disliked the idea of his Charrioteer Lord

There was a fighting against the Krishna in the battle

king ruling Hastinapura, family elders, Gurus field. This talk was
now known as Delhi. and close relatives. basically a spiritual talk
He had two sons, Lord Krishna was the encompassing real
Dhritarashtra and Charrioteer to Arjuna in truth about human life.
Pandu. Dhritarashtra the battle field. Arjuna The 18 Chapters of
was born blind. communicated his Bhagvat Gita can be
Therefore, Pandu hesitation to get on with broadly divided into
became the King. the war. And it was left three parts each
Pandu had five sons. to Lord Krishna to dwelling about Gyana
They were called the respond to the Yoga, Karma Yoga and
Pandavas. Dhritarshtra hesitation of Arjuna. Bhakti Yoga.
had one hundred sons. And this response
They were called the given by Lord Kishna to
Kauravas. Arjuna was very long
After the death of king and is codified in 18
Pandu, his eldest son, chapters.
Yudhisthira was to be
the Ruler. But the Who reported this talk
Kauravas would not like taking place at the
it. The eldest of battle field? King
Kauravas, Dhritarashtra was
Dhuryodhana wanted curious to know what
the whole kingdom for was happening in the
himself. Through battle field. You know
trickery and treachery, he was blind. He
he made many therefore asked Sanjay,
attempts even to kill the his Charioteer to tell
Pandavas. All peace him about it and it was
talks by Pandava he who reported the
Ambassador, Sri entire talk verbatim to
Krishna also failed. So Dhritarashtra.
the war between According to Gita,
Pandavas and Sanjay had the boon of
Kauravas could not be " Divyachakshu" i.e.
avoided. being able to see from
Both Pandavas and the Palace as to what
Kauravas belonged to was happening in the
the same family and battle field. 
therefore many family
elders were also part of Bhagvat Gita is the
this war. Arjuna, the actual talk between the
Pandava Prince had confused Arjuna and
CHAPTER 1 Sanjaya said:
ARJUNA’S The leaders of my army
CONFUSION O King, After seeing the those who are most
battle formation of the distinguished among
Pandava's army, your us. I will name them
The war of son approached his now for thy
Mahabharata was guru and spoke these information. Yourself,
about to begin after words: Bhisma, Karna and
peace talks by Lord many other heroes who
Krishna and others O Master, behold this have risked their lives
failed to avoid the war. mighty army of the for my sake. They are
Pandavas, arranged in armed with many kinds
It is at this Battle field battle formation by of weapons and are all
at Kurukshetra, the your other talented well skilled in war.
great discourse called disciple! There are Unlimited is this army
the Gita was given by many great warriors, of ours which is
the Lord Krishna to valiant men, heroes, guarded by Bhisma,
Arjuna. The counseling and mighty archers. while that army of
given by Lord Krishna (1.03-06) theirs which is guarded
is not meant for Arjun by Bhima is limited.
alone. It is for the The List of Warriors
entire humanity. Our army is invincible,
Pandava Army while their army is easy
In this first chapter, the to conquer. Therefore
names of the main The son of Drupada all of you, occupying
warriors and generals (Dhristadhyumna). your respective
of both sides are given. Dhristaketu, Chekitan, positions, protect our
However, the main Purujit, Kuntibhoja and commander-in-chief,
event is the Shaibya - the finest the Bhishma.
despondency of Arjuna. among men.
Yudhamanya, Sounding of the
Verse 1.01 Uttamauja, Abhimanyu Conches
Shikhandi,
The King inquired: Dhristadyumna, Virata 1.12-19
Sanjaya, please now tell and Satyaki.
me, in details, what did The five sons of Then Bhisma, the
my people (the Draupadi grandsire of the Kuru
Kauravas) and the dynasty and the
Pandavas do in the Kaurava Army grandfather of the
battlefield before the fighters, blew his
war started? Drona, Bhishma, conchshell very loudly.
Karna, Kripa, It sounded like the roar
1.02 – 1.11 Ashvatthama, Vikarna of a lion. After that, the
and Bhurishrava conchshells, drums,
bugles, trumpets and Arjuna, whose banner well-wishers.
horns were all sounded, bore the emblem of
and the combined Lord Hanumana, took Arjuna is overtaken by
sound was tumultuous. up his bow and spoke emotions
these words to Lord
On the other side, both Krishna: Verse 1.27-39
Lord Krsna and Arjuna
were seated on the O infallible one, please When Arjuna, saw all
great chariot drawn by draw my chariot elders, relatives and
white horses. between the two armies friends, he became
so that I may see those overwhelmed with
Lord Krsna blew His present here, who compassion and spoke
conchshell, Pancajanya. desire to fight, wishing thus:
Arjuna blew his, the to please the evil-
Devadatta minded son o My dear Krsna, seeing
Bhima blew his terrific Dhrtarastra and with my friends and
conchshell Paundra whom I must contend relatives present before
King Yudhisthira, the in this great trial of me in such a fighting
son of Kunti, blew his arms. spirit,
conchshell, the Ananta-
vijaya Having thus been I feel the limbs of my
Nakula blew the addressed by Arjuna, body quivering
Sughosha Lord Krsna drew up the My mouth drying up.
Sahadeva blew the fine chariot in the My whole body is
Manipuspaka. midst of the armies of trembling
The others including both parties in the My hair is standing on
Abhimanyu all blew presence of Bhisma, end
their respective Drona and all the other My bow Gandiva is
conchshells. chieftains of the world slipping from my hand
and asked Arjuna to My skin is burning
The blowing of these have a look at all those I am now unable to
different conchshells Kurus assembled there. stand here any longer.
became uproarious. I am forgetting myself
Vibrating both in the Arjuna notices the My mind is reeling.
sky and on the earth. leaders of the
opposition I see only causes of
Arjuna in the middle misfortune.
There Arjuna saw, in I do not see how any
1.20-1.26 the midst of the armies good can come from
of both parties, his killing my own kinsmen
Seeing your sons grandfathers, teachers, in this battle
standing, and the war maternal uncles, In this way, I cannot
about to begin with the brothers, sons, desire, victory,
hurling of weapons; grandsons, friends and kingdom, or happiness
 kinsmen? position taken by
What is the use of a Arjuna was due to his
kingdom, happiness or 1.40-46 soft heart for the elders,
even life itself when all relatives and friends
the elders, friends and When the dynasty is and also due to his
relatives are dead? For killed, the entire Principles based on
whom we desire the tradition vanishes. Dharma.
kingdom, enjoyments Their ancestors suffer
and pleasures? I (fall) as the offerings of 1.47
foresee no good by rice and water is
slaying my own people stopped. All it means is After speaking this,
in the fight. we become irreligious. Arjuna put aside his
bow and arrows and sat
When teachers, fathers, May be these people, down in the back of the
sons, grandfathers, overtaken by greed, see chariot with his mind
maternal uncles, no fault in killing one's full of sorrow and
fathers-in-law, family or quarreling commisseration. He
grandsons, brothers-in- with friends. But why became reluctant to
law and other relatives should we do that? I fight.
are ready to give up can see the crime in
their lives and destroying the family
properties and are and in engaging in a CHAPTER 2A
standing before me, sinful act. If the sons of KNOW ABOUT THE
why should I wish to Dhritarashtra kill me in HUMAN SOUL
kill them, even though battle, while I am
they might otherwise unarmed and not [Bodies are like bulbs
kill me? fighthing, it would be and the principle of
far better. Atma is like the
I am not prepared to currentpassing through
fight with them even in It is the custom-- all the bulbs.]
exchange for the three according to ksatriya
worlds, let alone this fighting principles-- 2.01-2.03
earth. that an unarmed and
unwilling foe should Arjuna’s eyes were
What pleasure will we not be attacked. tearful and downcast.
derive from killing Arjuna, however, He was overwhelmed
these people? Sin will decided that even if by compassion and
overcome us if we slay attacked by the enemy despair. Then Lord
such people. in such an awkward Krishna spoke these
position, he would not words to Arjuna:
It is not proper for us to fight. He was not
kill these people. How worried about the other How has the dejection
could we be happy by party being bent upon come to you at this
killing our own fighting. This extreme juncture?
This is not fit for a body after death.
person of noble mind I do not think that
and knowledge. gaining an unrivaled The contacts of the
It is disgraceful, and it and prosperous senses with the sense
does not lead one to kingdom will remove objects give rise to the
fame, O Arjuna. the sin I would be feelings of pain and
committing in killing pleasure. They are
Do not become a them. transitory and
coward. Do not yield to impermanent like the
this impotence. It does I do not know which is winter and summer.
not befit you. better, i.e. to fight or to They all arise from
Shake off this trivial quit. My senses are sense perception.
weakness of your heart overcome by confusion
and get up for the about duty (Dharma). While performing one’s
battle. duty, one should learn
Please tell me what is to tolerate them
2.04-10 better for me. I am without being
Your disciple, and I disturbed. Only persons
Arjuna said: take refuge in You. who are not disturbed
by either happiness or
How shall I strike my 2.11-15 distress and remain
grandfather, my guru, balanced are fit to
and all other relatives, Lord Krishna said: become immortal.
who are worthy of my
respect, with arrows in You are grieving for 2.16-21
battle, O Krishna? what is not worthy of
grief. The visible physical
It would be better, body is perishable and
indeed, to live on The wise people grieve transitory.
begging in this world neither for the living
than to win the nor for the dead Only the invisible
kingdom by slaying because there was Spirit, Atman is eternal.
these noble never a time when This Atman is
personalities. By killing these monarchs, you, or indestructible. No one
them all I would get is I did not exist; nor shall can destroy the
the wealth and we ever cease to exist in imperishable the
pleasures stained with the future. Atman.
their blood.
Just as the soul In this way you and the
We should not even acquires a childhood others are mere Atman.
wish to live after killing body, a youth body, and The Atman neither
our cousin brothers, an old age body during slays nor is slain. If you
who are standing in this life; similarly, the think you are slaying
front of us. soul acquires another the others, you are
ignorant. Knowing the
permanence of Spirit as
The Spirit is neither such you should not
born nor does it die at grieve.
any time. It does not
come into being, or Even if you think of the
cease to exist. It is physical body, be aware
unborn, eternal and that the death is certain
permanent. The Spirit for the one who is born,
is not destroyed when and birth is certain for
the body is destroyed. the one who dies.
Therefore, you should
O Arjuna, how can a not lament over the
person who knows that inevitable.
the Spirit is
indestructible, eternal, All beings are
unborn, and unmanifest, or invisible
immutable, kill anyone to our physical eyes
or cause anyone to be before birth and after
killed? death.
They manifest between
Therefore fight, O the birth and the death
Arjuna. only. What is there to
grieve about?
2.22-30
O Arjuna, the Spirit
Just as a person puts that dwells in the body
on new garments after of all beings is eternally
discarding the old ones; indestructible.
the living entity or the Therefore, you should
individual soul acquires not mourn for anybody.
new bodies after
casting away the old CHAPTER 2B
bodies. Do your duty selflessly
Weapons do not cut 2.31-38
this Spirit, fire does not
burn it, water does not Considering also your
make it wet, and the duty as a warrior you
wind does not make it should not waver like
dry. It is eternal, all this. There is nothing
pervading and more auspicious for a
unchanging. warrior than a Fight for the sake of
righteous war. So there
is no need for
hesitation.
Only the fortunate
warriors get such an
opportunity for an
unsought war that is
like an open door to
heaven.
If you will not fight this
righteous war, then you
will fail in your duty,
lose your reputation,
and incur sin. People
will talk about your
disgrace forever. To the
honored, dishonor is
worse than death. The
great warriors will
think that you have
retreated from the
battle out of fear. Those
who have greatly
esteemed you will lose
respect for you.
Your enemies will
speak many
unmentionable words
and scorn your ability.
What could be more
painful to you than
this?
You will go to heaven if
killed on the line of
duty, or you will enjoy
the kingdom on the
earth if victorious.
Therefore, get up with a
determination to fight,
O Arjuna.
fighting, without
considering happiness chant Vedas without
or distress, loss or gain, understanding their
victory or defeat--and real purpose. They do
by so doing you shall get any self realization
never incur sin. through ritualistic
activities.
2.39-41
Vedas essentially deal
So far we discussed with Satva, Rajas and
about self realization by Thamas, i.e. goodness,
you. But beyond this passion, and ignorance.
lies the realm of selfless But there is a realm
service (Seva) with no even beyond Vedas
attachment to results. making you lead a
Such a self less service balanced life, helping
alone can free yourself you rise above thoughts
from all Karmic of acquisition and
bondage, or sin. A preservation.
selfless service never
incurs adverse effect. To a Self-realized
All selfless service person who has risen
