Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃 or 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌯𑍋𑌗, unfolds on the battlefield of 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌰, where the fate of two great families, the 𑌪𑌾𑌂𑌡𑌵𑌾𑌃 and the 𑌕𑍌𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌃, hangs in the balance. Here, amidst the tension and uncertainty, 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 continues his profound conversation with 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨, who is still wrestling with doubt and moral confusion.
In the previous chapter, 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 was introduced to the idea of 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨-𑌯𑍋𑌗-the path of knowledge. 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 revealed the immortal nature of the 𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾 and urged 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 to rise above sorrow and attachment. Yet, for 𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨, the message is still tangled. If wisdom and renunciation are so highly praised, he wonders, why should he act at all?
As the chapter closes, the seeds are sown for deeper exploration. The next chapter will delve into the nature of knowledge and wisdom, setting the stage for 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨-𑌯𑍋𑌗-the 𑌯𑍋𑌗 of understanding. But for now, 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣 invites us to reflect: What would it mean to live and act without being entangled by our own desires?
𑌓𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍇 𑌨𑌮𑌃
𑌅𑌥 𑌤𑍃𑌤𑍀𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌃 ।
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌃
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the third chapter, called the Path of Action.
𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 𑌉𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌸𑍀 𑌚𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌤𑌾 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌨 ।
𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌘𑍋𑌰𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌜𑌯𑌸𑌿 𑌕𑍇𑌶𑌵 ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Arjuna said: Krishna, if you think that wisdom is better than action, then why do you urge me to take part in this harsh and frightening task?
𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌣𑍇𑌵 𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌂 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌯𑌸𑍀𑌵 𑌮𑍇 ।
𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌕𑌂 𑌵𑌦 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌹𑌮𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Your words seem to mix different ideas and leave me confused about what I should do. Please tell me clearly and decisively the one path by which I can achieve the highest good.
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑌾 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌮𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌘 ।
𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍇𑌨 𑌸𑌾𑌂𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍇𑌨 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍 ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The Blessed Lord said: In this world, as I have explained before, there are two main approaches, O faultless one. For those who seek understanding through contemplation, there is the path of knowledge; for those who are active in the world, there is the path of action.
𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌾𑌮𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌂𑌭𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌨𑍈𑌷𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌷𑍋𑌽𑌶𑍍𑌨𑍁𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌨 𑌚 𑌸𑌂𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌸𑌨𑌾𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌂 𑌸𑌮𑌧𑌿𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌤𑌿 ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
A person does not reach the state of freedom from action simply by avoiding work, nor does one attain perfection just by giving up actions.
𑌨 𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌣𑌮𑌪𑌿 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌶𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌜𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑍈𑌃 ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
No one can ever remain completely inactive, not even for a single moment. Everyone is inevitably compelled to act by the qualities that arise from their own nature.
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌯𑌮𑍍𑌯 𑌯 𑌆𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌨𑍍 ।
𑌇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌮𑌿𑌥𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌰𑌃 𑌸 𑌉𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Someone who outwardly restrains their physical actions but continues to mentally dwell on sense pleasures is considered deluded and insincere.
𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌰𑌭𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 ।
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌮𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥ ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But, Arjuna, the person who controls the senses with the mind and, remaining unattached, engages in the discipline of action using the organs of action-such a person stands out as superior.
𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌜𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍋 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌃 ।
𑌶𑌰𑍀𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌚 𑌤𑍇 𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌦𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌃 ॥ ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
You should perform your prescribed duties, because action is better than inaction. Even the basic maintenance of your body would not be possible if you avoid all action.
𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍋𑌽𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌬𑌂𑌧𑌨𑌃 ।
𑌤𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌕𑍌𑌂𑌤𑍇𑌯 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌸𑌂𑌗𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌚𑌰 ॥ ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Except for actions done as an offering for a higher purpose, all work binds people to its results. Therefore, Arjuna, perform your duties for that higher purpose, acting without attachment.
𑌸𑌹𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍋𑌵𑌾𑌚 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌃 ।
𑌅𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌸𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌷 𑌵𑍋𑌽𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌧𑍁𑌕𑍍 ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
In the beginning, after creating living beings along with the practice of sacrifice, the Creator said: By this sacrifice, you shall thrive and prosper. Let this be the means by which your wishes and needs are fulfilled.
𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍇𑌨 𑌤𑍇 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍁 𑌵𑌃 ।
𑌪𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌯𑌂𑌤𑌃 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌥 ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
By performing sacrifice, you nourish the gods, and in return, let those gods nourish you. Supporting one another in this way, you will attain the highest good.
