bhagavad-giitaa adhyaaya 3 (English)

In this chapter, Kr's'n'a talks about action. He explains the impossibility of remaining inactive, even for a moment, since everyone is always forced to act, by nature. He also condemns false spiritualists, who pretend to be renounced, while they contemplate sense objects, by calling such a person a hypocrite. Such hypocrites are unfortunately very common nowadays. A lot of these hypocrites ar not only contemplating the sense objects in their minds, but also acting by satisfying their senses, although they tell others that they are very renounced. This type of hypocrisy is not encouraged by Kr's'n'a. It is better to be honest, and admit that one is not completely renounced, and by doing so, one should not feel bad. Kr's'n'a also explains that the action, that one has to perform, should be done with the consciousness of sacrifice. It is also explained here that gods are supported by sacrifice, and that a person who consumes what is given by them, without offering anything in return, is a thief. Indeed, a person who does not perform any religious sacrifice, but still consumes foods, water, air, and other things that is provided by the gods, is a true parasite, who lives off pious people. Then, Kr's'n'a explains that he also has to act, and that ordinary people follow the example of their leaders. If leaders don't act, or act improperly, the masses will follow their bad example, but if the leaders act piously, the masses will follow their good example. Therefore, it is very important for any person who is considered a leader, such as ministers, employers, teachers, parents, etc., to act properly. Towards the end of the chapter, Kr's'n'a speaks about desire and anger as the enemy in this world. This desire is the desire to act without performing a proper sacrifice. Someone, who really acts in an unattached way to perform his duties, is not burned by this desire. As Kr's'n'a says, this desire is difficult to approach and conquer, as it is superior to intelligence, mind, and senses, which are its foundations, and desire also confuses the knowledge, both religious and mundane.

Next adhyaaya

Aj:Øün: uv:ac: jy:ay:s:i c:ðtkm:üN:st:ð m:t:a b:Øe¹j:ün:adün: . t:¡tk÷ km:üeN: G:<rð m:aö en:y:<j:y:es: kñS:v: / 1 /	Arjuna spoke: If your opinion is that intellect is superior than action, o Janaardana^, then why do you command me to do a terrible action, o Kes''ava^? (1)
vy:aem:Â:ðN:ðv: v:aVy:ðn: b:Øe¹÷ m:<hy:s:iv: m:ð . t:dðk÷ v:d en:eÁ:ty: y:ðn: Â:ðy:<\|hm:apn:Øy:am:Î / 2 /	You seem to bewilder my intellect with a statement which seems mixed. One decided message is what I need to reach the better condition. (2)
Â:iB:g:v:an:Øv:ac: l:<kñ\|¡sm:¡n¾ev:D:a en:Åa p:Øra )<Vt:a m:y:an:G: . wan:y:<g:ðn: s:a{ÏKy:an:aö km:üy:<g:ðn: y:<eg:n:am:Î / 3 /	S''rii Bhagavaan spoke: In this world, conclusion is of two sorts, as formerly proclaimed by me, O faultless one: by saangkhya practitioners' yoga of knowledge, and by yoga practitioners' yoga of action. (3)
n: km:üN:am:n:armB:aÀò\kmy:þ p:Ø,\:<\|Sn:Øt:ð . n: c: s:nny:s:n:adðv: es:e¹÷ s:m:eD:g:cCet: / 4 /	A person does not gain inactivity from not partaking of actions, and does not approach success even from renunciation, (4)