protects one from about the Vedas, the
repeated birth and Vedas are as useful as a
death. Whereas, one small reservoir of water
who renders service when the water of a
keeping its results in huge lake becomes
mind does not get free available.
from the birth and
death. Become free from
worldliness. Be free
CHAPTER 2C from all anxieties for
Rise about worldliness gain and safety, and be
in performance of your established in the self.
Duty
2.47-54
2.42-46
You have a right to
There are many people perform your
who consider Vedas as prescribed duty, but
containing only rituals you are not entitled to
for obtaining heavenly the fruits of action.
enjoyment. They are Never consider yourself
the people who are the cause of the results
misguided who merely of your activities, and
never be attached to
not doing your duty.
You have control over
doing your duty only,
but no control over the
results. While the fruits
of work should not be
your motive, yet you
should never be
inactive. Do your duty
to the best of your
ability, with your mind
attached to the Lord,
abandoning worry and
selfish attachment to
the results, and
remaining calm in both
success and failure. The
selfless service is a
yogic practice that
brings peace and
equanimity of mind.
A man engaged in
devotional service rids
himself of both good
and bad actions even in
this life. Work done
with selfish motives is
inferior by far to the
selfless service.
Therefore be a selfless
worker. Those who
work only to enjoy the
fruits of their labor are
verily unhappy,
because one has no
control over the results.
Strive for selfless
service. Karma-yogis
are freed from the
bondage of rebirth due
to renouncing the and anger, is a person
selfish attachment to Lord Krishna said: of steady intellect. He
the fruits of all work, should be a person who
and attain blissful When one can is neither elated by
divine state of salvation completely withdraw getting desired results,
or Nirvana. the senses from the nor perturbed by
sense objects as a undesired results.
When your intellect will tortoise withdraws its
completely pierce the limbs into the shell, 2.60-63
veil of confusion, then then the intellect of
you will become such a person is The senses are so
indifferent to what has considered steady. strong, impetuous and
been heard and what is restless that they
to be heard from the But generally, the forcibly carry away the
scriptures. desire for sensual mind of even a wise
pleasures could fade in person striving for
When your intellect, a person, but his perfection.
that is confused by the craving for sense
conflicting opinions enjoyment might One develops
and the ritualistic remains in a very subtle attachment to sense
doctrine of the Vedas, form, dormant. This objects by thinking
shall stay steady and subtle craving also need about sense objects.
firm on concentration. completely disappear. Desire for sense objects
Anyone, who restrains comes from attachment
the senses but mentally to sense objects
CHAPTER 2D dwells upon the sense Anger comes from
Control your senses objects, is called a unfulfilled desires.
and let go of pretender. (3.06) Delusion or wild idea
attachments arises from anger.
When one is completely The mind is bewildered
free from all desires of by delusion.
Arjuna asked the mind and is Reasoning is destroyed
satisfied with the when the mind is
O Krishna, whom do Supreme Being, then bewildered.
you call as a steady one is called an One falls down from
person? enlightened person, O the right path when
How does a person of Arjuna. reasoning is destroyed.
steady intellect think?
How does such a Thus a person whose One's intellect becomes
person behave with mind is unperturbed by steady when one's
others, and live in this sorrow, who does not senses are under
world? crave pleasures, and complete control. One
who is completely free should therefore fix
2.55-59 from attachment, fear, one's mind on God with
loving contemplation becomes completely CHAPTER 3
after bringing the steady and united with HOW TO WORK
senses under control. the Supreme. AND CONTROL
Therefore it is SENSES
2.64-73 necessary for one to
know who he is. He This chapter focuses on
The mind, when should have self various reasons why
controlled by the roving knowledge and self action is essential for
senses, steals away the perception. the man; why should
intellect as a storm Without Self- one act according to
takes away a boat on perception there is no one’s caste (Varna);
the sea from its peace, and without how should one act;
destination the peace there can be no which actions help take
spiritual shore of peace happiness. one to the path of
and happiness. liberation; which
One who desires A person of self actions cause the
material objects is knowledge and self bondage of life-death
never peaceful. Only perception is a Yogi. He cycle etc. 
the one who abandons remains alert and 3.01-09
all desires, and wakeful when every one
becomes free from is asleep. And when Arjuna asked: 
longing and the feeling every one is awake, still
of 'I' and 'my', attains there are asleep as far O Janardana, You say
peace. as the Yogi is one should have
concerned. enough intelligence to
Therefore, O Arjuna, work without expecting
one's intellect becomes The Yogi attains peace results. If that
steady whose senses because in his mind, all knowledge alone is
are completely desires dissipate important, why should
withdrawn from the without creating any I engage in a war? I am
sense objects. mental disturbance, as still not clear.
river waters enter the
A disciplined person full ocean without Lord Krishna said: 
with senses under creating any
control and free from disturbance. There are two classes of
attachments and people who try to
aversions, attains O Arjuna, this is the realize self. One who
tranquillity. superconscious state of acquires self knowledge
All sorrows are mind. Attaining this and leads a disciplined
destroyed upon state, one is no longer path. The other person
attainment of deluded. Gaining this who does unselfish
tranquillity. state, a person becomes devoted work. The path
The intellect of such a one with the Absolute. of knowledge for men
tranquil person soon of contemplation and
path of service for men
of action.
Whatever path one may
take, one has to do his
duty to attain freedom
from the bondage of
Karma. No one can get
this freedom from past
Karma, by simply
abstaining from work.  selfless service to each
One does not attain
freedom from the
bondage of Karma by
merely abstaining from
work. One does not
attain fulfillment by
simple renunciation.
No one can remain
without doing work
even for a moment and
all are made to work.
Even the maintenance
of your body would not
be possible without
work.
While working is better
than sitting idle,
between people who
work, the one who
controls his emotions
and feelings by training
and purifying his mind
and intellect and
engages himself in
selfless service is
considered superior,
because doing service
free from selfish
attachments to the
fruits of work is a
service done to the
Creator. care of themselves
alone without first
Therefore it is offering to God and
necessary you perform other celestial beings,
your obligatory duty.  they verily eat sin.
3.10-18 All living bodies subsist
on food grains, which
In the beginning the are produced from
creator created human rains. Rains are
beings together with produced by
performance of yajna
other. By serving each [sacrifice], and yajna is
other they were born of prescribed
supposed to prosper. duties
When people serve Grains are thus
each other, each one produced by sacrificial
nourishes them. And work or duty performed
the supreme goal was by farmers and other
to be attained by field workers. Out of
nourishing one their produce, other
another. living beings are born.
The living beings are
One who enjoys the gift born from food grains.
of celestial controllers This type of creation is
without sharing with designed by the
others is, indeed, a Supreme being and
thief. (3.12) thus God is present in
this self less service.
Every one is supposed
to eat only after feeding Regulated activities are
others, including the prescribed in the
celestial beings, the Vedas, and the Vedas
demi Gods, through are directly manifested
Yajna. The celestial from the Supreme
controllers, served by Personality of
people’s selfless service, Godhead. Consequently
will help them in their the all-pervading
prosperity. Those who Transcendence is
eat after feeding others eternally situated in
are freed from all sins. acts of sacrifice.
But the selfish who are
selfish enough to take The one who does not
help to keep the wheel attained perfection of enlightened should
of creation in motion Self-realization by inspire others by
by performing one’s selfless service (Karma- performing all works
duties and obligations, yoga) alone. You should efficiently without
is a selfish person also perform your duty selfish attachment.
rejoicing in sense for the welfare of the
pleasures and is a sinful society. Because 3.27-33
person living in vain. whatever noble persons
One who does not do, others follow. The forces of nature
follow in human life the Whatever standard created by Me also do
cycle of sacrifice thus they set up, the world their duties. The one
established by the follows. who knows the truth
Vedas certainly leads a about the role of the
life full of sin. O Arjuna, there is forces of Nature in
nothing in the three getting work done.
Thus there is an worlds that should be Many times, it is the
obligation for every one done by Me and there is forces of Nature that
to participate in the no work prescribed for get their work done by
design of the supreme Me. Nor there is using our organs as
Being and lead a life of anything unobtained their instruments. To
content with the that I should obtain. the extent you do your
Supreme Being. Such a Yet I engage in action. duty, it is not you who
person is a self realized is doing that, it is the
person with no selfish Because, if I do not forces of nature that
interest whatsoever in engage in action gets the job done by
what he is doing.  relentlessly, O Arjuna, you. To the extent you
people would follow My refuse to do your duty
3.19-24 path in everyway. or do a non-duty, it is
These worlds would you who is acting and
Without being attached perish if I do not work.  taking the blame. 
to the fruits of
activities, one should 3.25-26 Do your duty
act as a matter of duty. dedicating all works to
Therefore, Arjuna, As the ignorant work God in a spiritual frame
always perform your with attachment to the of mind free from
duty efficiently and fruits of work, so the desire, attachment, and
without any selfish wise should work mental grief. 
attachment to the without attachment, for
results, because by the welfare of the Therefore, O Arjuna,
doing work without society and for the surrendering all your
attachment one attains same leading people to works unto Me, with
Supreme. the right path. full knowledge of Me,
without desires for
King Janaka and others The wise and the profit, with no claims to
proprietorship, and passion, the desire is
free from lethargy, born. This desire is 3.42-43
fight. known variedly as lust, The senses are said to
greed, etc. And that be superior to the body,
Those who always desire becomes anger the mind is superior to
practice this teaching of when the desire is not the senses, the intellect
Mine with faith and are fulfilled. Passion in the is superior to the mind,
free from evil become form of desire and Soul is superior to the
free from the bondage anger are greatest evils. intellect, and the
of Karma. But those Know this as the Spiritual knowledge is
who carp at this greatest enemy. superior to Soul. 
teaching and do not Thus, the important
practice it, consider What this desire does? . thing is to achieve
them ignorant, You don’t want to spiritual knowledge. By
senseless, and lost.  commit a sin, but yet achieving Spiritual
you do. Because this knowledge, you can use
3.34-35 passion and desire your intellect to control
covers and blocks your your mind and the
Do not be attached to self knowledge, as the emotions arising in
your emotions and smoke covers the fire, your senses, the most
feelings. Your emotions the dust covers the important of which is
and feelings remain in mirror and amnion desire.
the senses. Your covers the embryo.
attachments and Thus the Self-
aversions are two major knowledge gets covered CHAPTER 4
stumbling blocks on the by different degrees of
path of your Self- this insatiable desire, PATH OF
realization. the eternal enemy of RENUNCIATION
the wise.  WITH
Arise and discharge KNOWLEDGE
your prescribed duties.  Where does this desire
reside? It resides in Verse 4.01-04
3.36-41 your senses, the mind
and even on the Lord Krishna said:
Arjuna said:  intellect. It just deludes
a person by covering I taught this Karma-
O Krishna, what impels and hiding his self yoga, the science of
one to commit sin as if knowledge. right and proper action,
unwillingly and forced to King Vivasvan, the
against one's will?  Therefore, O Arjuna, it sun God. Vivasvan
is necessary to destroy taught it to Manu.
Lord Krishna said:  this desire that destroys Manu taught it to
your Self-knowledge Ikshvaku. Thus handed
It is passion. From the and Self-realization. down in succession the
saintly Kings knew this and Adharma takes Verse 4.16-17
science of proper predominance, I
action. After long time manifest Myself. I There are four kinds of
this science was lost to appear from time to actions. One is attached
this earth. Since you time for protecting the action, the second is
are my devotee and good and to establish detached action and the
friend, today I am the world order. third is forbidden
describing the same to action and the fourth is
you. Verse 4.11-12 inaction.