𑌇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌭𑍋𑌗𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌹𑌿 𑌵𑍋 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌾 𑌦𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌤𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌯𑍈𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑍋 𑌭𑍁𑌂𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌏𑌵 𑌸𑌃 ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
When the gods are satisfied by your sacrifices, they will grant you the enjoyments you desire. But anyone who takes and enjoys these gifts from the gods without offering anything back in return is truly a thief.
𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌶𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌶𑌿𑌨𑌃 𑌸𑌂𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌕𑌿𑌲𑍍𑌬𑌿𑌷𑍈𑌃 ।
𑌭𑍁𑌂𑌜𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌘𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌾 𑌯𑍇 𑌪𑌚𑌂𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌾𑌤𑍍 ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those who eat the food left after offering it in sacrifice are freed from all faults, but those selfish people who cook only for themselves truly eat nothing but sin.
𑌅𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌸𑌂𑌭𑌵𑌃 ।
𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌃 ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
All living beings come into existence from food. Food is generated by rainfall, and rainfall is brought about by acts of sacrifice. Sacrifice itself arises from prescribed actions.
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑍋𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌕𑍍𑌷𑌰𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌗𑌤𑌂 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌯𑌜𑍍𑌞𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Understand that all actions have their source in the Vedas, and the Vedas themselves arise from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading Veda is eternally rooted in sacrifice.
𑌏𑌵𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌚𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌂 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌯𑌤𑍀𑌹 𑌯𑌃 ।
𑌅𑌘𑌾𑌯𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌰𑌾𑌮𑍋 𑌮𑍋𑌘𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥 𑌸 𑌜𑍀𑌵𑌤𑌿 ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, whoever does not follow the cycle of duty and sacrifice that has been set in motion, but instead lives only for sensory pleasures and leads a selfish life, that person lives in vain and wastes their existence.
𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍇𑌵 𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌤𑍃𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌶𑍍𑌚 𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌃 ।
𑌆𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌵 𑌚 𑌸𑌂𑌤𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But the person who truly delights in the Self, is fulfilled by the Self, and finds contentment within the Self alone, has no prescribed duties left to perform.
𑌨𑍈𑌵 𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍇𑌹 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌨 ।
𑌨 𑌚𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌭𑍂𑌤𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌕𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌪𑌾𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌃 ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
For such a person, there is no personal stake in what is done or left undone, nor does he rely on anyone or anything among all beings to achieve any purpose.
𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌦𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌤𑌤𑌂 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌚𑌰 ।
𑌅𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌨𑍋𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌃 ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Therefore, always perform your required duties without attachment. By acting in this way, a person reaches the highest goal.
𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍈𑌵 𑌹𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑌾 𑌜𑌨𑌕𑌾𑌦𑌯𑌃 ।
𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌸𑌂𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾𑌪𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌪𑌶𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌹𑌸𑌿 ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Janaka and other exemplary leaders reached spiritual fulfillment by performing their duties. Even if you do not need action for your own sake, you should still act, keeping in mind the importance of guiding and supporting society.
𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌦𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍇𑌤𑌰𑍋 𑌜𑌨𑌃 ।
𑌸 𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌂 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍇 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌦𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌤𑍇 ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Whatever actions a respected or influential person performs, others tend to do the same. Whatever standards or examples he sets, the rest of society adopts and follows those as well.
𑌨 𑌮𑍇 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍁 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌕𑌿𑌂𑌚𑌨 ।
𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌮𑌵𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌂 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤 𑌏𑌵 𑌚 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑌿 ॥ 22 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, there is nothing in all the three worlds that I am required to do, nor is there anything left for Me to gain or achieve; yet I continue to engage in action.
𑌯𑌦𑌿 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌹𑌂 𑌨 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍇𑌯𑌂 𑌜𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌤𑌃 ।
𑌮𑌮 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌶𑌃 ॥ 23 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, if I were ever to stop performing my duties with diligence, people everywhere would follow my example in every respect.
𑌉𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍀𑌦𑍇𑌯𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌮𑍇 𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌾 𑌨 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌚𑍇𑌦𑌹𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌸𑌂𑌕𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌚 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾 𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑍁𑌪𑌹𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌮𑌿𑌮𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌾𑌃 ॥ 24 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
If I were to stop performing my duties, these worlds and their people would fall into ruin. I would become the cause of disorder and confusion, and I would be responsible for the destruction of these beings.
𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂𑌸𑍋 𑌯𑌥𑌾 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑌤 ।
𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾𑌸𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌿𑌕𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌷𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌲𑍋𑌕𑌸𑌂𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌮𑍍 ॥ 25 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, just as those who lack understanding act with attachment to their work, so too should the wise act, but without attachment, aiming only for the well-being and harmony of the world.