n: eh keÁ:tx:N:m:ep: j:at:Ø et:Åty:km:ükát:Î . kay:üt:ð Êv:S:H km:ü s:v:üH )káet:j:òg:ØüN:òH / 5 /	for noone ever stands without performing action even for a moment, for everyone is unwillingly caused to perform actions by nature-born gun'a. (5)
km:ðü¡ndÒy:aeN: s:öy:my: y: Aast:ð m:n:s:a sm:rn:Î . E¡ndÒy:aT:aü¡nv:m:ÜZatm:a em:Ty:ac:arH s: ucy:t:ð / 6 /	He who continues to contemplate sense-objects in his mind, after restraining the organs of action, is a confused soul and is called a hypocrite, (6)
y:¡stv:¡ndÒy:aeN: m:n:s:a en:y:my:arB:t:ð\|j:Øün: . km:ðü¡ndÒy:òH km:üy:<g:m:s:Vt:H s: ev:eS:\y:t:ð / 7 /	but, o Arjuna, he who, after restraining his senses with his mind, clings to karma-yoga with his organs of action, he is unattached and excels. (7)
en:y:t:ö kÙ, km:ü tv:ö km:ü jy:ay:< Êkm:üN:H . S:riry:a*:aep: c: t:ð n: )es:Dy:ðdkm:üN:H / 8 /	Perform restrained action, for action is superior to non-action, and even your bodily subsistence can not succeed from non-action! (8)
y:waT:aütkm:üN:<\|ny:*: l:<k<\|y:ö km:üb:nD:n:H . t:dT:þ km:ü k>nt:ðy: m:ØVt:s:¤H s:m:ac:r / 9 /	Except action for the purpose of sacrifice, this world captivates action. Therefore, o Kuntii's son^*, perform action thoroughly, freed from worldly attachment! (9)
s:hy:waH )j:aH s:àÄÏv:a p:Ør<v:ac: )j:ap:et:H . An:ðn: )s:ev:\y:Dv:m:ð\: v:<\|¡stv:Äkam:D:ØkÏ / 10 /	After begetting offsprings with sacrifices Prajaapati^* formerly spoke: procreate in the future with this, and let it be the granter of your sought desires. (10)
dðv:anB:av:y:t:an:ðn: t:ð dðv:a B:av:y:nt:Ø v:H . p:rsp:rö B:av:y:nt:H Â:ðy:H p:rm:v:apsy:T: / 11 /	With this supporting of gods, let those gods support you, supporting each other, you will better reach the Supreme, (11)
EÄanB:<g:a¡nh v:< dðv:a dasy:nt:ð y:wB:aev:t:aH . t:òdü¶:an:)day:òBy:< y:< B:Ø{ÏVt:ð st:ðn: Ov: s:H / 12 /	for gods, who are supported by sacrifice, will arrange to give you your desired possessions. He who consumes what's given by them without offering to them, he is really a thief. (12)
y:weS:ÄaeS:n:H s:nt:< m:Øcy:nt:ð s:v:üek¡lb:\:òH . B:ØWj:t:ð t:ð tv:G:ö p:ap:a y:ð p:c:nty:atm:karN:at:Î / 13 /	Those, who are consumers of remnants from a sacrifice, are liberated from all faults, but the sinners, who cook out of self-motivation, consume evil. (13)
AÀa»v:¡nt: B:Üt:aen: p:j:üny:adÀs:mB:v:H . y:wa»v:et: p:j:üny:< y:wH km:üs:m:Ø»v:H / 14 /	From food living beings arise, from rain food is produced, from sacrifice rain arises, sacrifice has its origin in action. (14)
km:ü b:ÒÉ<»v:ö ev:e¹ b:ÒÉax:rs:m:Ø»v:m:Î . t:sm:ats:v:üg:t:ö b:ÒÉ en:ty:ö y:wð )et:eÅt:m:Î / 15 /	Know action to be produced by brahma, with origin in the sacred syllable^*, therefore the all-pervading brahma is eternally situated in sacrifice. (15)
Ov:ö )v:et:üt:ö c:#÷ n:an:Øv:t:üy:t:ih y:H . AG:ay:Øer¡ndÒy:aram:< m:<G:ö p:aT:ü s: j:iv:et: / 16 /	In this way, he lives uselessly who, in an evil life of sense pleasure, does not preserve the motion of the wheel, which is set in motion in this world, o Pr'thaa's son^*, (16)
y:stv:atm:ret:rðv: sy:adatm:t:àpt:Á: m:an:v:H . Aatm:ny:ðv: c: s:nt:ØÄst:sy: kay:þ n: ev:½t:ð / 17 /	but he who really might be delighful in himself is a self-satisfied human being, and indeed contented in himself, his duty is not known, (17)