Arjuna said: People worship me Verse 4.18-24

with different motives.
While Vivasvan was But with whatever
born long ago, you were motive people worship
born now only. How is Me, I accept them. .
it possible that you
taught this Karma Yoga Verse 4.13-15
to Vivasvan?
Every one is created to
Verse 4.05-10 do his assigned work. I
have created the four
Lord Krishna said: divisions of human
society based on needs
Both you and I have of the society and make
taken many births. I them do the tasks. I
remember them all, O create this world with
Arjuna, but you do not no desire for fruits.
remember. Only Works do not bind Me,
persons who truly because I have no
understand me, take desire for the fruits of
refuge in me, get free work. The one who
from attachment, fear, fully understands and
and anger and get fully practices this truth is
absorbed in my also not bound by
thoughts reach my Karma.
supreme abode after The ancient seekers of
leading their body and salvation also
they do not take performed their duties
rebirth. with this
understanding.
As for me I am eternal Therefore, do your duty
and the Lord of all without worrying about
beings. Whenever there the results.
is a decline of Dharma
A person in Yoga sees
action in inaction. He
also sees inaction in
action. A person who
meditates is engaged in
action, though
appearing to be not
doing anything. And
this yogi would find no
meaning in many
actions that ordinary
men are engaged in.
A person who does any
action devoid of self
gratification and is
selfless is a sage. Whose
total work is free from
desire and not swayed
by like or dislike, whose
attachments to the
fruits of actions are
perished in the fire of
knowledge, is a learned
man. Such a person is a
contented person. The
person who does not
take shelter in the
worldly things, and is
ever contented,
abandoning the desires
caused by action while
engaged in work is not
a doer. He does all his his service as service to
duties in the name of his Lord. He considers
God without everything as an act of
attachment to the God. He is a karma
results. yogi.
A hangman does his job
as per the orders of the Verse 4.25-32
King, though kills a
person, does not attract There are kinds of
any Karmic reaction, Yogis as many types of
because his actions are spiritual disciplines are
selfless and therefore described in the Vedas.
his action is equivalent
to inaction. His mind Some observe Bhakti
and intellect are well yoga and perform
controlled, acts without worship to Gods.
any emotions of desires
or attachment, his Some observe Gyan
action is done by his Yoga, study scriptures
body alone and is in pursuit of self
uninvolved. Thus he knowledge.
incurs no sin. He does
his actions with Some observe Karma
equanimity unaffected yoga, abandon their
by the success or failure sensual pleasures,
of his effort. He himself perform breathing and
has no jealousy or other other yogic exercises,
ill feelings against the give away their wealth
man whom he is in charity and perform
hanging. When he does their duties.
his duty, free from
desires and bondage of What is common
his actions, remaining between all these is
neutral and does the they want to purify
job only physically, he themselves by
does not commit any remaining selfless and
sin. want to attain the
All works of a person Supreme Being. They
acts free from desire have all understood the
and attachment and fact that leading an
acts in accordance with attached life does not
the injunctions of give happiness.
scriptures do not
attract any sin. He does Verse 4.33-37
Purification of mind
and intellect makes a
person transcend and
Self-realization is the
sole purpose of any
spiritual action. This
knowledge is imparted
by self realized masters
and students acquire
this knowledge by
serving the master and
through sincere
learning.
This knowledge makes
a person transcend all
the confusions and
delusions of this world
of attachment. It makes
the person see the spirit
of creation by God.
Only this
transcendental self-
knowledge can help the
person get of bonds of
sins and karma and
cross the ocean of life of
birth and death.
Verse 4.38-40
Spiritual knowledge is
pure knowledge and
that alone cleanses
one’s mind of
selfishness and takes
towards Karma Yoga. If
one obtains this
knowledge with faith in
God and control over
his mind and senses
attains peace and
liberation. The
irrational, the faithless, A person in the divine
and the disbeliever The path of Self- consciousness,
would never find peace knowledge and the path although engaged in
and happiness. of selfless service both seeing, hearing,
lead to the supreme touching, smelling,
Verse 4.41-42 goal. But, of the two, eating, moving about,
the path of selfless sleeping and breathing,
One who has attained service is superior to always he always
this knowledge and path of Self-knowledge, stands detached.
destroyed his worldly because it is easier to
confusions and has practice. One who Verse 5.10-12
renounced the fruits of attains self knowledge
his work, is a Karma also attains self less When doing his duties,
Yogi and sins do not service. One who he does all work as an
affect him. Therefore neither hates nor offering to God -
kill your confusions desires the fruits of his abandoning selfish
with the sword of self activities is known to be attachment to results
knowledge, steady always renounced. just like a lotus leaf
yourself and get up for Such a person, free never gets wet by water.
the war. from all dualities, easily On the contrary, those
overcomes material attached to fruits of
bondage and is work become bound by
completely liberated.  selfish work.

