कर्मयोगः
Tap a shloka to read, listen, and explore in pictures.
Play chapter gamesarjuna uvāca ।
jyāyasī cetkarmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana ।
tatkiṁ(ṅ) karmaṇi ghore māṁ(n) niyojayasi keśava ॥
Arjuna asks: “If ātma-jñānam is considered superior to karma, why am I being asked to perform this terrible action of war?”
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/1
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva me ।
tadekaṁ(v̐) vada niścitya yena śreyo’hamāpnuyām ॥
Arjuna says: “Your words appear to confuse my intellect; therefore please clearly tell me one definite discipline by which I may attain śreyas.”
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/2
śrībhagavānuvāca ।
loke’smin dvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayānagha ।
jñānayogena sāṅkhyānāṁ(ṅ) karmayogena yoginām ॥
Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa says that two lifestyles were taught from the beginning: the jñāna-pradhāna life for renunciates and the karma-pradhāna life for active householders.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/3
na karmaṇāmanārambhāt naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo’śnute ।
na ca sannyasanādeva siddhiṁ samadhigacchati ॥
A person does not attain liberation by merely avoiding action, nor does one attain liberation by mere external renunciation.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/4
na hi kaścitkṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt ।
kāryate hyavaśaḥ(kh) karma sarvaḥ(f) prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ ॥
No one can remain without action even for a moment, because everyone is helplessly made to act by the guṇas born of prakṛti.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/5
karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya ya āste manasā smaran ।
indriyārthānvimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ(s) sa ucyate ॥
One who outwardly restrains the organs of action but mentally dwells on sense objects is deluded and is called a hypocrite.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/6
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate’rjuna ।
karmendriyaiḥ(kh) karmayogam asaktaḥ(s) sa viśiṣyate ॥
The one who regulates the sense organs through the mind and performs karma-yoga through the organs of action, without attachment, is superior.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/7
niyataṁ(ṅ) kuru karma tvaṁ(ṅ) karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ ।
śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ ॥
Perform your prescribed duty, because action is superior to inaction; even the maintenance of your body is not possible through inaction.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/8
yajñārthātkarmaṇo’nyatra loko’yaṁ(ṅ) karmabandhanaḥ ।
tadarthaṁ(ṅ) karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ(s) samācara ॥
Actions done for yajña liberate; actions done without that offering attitude bind, so perform action for that yajña, free from attachment.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/9
sahayajñāḥ(f) prajāḥ(s) sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ ।
anena prasaviṣyadhvam eṣa vo’stviṣṭakāmadhuk ॥
Having created human beings along with yajña in the beginning, Prajāpati said: “May you prosper by this yajña; may this be the source of your desired blessings.”
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/10
devānbhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ ।
parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ(sh) śreyaḥ(f) paramavāpsyatha ॥
Nourish the devatās through yajña, and may those devatās nourish you; thus, mutually nourishing one another, you shall attain the supreme good.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/11
iṣṭānbhogānhi vo devā(ḥ) dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ ।
tairdattānapradāyaibhyo(aḥ) yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ ॥
The devatās, nourished by yajña, give desired enjoyments; one who enjoys their gifts without offering back is indeed a thief.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/12
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ(s) santo(aḥ) mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ ।
bhuñjate te tvaghaṁ pāpā(ḥ) ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt ॥
Those who partake of what remains after offering to Bhagavān are freed from spiritual obstacles, while those who cook only for themselves consume sin.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/13
annādbhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ ।
yajñādbhavati parjanyo(aḥ) yajñaḥ(kh) karmasamudbhavaḥ ॥
Beings are born from food; food comes from rain; rain comes from yajña; and yajña arises from karma.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/14
karma brahmodbhavaṁ(v̐) viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam ।
tasmātsarvagataṁ brahma nityaṁ(y̐) yajñe pratiṣṭhitam ॥
Know that karma is born of the Veda, the Veda is born of Bhagavān, and therefore the all-pervading Veda is ever established in yajña.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/15
evaṁ pravartitaṁ(ñ) cakraṁ(n) nānuvartayatīha yaḥ ।
aghāyurindriyārāmo(aḥ) moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati ॥
O Pārtha, one who does not follow this divinely initiated cycle of giving and receiving, and lives only in sense enjoyment, lives a sinful and wasted life.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/16
yastvātmaratireva syāt ātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ ।
ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭaḥ(s) tasya kāryaṁ(n) na vidyate ॥
But for the one who delights in the Self, is fulfilled by the Self, and is content in the Self alone, there is no duty to be accomplished for fulfillment.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/17
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho(aḥ) nākṛteneha kaścana ।
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ॥
For the Self-fulfilled jñānī, there is nothing to gain through action, nothing to lose through inaction, and no dependence on any being for any purpose.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/18
tasmādasaktaḥ(s) satataṁ(ṅ) kāryaṁ(ṅ) karma samācara ।
asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ ॥
Therefore, always perform the duty that must be done, without attachment; for by performing action without attachment, a person ultimately attains mokṣa.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/19
karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ ।
lokasaṅgrahamevāpi sampaśyankartumarhasi ॥
Janaka and others attained liberation while remaining in a life of duty; therefore, even considering the welfare of society, you ought to act.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/20
yadyadācarati śreṣṭhaḥ(s) tattadevetaro janaḥ ।
sa yatpramāṇaṁ(ṅ) kurute lokastadanuvartate ॥
Whatever a respected person does, others imitate; whatever standard such a person sets, the world follows.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/21
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ(n) triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana ।
nānavāptamavāptavyaṁ(v̐) varte eva ca karmaṇi ॥
O Pārtha, I have nothing to accomplish in all three worlds, and nothing unattained to attain; still, I remain engaged in action.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/22
yadi hyahaṁ(n) na varteyaṁ(ñ) jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ ।
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ(f) pārtha sarvaśaḥ ॥
O Pārtha, if I were ever not tirelessly engaged in action, people would follow my path in every way.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/23
utsīdeyurime lokā(ḥ) na kuryāṁ(ṅ) karma cedaham ।
saṅkarasya ca kartā syām upahanyāmimāḥ(f) prajāḥ ॥
If I did not perform action, these worlds would decline; I would become the cause of confusion and would destroy these people.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/24
saktāḥ(kh) karmaṇyavidvāṁso(aḥ) yathā kurvanti bhārata ।
kuryādvidvāṁstathāsaktaḥ(ś) cikīrṣurlokasaṅgraham ॥
O Bhārata, just as the ignorant act with attachment, the wise should also act outwardly, but without attachment, wishing to protect and guide society.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/25
na buddhibhedaṁ(ñ) janayet ajñānāṁ(ṅ) karmasaṅginām ।
joṣayetsarvakarmāṇi vidvānyuktaḥ(s) samācaran ॥
The wise should not unsettle the minds of ignorant people attached to action, but should encourage them to perform all appropriate actions while themselves acting with steadiness.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/26
prakṛteḥ(kh) kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ(kh) karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ ।
ahaṅkāravimūḍhātmā kartāhamiti manyate ॥
All actions are performed by the guṇas of prakṛti, but the one deluded by ahaṅkāra thinks, “I am the doer.”
