bhagavad-giitaa adhyaaya 4 (English)

This chapter begins with Kr's'n'a explaining how he taught this knowledge to Vivasvaan earlier. Arjuna questions how he could have taught someone who lived a long time earlier. Then Kr's'n'a again explains about reincarnation, but also explains the difference that Kr's'n'a can remember every previous birth. It is important to notice that Arjuna asks Kr's'n'a to clarify something that Arjuna doesn't understand, and Kr's'n'a explains it in greater detail. This is the function of a guru. A real guru never expects his followers to just shut up and do what they're told. A person with such a mentality is not qualified to be a guru. Kr's'n'a then proceeds to explain the reasons for his descent in this world. The rest of the chapter is a lecture about the importance of knowledge, also called jnjaana. By knowledge, one can see the difference between inaction and action. That, which seems like inaction, can actually be action, if there is a desire for results, and that, which seems like action, can be inaction, if there is no desire for results. This will also be explained more in the later chapters.

Next adhyaaya

Â:iB:g:v:an:Øv:ac: Em:ö ev:v:sv:t:ð y:<g:ö )<Vt:v:an:hm:vy:y:m:Î . ev:v:sv:anm:n:v:ð )ah m:n:Øerxv:akv:ð\|b:Òv:it:Î / 1 /	S''rii Bhagavaan spoke: I am the one who has explained this unchangeable divine union to Vivasvaan^*. Vivasvaan declared it to Manu, and Manu proclaimed it to Iks'vaaku more recently. (1)
Ov:ö p:rmp:ra)apt:em:m:ö raj:\:üy:< ev:dØH . s: kal:ðn:ðh m:ht:a y:<g:< n:ÄH p:rnt:p: / 2 /	Thus the royal sages knew this, which was received in succession. That divine union was lost by long time in this world, o Parantapa^*. (2)
s: Ov:ay:ö m:y:a t:ð\|½ y:<g:H )<Vt:H p:Ørat:n:H . B:Vt:<\|es: m:ð s:K:a c:ðet: rhsy:ö Êðt:dØ¶:m:m:Î / 3 /	This particular ancient divine union is explained to you by me now, because you are devoted to me and my friend, for this is the highest secret. (3)
Aj:Øün: uv:ac: Ap:rö B:v:t:< j:nm: p:rö j:nm: ev:v:sv:t:H . kT:m:ðt:e¾j:an:iy:aö tv:m:ad> )<Vt:v:aen:et: / 4 /	Arjuna spoke: Your birth was later, Vivasvaan's^* birth was previous. How can I understand this, that you are the one who explained it in the beginning? (4)
Â:iB:g:v:an:Øv:ac: b:hÞen: m:ð vy:t:it:aen: j:nm:aen: t:v: c:aj:Øün: . t:any:hö v:ðd s:v:aüeN: n: tv:ö v:ðtT: p:rnt:p: / 5 /	S''rii Bhagavaan spoke: There has been many elapsed births of me and you, o Arjuna. I know them all, you do not know them, o Parantapa^*. (5)
Aj:<\|ep: s:Àvy:y:atm:a B:Üt:an:am:iÃ:r<\|ep: s:n:Î . )káet:ö sv:am:eD:Åay: s:mB:v:amy:atm:m:ay:y:a / 6 /	Even though I am unborn and unchangeable, even though I am the supreme God of the living beings, I enter into my own nature by my own power after governing it, (6)
y:da y:da eh D:m:üsy: gl:aen:B:üv:et: B:art: . ABy:ØtT:an:m:D:m:üsy: t:datm:an:ö s:àj:amy:hm:Î / 7 /	for whenever there occurs a reluctance of duty and an elevation of unrighteousness, o descendant of Bharata^*, then I emit myself. (7)