CHAPTER 5 One who gets self Verse 5.13-17

knowledge becomes a
PATH OF sage and one who does If any one feels ‘I am
RENUNCIATION self less service is a doing this job’ it is his
karma yogi. Both reach ego that makes him feel
Verse 5.01-07 the same goal. A sage so. His attachment to
equipped with Karma the results makes him
Arjuna asked:  yoga attains Nirvana feel so. The God does
more quickly because not create these
O Krishna, You praise both by mind and act feelings and delusions
the path of he becomes pure and in men. 
transcendental both his mind and
knowledge, and also senses are under Similarly, if a man does
the path of control. And when he evil deeds, it is his
performance of selfless does his duties, he does ignorance of self
service (Karma-yoga). not become tainted by knowledge makes him
Tell me, definitely, his works.  commit the wrongs.
which one is the better The Lord does not take
of the two paths.  Verse 5.08-09 the responsibility for
Lord Krishna said:  the evil deeds of
anybody.  impulses of lust and intelligence. This helps
anger. He is a man of a one to shut out all
Only the steady mind. Well external influences. The
transcendental illuminated with self human liberation starts
knowledge can destroy knowledge he simply is from here.
this ignorance and in union with the
reveal the supreme Supreme Being And now to attain
being in him, just as the enjoying the freedom from material
sun reveals the beauty transcendental bliss. miseries, one has to be
of this world to him.  Those who are free in full consciousness of
from lust and anger, Me, knowing Me and
Persons, whose mind who have subdued the consider Me to be the
and intellect are totally mind and senses, and ultimate benefactor and
merged in the Supreme who have known the well-wisher of all living
Being, who are firmly Self, easily attain entities.
devoted to the Nirvana.
Supreme, who have
God as their supreme Self knowledge
goal and sole refuge, destroys doubts and
and whose impurities disciplines people and CHAPTER 6
are destroyed by the makes them engaged in
knowledge of the self the welfare of all beings PATH OF
can live happily and and to attain the MEDITATION
reach nirvana avoiding Supreme Being. And
to take birth again. they conquer the
conditions of birth and Verse 6.01-02
Verse 5.18-26 death.
Lord Krishna said: 
An enlightened person Verse 5.27-29
perceives God in all The renounced person
beings whether the To free oneself from the is not the one who does
other is a learned or an external objects, one not work. Nor the
outcast or an animal or has to get into the person who does his
a bird. He is the person mode of meditation. work for a self benefit
who has realized the This meditation is and has a motive
Supreme Being.  achieved by keeping the behind his action can
eyes and vision be said to be a
He neither rejoices on concentrated between renuncient. Renunciant
what is pleasant nor the two eyebrows, is one who performs
grieves on what is suspending the inward the prescribed duties
unpleasant. To him and outward breaths without seeking its fruit
sensual pleasures are a within the nostrils, and for personal benefit.
source of misery. He thus controlling the One can never become
withstands the mind, senses and a yogi unless he
renounces the desire control over his mind is
for sense gratification.  the one who is
impartial with friends
Verse 6.03-04 and enemies; friends
and relatives; and
If a person approaches sinners and saints.  entertainment
his work without the
intention of self benefit Verse 6.10-26
is a Karma yogi and
that is the way to attain A yogi is one who
equanimity of mind. meditates to achieve
One becomes a Yogi control over his mind,
when he or she has no senses and desires.  one should focus his
desire for sensual
pleasures, or Meditation is one
attachment to the fruits which is performed in
of work, and has solitude, sitting in a
renounced all personal comfortable position
selfish motives.  concentrating on self
purification.
Verse 6.05-09
The posture for sitting
If one elevates his on meditation is to sit
mind, his mind would erect holding the waist,
be his friend. If one spine, chest, neck and
degrades it, it becomes head erect; fixing the
his enemy.  eyes and the mind
steadily on the front of
When one has control the nose and making
over his mind, it is his sure that he does not
friend. When one has waver and look around.
no control over it, it Whenever his restless
becomes his enemy.  and unsteady mind
wanders away, he
The one who has should gently bring it
control over his mind is back to the reflection of
the one who has control God and ultimately
over his organs and reach the stage when
remains tranquil in the mind remains
cold and heat, in steady and unflickering
pleasure and pain and like the flame of the
in honor and dishonor.  lamp sheltered by the
thought of divine from
The one who has the wind, i.e. from the
reach of the senses.
He should be moderate
in eating, sleeping,
working and in
and
should observe
celibacy. 
To be perfectly
disciplined and to
become free of desires,
mind on Me. The one
who does so attains
peace and comes to
Me. 
The meditation is a tool
attain self realization
and once attained, even
greatest of calamities
does not affect him.
This self realization is
the Yoga, the bliss. 
Verse 6.27-32
One who has attained
this self realization is a
Yogi. With his desires
under control and
himself abiding the
Divine in his mode of
living, lives free of
faults. Such a yogi is
enabled to engage his
mind with the Spirit
enjoying inflict bliss. 
Since he himself has
merged with the
Supreme Being and
since the Supreme
being resides in every reborn in the house of
body, the Yogi sees pious and spiritually Verse 7.02
every one as equal and advanced family. There
feels the pain and he is fine tuned to get Self-knowledge is
pleasures of others as his spiritual enlightenment and
his own.  advancement which he after comprehending
could not get in his that nothing more
Verse 6.33-36 previous life. His remains to be known in
efforts in his previous this world. That is
Arjuna said:  life remain to assist realization and ultimate
him to proceed towards of wisdom.
O Krishna, I find the God in this life. One
restraining of my mind who does good, is never Verse 7.03
as difficult as overcome by the evil. 
restraining the wind. Out of many thousands
What should I do? Verse 6.46-47 among men, one may
endeavor for
Lord Krishna said:  The yogi, who is perfection, and of those
devoted to meditation, who have achieved
Sure it is difficult to is superior to the perfection, hardly one
restrain the human ascetics, vedic scholars knows Me in truth
mind. Only detachment and those who perform
and repeated practice rituals. Therefore Verse 7.04-05
of meditation can make Arjuna, rise to become
it free of restlessness. a Yogi. Physically, the body
consists of earth, water,
Verse 6.37-45 fire, air and ether. The
CHAPTER 7 invisibles in the man
Arjuna said:  are his intellect, mind
SELF-KNOWLEDGE and ego. All these are
If one takes to mind AND perishable. The
control, control of the ENLIGHTENMENT imperishable element is
senses and pursues the soul, which only
attainment of self Verse 7.01 sustains the world. 
realization but fails due
to unsubdued mind, Lord Krishna said:  Verse 7.06-07
does he not lose both
the worldly pleasures O Arjuna, listen. I shall The Supreme Spirit is
as well as the heavenly now tell you how you the source of origin as
bliss?  can know me, how can well as dissolution of
you be absorbed in me the entire universe.
Lord Krishna said:  and how can you take There is nothing higher
refuge in me through than the Supreme
An unsuccessful yogi is self knowledge.  Being, i.e. Me.
Everything in the passion, and ignorance. Supreme Being. 
universe is strung on But I am not in them
the Supreme Being, like nor they in me. Human While all these seekers
jewels are strung on the beings are deluded by are indeed noble, those
thread of a necklace.  various aspects [Maya] whose minds are
of these three modes of distorted by desires
Verse 7.08-13 material Nature; resort to the celestial
therefore, they do not controllers, the other
O Arjuna, I am the know Me, who is gods, observing various
sapidity in the water, I eternal and above these rites, constrained by
am the radiance in the modes. their own natures.
sun and the moon, the Verse 7.14
sacred syllable OM in Among the above, the
all the Vedas, the sound This Maya, consisting enlightened devotee is
in the ether, and of three states of matter single mindedly united
potency in human or mind, is very with Me and steadfastly
beings. I am the sweet difficult to overcome. involved in devotional
fragrance in the earth. I Only those who service and is the best.
am the heat in the fire, surrender unto Me Being engaged in
the life in all living easily cross over this devotional service, he is
beings, and the Maya.  like my own self. After
austerity in the ascetics. many births and deaths
Know Me to be the Verse 7.15-20 the enlightened one
eternal seed of all resorts to Me. Such a
creatures. I am the Those evil doers who soul is very rare.
intelligence of the are the lowest among Because of this I am
intelligent, and the mankind are those very dear to the
brilliance of the whose knowledge is enlightened and the
brilliant. I am the prevented by Maya and enlightened is very dear
strength of the strong ignorance and they to Me. 
who is devoid of selfish have lost their power of
attachment. I am the discrimination. They Verse 7.21-23
lust in human beings part take in atheistic
that is devoid of sense activities of demons Whosoever worships
gratification, and is in and do not worship or whatever deity with
accord with Dharma seek Me.  faith get their wishes
(for the sacred purpose fulfilled. But in
of procreation after Only four kinds of actuality these benefits
marriage). I am people seek Me. They are bestowed by Me
imperishable.  are the distressed, the alone. But all the
seeker of wealth, the material gains are
The human life is inquisitive, and the temporary and those
governed by three enlightened one who who seek them are less
Gunas of goodness, has experienced the intelligent. My devotees
surrender to me and O Krishna, Who is one's lifetime, one
attain Nirvana.  Brahman, the Eternal remembers only that
being or the spirit? object at the end of life
Verse 7.24-30 Who are Demi gods or and achieves it.
the Temporal Beings?  The one who
All beings in this world How can You, the remembers Me while
are in utter ignorance Supreme Being, be leaving the body at the
due to delusion of pairs remembered at the time of death, attains
of opposites born of time of death?  the Supreme Abode;
likes and dislikes, these there is no doubt about
ignorant ones cannot Verse 8.03-04 it.
understand my eternal
and transcendental Lord Krishna said:  Verse 8.07-11
form. While I know
them all of past, The Supreme Being is By contemplating on
present and future, referred to as Brahman, Me with an unwavering
they do not know me Eternal Being or the mind, one attains the
and they cannot Spirit. It is Supreme Being, O
comprehend me. indestructible.  Arjuna. Therefore,
Because of this they fall Various expansions of always remember Me
victims to the Maya of the Supreme Being like and do your duty. You
this world.  those of the sun and shall certainly attain
moon are called Me if your mind and
But persons of Temporal Beings or intellect are ever
unselfish deeds become Divine Beings or demi focused on Me.
free from of all delusion Gods.
worship Me with firm The Supreme Being Now I shall briefly
resolve. By taking also resides inside the explain the process to
refuge in me, they fully physical bodies as the attain salvation, the
comprehend my true divine Controller.  Supreme Abode 
nature and powers and I, the Supreme being
attain freedom from the am there as the soul in Verse 8.12-16
cycles of birth and the heart of every
death by attaining me. embodied being.  I am easily attainable,
O Arjuna, by that ever
Verse 8.05-06 steadfast devotee who
CHAPTER 8 always thinks of Me
THE ETERNAL Whatever object one and whose mind, fixed
SPIRIT remembers when one in the heart, does not
leaves the body at the go elsewhere. They
Verse 8.01-02 end of life, one attains attain Me. After
that object.  attaining Me, the souls
Arjuna said:  Thought of whatever do not incur rebirth in
object prevails during this miserable
transitory world, as unmanifest and away in the other
because they have infallible, that which is periods come back. 
attained the highest known as the supreme
perfection.  destination, that place Verse 8.27-28
from which, having
The others are subject attained it, one never Knowing these two
to the miseries of returns--that is My paths, O Arjuna, a yogi
repeated birth and supreme abode. is not bewildered at all.
death.  Therefore, one should
Verse 8.22-26 be resolute in attaining
Verse 8.17-21 salvation - the goal of
This Supreme Abode, O human birth - at all
By human calculation, Arjuna, is attainable by times. (8.27)
a thousand Yugas taken unswerving devotion to The one who knows all
together form the Me. O Arjuna, , I shall this knowledge goes
duration of Brahma's now explain to you the beyond getting the
one day. And such also different times at benefits of the study of
is the duration of his which, passing away the Vedas, performance
night.  from this world, the of sacrifices, austerities,
yogi does or does not and charities; and
At the beginning of come back.  attains salvation. (8.28)
Brahma's day, all living
entities become The path of light of
manifest from the spiritual practice and CHAPTER 9
unmanifest state, and Self-knowledge and the
thereafter, when the path of darkness of SUPREME
