatures in the Self, and all in
me.
|
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210) May the Lord of Love, who projects himself
Into this universe of myriad forms,
From whom all beings come and to whom all
Return, grant us the grace of wisdom.
He is fire and the sun, and the moon
And the stars. He is the air and the sea,
And the Creator, Prajapati.
He is this boy, he is that girl, he is
This man, he is that woman, and he is
This old man, too, tottering on his staff.
His face is everywhere.
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211) Those who aspire to the state of yoga should seek the
Self in inner solitude through meditation. With body and mind
controlled they should constantly practice one-pointedness,
free from expectations and attachment to material possessions.
|
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212) The disunited mind is far from wise; how can it meditate?
How be at peace? When you know no peace, how can you know joy?
When you let your mind follow the call of the senses, they
carry away your better judgment as storms drive a boat off its
charted course on the sea.
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213) For aspirants who want to climb the mountain of spiritual
awareness, the path is selfless work; for those who have
ascended to yoga the path is stillness and peace. When a
person has freed himself from attachment to the results of
work, and from desires for the enjoyment of sense objects, he
ascends to the unitive state.
|
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214) They live in wisdom who see themselves in all and all in
them, who have renounced every selfish desire and sense
craving tormenting the heart.
Neither agitated by grief nor hankering after pleasure, they
live free from lust and fear and anger. Established in
meditation, they are truly wise. Fettered no more by selfish
attachments, they are neither elated by good fortune nor
depressed by bad. Such are the seers.
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215) Through constant efforts over many lifetimes, a person
becomes purified of all selfish desires and attains the
supreme goal of life.
|
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216) Among the wise, some say that all action should be
renounced as evil. Others say that certain kinds of
action--self-sacrifice, giving, and self-discipline--should be
continued...
Self-sacrifice, giving, and self-discipline should not be
renounced, for they purify the thoughtful. Yet even these,
Arjuna, should be performed without desire for selfish
rewards. This is essential.
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217) Among the wise, some say that all action should be
renounced as evil. Others say that certain kinds of
action--self-sacrifice, giving, and self-discipline--should be
continued...
Self-sacrifice, giving, and self-discipline should not be
renounced, for they purify the thoughtful. Yet even these,
Arjuna, should be performed without desire for selfish
rewards. This is essential.
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218) With senses and mind constantly controlled through
meditation, united with the Self within, an aspirant attains
nirvana, the state of abiding joy and peace in me.
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219) Not deluded by pride, free from selfish attachment and
selfish desire, beyond the duality of pleasure and pain, ever
aware of the Self, the wise go forward to that eternal goal.
Neither the sun nor the moon nor fire can add to that light.
This is my supreme abode, and those who enter there do not
return to separate existence.
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220) Make every act an offering to me (God); regard me as your
only protector. Relying on interior discipline, meditate on me
always. Remembering me, you shall overcome all difficulties
through my grace. But if you will not heed me in your
self-will, nothing will avail you.
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221) The process of offering is Brahman; that which is offered
is Brahman. Brahman offers the sacrifice in the fire of
Brahman. Brahman is attained by those who see Brahman in every
action.
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222) When a family declines, ancient traditions are destroyed.
With them are lost the spiritual foundations for life, and the
family loses its sense of unity. Where there is no sense of
unity, the women of the family become corrupt; and with the
corruption of its women, society is plunged into chaos.
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223) Those who follow the rituals given in the Vedas, who
offer sacrifices and take soma, free themselves from evil and
attain the vast heaven of the gods, where they enjoy celestial
pleasures.
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224) As a man abandons worn-out clothes and acquires new ones,
so when the body is worn out a new one is acquired by the
Self, who lives within.
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225) Those who worship me and meditate on me constantly,
without any other thought, I will provide for all their needs.
Those who worship other gods with faith and devotion also
worship me, Arjuna, even if they do not observe the usual
forms. I am the object of all worship, its enjoyer and Lord.
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226) The multitudes of gods, demigods, and demons are all
overwhelmed by the sight of you. O mighty Lord, at the sight
of your myriad eyes and mouths, arms and legs, stomachs and
fearful teeth, I and the entire universe shake in terror.
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227) It is not those who lack energy or refrain from action,
but those who work without expectation of reward who attain
the goal of meditation. Theirs is true renunciation.
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228) Even as a tortoise draws in its limbs, the wise can draw
in their senses at will. Aspirants abstain from sense
pleasures, but they still crave for them. These cravings all
disappear when they see the highest goal. Even of those who
tread the path, the stormy senses can sweep off the mind. They
live in wisdom who subdue their senses and keep their minds
ever absorbed in me.
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229) He who shirks action does not attain freedom; no one can
gain perfection by abstaining from work. Indeed, there is no
one who rests for even an instant; every creature is driven to
action by his own nature.
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230) Those who know this truth, whose consciousness is
unified, think always, "I am not the doer." While seeing or
hearing, touching or smelling; eating, moving about, or
sleeping; breathing or speaking, letting go or holding on,
even opening or closing the eyes, they understand that these
are only the movements of the senses among sense objects.
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231) By loving me he comes to know me truly; then he knows my
glory and enters into my boundless being. All his acts are
performed in my service, and through my grace he wins eternal
life.
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