n:òv: t:sy: kát:ðn:aT:<ü n:akát:ðn:ðh kÁ:n: . n: c:asy: s:v:üB:Üt:ð\:Ø keÁ:dT:üvy:p:aÂ:y:H / 18 /	or even his motive, not by anyone in this world, done or undone, and in all living beings noone is the place of refuge for his motive. (18)
t:sm:ads:Vt:H s:t:t:ö kay:þ km:ü s:m:ac:r . As:Vt:< Êac:rnkm:ü p:rm:apn:<et: p:Ü,\:H / 19 /	Therefore, while being unattached, perform thoroughly action, which is constantly to be done; for an unattached human being, who performs action, reaches the Supreme, (19)
km:üN:òv: eh s:öes:e¹m:a¡sT:t:a j:n:kady:H . l:<ks:{Ïg:Òhm:ðv:aep: s:mp:Sy:nkt:Øüm:hües: / 20 /	for, truly, by action Janaka and others achieved perfection. You really ought to act, while considering the very maintainance of the world. (20)
y:½dac:ret: Â:ðÅst:¶:dðv:ðt:r< j:n:H . s: y:tp:Òm:aN:ö kÙ,t:ð l:<kst:dn:Øv:t:üt:ð / 21 /	Whatever the best one performs, that will indeed other people also do. The world pursues the standard which he sets for himself. (21)
n: m:ð p:aT:aü¡st: kt:üvy:ö e*:\:Ø l:<kñ\:Ø ekWc:n: . n:an:v:apt:m:v:apt:vy:ö v:t:ü Ov: c: km:üeN: / 22 /	There is not anything which needs to be done by me in the three worlds^, o Pr'thaa's son^, there is nothing unobtained which needs to be obtained, and still I engage myself in action, (22)
y:ed Êhö n: v:t:ðüy:ö j:at:Ø km:üNy:t:¡ndÒt:H . m:m: v:tm:aün:Øv:t:ünt:ð m:n:Ø\y:aH p:aT:ü s:v:üS:H / 23 /	for if I would never engage in action for others, while being tireless, humans would collectively pursue my track, o Pr'thaa's son^*. (23)
uts:idðy:Øerm:ð l:<ka n: kÙy:aþ km:ü c:ðdhm:Î . s:¢rsy: c: kt:aü sy:am:Øp:hny:aem:m:aH )j:aH / 24 /	These civilizations would decay if I would not perform action, and I would be the creator of confusion and hurt these descendants. (24)
s:Vt:aH km:üNy:ev:¾aös:< y:T:a kÙv:ü¡nt: B:art: . kÙy:aüe¾¾aöst:T:as:Vt:eÁ:ki\:Øül:<üks:{Ïg:Òhm:Î / 25 /	As the unwise act attached to action, o descendant of Bharata^*, so the wise man should act unattached, wishing to act to maintain the world. (25)
n: b:Øe¹B:ðdö j:n:y:ðdwan:aö km:üs:e¤n:am:Î . j:<\:y:ðts:v:ükm:aüeN: ev:¾any:ØVt:H s:m:ac:rn:Î / 26 /	The wise man, who is connected^*, should not generate division of intelligence of the ignorant, who stick to action; and he should do all actions to satisfy others while performing them thoroughly. (26)
)kát:ðH e#y:m:aN:aen: g:ØN:òH km:aüeN: s:v:üS:H . Ah¢arev:m:ÜZatm:a kt:aühem:et: m:ny:t:ð / 27 /	Bewildered by ahangkaara, someone thinks "I am the performer" about actions of nature, which are performed completely by the gun'a, (27)
t:¶v:ev:¶:Ø m:hab:ah< g:ØN:km:üev:B:ag:y:<H . g:ØN:a g:ØN:ð\:Ø v:t:ünt: Eet: m:tv:a n: s:jj:t:ð / 28 /	but, o Mahaabaahu^*, the knower of the truth of separations among gun'a and action, is not attached after thinking "the gun'a engage in gun'a". (28)
)kát:ðg:ØüN:s:öm:ÜZaH s:jj:nt:ð g:ØN:km:üs:Ø . t:an:kátsn:ev:d< m:ndankátsn:ev:À ev:c:al:y:ðt:Î / 29 /	They, who are completely bewildered by the gun'a of nature, are attached to unessential actions; the one in full knowledge should not agitate them, who are dull and not in full knowledge. (29)
m:ey: s:v:aüeN: km:aüeN: s:nny:sy:aDy:atm:c:ðt:s:a . en:raS:ien:üm:üm:< B:Ütv:a y:ØDy:sv: ev:g:t:jv:rH / 30 /	Renounce all actions in me by consciousness of the Supersoul, and after becoming undesiring and unselfish, cured from fever, fight! (30)
