Vyāsa (traditional attribution) · Complete work
Chapter 4 — The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation
Chapter 4 — The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of 18. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
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ॐश्रीपरमात्मने नमःअथ चतुर्थोऽध्यायः
श्रीभगवानुवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् ।विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥४-१॥
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥४-२॥
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥४-३॥
अर्जुन उवाचअपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः ।कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥४-४॥
श्रीभगवानुवाचबहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन ।तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥४-५॥
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् ।प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया ॥४-६॥
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥४-७॥
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥४-८॥
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥४-९॥
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः ।बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ॥४-१०॥
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥४-११॥
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ।क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥४-१२॥
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥४-१३॥
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ।इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥४-१४॥
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥४-१५॥
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः ।तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥४-१६॥
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥४-१७॥
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥४-१८॥
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसंकल्पवर्जिताः ।ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥४-१९॥
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किंचित्करोति सः ॥४-२०॥
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः ।शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥४-२१॥
यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ।समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥४-२२॥
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः ।यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते ॥४-२३॥
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥४-२४॥
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते ।ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति ॥४-२५॥
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति ।शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति ॥४-२६॥
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे ।आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ॥४-२७॥
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे ।स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः ॥४-२८॥
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे ।प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः ॥४-२९॥
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति ।सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥४-३०॥
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम ॥४-३१॥
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे ।कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥४-३२॥
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥४-३३॥
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥४-३४॥
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव ।येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि ॥४-३५॥
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥४-३६॥
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन ।ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥४-३७॥
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥४-३८॥
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥४-३९॥
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥४-४०॥
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम् ।आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनंजय ॥४-४१॥
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः ।छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥४-४२॥
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रेश्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगो नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः ॥ ४ ॥
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from all 18 Sanskrit chapters and 700 verses for fidelity, modern clarity, philosophical precision, symbolism, structure, and cadence.
Om
Salutations to the Supreme Self
Now, the Fourth Chapter
The Blessed One said
I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan;Vivasvan declared it to Manu,and Manu told it to Ikshvaku. ॥४-१॥
Thus received through the succession,the royal seers knew this Yoga.But over the vast passage of time,it was lost here, Scorcher of Foes. ॥४-२॥
That same ancient YogaI have taught to you today,for you are my devotee and my friend;this is indeed the supreme secret. ॥४-३॥
Arjuna said
Your birth came later,and Vivasvan’s birth came earlier.How am I to understand, then,that you taught this in the beginning? ॥४-४॥
The Blessed One said
Many births of mine have passed,and yours as well, Arjuna.I know them all;you do not, Scorcher of Foes. ॥४-५॥
Though unborn, though my Self is imperishable,though I am the Lord of beings,established in my own nature,I come into being through my own maya. ॥४-६॥
Whenever dharma declines,O Bharata,and adharma rises,then I bring myself forth. ॥४-७॥
