Path of Action (Karma Yoga) Bhagavad Gita 3

Arjuna said:

1. O Janardana, if Thou hold that the attitude of detachment is superior to action, then why, O Keshava, do Thou urge me to such dreadful action?

2. Thou seem to confuse my understanding with Thy disconcerting words; Tell me, therefore, with certain words, how I can achieve salvation.

The Lord said:

3. I have spoken to you before, O sinless man, of two attitudes in this World: that of the Sankhyas, by the Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana) and that of the Yogis, by Karma Yoga (Yoga of action).

4. Man does not match the action less state of Brahman by mere non-performance of work, nor does he attain perfection by renunciation only.

5. Because nothing remains inactive even for a moment; everyone acts obliged by the Gunas inherent to Prakriti

6. He who represses the organs of action, but allows the mind to reside in sensory objects, such a person, totally deluded, is a hypocrite.

7. But he, O Arjuna, who, keeping all his senses under the control of the mind, surrenders himself to Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action), without attachment, that man attains excellence,

8. Do your assigned duty; because action is superior to inaction; even normal life would not be possible with inaction.

9. This world of men suffers the slavery of all actions, except those that are done as a sacrifice; To this end, O Kaunteya, perform the action without attachment.

10. Along with the sacrifice, the Lord of beings created humanity, declaring: “Thus you will multiply; May this be for you the giver of all your desires.

11. “With this you will be able to please the gods and have the gods please you; Thus you please each other so that you can achieve the greatest good.

12. “Pleased by the sacrifice, the gods will grant you the desired blessings.” He who enjoys his gifts without offering them anything, he is a true thief.

13. The righteous man who eats the residue of the sacrifice is freed from all without, but the wicked who cook only for themselves, they eat without.

14. Life is born from food, food is born from rain; From sacrifice comes rain and sacrifice is the result of action.

15. Action emanates from Brahman and Brahman from the Imperishable; hence the omnipresent Brahman is always firmly established in sacrifice.

Etc.

This is how the third chapter ends titled Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action)

Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita (Gandhi, Comments by Swami Sivananda): Karma Yoga (Vivekananda)

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1. Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi (translated by P. Nonell)
2. Hinduism and Gita

Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita (Gandhi): The Yoga of Action

Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita (versified): The Yoga of Action (Karma)

• 1- Arjuna’s Despondency
• 2- Sankhya (Jnana) Yoga
• 4- The Yoga of Knowledge
  • Jnana Yoga
• 5- The Yoga of Renunciation of action
  • Karma Sannyasa Yoga
• 6- The Yoga of Meditation
• 7- The Yoga of Knowledge of Brahman
• 8- The Yoga of Parabrahman
• 9- The Yoga of Royal Knowledge
• 10- The Yoga of Divine Glories
• 11- The Yoga of the Universal Form
• 12- The Yoga of Devotion
• 13- The Yoga of the Field
• 14- The Yoga of the Three Gunas
• 15- The Yoga of the Supreme Person
• 16- The Yoga of Divine Inheritance
• 17- The Yoga of the Threefold Faith
• 18- The Yoga of Liberation