night falls, they are materialism and KNOWLEDGE
merged into the ignorance are thought
unmanifest again. to be the world's two Verse 9.01
eternal paths. The
Again and again, when former leads to Lord Krishna said: 
Brahma's day arrives, salvation and the latter
all living entities come leads to rebirth as I shall now reveal to
into being, and with the human beings.  you the most profound
arrival of Brahma's secret knowledge of
night they are Fire, daytime, Full realization which would
helplessly annihilated. moon phase, and free you from the
during the six months miseries of worldly
But those who reach when the sun travels in existence.
the Supreme Being the north - departing by
remain unaffected even the path of these Verse 9.02-06
when all is this world is celestial controllers,
annihilated That which yogis attain the This is the king of all
the Vedantists describe Supreme. Yogis passing knowledge, is the most
sacred, is very easy to take me for an ordinary
practice and is timeless. human being and start
O Arjuna, those who even deriding me. They
have no faith in this are unable to recognize
knowledge do not my true form because
attain Me, and follow they are under the
the cycles of birth and influence of Maya of
death.  false knowledge, false
qualities, false actions
This entire universe is and false hope.  Vedas worship the
an expansion of Mine
and all beings emanate Only realized souls
from Me. All things recognize me, worship
depend on air but air me in various ways and
does not depend on strive to attain me.  are exhausted. Then
them. All beings
depend on me but I do Verse 9.16-19
not depend on them.
All beings abide in Me I am the ritual, I am the
but I do not abide in sacrifice, I am the
them. I am like the offering, I am the herb,
wind resting in the sky I am the mantra, I am
but going everywhere. the Ghee, I am the fire,
and I am the oblation.  demigods will go the
Verse 9.07-10
I am the supporter of
I had created them all the universe, the father,
and they all go through the mother, and the
the cycle of birth- grandfather. I am the
death-birth and they all object of knowledge,
merge in nature at the the sacred syllable OM,
end of cycle. And I and the Vedas. I am the
create them again at goal, the supporter, the
the beginning of next Lord, the witness, the
cycle. And thus the abode, the refuge, the
creation keeps on friend, the origin, the
going. dissolution, the
foundation, the
Verse 9.11-15 substratum, and the
immutable seed.  alone am the enjoyer of
Though I appear in
human form, ordinary I give heat, I send as
people are not able to well as withhold the
recognize me and they rain. I am immortality
as well as death, I am
also both the eternal
Absolute and the
temporal, O Arjuna. 
Verse 9.20-25, 
Those who do the
prescribed rituals in
Devas go to the Devloka
where they enjoy godly
delights till the results
of their pious activities
they return to this
mortal planet again.
Those who are devotees
of other gods and who
worship them with
faith actually worship
only Me, but indirectly.
Those who worship the
demigods; those who
worship the ancestors
go to the ancestors. 
But those who always
worship Me with
exclusive devotion are
taken care of by me. I
carry what they lack,
and I preserve what
they have. Those who
worship Me will live
with Me. 
I, the Supreme Being,
all sacrificial services,
and Lord of the
universe. But people do
not know My true
transcendental nature.
Therefore, they fall into
the repeated cycles of
birth and death.
Verse 9.26-29
Whosoever offers Me a
leaf, a flower, a fruit, or
water with devotion; I
accept and eat the
offering of devotion by
the pure-hearted.  joyless and transitory
Therefore O Arjuna,
whatever you do,
whatever you eat,
whatever you offer as
oblation to the sacred
fire, whatever charity
you give, whatever
austerity you perform,
do all that as an
offering unto Me. When
you so do, you shall
become free from the
bondage good and bad
of Karma and come to
Me by this attitude of
complete renunciation.  as the supreme goal
It is true that I am
present equally in all
beings and I am
impartial to all. But
whoever renders
service to me is in Me.  and delighted. Their
Verse 9.30-31
Even if one is sinful,
once he resolves to
worship Me with
single-minded loving
devotion, such a person
soon becomes Lord Krishna said: 
righteous, becomes a
saint and attains O Arjuna, listen once
everlasting peace. My again in the interest of
devotee shall never your own welfare.
perish or fall down.
(9.31) Verse 10.02-10-09
Verse 9.32-34 I am the origin of all
celestial controllers and
great sages. I am the
Having obtained this unborn, the
beginningless, and the
human life, one should Supreme Lord of the
be keen to attain the universe. I am the
Supreme abode. source of all spiritual
Anybody can attain this and material worlds.
Supreme Abode by just Everything emanates
surrendering unto My from Me. The great
will with loving saints, sages, and all
devotion, To attain the the creatures of the
Supreme Being, world were born from
therefore, always think My potential energy. I
of Me, be devoted to am the origin of all.
Me, worship Me, and Everything emanates
bow down to My laws. from Me. The wise ones
Thus uniting yourself who understand this
with Me by setting Me adore Me with love and
devotion. One who
and the sole refuge and truly understands My
being completely manifestations and
absorbed in Me you yogic powers is united
shall certainly come to with Me by unswerving
Me. devotion. My devotees
remain ever content
CHAPTER 10 minds remain absorbed
in Me, and their lives
UNDERSTANDING surrendered unto Me.
GOD They always enlighten
each other by talking
about Me.
Verse 10.01
Verse 10.10-13
 Please tell me your disciplines 
I no doubt reside in the power, your glory, etc.
hearts of every one. But I am the mountains. I
only a few elevate my Verse 10.19-39 am the ocean. 
presence in them by
uniting themselves with Lord Krishna said:  I am the Supreme
me. To those who adore Spirit / soul abiding in
me, I destroy their O Arjuna, My the inner psyche of all
darkness, give them manifestations are beings. I am the mind
true knowledge, endless. among the senses, I am
decorate their inner the consciousness in
consciousness and give I am also the creator, living beings.
them understanding by maintainer, and
which they can come to destroyer or the I am the Narada among
me.  beginning, the middle, the sages. I am the
and the end of all Vajra among the
Arjuna said:  beings.  weapons. I am the
Himalaya amount
You yourself are I am Lord Shiva, I am mountains. I am the
declaring to me that the god of wealth, I am Margasirsha among the
You are the Supreme the fire god I am the months. I am the
Being, the Supreme radiant sun, the Ganges among the
Abode, the Supreme sustainer. I am the rivers. I am the holy fig
Purifier, the Eternal controller of wind, I am tree among the trees. I
Being, the primal God, the moon. I am the am the lion among the
the unborn, and the water-god, and the animals. I am the
omnipresent.  manes. I am the Garuda among the
controller of death. I birds. I am the king
Verse 10.14-18 am the celestial rulers. among the men. I am
I am the seven the letter “A” among all
I believe all that You goddesses or guardian the alphabets. I am the
have told me to be true angels presiding over splendor of the
and you are the Creator the seven qualities splendid; victory of the
and Lord of all beings, fame, prosperity, victorious; resolution of
God of all celestial speech, memory, the resolute; and
rulers, the Supreme intellect, resolve, and goodness of the good. I
person, and Lord of the forgiveness. am silence among the
universe.  secrets, and the Self-
I am the Vedas, I am knowledge of the
Please tell me how I can the monosyllable knowledgeable.
know you by constant cosmic sound, OM,
contemplation and in among the words; I am I am the endless time. I
what form are You to the chanting of mantra am the sustainer, and I
be thought of by me? among the spiritual am omniscient. I am
the beginning, the Since you would not
middle, and the end of You have spoken to me able to see Me with
all creation. I am the about the secrets of your physical eye;
origin of all beings, I spirit. You have told me therefore, I give you the
am the time or death about the origin and divine eye to see My
and I am also the origin dissolution of beings. majestic power and
of future beings. I am You have told me of glory.
Krishna, Vyasa, Arjuna your great glory. My
and the power of all illusion has now been Verse 11.09-13
rulers. There is dispelled.
nothing, animate or Sanjaya said:
inanimate, that can Verse 11.03-08
exist without Me. O King, having said
Though I see You here this; Lord Krishna
Verse 10.40-42 before me in Your revealed His supreme
actual position, yet I majestic form to
There is no end of My wish to see Your divine Arjuna.
divine manifestations, cosmic form, O Lord. If Arjuna saw the
O Arjuna and this is You think it is possible Universal Form of the
only a brief description for me to see Your Lord.
by Me of the extent of form, then please show
My divine me Your The form of Lord
manifestations. transcendental form. before Arjuna has many
Whatever is endowed mouths and eyes, and
with glory, brilliance, Lord Krishna said: many visions of marvel,
and power; know that with numerous divine
to be a manifestation of O Arjuna, behold My ornaments, and holding
a very small fraction of hundreds and many divine weapons.
My splendor. I remain thousands of Wearing divine
sustaining this whole multifarious divine garlands and apparel,
creation in a special forms of different anointed with celestial
way with part (of colors and shapes. perfumes and
Myself). Behold all the celestial ointments, full of all
beings, and many wonders, the limitless
wonders never seen God with faces on all
before. See now in My sides.
body, O Gudakesa
CHAPTER 11 (Arjuna), the entire Arjuna saw the entire
Universe together with universe, divided in
VISWAROOPAM the moving and the many ways, but
non-moving, standing as all in One,
Verse 11.01-02 concentrated at the and One in all in the
same place here in My transcendental body of
Arjuna said: body. Krishna, the Lord of
celestial rulers. The crown, club, discus; the worlds are
whole universe, with its and a mass of radiance, trembling with fear and
manifold divisions difficult to behold, so do I, O mighty Lord.
gathered together in shining all around like
one, in the body of the the immeasurable I believe You are the
God of gods. brilliance of the sun Supreme Being to be
and the blazing fire. realized. You are the
If the splendor of ultimate resort of the
thousands of suns were I see You with infinite universe. You are the
to blaze forth all at once power, without Spirit, and protector of
in the sky, even that beginning, middle, or the eternal order
would not resemble the end; with many arms, (Dharma).
splendor of that exalted with the sun and the
being. moon as Your eyes, Verse 11.24-31
with Your mouth as a
Verse 11.14-23 blazing fire scorching I am frightened O
all the universe with Krishna, after seeing
Having seen the cosmic Your radiance. Your effulgent and
form of the Lord, colorful form touching
Arjuna was filled with O Lord, You pervade the sky, and Your wide
wonder; and his hairs the entire space open mouth with large
standing on end, bowed between heaven and shining eyes.
his head to the Lord earth in all directions.
and prayed with folded Seeing Your marvelous All my cousin brothers,
hands. and terrible form, the along with the hosts of
three worlds are other kings and
Arjuna said: trembling with fear. warriors of the other
Hosts of supernatural side, together with chief
O Lord, I see in Your rulers enter into You. warriors on our side,
body all supernatural Some with folded are also quickly
controllers, and hands sing Your names entering into Your
multitude of beings, and glories in fear. A fearful mouths with
sages, and celestials. multitude of perfected terrible tusks. Bhisma,
beings hail and adores Drona as also the son of
I see You everywhere You with abundant Suta (Karna) together
with infinite form, with praises. with even our
many arms, stomachs, prominent warriors all
faces, and eyes. All the celestial beings rapidly enter into Your
amazingly gaze at You. terrible mouths with
I see neither your Seeing your infinite cruel teeths! Some are
beginning nor the form with many seen sticking in the
middle nor the end mouths, eyes, arms, gaps between the teeth,
thighs, feet, stomachs, with their heads
I see You with Your and many fearful tusks; crushed!
 actions! therefore, fight!
These warriors of the
mortal world are Have mercy on me! O Verse 11.35
entering Your blazing Lord of celestial rulers,
mouths as many and refuge of the Sanjaya Said:
torrents of the rivers universe.
enter into the ocean. All Having heard these
these people are rapidly Verse 11.32-34 words of Krishna;
rushing into Your Arjuna, trembling with
mouths for destruction Lord Krishna said: folded hands,
as moths rush with prostrated with fear
great speed into the I am Time. I am death, and spoke to Krishna in
blazing flame for the mighty destroyer of a choked voice.
destruction. You are the world. I have come
licking up all the worlds here to destroy all these Verse 11.36-46
with Your flaming people. Even without
mouths, swallowing your participation in Arjuna said:
them from all sides. the war, all the warriors
Your powerful radiance standing arrayed in the Rightly, O Krishna, the
is filling the entire opposing armies shall world delights and
universe with cease to exist. With the rejoices in glorifying
effulgence and burning exception of you [the You. Terrified demons
it, O Krishna. Pandavas], all the flee in all directions.