𑌨 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌭𑍇𑌦𑌂 𑌜𑌨𑌯𑍇𑌦𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑌂𑌗𑌿𑌨𑌾𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌜𑍋𑌷𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌃 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌚𑌰𑌨𑍍 ॥ 26 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The wise person should not disturb the understanding of those who are attached to action and lack knowledge. Instead, while performing all duties with focus and discipline, he should encourage others to continue their work.
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌃 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌾𑌨𑌿 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑍈𑌃 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌶𑌃 ।
𑌅𑌹𑌂𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌹𑌮𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
All actions are actually performed in every way by the qualities of material nature. But someone whose mind is confused by ego thinks, 'I am the one doing this.'
𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍋 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌗𑌯𑍋𑌃 ।
𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌾 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑍇𑌷𑍁 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌤𑌂𑌤 𑌇𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌨 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌤𑍇 ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But the person who truly understands the difference between the qualities of nature and their actions, O mighty-armed Arjuna, recognizes that these qualities simply interact with each other. Knowing this, he does not become attached.
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌰𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌸𑌂𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌃 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌸𑍁 ।
𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍋 𑌮𑌂𑌦𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌨𑍍𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌚𑌾𑌲𑌯𑍇𑌤𑍍 ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those who are confused by the qualities of nature become attached to the actions that arise from those qualities. Someone who understands the full reality should not disturb the minds of those with limited understanding who are attached to such actions.
𑌮𑌯𑌿 𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌸𑌂𑌨𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌚𑍇𑌤𑌸𑌾 ।
𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌶𑍀𑌰𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌮𑍋 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌯𑍁𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌵 𑌵𑌿𑌗𑌤𑌜𑍍𑌵𑌰𑌃 ॥ 30 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Dedicate all your actions to Me, keeping your mind absorbed in the Self. Act without expectation of personal gain or attachment, and without agitation or anxiety. In this spirit, perform your duty-such as fighting-calmly and wholeheartedly.
𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑍇 𑌮𑌤𑌮𑌿𑌦𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌮𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌃 ।
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌾𑌵𑌂𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌨𑌸𑍂𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍋 𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍇 𑌤𑍇𑌽𑌪𑌿 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌭𑌿𑌃 ॥ 31 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Those people who consistently follow this teaching of mine with sincere faith and without criticizing, they too become liberated from the binding effects of their actions.
𑌯𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌤𑌦𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍂𑌯𑌂𑌤𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌮𑍇 𑌮𑌤𑌮𑍍 ।
𑌸𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍂𑌢𑌾𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌨𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌾𑌨𑌚𑍇𑌤𑌸𑌃 ॥ 32 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
But those who criticize and refuse to follow My teaching, know them to be truly confused in all knowledge and lacking in sound judgment; they are lost.
𑌸𑌦𑍃𑌶𑌂 𑌚𑍇𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌤𑍇 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌃 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑍇𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌨𑌪𑌿 ।
𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑍃𑌤𑌿𑌂 𑌯𑌾𑌂𑌤𑌿 𑌭𑍂𑌤𑌾𑌨𑌿 𑌨𑌿𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌹𑌃 𑌕𑌿𑌂 𑌕𑌰𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌯𑌤𑌿 ॥ 33 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Even a wise person acts according to their own nature. All living beings follow their inherent tendencies. What can mere restraint achieve?
𑌇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥𑍇 𑌰𑌾𑌗𑌦𑍍𑌵𑍇𑌷𑍌 𑌵𑍍𑌯𑌵𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌤𑍌 ।
𑌤𑌯𑍋𑌰𑍍𑌨 𑌵𑌶𑌮𑌾𑌗𑌚𑍍𑌛𑍇𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍌 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑌸𑍍𑌯 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌪𑌂𑌥𑌿𑌨𑍌 ॥ 34 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Each sense naturally develops attraction and aversion toward its own objects. However, one should not allow oneself to be ruled by these feelings, because they act as obstacles on the path.
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌯𑌾𑌨𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍋 𑌵𑌿𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌨𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌿𑌤𑌾𑌤𑍍 ।
𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍇 𑌨𑌿𑌧𑌨𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮𑍋 𑌭𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌃 ॥ 35 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
It is better to perform your own duty, even if done imperfectly, than to carry out another's duty flawlessly. Dying while engaged in your own path is preferable, because following someone else's path brings fear and insecurity.
𑌅𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨 𑌉𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌅𑌥 𑌕𑍇𑌨 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍋𑌽𑌯𑌂 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑌂 𑌚𑌰𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍁𑌷𑌃 ।
𑌅𑌨𑌿𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌨𑍍𑌨𑌪𑌿 𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍇𑌯 𑌬𑌲𑌾𑌦𑌿𑌵 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑍋𑌜𑌿𑌤𑌃 ॥ 36 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what is it that drives a person to commit wrong, even when they do not want to, as if forced against their will?