For the protection of the good,for the destruction of evildoers,and for the firm establishment of dharma,I come into being age after age. ॥४-८॥
Whoever thus knows in truththe divine nature of my birth and action,on leaving the body is not born again,but comes to me, Arjuna. ॥४-९॥
Freed from attachment, fear, and anger,filled with me and taking refuge in me,many, purified by the fire of knowledge,have attained my state. ॥४-१०॥
In whatever way people approach me,in that very way I receive them.In every way, Partha,human beings follow my path. ॥४-११॥
Desiring success in their actions,people sacrifice here to the gods,for in the human world,success born of action comes quickly. ॥४-१२॥
The fourfold order was created by meaccording to the divisions of qualities and actions.Though I am its creator,know me as the imperishable non-doer. ॥४-१३॥
Actions do not stain me,nor do I desire their fruit.Whoever knows me in this wayis not bound by actions. ॥४-१४॥
Knowing this, those of oldwho sought liberation also performed action.Therefore, you too must performthe action performed by those who came before. ॥४-१५॥
What is action? What is inaction?Even the wise are bewildered here.I will teach you what action is;knowing it, you will be freed from evil. ॥४-१६॥
Action must be understood,wrong action must be understood,and inaction must be understood;profound is the course of action. ॥४-१७॥
Whoever sees inaction in actionand action in inactionis wise among human beings,integrated, an accomplisher of all action. ॥४-१८॥
One whose every undertakingis free from desire and self-willed intention,whose actions have been burned in the fire of knowledge—the discerning call that person wise. ॥४-१९॥
Abandoning attachment to the fruit of action,always content, dependent on nothing,though fully engaged in action,that person does nothing at all. ॥४-२०॥
Without expectation, with mind and self restrained,having relinquished every possession,performing action merely with the body,one incurs no fault. ॥४-२१॥
Content with whatever comes unasked,beyond the pairs of opposites, free from envy,the same in success and failure,one is not bound even while acting. ॥४-२२॥
For one whose attachment is gone, who is free,whose consciousness is established in knowledge,and who acts for the sake of sacrifice,action dissolves completely. ॥४-२३॥
Brahman is the offering; Brahman is the oblation,offered by Brahman into the fire of Brahman.Brahman alone is to be reachedby one absorbed in action as Brahman. ॥४-२४॥
Some yogins worshipthrough sacrifice to the gods;others offer sacrifice itself as sacrificeinto the fire of Brahman. ॥४-२५॥
Some offer the senses, hearing and the rest,into the fires of restraint;others offer sound and the other sense-objectsinto the fires of the senses. ॥४-२६॥
Others offer all the actions of the sensesand all the actions of the vital energiesinto the fire of the Yoga of self-restraint,kindled by knowledge. ॥४-२७॥
Some offer material possessions, some austerity,others Yoga as sacrifice;others, ascetics of sharpened vows,offer sacred study and knowledge. ॥४-२८॥
Some offer the outgoing breath into the incoming breath,and the incoming breath into the outgoing breath;checking the courses of both incoming and outgoing breath,they are devoted to the discipline of breath. ॥४-२९॥
Others, regulated in food,offer the vital breaths into the vital breaths.All these are knowers of sacrifice,their impurities consumed by sacrifice. ॥४-३०॥
Those who partake of the immortal remainder of sacrificego to the eternal Brahman.This world is not for one who does not sacrifice—how then could another be, Best of the Kurus? ॥४-३१॥
Thus, sacrifices of many kindsare spread forth in the mouth of Brahman.Know them all as born of action;knowing this, you will be liberated. ॥४-३२॥
The sacrifice of knowledge is greaterthan sacrifice made of material things, Scorcher of Foes.All action, without exception, Partha,culminates in knowledge. ॥४-३३॥
Know this through reverent submission,through thorough questioning, and through service.Those who possess knowledge and see the truthwill teach that knowledge to you. ॥४-३४॥
Knowing it, you will never againfall into such delusion, Pandava;through it you will see all beings, without exception,in your own Self, and then in me. ॥४-३५॥
Even if you are the greatest evildoeramong all who commit evil,by the raft of knowledge aloneyou will cross beyond all wrong. ॥४-३६॥
As a blazing fire reduces fuelto ashes, Arjuna,so the fire of knowledge reducesall actions to ashes. ॥४-३७॥
Nothing here is foundso purifying as knowledge.One perfected in Yogafinds it in the Self, in time. ॥४-३८॥
One who has faith gains knowledge,devoted to it, with the senses restrained.Having gained knowledge,one swiftly attains supreme peace. ॥४-३९॥
The ignorant, the faithless,and the doubting self perish.For the doubting self there is neither this world,nor the next, nor happiness. ॥४-४०॥
Actions do not bind onewho has renounced action through Yoga,whose doubt has been severed by knowledge,and who possesses the Self, Dhananjaya. ॥४-४१॥
Therefore, with the sword of knowledge,cut through this doubt born of ignorance,lodged in your heart.Take your stand in Yoga; arise, Bharata. ॥४-४२॥
Om Tat Sat. Thus, in the glorious Bhagavad Gita Upanishads, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the scripture of Yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, the fourth chapter, named “The Yoga of Renunciation of Action through Knowledge.” ॥ ४ ॥
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from all 18 Sanskrit chapters and 700 verses.
Om
Homage to the Supreme Self.
Now, the fourth chapter.