p:er*:aN:ay: s:aD:Ün:aö ev:n:aS:ay: c: dØ\kát:am:Î . D:m:üs:ösT:ap:n:aT:aüy: s:öB:v:aem: y:Øg:ð y:Øg:ð / 8 /	With the aim of protection of virtuous people and of annihilation of evil-doers, and for the sake of restoration of duty I arise in every yuga. (8)
j:nm: km:ü c: m:ð edvy:m:ðv:ö y:< v:ðe¶: t:¶v:t:H . ty:Vtv:a dðhö p:Øn:j:ünm: n:òet: m:am:ðet: s:<\|j:Øün: / 9 /	He who in reality knows my divine birth and action in this way, he goes to me, o Arjuna, and does not return to birth after leaving his body. (9)
v:it:rag:B:y:#<D: m:nm:y:a m:am:Øp:aeÂ:t:aH . b:hv:< wan:t:p:s:a p:Üt:a m:»av:m:ag:t:aH / 10 /	Many, who are purified by austerity for knowledge, and who are full of me and free from affection, fear, and anger, and who have taken shelter of me, have reached my condition. (10)
y:ð y:T:a m:aö )p:½nt:ð t:aöst:T:òv: B:j:amy:hm:Î . m:m: v:tm:aün:Øv:t:ünt:ð m:n:Ø\y:aH p:aT:ü s:v:üS:H / 11 /	I serve them indeed, in that way in which they take refuge with me. Humans collectively pursue my track, o Pr'thaa's son^*. (11)
ka{Ïx:nt:H km:üN:aö es:e¹÷ y:j:nt: Eh dðv:t:aH . ex:)ö eh m:an:Ø\:ð l:<kñ es:e¹B:üv:et: km:üj:a / 12 /	Striving for accomplishment of actions, they worship the gods in this world, for accomplishment, which is produced from action, occurs quickly in the human world. (12)
c:at:Øv:üNy:þ m:y:a s:àÄö g:ØN:km:üev:B:ag:S:H . t:sy: kt:aürm:ep: m:aö ev:dÏDy:kt:aürm:vy:y:m:Î / 13 /	The four varn'a^, and their consequences, are created by me in proportion to gun'a^ and action. Know me to be inactive and unchangeable although I'm its creator! (13)
n: m:aö km:aüeN: el:mp:¡nt: n: m:ð km:üPl:ð sp:àha . Eet: m:aö y:<\|eB:j:an:aet: km:üeB:n:ü s: b:Dy:t:ð / 14 /	Actions don't pollute me, I don't have a longing for any effect of my action. He, who acknowledges me in this way, is not bound by actions. (14)
Ov:ö watv:a kát:ö km:ü p:Üv:òürep: m:Øm:Øx:ØeB:H . kÙ, km:òüv: t:sm:a¶v:ö p:Üv:òüH p:Üv:üt:rö kát:m:Î / 15 /	After understanding in that way, the forefathers, who wanted to be free, surely performed action. Therefore, do perform action, as it was previously performed by the forefathers! (15)
ek÷ km:ü ekm:km:ðüet: kv:y:<\|py:*: m:<eht:aH . t:¶:ð km:ü )v:xy:aem: y:jwatv:a m:<xy:s:ð\|S:ØB:at:Î / 16 /	Even sages are bewildered about what is action and what is inaction. I will explain action for you, and after understanding it, you will be liberated from misfortune, (16)
km:üN:< Êep: b:<¹vy:ö b:<¹vy:ö c: ev:km:üN:H . Akm:üN:Á: b:<¹vy:ö g:hn:a km:üN:< g:et:H / 17 /	for even action should be analysed, and improper action should be analysed, and inaction should be analysed. The progress of action is complicated. (17)
km:üNy:km:ü y:H p:Sy:ðdkm:üeN: c: km:ü y:H . s: b:Øe¹m:anm:n:Ø\y:ð\:Ø s: y:ØVt:H kátsn:km:ükát:Î / 18 /	He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, he is intelligent among human beings; he is the united performer of all action. (18)
y:sy: s:v:ðü s:m:armB:aH kam:s:¢lp:v:ej:üt:aH . wan:a¡gn:dgD:km:aüN:ö t:m:ahÚH p:¡NRt:ö b:ØD:aH / 19 /	Intelligent men accepted him as learned, whose action was burned by the fire of knowledge, while desires and wishes were excluded from all undertakings. (19)