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/27
tattvavittu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ ।
guṇā guṇeṣu vartante iti matvā na sajjate ॥
O mighty-armed Arjuna, the knower of truth understands the distinction between the guṇas and their actions, and knowing that guṇas interact with guṇas, remains unattached.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/28
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ(s) sajjante guṇakarmasu ।
tānakṛtsnavido mandān kṛtsnavinna vicālayet ॥
Those deluded by the guṇas of prakṛti become attached to the actions of the guṇas; the wise person of complete knowledge should not unsettle such immature people of incomplete knowledge.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/29
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā ।
nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ ॥
With spiritual clarity, offer all actions to Bhagavān, be prepared for results, remain free from possessiveness and mental fever, and perform your duty.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/30
ye me matamidaṁ(n) nityam anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ ।
śraddhāvanto'nasūyanto(taḥ) mucyante te'pi karmabhiḥ ॥
Those who constantly follow this karma-yoga teaching with śraddhā and without a fault-finding attitude become free from the bondage of karma.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/31
ye tvetadabhyasūyanto(taḥ) nānutiṣṭhanti me matam ।
sarvajñānavimūḍhāṁstān viddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ ॥
But those who criticize and refuse to follow this karma-yoga teaching are deluded in all forms of knowledge and are spiritually lost.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/32
sadṛśaṁ(ñ) ceṣṭate svasyāḥ(f) prakṛterjñānavānapi ।
prakṛtiṁ(y̐) yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ(kh) kiṁ kariṣyati ॥
Even a knowledgeable person acts according to his own nature; all beings follow their prakṛti, so what can mere suppression accomplish?
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/33
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau ।
tayorna vaśamāgacchet tau hyasya paripanthinau ॥
Likes and dislikes naturally arise toward the objects of every sense organ, but one should not come under their control because they are enemies to spiritual growth.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/34
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ(f) paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt ।
svadharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ(f) paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ ॥
One’s own dharmic duty, even if imperfectly performed, is better than another’s duty done well; even death in svadharma is better, for paradharma is dangerous.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/35
arjuna uvāca ।
atha kena prayukto’yaṁ pāpaṁ(ñ) carati pūruṣaḥ ।
anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ ॥
Arjuna asks: O Vārṣṇeya, by what is a person driven to commit wrong action, even unwillingly, as though forced by some power?
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/36
śrībhagavānuvāca ।
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa(ḥ) rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ ।
mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhyenamiha vairiṇam ॥
Bhagavān answers: it is kāma and krodha, born of rajo-guṇa, insatiable and greatly sinful; know this to be the enemy here.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/37
dhūmenāvriyate vahniḥ(r) yathādarśo malena ca ।
yatholbenāvṛto garbhaḥ(s) tathā tenedamāvṛtam ॥
Just as fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and a fetus by the womb, knowledge is covered by desire.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/38
āvṛtaṁ(ñ) jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā ।
kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca ॥
O Kaunteya, knowledge is covered by this desire, the permanent enemy of the spiritual student, which is like an insatiable fire.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/39
indriyāṇi mano buddhiḥ(r) asyādhiṣṭhānamucyate ।
etairvimohayatyeṣa(ḥ) jñānamāvṛtya dehinam ॥
The sense organs, mind, and intellect are the seats of kāma; through them it covers knowledge and deludes the embodied person.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/40
tasmāttvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha ।
pāpmānaṁ prajahi hyenaṁ(ñ) jñānavijñānanāśanam ॥
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first control the sense organs and destroy this sinful kāma, which destroys jñānam and vijñānam.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/41
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhuḥ(r) indriyebhyaḥ(f) paraṁ manaḥ ।
manasastu parā buddhiḥ(r) yo buddheḥ(f) paratastu saḥ ॥
The senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and the Self is superior even to the intellect.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/42
evaṁ buddheḥ(f) paraṁ buddhvā saṁstabhyātmānamātmanā ।
jahi śatruṁ mahābāho kāmarūpaṁ(n) durāsadam ॥
Knowing the Self as superior to the intellect, steady the mind through the mind and destroy the difficult enemy called kāma.
Open shloka /kids/chapter/3/verse/43