The Yoga of Knowledge

Dehino'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara, tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati

As the embodied soul continuously passes through childhood, youth, and old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change.

Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana, ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

Duhkhesv anudvigna-manah sukhesu vigata-sprhah, vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah sthita-dhir munir ucyate

One who is not disturbed in spite of miseries, who doesn't crave happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.

Dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate, sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho 'bhijayate

While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them. From attachment develops desire, and from desire arises anger.

Apuryamanam acala-pratistham samudram apah pravishanti yadvat, tadvat kama yam pravishanti sarve sa shantim apnoti na kama-kami

A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean which is being filled but is always being still—can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires.

Matra-sparshas tu kaunteya shitoshna-sukha-duhkha-dah, agamapayino 'nityas tams titikshasva bharata

O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are impermanent, and come and go like the winter and summer seasons. O descendant of Bharata, one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.

Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grhnati naro 'parani, tatha sharirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi

As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.

Nainam chindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah, na chainam kledayanty apo na shoshayati marutah

Weapons cannot shred the soul, nor can fire burn it. Water cannot wet it, nor can the wind dry it.

Yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga ucyate

Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.

Yada sanharate cayam kurmo 'nganiva sarvashah, indriyanindriyarthebhyas tasya prajna pratishthita

One who is able to withdraw the senses from their objects, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell, is established in divine wisdom.

Krodhad bhavati sammohah sammohat smriti-vibhramah, smriti-bhramshad buddhi-nasho buddhi-nashat pranashyati

From anger comes delusion; from delusion, confused memory; from confused memory, the ruin of reason; from the ruin of reason, one perishes.

Vihaya kaman yah sarvan pumams carati nihsprhah, nirmamo nirahankarah sa shantim adhigacchati

That person who gives up all material desires and lives free from a sense of possessiveness, proprietorship, and egotism, attains perfect peace.

Klaibyam ma sma gamah partha naitat tvayy upapadyate, kshudram hridaya-daurbalyam tyaktvottishtha parantapa

O Partha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.

Sukha-duhkhe same kritva labhalabhau jayajayau, tato yuddhaya yujyasva naivam papam avapsyasi

Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.

Nehabhikrama-nasho 'sti pratyavayo na vidyate, svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat

In this path, no effort is wasted and no loss is suffered. Even a little progress on this path protects one from the most fearful danger.

Buddhi-yukto jahatiha ubhe sukrita-dushkrite, tasmad yogaya yujyasva yogah karmasu kaushalam

One who practices yoga of the intellect abandons both good and bad deeds in this life. Therefore, strive for yoga. Yoga is skill in action.

Vishaya vinivartante niraharasya dehinah, rasa-varjam raso 'py asya param drishtva nivartate

The objects of the senses turn away from those who abstain from them, but the taste remains. However, even this taste ceases for those who have seen the Supreme.

Tasmad yasya maha-baho nigrhitani sarvashah, indriyanindriyarthebhyas tasya prajna pratishthita

Therefore, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one whose senses are completely restrained from their objects is established in steady wisdom.