soldiers here on both The hosts of sages bow
I lose my sense of sides will be slain. I to You in adoration.
direction and find no have already destroyed You are both Eternal
comfort after seeing all these warriors. and Temporal, and the
Your mouths with Drona, Bhisma, Supreme Being that is
fearful tusks glowing Jayadratha, Karna and beyond Eternal and
like the fires of cosmic the other great warriors Temporal.
dissolution. have already been
destroyed by Me. You You are the primal God,
Tell me, who are You in are only an instrument, the most ancient
such a fierce form? My O Arjuna. Therefore, Person. You are the
salutations to You, O you get up and attain ultimate resort of the
best of all celestial glory. Conquer your entire universe. You are
rulers, be merciful! I enemies, and enjoy a the knower, the object
wish to understand prosperous kingdom. of knowledge, and the
You, O primal Being, Kill all these great Supreme Abode. You, O
because I do not know warriors who are Lord of the infinite
Your mission. I desire already killed by Me. form, pervade the
to know You who are Do not fear. You will entire universe.
the Primal One. For I certainly conquer the
do not understand Your enemies in the battle; You are the controller
of death, the fire, the inanimate world, and
wind, the water god, the greatest guru to be
the moon god, and the worshipped. No one is
creator, as well as the even equal to You in
father of the creator. the three worlds; how
Salutations to You a can there be one
thousand times, and greater than You? O
again and again Being of incomparable
salutations to You. glory.
My salutations to You. Therefore, O Lord, I
My obeisance to You. seek Your mercy by
You are infinite valor bowing down and
and the boundless prostrating my body
might. You pervade before You. Bear with
everything, and me as a father to his
therefore You are son, as a friend to a
everywhere and in friend, and as a charity, nor by rituals,
everything. husband to his wife, O
Lord.
Considering You
merely as a friend, and Beholding that which
not knowing Your has never been seen
greatness, I have before delights me, and
inadvertently yet my mind is
addressed You as O tormented with fear.
Krishna, O Yadava, and Therefore, O God of
O friend merely out of celestial rulers, the
affection or refuge of the universe,
carelessness. have mercy on me; and
show me your original
In whatever way I may four-armed form just as
have insulted You in before.
jokes; while playing,
reposing in bed, sitting, I wish to see You with a
or at meals; when crown, holding mace
alone, or in front of and discus in Your
others; O Krishna, the hand. Therefore, O
immeasurable One, I Lord with thousand
implore You for arms and universal
forgiveness. form, please appear in
the four-armed form.
You are the father of
this animate and Verse 11.47-49
Lord Krishna said:
O Arjuna, being pleased
with you I have shown
you, through My own
yogic powers, this
particular supreme,
shining, universal,
infinite, and primal
form of Mine that has
never been seen before
by anyone other than
you. O Arjuna, neither
by study of the Vedas,
nor by sacrifice, nor by
nor by severe
austerities, can I be
seen in this cosmic
form by any one other
than you in this human
world.
Do not be perturbed
and confused by seeing
such a terrible form of
Mine as this. With
fearless and cheerful
mind, now behold My
four-armed form.
Verse 11.50-51
Sanjaya said:
After speaking like this
to Arjuna, Krishna
revealed His four-
armed form. And then
assuming His pleasant
human form, Lord
Krishna, the Great One,
consoled Arjuna who works for Me, and to aspect of God
was terrified. whom I am the restraining all the
supreme goal; who is senses, even-minded
Arjuna said: my devotee, who has no under all
attachment, and is free circumstances, engaged
O Krishna, seeing this from enmity towards in the welfare of all
lovely human form of any being; attains Me, creatures, come to Me
Yours, I have now O Arjuna. indeed. 
become tranquil and I
am normal again. I am But for those who
now composed in mind CHAPTER 12 worship the Supreme
and I am restored to with unswerving
my original nature. DEFINITION OF A devotion as a personal
SPIRITUAL deity of their choice,
Verse 11.52-55 PERSON offer all actions to Me,
intent on Me as the
Lord Krishna said: Verse 12.01-07 Supreme, and meditate
on Me; They fix their
This four-armed form Arjuna asked:  minds on My personal
of Mine that you have form and are always
seen is very difficult, Between those who engaged in worshiping
indeed, to see. Even worship God in form Me with great and
celestial controllers are and others who transcendental faith are
ever longing to see this worship the formless; considered by Me to be
form. which of these are most perfect. I
considered more therefore swiftly
This four-armed form perfect? become their savior
of Mine that you have from the world that is
just seen cannot be Lord Krishna said:  the ocean of death and
seen even by study of transmigration whose
the Vedas, or by Realization is more thoughts are set on My
austerity, or by acts of difficult for those who personal form, O
charity, or by the fix their mind on the Arjuna.
performance of rituals. impersonal,
unmanifest, and Verse 12.08-12
However, through formless Absolute;
single-minded devotion because, There are four ways to
alone, I can be seen in comprehension of the attain Me, O Arjuna.
this form, can be unmanifest by
known in essence, and embodied beings is Focus your mind on
also can be reached, O attained with difficulty. Me, and let your
Arjuna. Nevertheless, those intellect dwell upon Me
who worship the alone through
The one who does all formless impersonal meditation and
contemplation. compassionate equanimous, and full of
Thereafter you shall Who is forgiving devotion 
certainly attain Me. By whom others are not
agitated Who is devoted to Me.
Long to attain Me by Who is not agitated by Whose mind and
practice of any spiritual others intellect are engaged in
discipline; such as deity Who is free from joy, dwelling upon Me
worship that suits you. envy, fear, and anxiety Who follow the
imperishable path of
Be intent on Who is free from the devotional service
performing your duty notion of "I" and "my" Who completely engage
just for Me. You shall Who has renounced the themselves with faith,
attain perfection by evil and is full of making Me the
doing your prescribed devotion supreme goal.
duty for Me - without
any selfish motive - just Who has subdued the
as an instrument to mind
serve and please Me. Whose resolve is firm
Who is ever content CHAPTER 13
Just surrender unto My Who is free from
will, and renounce the attachment CREATION AND
attachment to, and the THE CREATOR
anxiety for, the fruits of Who has renounced the
all work - by learning to doership in all Verse 13.01-02
accept all results as undertakings
God's grace - with Who is indifferent to Arjuna said: 
equanimity.  censure or praise
O my dear Krsna, I
Knowledge [of the Who is desireless, pure, wish to know about
Supreme] is superior to wise, impartial, and prakrti [nature], purusa
[mere] practice free from anxiety [the enjoyer], and the
Meditation is superior Who neither rejoices field and the knower of
to knowledge nor grieves, neither the field, and of
Renunciation is likes nor dislikes knowledge and the
superior to Meditation Who remains the same object of knowledge.
towards friend or foe, (13.01-02) 
Verse 12.13-20 in honor or disgrace, in
heat or cold, in Verse 13.01-06
The one who is dear to pleasure or pain
me is the one Who is quiet and Lord Krishna said: 
content with whatever
Who does not hate any he or she has; O Arjuna, this physical
creature unattached to a place, a body, the miniature
Who is friendly and country, or a house; universe, may be called
the field or creation. interactions. This in
One who knows the brief is the field along Beyond the above, rest
creation is called the with its modifications. is ignorance.
knower or creator.
Know Me to be the Verse 13.07-12 Verse 13.13-18
creator of all the
creation. The true The following are the The Creator has His
understanding of both areas of knowledge to hands, feet, eyes, head,
the creator and the be known by knowing mouth, and ears
creation is considered which life eternal is everywhere, because
by Me to be the gained.  He is all-pervading and
transcendental omnipresent. He is the
knowledge.  Humility, modesty, perceiver of all that is
nonviolence, going on. He is inside
I shall now tell you forgiveness, honesty, as well as outside all
about what the creation steadfastness, purity of beings, animate and
is, what it is like, what thought, word and inanimate. And because
its transformations are, deed, absence of ego, of His omnipresence,
where its source is, who self-control; and He is very near residing
that creator is, and aversion towards sense in one's inner psyche;
what His powers are. objects, detachment, as well as far away in
freedom from the Supreme Abode.
The description of the entanglement in family, Though He appears to
above is available in non-interest in exist as if divided in
Vedic hymns and also participation in a crowd beings, yet He is
in other scriptures. It is of people, even undivided. He is the
especially presented in mindedness amid creator, sustainer, and
Vedanta-sutra with all pleasant and destroyer of all beings. 
reasoning as to cause unpleasant events
and effect. He is the Supreme
Taste for solitude, Being seated in the
The five great elements, constant reflection on inner psyche as
false ego, intelligence, pain, old age, disease, consciousness, the
the unmanifested, the and death, accepting source of all knowledge
ten senses and the importance of self and the object of
mind, the five sense realization and knowledge. He is to be
objects, desire, hatred, philosophical search for realized by Self-
happiness, distress, the the Absolute Truth knowledge. 
aggregate, the life
symptoms, and Service to guru, Thus the creation, the
convictions--all these unswerving devotion to field of activity [the
are considered, in Me, the Supreme who body], the knowledge
summary, to be the is without any and the knowable have
field of activities and its beginning.  been briefly described
by Me. My devotees can Similarly, the soul not degrade himself by
understand this well situated in Brahman his mind. Thus he
and thus attain My vision does not mix approaches the
Supreme Abode.  with the body, though transcendental
situated in that body. destination.
Verse 13.19-34
One who understands One who can see that
Prakrti (nature) and this philosophy, either all activities are
Purusha (soul) are both by meditation or by performed by the
beginningless; and knowledge or by Creator and sees that
know also that the selfless service or by the self does nothing
forms and modes are deity worship with total and is not the doer,
born of prakrti faith in Me is sure to actually sees. 
(nature). attain liberation. Such
liberated people are not The one who truly sees
With regard to the born again.  is the one who sees the
source of body and Supreme Lord in all
organs, Nature is said Whatever is born mortal beings. Such a
to be the cause. This is animate or inanimate seeing will ensure that
the living entity, know them to be born no one injures another. 
associates itself with from the union of Body
material nature, gets and the Creator. Just as The moment one
attached due to one sun illuminates the discovers diverse
ignorance of previous entire world, the variety of beings and
Karma and meets with Creator gives life to the their different ideas
good and evil.  entire creation, O abiding in One, come
Arjuna. out from the Creator,
The soul is the cause one attains the
for the experience of One who sees the Supreme Being.
pleasure and pain. This Supersoul
is the transcendental accompanying the They who perceive the
Spirit, who is the Lord, individual soul in all difference between the
the Supreme bodies, and who creation (or the body)
Proprietor. This understands that and the creator (or the
Supreme Soul in the neither the soul nor the Spirit) as well as know
body witnesses, guides, Supersoul within the the technique of
supports and controls destructible body is liberation of the living
but by itself neither ever destroyed, actually entity from the trap of
does anything nor sees.  illusory Maya attain the
becomes tainted. The Supreme.
sky, due to its subtle One who sees the
nature, does not mix Supersoul equally
with anything, although present everywhere, in CHAPTER 14
it is all-pervading. every living being, does
THREE MODES OF knowledge and madness, carelessness,
MATERIAL happiness. and delusion arise. 
NATURE
Passion is attachment Verse 14.14-18
Verse 14.01-02 to desires, longings and
craving for sense The fruit of Satva is
Lord Krishna said:  gratification. Those in beneficial and pure.
passion are bound by When one who dies
I shall now reiterate the attachment to action during the dominance
supreme wisdom and fruits of work. of Satva goes to heaven
among all wisdom by the pure world of
knowing which sages Ignorance binds living knowers of the
have been able to reach entity by madness, Supreme.
perfection.  carelessness, laziness
and excessive sleep.  The fruit of Rajas is
Verse 14.03-04 pain. When one dies
Verse 14.10-13 during the dominance
I am the life giving of Rajas, one is reborn
Father. I make all Satva can prevail only as attached to selfish
births of living beings by defeating Rajas and action.
possible, whatever Thamas 
forms are produced in Rajas prevails by The fruit of Thamas is
any womb suppressing Satva and laziness. When one dies
whatsoever..  Thamas in Thamas, one is
Thamas prevails by reborn as lower
Verse 14.05-09 stifling Satva and Rajas creatures. 