y:ð m:ð m:t:em:dö en:ty:m:n:Øet:Å¡nt: m:an:v:aH . Â:¹av:nt:<\|n:s:Üy:nt:< m:Øcy:nt:ð t:ð\|ep: km:üeB:H / 31 /	Those humans who practise this eternal doctrine of mine, while having faith and not being displeased, they are even deprived of actions, (31)
y:ð tv:ðt:dBy:s:Üy:nt:< n:an:Øet:Å¡nt: m:ð m:t:m:Î . s:v:üwan:ev:m:ÜZaöst:a¡nv:e¹ n:Äan:c:ðt:s:H / 32 /	but know them, who don't practise my doctrine, being indignant of this, to be lost, insensible, and bewildered about all knowledge! (32)
s:dáS:ö c:ðÄt:ð sv:sy:aH )kát:ðwaün:v:an:ep: . )káet:ö y:a¡nt: B:Üt:aen: en:g:ÒhH ek÷ ker\y:et: / 33 /	Even one who has knowledge performs what is proper to his own nature. Living beings go with nature. What will suppression do? (33)
E¡ndÒy:sy:ð¡ndÒy:sy:aT:ðü rag:¾ð\:> vy:v:¡sT:t:> . t:y:<n:ü v:S:m:ag:cCð¶:> Êsy: p:erp:¡nT:n:> / 34 /	In the object of the sense, love and hatred are established. One should not attend their wish, for they are his obstacles. (34)
Â:ðy:ansv:D:m:<ü ev:g:ØN:H p:rD:m:aütsv:n:ØeÅt:at:Î . sv:D:m:ðü en:D:n:ö Â:ðy:H p:rD:m:<ü B:y:av:hH / 35 /	One's own imperfect duty is better than another's duty well performed. One's own duty is a better conclusion, another's duty brings fear. (35)
Aj:Øün: uv:ac: AT: kñn: )y:ØVt:<\|y:ö p:ap:ö c:ret: p:Ü,\:H . Aen:cCÀep: v:a\Naðüy: b:l:aedv: en:y:<ej:t:H / 36 /	Arjuna spoke: Directed by what else does this human being behave evil, even unwishing, o descendant of Vr's'n'i^*, as if commanded by force? (36)
Â:iB:g:v:an:Øv:ac: kam: O\: #<D: O\: rj:<g:ØN:s:m:Ø»v:H . m:haS:n:< m:hap:apm:a ev:dÏDy:ðn:em:h v:òerN:m:Î / 37 /	S''rii Bhagavaan spoke: This desire, this anger, whose origin is rajo-gun'a, is voracious and does much evil. Know it to be the enemy in this world! (37)
D:Üm:ðn:aev:Òy:t:ð v:eÈy:üT:adS:<ü m:l:ðn: c: . y:T:<lb:ðn:av:àt:< g:B:üst:T:a t:ðn:ðdm:av:àt:m:Î / 38 /	As fire is concealed by smoke and a mirror by dirt, as a womb is filled by an embryo, so this is filled by it. (38)
Aav:àt:ö wan:m:ðt:ðn: waen:n:< en:ty:v:òerN:a . kam:-p:ðN: k>nt:ðy: dØ\p:ÜrðN:an:l:ðn: c: / 39 /	The knowledge of the knower is filled by this eternal enemy in the shape of desire, o Kuntii's son^*, and by insatiable fire. (39)
E¡ndÒy:aeN: m:n:< b:Øe¹rsy:aeD:Åan:m:Øcy:t:ð . Ot:òev:üm:<hy:ty:ð\: wan:m:av:àty: dðehn:m:Î / 40 /	His foundation is called senses, mind, and intelligence. He confuses the knowledge by these after having filled the soul. (40)
t:sm:a¶v:em:¡ndÒy:aNy:ad> en:y:my: B:rt:\:üB: . p:apm:an:ö )j:eh Êðn:ö wan:ev:wan:n:aS:n:m:Î / 41 /	Therefore, after you have restrained the senses in the beginning, o most excellent of the Bharata^*, do strike this misdeed, which is the destruction of religious knowledge and mundane knowledge! (41)
E¡ndÒy:aeN: p:raNy:ahÚer¡ndÒy:ðBy:H p:rö m:n:H . m:n:s:st:Ø p:ra b:Øe¹y:<ü b:Ø¹ðH p:rt:st:Ø s:H / 42 /	Senses were accepted as superior, mind is superior to the senses, but intelligence is superior to the mind, but he is still superior to intelligence. (42)
Ov:ö b:Ø¹ðH p:rö b:ØdÏDv:a s:öst:By:atm:an:m:atm:n:a . j:eh S:*:Øö m:hab:ah< kam:-p:ö dØras:dm:Î / 43 /	Thus, after understanding what's beyond intelligence, and after encouraging yourself, o Mahaabaahu^*, kill the enemy in the shape of desire, which is difficult to approach. (43)