Shrimad Bhagavad Gita · 43 verses
Chapter 3: The Yoga of Action
No one can escape action. Krishna teaches that work done selflessly, as an offering, frees us from bondage, and names desire and anger as our greatest enemies.
All verses, with meaning
3.1Why push me to act?Arjuna said: Janardana, if you think understanding is better than action, then why do you …3.2Tell me one clear pathYour mixed words seem to confuse my mind. Tell me clearly the one path by which I may reac…3.3Two pathsKrishna said: Sinless one, I taught long ago that there are two paths in this world — the …3.4Not acting is not freedomA person does not reach freedom from action simply by not starting work, nor does one reac…3.5No one can stop actingNo one can stay even for a moment without doing something. Everyone is driven to act by th…3.6Outer control, inner cravingOne who holds back the organs of action but keeps dwelling on sense objects in the mind is…3.7Action without attachmentBut one who controls the senses with the mind and, without attachment, engages the organs …3.8Action is better than inactionDo your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Without action you cannot eve…3.9Work as an offeringExcept for work done as an offering (yajna), all work in this world binds a person. So, Ar…3.10The Creator's teachingIn the beginning, the Creator made people along with yajna and said: through this you will…3.11Mutual supportNourish the gods with this yajna, and let the gods nourish you. Supporting one another, yo…3.12Enjoying without givingPleased by yajna, the gods will give you the things you need. One who enjoys their gifts w…3.13Eating after offeringGood people who eat what remains after the offering are freed from all wrongs, but those w…3.14The cycle of lifeLiving beings come from food, food comes from rain, rain comes from yajna, and yajna is bo…3.15Brahman in yajnaKnow that action arises from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the Imperishable. So the a…3.16Keep the wheel turningOne who does not help keep this wheel turning, Partha, lives in sin, delighting only in th…3.17Content in the SelfBut one who delights only in the Self, is satisfied in the Self and content in the Self ha…3.18Nothing to gainSuch a person has nothing to gain by acting or by not acting in this world, and does not d…3.19Work without clingingSo always do the work that ought to be done, without attachment. By working without attach…3.20Work for the world's goodKing Janaka and others reached perfection through action alone. Keeping in mind the welfar…3.21Leading by exampleWhatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world goes by…3.22Krishna also worksPartha, there is no duty for me to do in all the three worlds, nothing I lack or need to g…3.23Others follow meFor if I ever stopped working tirelessly, Partha, people would follow my path in every way…3.24If I stopped workingIf I did not work, these worlds would fall into ruin; I would cause confusion and the dest…3.25The wise work selflesslyJust as the unwise work with attachment, Arjuna, the wise should work without attachment, …3.26Do not unsettle othersThe wise should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action. Instead…3.27Ego thinks 'I am the doer'All actions are actually done by the qualities of nature, but a person confused by ego thi…3.28Gunas act on gunasBut one who knows the truth about the qualities and their actions, mighty Arjuna, understa…3.29Patience with the unawarePeople deluded by the qualities of nature get attached to their workings. The one who know…3.30Offer all actions to MeOffering all your actions to Me, with your mind fixed on the Self, free from hope and the …3.31Follow with faithThose who always follow this teaching of mine with faith and without finding fault are als…3.32Those who reject itBut those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it, confused about all knowl…3.33The power of natureEven a wise person acts according to their own nature. All beings follow their nature; wha…3.34Liking and dislikingLiking and disliking sit firmly in every sense towards its object. One should not come und…3.35Your own path is bestIt is better to do your own duty, even imperfectly, than another's duty done well. Even de…3.36What makes us do wrong?Arjuna said: Then what drives a person to do wrong, even against their own will, as if pus…3.37Desire is the enemyKrishna said: It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of passion (rajas). It is nev…3.38Knowledge hidden by desireAs fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust and an unborn child by the womb, so knowledg…3.39An unquenchable fireKnowledge is covered by this constant enemy of the wise, desire, which is like a fire that…3.40Where desire livesThe senses, the mind and the intellect are said to be its home. Through them, desire cover…3.41First control the sensesSo, best of the Bharatas, first control your senses and then destroy this sinful thing tha…3.42The Self is highestThe senses are said to be higher than the body, the mind higher than the senses, the intel…3.43Conquer desireKnowing the Self to be beyond the intellect, and steadying the mind by the Self, mighty Ar…