Material nature When Satva is Verse 14.19-20

consists of three predominant, light of
modes, viz. Satva, Rajas knowledge of the One is freed from the
and Thamas, i.e. Supreme glitters all the pains of birth, old age
Goodness, Passion and senses in the body. and death and attains
Ignorance. When one is When Rajas is immortality or
born he comes into predominant; salvation only when he
contact with nature and attachment, greed, transcends these three
becomes conditioned undertaking of selfish modes of Satva, Rajas
by these modes. works, uncontrollable and Thamas and
desire, craving, perceives that in all
Goodness is purer than hankering, restlessness, activities no other
the others. It is and excitement arise. performer is at work
illuminating. It frees When Thamas is than the Supreme Lord.
one from all sinful predominant;
reactions. Those in this ignorance, inactivity,
mode are attached to negligence, dullness, Verse 14.21-27
 without wavering in the or the real form of this
Arjuna enquired:  three material modes. tree is not perceptible
They offer service to on the earth.
What are the marks of Me and to My In the human world,
those who have endeavors with love the ego, sense pleasures
transcended the three and unswerving and desires form its
modes of material devotion, unfailing in sprouts causing Karmic
Nature, and what is all circumstances bondage.
their conduct?
Only they become fit One has to remove
Lord Krishna said:  for Salvation. They who these desires through
have taken refuge in knowledge of the
The marks of the this transcendental Supreme, detachment
transcended persons knowledge attain unity with all lust completely
are that  with Me and are stilled and seek the
neither born at the time Supreme abode by
They remain indifferent of creation, nor constantly dwelling in
to pain and pleasure, afflicted at the time of the Supreme Being.
happiness or distress  dissolution. Once reached the
To them, clod, a stone, Supreme abode, one
and gold are alike does not come back to
To them the dear and CHAPTER 15 the mortal world again.
the unfriendly are alike
They are of firm mind THE SUPREME Verse 15.07-11
They are calm in BEING
censure and in praise The living entity enjoys
They are indifferent to sense pleasures using
honor and disgrace Verse 15.01-06 six sensory faculties of
They are impartial to hearing, touch, sight,
friend and foe Lord Krishna said:  taste, smell, and mind.
They renounce sense of But the individual soul,
doership  Think of a Pepal Tree. the jivatma in the body
It has its roots, of living beings is the
They are aware that I branches, leaves and integral part of the
am the abode of sprouts.  universal Spirit. 
Brahman This universe is
They know I am comparable to this tree. But instead of
immortal and God is its roots. associating themselves
imperishable Bramha is its branches. with the soul, the six
They know I am the Vedas are its leaves. sensory faculties
eternal law and The branches of this including the mind
absolute bliss eternal tree are spread associate themselves
They stay firmly all over the cosmos. with the body. The
attached to the Lord The beginning, the end, ignorant cannot
perceive this.  breath getting into and understands the
coming out of every Supreme Being, knows
Just as the air takes being. The energy everything and
aroma away from the causing digestion in the worships Him
flower; similarly, the living beings is also My wholeheartedly. Having
individual soul, after energy. I am seated in understood this, one
the death of the everyone's heart, and becomes enlightened,
individual, takes the six from Me come and one's all duties are
sensory faculties from remembrance, accomplished. Whoever
the physical body to the knowledge and knows Me as the
new physical body it forgetfulness. By all the Supreme Personality of
acquires in Vedas, I am to be Godhead, without
reincarnation. The known. Indeed, I am doubting, is the knower
living entity, thus the compiler of of everything. He
taking another gross Vedanta, and I am the therefore engages
body, obtains a similar knower of the Vedas himself in full
faculties as the past devotional service to
one. This too the Verse 15.16-20 Me O Arjuna.
ignorant do not
perceive. But those who There are two entities
have the eye of Self- in the cosmos: The
knowledge can see it. Temporal, i.e. the
changeable and the CHAPTER 16
The yogis, striving for Eternal. The Supreme
perfection, behold the Being is beyond both DIVINE AND THE
living entity abiding in the Changeable and the DEMONIC
their inner psyche as Eternal. He is also QUALITIES
consciousness.  called the Absolute
Reality that sustains
Verse 15.12-15 both the Temporal and Verse 16.01-03
the Eternal by
I am in every planet pervading everything. Lord Krishna said: 
and the light energy
that coming from the Because the Supreme The following qualities
sun illumines the whole Being is beyond both that belong to Godly
world; and that in the Temporal and Eternal; men endowed with
moon, and in the fire; therefore, He is known divine nature:
know that light to be in this world and in the Cleanliness, Purity of
Mine. Entering the scriptures as the innerpsyche
earth, I support all Supreme Being, Fearlessness, Absence
beings and all plants Absolute Reality, Truth of indecisiveness,
with My energy.  and Supersoul. Determination
Study of scriptures
I am the Prana, the The wise one who truly Charity, Sacrifice,
Modesty, Simplicity There are only two pride, and arrogance; 
Gentleness, Sense of types (or castes) of Holding wrong views
restraint and self human beings in this due to delusion; 
control world: The divine, or Obsessed with endless
Honesty, Truthfulness the wise; and the anxiety lasting until
Nonviolence, demonic, or the death, 
Forgiveness, ignorant.  Considering sense
Compassion for all gratification their
creatures The divine has been highest aim, 
Absence of anger, described at length, Convinced that sense
Equanimity now hear from Me pleasure is everything; 
Absence of pride, about the demonic, O Bound by hundreds of
Freedom from passion Arjuna.  ties of desire and 
for honor Enslaved by lust and
Absence of malice, Persons of demonic anger; 
Absence from nature do not know
malicious talk what to do and what they strive to obtain
Freedom from greed, not to do. They neither wealth by unlawful
Austerity have purity nor good means for the
Perseverance in conduct nor fulfillment of sensual
attaining spiritual truthfulness. Neither pleasures and act with
knowledge cleanliness nor proper impure motives.. They
Renunciation behavior nor truth is believe that to gratify
found in them. They the senses is the prime
Verse 16.04-05 say there is nothing necessity of human
called God and sexual civilization. They
These qualities belong union of man and think: 
to those of demoniac woman alone is the
nature are Hypocrisy, spice of the world.  This has been gained by
arrogance, pride, me today, I shall fulfill
conceit, harshness, Adhering to this wrong this desire, I have this
anger, harshness, and atheist view, these much wealth, and will
ignorance.  degraded souls - with have more wealth in the
small intellect and cruel future
Divine qualities lead to deeds engage
salvation, the demonic themselves in That enemy has been
qualities are said to be unbeneficial and slain by me, and I shall
for bondage.  horrible works. They slay others also. I am
are born as enemies for the Lord. I am the
O Arjuna, you are born the destruction of the enjoyer. I am
with divine qualities. world.  successful, powerful,
and happy
Verse 16.06-18 Filled with insatiable
desires, hypocrisy, I am rich and born in a
noble family. Who is sink to the lowest hell following the scriptural
equal to me? I shall without ever attaining injunction.
perform sacrifice, I Me until their minds
shall give charity, and I change for the better by
shall rejoice.  the causeless mercy of
the Lord.
Thus deluded by CHAPTER 17
ignorance; Bewildered Verse 16.21-22 THREEFOLD FAITH
by many fancies;
entangled in the net of There are three gates Verse 17.01
delusion; addicted to leading to hell. They
the enjoyment of are lust, anger, and Arjuna asked: 
sensual pleasures; they greed. They lead to the
fall into a foul hell.  downfall (or bondage) What is the situation of
of the individual. those who do not follow
Self-conceited, Therefore, Every sane the principles of
stubborn, filled with man should give up scriptures, but worship
pride and intoxication these. One who is according to their own
of wealth; they perform liberated from these faith? Is it in the mode
service only in name, three gates of hell, O of goodness, passion, or
for show, and not Arjuna, does what is ignorance?
according to scriptural best for him or her, and
injunction. consequently attains Verse 17.02-06
the highest state. 
These malicious people Lord Krishna said: 
cling to egoism, power, Verse 16.23-24
arrogance, lust, and One’s faith can also be
anger; and hate Me One, who acts under of three kinds, Satva,
who dwells in their own the influence of his or Rajas and Thamas
bodies and those of her desires, disobeying depending upon the
others. scriptural injunctions, modes of nature
neither attains acquired by the
Verse 16.19-20 perfection nor embodied souls. 
happiness, nor the
I hurl these envious, Supreme Abode. Satva people worship
mischievous, cruel, Gods. Those in Rajas
sinful, and mean people Therefore, let the worship demigods. And
into the cycles of scripture be your those in Thamas
rebirth in the womb of authority in worship ghosts and
demons again and determining what spirits.
again. O Arjuna, should be done and
entering the wombs of what should not be Men who are impelled
demons birth after done. You should by lust, pride and
birth, the deluded ones perform your duty passion, perform
violent austerities not speech must be non-
ordained by the Service or sacrifice is offensive, truthful,
scriptures. They torture done as enjoined by the pleasant, beneficial,
the material elements scriptures, and and to be used for the
of the body as well as performed without the regular reading aloud
Me who dwells within desire for the fruit, with of scriptures
the body. This is a a firm belief and
demonic conviction.  conviction that it is a Austerity of thought
duty, is in the mode of stems from the mind.
Verse 17.07-10 Satva. The thoughts must
come from the serenity
Beyond the faith, the Service or sacrifice that of mind. Such thoughts
food preferred by men is performed only for must reflect gentleness,
is also of three types. So show, and aiming for equanimity, self-
are the sacrifice, fruit, know that to be in control, and the purity. 
austerity, and charity. the mode of Rajas.
Now hear the Verse 17.17-19
distinction between Service or sacrifice
them. performed without And these threefold
following the scripture, austerity (of thought,
The foods that promote in which no food is word, and deed) when
longevity, virtue, distributed, which is practiced with supreme
strength, health, devoid of mantra, faith, faith, without a desire
happiness, and joy are and gift, is said to be in for the fruit, is said to
juicy, smooth, the mode of Thamas. be Satva.
substantial, and
nutritious. Satva Verse 17.14-16 When such austerity is
persons like such foods. performed for gaining
Similarly austerity is respect, honor,
Foods that are very also of three kinds, viz. reverence, and for the
bitter, sour, salty, hot, austerity of deed, word sake of show or result,
pungent, dry, and and thought. it is said to be of Rajas
burning; and cause
pain, grief, and disease; Austerity of deed When the same is
are liked by Rajas consists of Performing. performed with foolish
persons.  Performing means stubbornness, or with
worship of Gods, the self-torture, or for
The foods liked by guru, the learned with harming others, is born
people in the mode of purity, honesty, of Thamas.
ignorance are stale, celibacy, and
tasteless, putrid, rotten, nonviolence.  Verse 17.20-22
refuses, and impure. 
Austerity of word Help or charity given as
Verse 17.11-14 consists of speech. The a matter of duty, to a
deserving candidate the name of God, OM
who does nothing in to be short. What is sacrifice and
return, at the right what is renunciation?
place and time, is OM, Tat, Sat is the What is Thyaga and
considered to be Satva.  three fold designation what is Sanyas? What is
Help or charity that is of the Supreme Being, the difference?
given unwillingly, or to the Brahman, the
get something in Vedas and the Verse 18.02-06
return, or looking for Sacrifices. It is also a
some fruit, is said to be principle that clarifies Lord Krishna said:
Rajas. the qualities required of
any act. Thyaga is freedom from
Help or charity that is selfish attachment and
given at a wrong place OM signifies God, the fruits of work. Where as
and time, and to Brahman. Tat signifies Sanyas is giving up
unworthy persons; or actions to be free of activities prompted by
without paying respect material entanglement desires.
to the receiver or with i.e. without aiming for
ridicule, is born of any reward. Sat Renunciation
Thamas.  signifies goodness and comprises of sacrifice,
truthfulness, i.e. the charity and penance.
Verse 17.23-28 objective is to be to These are not to be
attain the Absolute given up. They must be
In the above Truth.  performed as they
background it is to be purify even the great
understood that any Anything done as souls. All these
sacrifice, charity, sacrifice, charity or activities should be
austerity or any other penance without faith performed without
act or worship, if done in the Supreme is attachment or any
without faith is of no impermanent. It is expectation of result.
value, either now or called asat and is They should be
hereafter. useless both in this life performed as a matter
and the next. of duty, O son of Prtha.
It is God who created That is My final
the Vedas and the opinion.
prescriptions contained CHAPTER 18
therein. These Verse 18.07-12
prescriptions alone SALVATION
enable one to do THROUGH Prescribed duties
selfless activities. That RENUNCIATION should never be
is why all acts of renounced. In the name
sacrifice, charity and Verse 18.01 of Sanyasa or
austerity are renunciation, one
commenced by uttering Arjuna said: should not give up
one’s duty. The assessed after death slaying these people, he
abandonment of based on what he had or she neither slays nor
obligatory work is due done, desirable, is bound by the act of
to delusion, and is undesirable, and killing.
ignorance. mixed. Such an
assessment is not Verse 18.19-28
One who abandons necessary for a
duty merely because it renunciant. There are three kinds of
is difficult, or because knowledge, action and
of fear of bodily Verse 18.13-18 the performer of action.
trouble, does not get
the benefits of sacrifice There are five causes As far as knowledge is
by performing such a for the accomplishment concerned, the three
sacrifice in the mode of of all actions. Whatever kinds are:
passion. right or wrong action a
man performs by body, That is Satva
Obligatory work mind or speech is knowledge where one
performed as duty, caused by these five sees one spiritual entity
renouncing selfish factors. They are: in all living entities.
attachment to the fruit, That is Rajas where one
is alone regarded to be The performer sees different living
Satva sacrifice His Karma entities in different
His perception of what people
The one who neither is happening, i.e. his That is Thamas when
hates a disagreeable knowledge one sees his own long
work, nor is attached to Arousal of one’s own standing irrational
an agreeable work, is senses i.e. of Satva, prejudice in other
considered a Rajas or Thamas people
renunciant (Tyagi) so Act of the other person
long he is free from all As far as action is
doubts about the Therefore one who concerned, the three
Supreme Being. thinks himself the only kinds are:
doer, not considering
Human beings cannot the five factors, is Duties performed
completely abstain certainly not very without likes and
from work. Therefore, intelligent and cannot dislikes, and without
the one who completely see things as they are. selfish motives and
renounces the selfish attachment to enjoy the
attachment to the fruits The one who is free fruit, is said to be Satva
of all works is from the notion of
considered a doership, and whose Action performed with
renunciant. intellect is not polluted ego, with selfish
by the desire to reap motives, and with too
A non-renunciant is the fruit; even after much effort; is Rajas
 Understanding by And that determination
Action that is which one knows what which cannot go
undertaken because of ought to be done and beyond dreaming,
delusion; disregarding what ought not to be fearfulness,
consequences, loss, done, what is to be lamentation,
injury to others, as well feared and what is not moroseness and
as one's own ability is to be feared, what is illusion--such
Thamas binding and what is unintelligent
liberating, is Satva determination is
As far as the performer Thamas.
is concerned, the three Understanding which
kinds are: cannot distinguish Verse 18.36-40
between religion and
One who is free from irreligion, between Similar to the above,
attachment, is non- what is to be done and there are also three fold
egotistic, endowed with what is not to be done pleasure and happiness
resolve and is Rajas that people go after.
enthusiasm, and
unperturbed in success Understanding which That which in the
or failure is Satva considers irreligion to beginning may be just
be religion and religion like poison but at the
One who is to be irreligion, under end is just like nectar
impassioned, attached the spell of illusion and and which awakens one
to the fruits of their darkness, and strives to self-realization is
work, greedy, violent, always in the wrong Satva
impure, and is affected direction, is Thamas.
by joy and sorrow is That happiness which
Rajas Determination which is is derived from contact
unbreakable, which is of the senses with their
The undisciplined, sustained with objects and which
vulgar, stubborn, steadfastness by yoga appears like nectar at
wicked, malicious, lazy, practice, and which first but poison at the
depressed, and thus controls the end is Rajas
procrastinating activities of the mind,
performer is Thamas life and senses is Satva And that happiness
determination which is blind to self-
Verse 18.29-35 realization, which is
Determination by delusion from
Now there are also which one holds fast to beginning to end and
three kinds of fruitive results in which arises from
understanding and religion, economic sleep, laziness and
determination. They development and sense illusion is Thamas
are gratification is Rajas
There is no being,
either on the earth or (Vaishyas). enveloped by defects as
among the celestial fire is covered by
controllers in the Those who are very smoke.
heaven, who can good in service and
remain free from these labor to others are The person whose mind
three modes of material classed as workers is always free from
Nature. (Shudras). selfish attachment, who
has subdued the mind
Verse 18.41-44 Verse 18.45-58 and senses, and who is
free from desires
The division of human One can attain the attains the supreme
labor is also based on highest perfection by perfection of freedom
the qualities inherent devotion to one's from the bondage of
in peoples' nature or natural work. Listen to Karma by renouncing
their make up. Me how one attains selfish attachment to
perfection while the fruits of work.
Those who have engaged in one's
serenity, self control, natural work. Learn from Me briefly,
austerity, purity, O Arjuna, how one can
patience, honesty, One attains perfection attain such perfection.
transcendental by performing one’s
knowledge, own work along with Endowed with purified
transcendental worshipping the Lord intellect
experience, and belief who is the source of all Subduing the mind
in God are labeled as beings and all with firm resolve
intellectuals pervading. . Duties Turning away from
(Braahmans). prescribed according to sound and other objects
one's nature are never of the senses
Those having the affected by sinful Giving up likes and
qualities of heroism, reactions. dislikes
vigor, firmness, Preferring solitude
dexterity, not fleeing It is better to engage in Eating lightly
from battle, charity, one's own occupation, Controlling the mind,
and administrative even though one may speech, and organs of
skills are called leaders perform it imperfectly, action
or protectors than to accept another's Performing meditation
(Kshatriyas). occupation and Being detached
perform it perfectly. Relinquishing egotism,
Those who are good in violence, pride, lust,
cultivation, cattle One's natural work, anger, and
rearing, business, even though defective, proprietorship
trade, finance, and should not be
industry are known as abandoned; because all one becomes peaceful,
business men undertakings are free from the notion of
"I, me, and my", and fit But, if you do not listen
for attaining oneness to Me due to ego, you
with perfection and the shall perish.
Supreme Being
Verse 18.59-62
Absorbed in the
Supreme Being, the If due to ego you think:
serene, one neither I shall not fight; this
grieves nor desires; resolve of yours is vain.
becoming impartial to Under illusion you are
all beings, one obtains now declining to act
the highest devotional according to My
love for God. direction. But,
compelled by the work
By devotion one truly born of your own
understands what and nature, you will act all
who I am, in essence. the same, O son of
Having known Me in Kunti. You are
essence, one controlled by your own
immediately merges nature, i.e. born Karmic
with Me. impressions. Therefore,
you shall do even
A Karma-yogi devotee against your will what
attains the eternal you do not wish to do
immutable abode by out of delusion.
My grace even while
doing all duties just by The Supreme Lord - as
taking refuge in Me (by the controller abiding
surrendering all action in the inner psyche of
to Me with loving all beings - causes them
devotion). to work out their
Karma like a puppet (of
Sincerely offer all Karma created by the
actions to Me, set Me as free will) mounted on a
your supreme goal, and machine.
completely depend on
Me. Always fix your Seek refuge in the
mind on Me, and resort Supreme Lord alone
to Karma-yoga. with loving devotion, O
Arjuna. By His grace
You shall overcome all you shall attain
difficulties by My grace supreme peace and the
when your mind Eternal Abode.
becomes fixed on Me.
Verse 18.63
Thus the knowledge
that is more secret than
the secret has been
explained to you by Me.
After fully reflecting on
this, do as you wish.
Verse 18.64-67
Hear once again My
most secret, supreme
word. You are very dear
to Me, therefore, I shall
tell this for your
benefit.
Fix your mind on Me,
be devoted to Me, offer
service to Me, bow
down to Me, and you
shall certainly reach
Me. I promise you
because you are My
very dear friend.
Set aside all
meritorious deeds and
religious rituals, and
just surrender
completely to My will
with firm faith and
loving devotion. I shall
liberate you from all
sins, the bonds of
Karma. Do not grieve.
This knowledge should
never be spoken by you
to one who is devoid of
austerity, who is
without devotion, who
does not desire to
listen, or who speaks ill
of Me. Arjuna said: Verse 18.78

