Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 of 18

Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga

ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग — The Yoga of Knowledge and the Renunciation of Action · 42 verses

All 42 verses

Sanskrit, transliteration and English meaning for every verse.

1. 4.1 · Krishna

   इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् ।
   विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥

   imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam |
   vivasvānmanave prāha manurikṣvākave’bravīt ||

   The Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan (the sun god); Vivasvan passed it on to Manu, and Manu told it to Ikshvaku.

2. 4.2 · Krishna

   एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।
   स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥

   evaṃ paramparāprāptamimaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ |
   sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa ||

   Handed down in this way from one to the next, it was known to the royal sages. But over a great span of time, scorcher of foes, this yoga was lost to the world.

3. 4.3 · Krishna

   स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।
   भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥

   sa evāyaṃ mayā te’dya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ |
   bhakto’si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam ||

   This same ancient yoga I have taught to you today, because you are my devotee and my friend. It is the highest secret.

4. 4.4 · Arjuna

   अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः ।
   कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥

   aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ |
   kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti ||

   Arjuna said: Your birth came later, and Vivasvan’s birth long before. How am I to understand that you taught it in the beginning?

5. 4.5 · Krishna

   बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन ।
   तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥

   bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna |
   tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṃ vettha parantapa ||

   The Lord said: Many births of mine have passed, Arjuna, and many of yours. I know them all, but you do not, scorcher of foes.

6. 4.6 · Krishna

   अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् ।
   प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया ॥

   ajo’pi sannavyayātmā bhūtānāmīśvaro’pi san |
   prakṛtiṃ svāmadhiṣṭhāya saṃbhavāmyātmamāyayā ||

   Though I am unborn and my being is imperishable, though I am lord of all beings, yet, governing my own nature, I come into being through my own power (maya).

7. 4.7 · Krishna · key verse

   यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
   अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥

   yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati bhārata |
   abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmyaham ||

   Whenever there is a decline of dharma and a rise of adharma, Arjuna, then I manifest myself.

8. 4.8 · Krishna · key verse

   परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
   धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥

   paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām |
   dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge ||

   To protect the good, to destroy the wicked and to re-establish dharma, I take birth age after age.

9. 4.9 · Krishna

   जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।
   त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥

   janma karma ca me divyamevaṃ yo vetti tattvataḥ |
   tyaktvā dehaṃ punarjanma naiti māmeti so’rjuna ||

   One who truly knows my divine birth and deeds in this way is not born again on leaving the body, but comes to me, Arjuna.

10. 4.10 · Krishna

    वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः ।
    बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ॥

    vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ |
    bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ ||

    Free from passion, fear and anger, absorbed in me and taking refuge in me, many, purified by the austerity of knowledge, have attained my state of being.

11. 4.11 · Krishna

    ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।
    मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥

    ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham |
    mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ||

    In whatever way people come to me, in that same way I receive them. Everywhere, son of Pritha, people follow my path.

12. 4.12 · Krishna

    काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ।
    क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥

    kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ |
    kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhirbhavati karmajā ||

    Those who desire success in their actions worship the gods here, for in the human world success born of action comes quickly.

13. 4.13 · Krishna

    चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।
    तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥

    cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ |
    tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam ||

    The fourfold social order was created by me according to the distribution of qualities (gunas) and actions. Though I am its maker, know me as the non-doer, the imperishable.

14. 4.14 · Krishna

    न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ।
    इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥

    na māṃ karmāṇi limpanti na me karmaphale spṛhā |
    iti māṃ yo’bhijānāti karmabhirna sa badhyate ||

    Actions do not stain me, nor do I long for the fruits of action. One who knows me in this way is not bound by actions.

15. 4.15 · Krishna

    एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।
    कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥

    evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ |
    kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam ||

    Knowing this, even the seekers of liberation of old performed action. So you too should simply act, as the ancients did long ago.

16. 4.16 · Krishna

    किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः ।
    तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥

    kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo’pyatra mohitāḥ |
    tatte karma pravakṣyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣyase’śubhāt ||

    What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are bewildered here. I will explain to you what action is; knowing it, you will be freed from evil.