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍁𑌵𑌾𑌚
𑌕𑌾𑌮 𑌏𑌷 𑌕𑍍𑌰𑍋𑌧 𑌏𑌷 𑌰𑌜𑍋𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌸𑌮𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌵𑌃 ।
𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌶𑌨𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌪𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌮𑌾 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌨𑌮𑌿𑌹 𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌮𑍍 ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The Blessed Lord said: It is desire, and it is anger, both arising from the quality of passion. These are insatiable and lead to great harm. Know them as the true enemies in this world.
𑌧𑍂𑌮𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌵𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌤𑍇 𑌵𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌥𑌾𑌦𑌰𑍍𑌶𑍋 𑌮𑌲𑍇𑌨 𑌚 ।
𑌯𑌥𑍋𑌲𑍍𑌬𑍇𑌨𑌾𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍋 𑌗𑌰𑍍𑌭𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌥𑌾 𑌤𑍇𑌨𑍇𑌦𑌮𑌾𑌵𑍃𑌤𑌮𑍍 ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Just as fire is hidden by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, so too is true understanding veiled by desire.
𑌆𑌵𑍃𑌤𑌂 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍇𑌤𑍇𑌨 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌿𑌨𑍋 𑌨𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌵𑍈𑌰𑌿𑌣𑌾 ।
𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌰𑍂𑌪𑍇𑌣 𑌕𑍌𑌂𑌤𑍇𑌯 𑌦𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌪𑍂𑌰𑍇𑌣𑌾𑌨𑌲𑍇𑌨 𑌚 ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
O Arjuna, knowledge is veiled by this constant enemy of the wise, which takes the form of desire and is as insatiable as fire.
𑌇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍋 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌧𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌠𑌾𑌨𑌮𑍁𑌚𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 ।
𑌏𑌤𑍈𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌿𑌮𑍋𑌹𑌯𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌷 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌵𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑌿𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥ 40 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
The senses, mind, and intellect are described as the places where desire resides. Through these, desire clouds the knowledge of the embodied soul and leads it into confusion.
𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌦𑍌 𑌨𑌿𑌯𑌮𑍍𑌯 𑌭𑌰𑌤𑌰𑍍𑌷𑌭 ।
𑌪𑌾𑌪𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌂 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌜𑌹𑌿 𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍇𑌨𑌂 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌵𑌿𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑌨𑌾𑌶𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥ 41 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Therefore, Arjuna, first bring your senses under control, and then decisively reject this sinful force-desire-which undermines both understanding and true wisdom.
𑌇𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌾𑌣𑌿 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌣𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌹𑍁𑌰𑌿𑌂𑌦𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌯𑍇𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌃 ।
𑌮𑌨𑌸𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌪𑌰𑌾 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌤𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌸𑌃 ॥ 42 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
It is said that the senses are superior to the physical body, the mind is greater than the senses, and the intellect is higher than the mind. Yet, the one who is beyond even the intellect is the true Self.
𑌏𑌵𑌂 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍇𑌃 𑌪𑌰𑌂 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑍍𑌵𑌾 𑌸𑌂𑌸𑍍𑌤𑌭𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌾𑌨𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍍𑌮𑌨𑌾 ।
𑌜𑌹𑌿 𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌬𑌾𑌹𑍋 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌰𑍂𑌪𑌂 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑌾𑌸𑌦𑌮𑍍 ॥ 43 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Recognizing that the true self is higher than the intellect, and firmly controlling yourself with your own mind, defeat the powerful enemy called desire, which is hard to overcome, O mighty-armed Arjuna.
𑌓𑌂 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌸𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌮𑌦𑍍𑌭𑌗𑌵𑌦𑍍𑌗𑍀𑌤𑌾𑌸𑍂𑌪𑌨𑌿𑌷𑌤𑍍𑌸𑍁 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌾𑌂 𑌯𑍋𑌗𑌶𑌾𑌸𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇
𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀𑌕𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌣𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌜𑍁𑌨𑌸𑌂𑌵𑌾𑌦𑍇 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌯𑍋𑌗𑍋 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌤𑍃𑌤𑍀𑌯𑍋𑌽𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑌃 ॥3 ॥
Translation (𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍍𑌥):
Thus ends the third chapter, called Karma Yoga, the Yoga of Action, in the revered Bhagavad Gita, which is an Upanishad teaching the knowledge of Brahman and the science of yoga, presented as a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna.
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