The Blessed Lord said:
I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvat.Vivasvat told it to Manu, and Manu told it to Ikshvaku. ॥४-१॥
Received in this way through a succession of teachers, the royal sages knew it.But over the vast course of time, this yoga was lost here, scorcher of foes. ॥४-२॥
Today I have taught you that same ancient yoga,because you are my devotee and my friend. This is indeed the highest secret. ॥४-३॥
Arjuna said:
Your birth was later, while Vivasvat’s birth was earlier.How am I to understand that you taught this in the beginning? ॥४-४॥
The Blessed Lord said:
Many births of mine have passed, and many of yours, Arjuna.I know them all, but you do not, scorcher of foes. ॥४-५॥
Though I am unborn, with an imperishable self, and though I am the Lord of beings,I govern my own nature and come into being through my own power of manifestation. ॥४-६॥
Whenever dharma declines, descendant of Bharata,and adharma rises, then I bring myself into being. ॥४-७॥
To protect the good, to destroy evildoers,and to establish dharma, I come into being age after age. ॥४-८॥
Whoever truly knows the divine nature of my birth and actiondoes not take birth again after leaving the body, but comes to me, Arjuna. ॥४-९॥
Free from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in me and taking refuge in me,many, purified by the discipline of knowledge, have come to my state of being. ॥४-१०॥
In whatever way people approach me, I respond to them in that same way.People follow my path in every way, son of Pritha. ॥४-११॥
Wanting success in their actions, people sacrifice to the gods here,for success born of action comes quickly in the human world. ॥४-१२॥
I created the fourfold social order according to divisions of qualities and actions.Though I am its maker, know me as the imperishable non-doer. ॥४-१३॥
Actions do not stain me, nor do I desire the fruit of action.Whoever knows me in this way is not bound by actions. ॥४-१४॥
Knowing this, those who sought liberation in ancient times also performed action.Therefore, you too must act, as the ancients did long ago. ॥४-१५॥
What is action? What is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this.I will explain action to you, knowing which you will be freed from evil. ॥४-१६॥
One must understand action, and one must understand wrong action.One must also understand inaction. The course of action is hard to understand. ॥४-१७॥
Whoever sees inaction in action and action in inactionis wise among human beings, united in yoga, and has accomplished all action. ॥४-१८॥
The wise call that person learned whose every undertakingis free from desire and self-serving intention, and whose actions are burned in the fire of knowledge. ॥४-१९॥
Abandoning attachment to the fruit of action, always content and dependent on nothing,even when fully engaged in action, that person does nothing at all. ॥४-२०॥
Without expectation, with mind and self controlled, and having given up every possession,one incurs no guilt while performing only the action needed to sustain the body. ॥४-२१॥
Content with whatever comes by chance, beyond the pairs of opposites, and free from envy,the same in success and failure, one is not bound even while acting. ॥४-२२॥
For one whose attachment is gone, who is liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge,and who acts for sacrifice, action dissolves completely. ॥४-२३॥
The ladle is Brahman; the offering is Brahman;it is offered by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman.Brahman alone is to be reached by one absorbed in Brahman in every act. ॥४-२४॥
Some yogis perform sacrifice directed solely to the gods.Others offer sacrifice itself, through sacrifice, into the fire of Brahman. ॥४-२५॥
Some offer the senses, such as hearing, into the fires of restraint.Others offer the objects of the senses, such as sound, into the fires of the senses. ॥४-२६॥
Others offer all the actions of the senses and all the actions of the vital breathsinto the fire of the yoga of self-control, kindled by knowledge. ॥४-२७॥
Some sacrifice material goods, some sacrifice through austerity, and others through yoga.Ascetics of strict vows also sacrifice through self-study and knowledge. ॥४-२८॥
Some offer the prana breath into the apana breath, and others the apana breath into the prana breath.Restraining the movements of prana and apana, they are devoted to breath control. ॥४-२९॥
Others, regulating their food, offer the vital breaths into the vital breaths.All these know sacrifice, and their impurities have been destroyed by sacrifice. ॥४-३०॥
Those who eat the immortal remainder of sacrifice go to eternal Brahman.This world does not belong to one who does not sacrifice—how then could the other world, best of the Kurus? ॥४-३१॥
In this way, many kinds of sacrifice are spread out in the mouth of Brahman.Know that they are all born of action. Knowing this, you will be liberated. ॥४-३२॥
The sacrifice of knowledge is better than a sacrifice made of material things, scorcher of foes.All action without exception culminates in knowledge, son of Pritha. ॥४-३३॥
Understand this through humble prostration, thorough questioning, and service.Those who possess knowledge and see the truth will teach that knowledge to you. ॥४-३४॥
Knowing it, you will never again fall into delusion like this, son of Pandu.Through it, you will see all beings completely within yourself and also within me. ॥४-३५॥
Even if you are the greatest sinner among all sinners,you will cross over all evil solely by the boat of knowledge. ॥४-३६॥
Just as a blazing fire reduces firewood to ashes, Arjuna,so the fire of knowledge reduces all actions to ashes. ॥४-३७॥
Nothing here purifies like knowledge.One perfected in yoga finds it within oneself in time. ॥४-३८॥
A person with faith, devoted to it and with the senses controlled, gains knowledge.Having gained knowledge, that person soon reaches supreme peace. ॥४-३९॥
But the ignorant, the faithless, and the doubting person perishes.For the doubting person, there is neither this world, nor the next, nor happiness. ॥४-४०॥
Actions do not bind one who has renounced action through yoga,whose doubts have been cut away by knowledge, and who is self-possessed, winner of wealth. ॥४-४१॥
Therefore, with the sword of knowledge, cut away this doubt of yours,born of ignorance and lodged in your heart.Stand firm in yoga and rise, descendant of Bharata. ॥४-४२॥
Om. That is the Real. Thus, in the Upanishads of the glorious Bhagavad Gita, in the knowledge of Brahman, in the teaching of yoga, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, ends the fourth chapter, entitled “The Yoga of Renunciation of Action through Knowledge.” ॥ ४ ॥