17. 4.17 · Krishna

    कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
    अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥

    karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ |
    akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ||

    One must understand what action is, what wrong action is, and what inaction is; the way of action is hard to fathom.

18. 4.18 · Krishna

    कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।
    स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥

    karmaṇyakarma yaḥ paśyedakarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ |
    sa buddhimānmanuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsnakarmakṛt ||

    One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people; such a person is disciplined, and accomplishes every action.

19. 4.19 · Krishna

    यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसंकल्पवर्जिताः ।
    ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥

    yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāmasaṃkalpavarjitāḥ |
    jñānāgnidagdhakarmāṇaṃ tamāhuḥ paṇḍitaṃ budhāḥ ||

    One whose every undertaking is free from desire and its scheming, whose actions are burned up in the fire of knowledge — the wise call such a person truly learned.

20. 4.20 · Krishna

    त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।
    कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किंचित्करोति सः ॥

    tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgaṃ nityatṛpto nirāśrayaḥ |
    karmaṇyabhipravṛtto’pi naiva kiṃcitkaroti saḥ ||

    Having given up attachment to the fruits of action, ever content and dependent on nothing, such a person does nothing at all, even while fully engaged in action.

21. 4.21 · Krishna

    निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः ।
    शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥

    nirāśīryatacittātmā tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ |
    śārīraṃ kevalaṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||

    Free from craving, with mind and self restrained, having let go of all possessions, doing only what the body requires, one incurs no fault.

22. 4.22 · Krishna

    यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ।
    समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥

    yadṛcchālābhasaṃtuṣṭo dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ |
    samaḥ siddhāvasiddhau ca kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate ||

    Content with whatever comes unsought, beyond the pairs of opposites, free from envy, the same in success and failure — such a person is not bound, even in acting.

23. 4.23 · Krishna

    गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः ।
    यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते ॥

    gatasaṅgasya muktasya jñānāvasthitacetasaḥ |
    yajñāyācarataḥ karma samagraṃ pravilīyate ||

    For one who is unattached and free, whose mind is anchored in knowledge, and who acts for the sake of sacrifice, all action dissolves away.

24. 4.24 · Krishna · key verse

    ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।
    ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥

    brahmārpaṇaṃ brahma havirbrahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam |
    brahmaiva tena gantavyaṃ brahmakarmasamādhinā ||

    The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman alone is reached by one who sees Brahman in every action.

25. 4.25 · Krishna

    दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते ।
    ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति ॥

    daivamevāpare yajñaṃ yoginaḥ paryupāsate |
    brahmāgnāvapare yajñaṃ yajñenaivopajuhvati ||

    Some yogis offer sacrifice to the gods alone; others offer sacrifice itself as an offering into the fire of Brahman.

26. 4.26 · Krishna

    श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति ।
    शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति ॥

    śrotrādīnīndriyāṇyanye saṃyamāgniṣu juhvati |
    śabdādīnviṣayānanya indriyāgniṣu juhvati ||

    Some offer hearing and the other senses into the fires of restraint; others offer sound and the other objects of sense into the fires of the senses.

27. 4.27 · Krishna

    सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे ।
    आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ॥

    sarvāṇīndriyakarmāṇi prāṇakarmāṇi cāpare |
    ātmasaṃyamayogāgnau juhvati jñānadīpite ||

    Others offer all the workings of the senses and of the life-breath into the fire of the yoga of self-control, kindled by knowledge.

28. 4.28 · Krishna

    द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे ।
    स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः ॥

    dravyayajñāstapoyajñā yogayajñāstathāpare |
    svādhyāyajñānayajñāśca yatayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ ||

    Some offer their possessions as sacrifice, some their austerity, some their practice of yoga; and other striving ascetics of firm vows offer scriptural study and knowledge.

29. 4.29 · Krishna

    अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे ।
    प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः ॥

    apāne juhvati prāṇaṃ prāṇe’pānaṃ tathāpare |
    prāṇāpānagatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ ||

    Others, devoted to breath control, offer the outward breath (prana) into the inward breath (apana), and the inward breath into the outward, checking the flow of both.