ty:Vtv:a km:üPl:as:¤ö en:ty:t:àpt:< en:raÂ:y:H . km:üNy:eB:)v:à¶:<\|ep: n:òv: ek¡Wc:tkr<et: s:H / 20 /	After abandoning the association of results of action, while eternally satisfied, shelterless, and engaged in action, he really does nothing at all. (20)
en:raS:iy:üt:ec:¶:atm:a ty:Vt:s:v:üp:erg:ÒhH . S:arirö kñv:l:ö km:ü kÙv:üÀapn:<et: ek¡lb:\:m:Î / 21 /	The soul, who is free from desire, and whose thoughts are controlled, with all property abandoned, and who is only performing bodily action, reaches a fault^*. (21)
y:dàcCal:aB:s:nt:ØÄ< ¾n¾at:it:< ev:m:ts:rH . s:m:H es:¹av:es:¹> c: kátv:aep: n: en:b:Dy:t:ð / 22 /	The unselfish, who is satisfied with what is spontaneously attained, and who has left behind the pairs of opposites, and is indifferent in success and in failure, even after acting, is not fettered. (22)
g:t:s:¤sy: m:ØVt:sy: wan:av:¡sT:t:c:ðt:s:H . y:way:ac:rt:H km:ü s:m:g:Òö )ev:l:iy:t:ð / 23 /	The action of someone, performing for sacrifice, who is liberated and free from attachment, and who has placed knowledge in his consciousness, is entirely dissolved. (23)
b:ÒÉap:üN:ö b:ÒÉ hev:b:ÒüÉagn:> b:ÒÉN:a hÚt:m:Î . b:ÒÉòv: t:ðn: g:nt:vy:ö b:ÒÉkm:üs:m:aeD:n:a / 24 /	Brahma is deliverance; brahma is fire offering; brahma is in fire, offered by brahma; indeed, brahma is what he, whose completion is action of brahma, should approach. (24)
dòv:m:ðv:ap:rð y:wö y:<eg:n:H p:y:Øüp:as:t:ð . b:ÒÉagn:av:p:rð y:wö y:wðn:òv:<p:j:ØÍet: / 25 /	Other yogis share in the truly divine sacrifice, indeed, by sacrifice, others additionally offer their sacrifice in the fire of brahma. (25)
Â:<*:adin:i¡ndÒy:aNy:ny:ð s:öy:m:a¡gn:\:Ø j:ØÍet: . S:bdadi¡nv:\:y:an:ny: E¡ndÒy:a¡gn:\:Ø j:ØÍet: / 26 /	Others offer the senses, beginning with the ear, in the fires of sense control, others offer the sense objects, beginning with sound, in the fires of the senses. (26)
s:v:aüN:i¡ndÒy:km:aüeN: )aN:km:aüeN: c:ap:rð . Aatm:s:öy:m:y:<g:agn:> j:ØÍet: wan:diep:t:ð / 27 /	Others offer all organs of action and breathing functions in the knowledge-illuminated fire of the divine union of restraining oneself. (27)
dÒvy:y:wast:p:<y:wa y:<g:y:wast:T:ap:rð . sv:aDy:ay:wan:y:waÁ: y:t:y:H s:öeS:t:v:Òt:aH / 28 /	Similarly, other ascetics, who are fixed on their vows, offer sacrifices of material objects, sacrifices of austerity, sacrifices of divine union, and sacrifices of knowledge of recitation of divine texts. (28)
Ap:an:ð j:ØÍet: )aN:ö )aN:ð\|p:an:ö t:T:ap:rð . )aN:ap:an:g:t:i ,dÏDv:a )aN:ay:am:p:ray:N:aH / 29 /	Others offer praan'a^* in apaana^, and similarly apaana in praan'a, after withholding the motion of praan'a and apaana, with praan'aayaama^ as their main object. (29)
Ap:rð en:y:t:aharaH )aN:anp:ÒaN:ð\:Ø j:ØÍet: . s:v:ðü\|py:ðt:ð y:wev:d< y:wx:ep:t:klm:\:aH / 30 /	Others, who are restrained in food, offer the vital airs in the vital airs. Every one of these are knowers of sacrifice, and the impurities of their sacrifices are destroyed. (30)