Verse 18.68-69 By Your grace my Wherever there will be

delusion is destroyed, I both Krishna, the Lord
The one who shall have gained Self- of yoga, or Dharma in
propagate this supreme knowledge, my the form of the
secret philosophy the confusion with regard scriptures, and Arjuna
transcendental to body and Spirit is with the weapons of
knowledge of the Gita dispelled and I shall duty and protection;
amongst My devotees, obey Your command. there will be everlasting
shall be performing the prosperity, victory,
highest devotional Sanjaya said: happiness, and
service to Me, and shall morality. This is my
certainly come to Me. Thus I heard this conviction.
No other person shall wonderful dialogue
do a more pleasing between Lord Krishna EPILOGUE
service to Me, and no and Arjuna, causing my
one on the earth shall hair to stand on end. The Farewell Message
be more dear to Me. By the grace of sage of Lord Krishna
Vyasa, I heard this
Verse 18.70-77 most secret and Lord Krishna on the
supreme yoga directly eve of His departure
I promise the study of from Krishna, the Lord from the arena of this
this sacred dialogue of of yoga, Himself world, after finishing
ours will be equivalent speaking to Arjuna the difficult task of
to worshipping Me with before my very eyes of establishing
knowledge-sacrifice. clairvoyance granted by righteousness
sage Vyasa. (Dharma), gave His last
Whoever hears this parting discourse to His
sacred dialogue with O King, by repeated cousin brother
faith and without cavil remembrance of this Uddhava who was also
becomes free from sin, marvelous and sacred His dearest devotee and
and attains heaven the dialogue between Lord follower. At the end of a
higher worlds of those Krishna and Arjuna, I long sermon
whose actions are pure am thrilled at every comprising more than
and virtuous. moment; and one thousand verses
Uddhava said:
O Arjuna, did you listen Recollecting again and
to this with single- again, O King, that O Lord, I think the
minded attention? Has marvelous form of pursuit of yoga as You
your delusion born of Krishna I am greatly narrated to Arjuna, and
ignorance been amazed and I rejoice now to me, is very
completely destroyed? over and over again. difficult, indeed, for
most people; because it Krishna said:
entails control of the
unruly senses. Please The one who wants to
tell me a short, simple, know Me, the Supreme
and easy way to God- Personality of
realization. Godhead, should only
understand that I
Lord Krishna upon existed before creation,
Uddhava's request gave I exist in the creation,
the essentials of Self- as well as after
realization (BP 11.06- complete dissolution.
29) for the modern age Any other existence is
as follows: nothing but My illusory
energy (Maya). I exist
(1) Do your duty, to the within the creation and
best of your abilities, at the same time
for Me without any outside the creation. I
selfish motive, and am the all-pervading
remember Me at all Supreme Lord who
times - before starting a exists everywhere, in
work, at the completion everything, and at all
of a task, and while times.
inactive.

(2) Practice to look

upon all creatures as
Myself in thought,
word, and deed; and
mentally bow down to
them.

(3) Awaken your

dormant powers.
Perceive through the
activities of mind,
senses, breathing, and
emotions that the
power of God is within
you at all times, and is
constantly doing all the
work using you as a
mere instrument.

The Supreme Lord