30. 4.30 · Krishna

    अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति ।
    सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥

    apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇānprāṇeṣu juhvati |
    sarve’pyete yajñavido yajñakṣapitakalmaṣāḥ ||

    Others, restricting their food, offer the life-breaths into the life-breaths. All of these know what sacrifice is, and through sacrifice their impurities are destroyed.

31. 4.31 · Krishna

    यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।
    नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम ॥

    yajñaśiṣṭāmṛtabhujo yānti brahma sanātanam |
    nāyaṃ loko’styayajñasya kuto’nyaḥ kurusattama ||

    Eating the nectar that remains from sacrifice, they reach the eternal Brahman. Not even this world belongs to one who offers no sacrifice — how then the next, best of the Kurus?

32. 4.32 · Krishna

    एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे ।
    कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥

    evaṃ bahuvidhā yajñā vitatā brahmaṇo mukhe |
    karmajānviddhi tānsarvānevaṃ jñātvā vimokṣyase ||

    So many kinds of sacrifice are set out in the mouth of Brahman (the Veda). Know that they are all born of action; knowing this, you will be set free.

33. 4.33 · Krishna

    श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।
    सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥

    śreyāndravyamayādyajñājjñānayajñaḥ parantapa |
    sarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate ||

    The sacrifice of knowledge is better than any sacrifice of material things, scorcher of foes. All action without exception, son of Pritha, finds its fulfilment in knowledge.

34. 4.34 · Krishna

    तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
    उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

    tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā |
    upadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ ||

    Learn it by humble reverence, by earnest questioning and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will teach you this knowledge.

35. 4.35 · Krishna

    यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव ।
    येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि ॥

    yajjñātvā na punarmohamevaṃ yāsyasi pāṇḍava |
    yena bhūtānyaśeṣeṇa drakṣyasyātmanyatho mayi ||

    Knowing it, son of Pandu, you will never again fall into such delusion; through it you will see all beings without exception in yourself, and then in me.

36. 4.36 · Krishna

    अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।
    सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥

    api cedasi pāpebhyaḥ sarvebhyaḥ pāpakṛttamaḥ |
    sarvaṃ jñānaplavenaiva vṛjinaṃ santariṣyasi ||

    Even if you were the worst of all wrongdoers, you would cross over all evil by the raft of knowledge alone.

37. 4.37 · Krishna

    यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन ।
    ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥

    yathaidhāṃsi samiddho’gnirbhasmasātkurute’rjuna |
    jñānāgniḥ sarvakarmāṇi bhasmasātkurute tathā ||

    As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all actions to ashes.

38. 4.38 · Krishna

    न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
    तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥

    na hi jñānena sadṛśaṃ pavitramiha vidyate |
    tatsvayaṃ yogasaṃsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati ||

    There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One who is perfected in yoga finds it within oneself in the course of time.

39. 4.39 · Krishna

    श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।
    ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥

    śraddhāvām̐llabhate jñānaṃ tatparaḥ saṃyatendriyaḥ |
    jñānaṃ labdhvā parāṃ śāntimacireṇādhigacchati ||

    One who has faith, who is devoted to it and has mastered the senses, gains knowledge; and having gained knowledge, soon reaches supreme peace.

40. 4.40 · Krishna

    अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।
    नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥

    ajñaścāśraddadhānaśca saṃśayātmā vinaśyati |
    nāyaṃ loko’sti na paro na sukhaṃ saṃśayātmanaḥ ||

    But one who is ignorant, without faith and full of doubt, is lost. For the doubting soul there is neither this world, nor the next, nor any happiness.

41. 4.41 · Krishna

    योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम् ।
    आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनंजय ॥

    yogasaṃnyastakarmāṇaṃ jñānasaṃchinnasaṃśayam |
    ātmavantaṃ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanaṃjaya ||

    Actions do not bind one who has renounced action through yoga, whose doubt is cut away by knowledge, and who is self-possessed, Dhananjaya.

42. 4.42 · Krishna

    तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः ।
    छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥

    tasmādajñānasambhūtaṃ hṛtsthaṃ jñānāsinātmanaḥ |
    chittvainaṃ saṃśayaṃ yogamātiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhārata ||

    So with the sword of knowledge cut away this doubt in your heart, born of ignorance. Take your stand in yoga, and rise up, Bharata!