y:weS:Äam:àt:B:Øj:< y:a¡nt: b:ÒÉ s:n:at:n:m:Î . n:ay:ö l:<k<\|sty:y:wsy: kÙt:<\|ny:H kÙ,s:¶:m: / 31 /	The ones who live on the immortal remnants of sacrifice go to the perpetual brahma. This world does not belong to those who don't perform sacrifice, what to speak of other worlds, o best among Kurus^*. (31)
Ov:ö b:hÚev:D:a y:wa ev:t:t:a b:ÒÉN:< m:ØK:ð . km:üj:a¡nv:e¹ t:ans:v:aün:ðv:ö watv:a ev:m:<xy:s:ð / 32 /	In this way, many sorts of sacrifices are accomplished in the mouth of Brahmaa. Know them all to be produced from action! By knowing that, you will liberate yourself. (32)
Â:ðy:andÒvy:m:y:a½wajwan:y:wH p:rnt:p: . s:v:þ km:aüeK:l:ö p:aT:ü wan:ð p:ers:m:apy:t:ð / 33 /	A sacrifice of knowledge is better than a material sacrifice, o Parantapa^. All action is completely contained in knowledge, o Pr'thaa's son^. (33)
t:e¾e¹ )eN:p:at:ðn: p:er)Sn:ðn: s:ðv:y:a . up:dðxy:¡nt: t:ð wan:ö waen:n:st:¶v:deS:ün:H / 34 /	Know it by prostrations, inquiry, and service! The knowledgable perceivers of truth will instruct the knowledge to you, (34)
y:jwatv:a n: p:Øn:m:<ühm:ðv:ö y:asy:es: p:aNRv: . y:ðn: B:Üt:any:S:ð\:aeN: dÒxy:sy:atm:ny:T:< m:ey: / 35 /	after knowing which you will not again approach bewilderment in this way, o Paan'd'u's son^*, and by which you will see living beings, without exception, in yourself, and likewise in me. (35)
Aep: c:ðdes: p:ap:ðBy:H s:v:ðüBy:H p:ap:ká¶:m:H . s:v:þ wan:pl:v:ðn:òv: v:àej:n:ö s:nt:er\y:es: / 36 /	Even if you are the most wicked of all villains, you will, by the very boat of knowledge, pass through all vice. (36)
y:T:òD:aöes: s:em:¹<\|¡gn:B:üsm:s:atkÙ,t:ð\|j:Øün: . wan:a¡gn:H s:v:ükm:aüeN: B:sm:s:atkÙ,t:ð t:T:a / 37 /	As an ignited fire completely turns fuels into ashes, o Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge completely turns all actions into ashes, (37)
n: eh wan:ðn: s:dàS:ö p:ev:*:em:h ev:½t:ð . t:tsv:y:ö y:<g:s:öes:¹H kal:ðn:atm:en: ev:ndet: / 38 /	for there is no purifier like knowledge known in this world. Someone, whose divine union is accomplished by time, knows it on his own in himself. (38)
Â:¹av:aúll:B:t:ð wan:ö t:tp:rH s:öy:t:ð¡ndÒy:H . wan:ö l:bDv:a p:raö S:a¡nt:m:ec:rðN:aeD:g:cCet: / 39 /	Someone who has faith, whose senses are controlled, and who is totally devoted to it, obtains knowledge. After obtaining knowledge, he soon approaches the supreme peace. (39)
AwÁ:aÂ:¸D:an:Á: s:öS:y:atm:a ev:n:Sy:et: . n:ay:ö l:<k<\|¡st: n: p:r< n: s:ØK:ö s:öS:y:atm:n:H / 40 /	Both the ignorant and the unbelieving indifferent person perishes. Neither this world, nor the following, nor pleasure, belongs to the indifferent person. (40)
y:<g:s:nny:st:km:aüN:ö wan:s:¡WCÀs:öS:y:m:Î . Aatm:v:nt:ö n: km:aüeN: en:b:¿:¡nt: D:n:Wj:y: / 41 /	Actions do not fetter the prudent person whose action is abandoned in divine union, and whose indifference is pierced by knowledge, o Dhananjjaya^*. (41)
t:sm:adwan:s:mB:Üt:ö ÆtsT:ö wan:aes:n:atm:n:H . eC¶v:òn:ö s:öS:y:ö y:<g:m:aet:Å<e¶:Å B:art: / 42 /	Therefore, after cutting this heart-abiding indifference, which is composed of ignorance, with your sword of knowledge, practise divine union and stand up, o descendant of Bharata^*! (42)