Srimad Bhagavad - Gita

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter--3. ( karma-yogam ) Slokam-35. {  It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though they may be faulty, than another's duties. Destruction in the course of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous. } Sreyan  svadharmo  vigunnah  paradharmat  svanushttitat, svadharme  nidhanam  sreyah  paradharmo  bhayavahah. sv-anushttitat  =  than  the  properly  followed, perfectly  done; para-dharmat  =  duty  prescribed  to  others; vigunnah  =  even  not  good  (not upto the standard)  of; sva-dharmah  sreyan  =  one's  own  prescribed  duty,  is   far  better; sva-dharme  =  following  in  one's  own  prescribed  duty; nidhanam  sreyah  =  even  death /destruction  will  be  better. para-dharmah  bhayavahah  =  duty  prescribed  to  others  is  dangerous  (creates   fear). In this slokam Lord Krishna is emp

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-34. ( Attraction/ like   &   repulsion/aversion/dislike of the senses to their sense-objects ( vishaya-s ) is unavoidable ( already exists in everyone ); one should not be controlled by them; since they are enemies ( obstacles in one's path. ) Indriyasyendriyasyarthe  ragha-dveshau  vyavasthitau, tayorna  vasamagacchet tau  hyasya  paripanthinau. indriyasya  = to  the   five  senses; indriyasya  arthe  =  in  the  sense  objects  (vishaya-s); ragha-dveshau  =  ragha  (attachment/like)  in   favourable,  and   dveshau  (detachment/dislike)  in unfavourable; vyavasthitau  =  already  existing; tayoh  =  to  them  (Ragha  and  dveshau); vasam  na  agacchet  =  should  not  be  under  (their)  control; hi  tau  =  why  because,  those  two  (Ragha  & dveshau ) ( likes & dislikes); asya  paripanthinau  =  (are)  his   (human-being's)   enemies. If a persons inclinat

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-33.( Even knowledgable person acts according to his own naure ( vasanas ); all living things are controlled by their own natures. What can repression accomplish? ) sadrsam  ceshtate  svasyah  prakrterjnanavanapi, prakrtim  yanti  bhutani  nigrahah  kim  karishyati. jnanavan  api  =  even  a  person  with the knowledge of  scriptures; svasyah  prakrte  = to  his  own  vasanas ( prakrtam ); sadrasam  ceshtate  =  work  according to that; bhutani  prakrtim  yanti  =  living  things  show  their  nature; nigrahah  kim  karishyati  =  what can repression accomplish? It may be submitted that if follow the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita yields so much why isn't everyone following their prescribed duties, free from desires and attachment. Lord Krishna answers that even a person of Vedic wisdom acts according to the nature received from samskara or impressions from past life actions. One always foll

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-32. ( But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly, are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and doomed to ignorance and bondage. ) ye  tvetadabhyasuyanto  nanutishttanti  me  matam, sarva-jnana-vimudhamstan  viddhi  nastanacetasah. ye  tu  me  etat  matam  =  however  they  about  this   opinion   of   mine; abhyasuyantah  =  out  of  envy; na  anutishttanti  =  do  not  follow/practice/perform  regularly; sarva-jnana-vimudhan  =  one  who  do   not  know   anything; acetasah  =  (and)   do   not  have  discrimination; tan  nashtan  viddhi  =   know  they  are  ruined  themselves. Here Lord Krishna points out that those persons who disrespect and ignore and refuse to follow the edicts and injunctions of the Bhagavad-Gita that are for the benefit of all mankind are fools, bereft of spiritual knowledge and in such a state of ignoran

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-31. ( One who executes his duties according to My injunctions and who follows this teaching faithfully, without envy, becomes free from the bondage of fruitive actions.) ye  me  matam-idam  nityam  anutishttanti  manavah, Sraddhavanto-nasuyanto  mucyante  te-pi  karmabhih. me  idam   matam  =  this  opinion  of   mine; sraddhavantah  anasuyantah  =  with  faith  and  attention/devotion,  and  without  envy; ye  manavah   =  any  human-being; nityam  anutishttanti  =  daily  (always)  obeys; te  api  karmabhih  =  they  too  from  the  relationships  of  kama/activity; mucyante  =  (are)  freed. (freed  from  attacments  to  all  activities).   Up until this slokam Lord Krishna presented the point of view that prescribed Vedic activities will not incur any fault if performed in yagna or worship in dedication to the Supreme Lord. This is because the doership of all souls are dependant solely

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-30. ( Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with mind intent on Me, and without desire for gain and free from egoism and lethargy, fight. ) Mayi  sarvani  karmani  sannyasyadhyatmacetasa, Nirasirnirmamo  bhutva  yudhyasva  vigatajvarah. sarvani  karmani  = all  sorts  of   karma-s/actions/activities; mayi sannyasya  =  submitting/giving  up  completely  unto  me  (in God ); adhyatmacetasa  =  with  complete/full  knowledge  Self  Consciousness; nirasrih  =  (and)  detached   from  desire   for  fruits; nirmmamo   bhutva  =  so  being  away   from  relationship/connection/ownership; vigatajvarah  = without  feeling/being  tired/lethargic; yudhyasva  =  fight  the  war.   From the beginning of this chapter the necessity of performing actions without desire and attachment has been shown. That such actions are essential for the avoidance of bondage in the cycle of birth

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam) Slokam-29. (  Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not unsettle them, although these duties are inferior due to the performers' lack of knowledge. ) prakrter-guna-samudhah  sajjante  guna-karmasu, tanakrtsnavido  mandan  krtsnavinna  vicalayet. prakrteh  =  of  the  nature's; guna-samudhah  =  (who)  do  not  have  the  knowledge  of   guna-s  (of the nature), such   fools; guna  karmasu  =  in  the  karma-s  inaccordance  with  these  guna-s  (satvic, rajas, tamas); sajjante  =  become  engaged; akrtsnavidah  =  (these)  totally  ignorant  (persons  of); tan  mandan  =  all  these  inactive  lazy  people; krtsnavit  =  one  who  is  jnani  (knowledge-full  person); na  vicalayet  =  do  not  disturb. When Lord Krishna states that one should not disturb the minds, He is referrin

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-28. ( One who is in knowledge of the Absolute Truth, O mighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and sense gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.) Tattvavittu     mahabaho     gunakarmavibhagayoh, Guna     guneshu    varttante     iti     matva     na     sajjate. mahabaho = O mighty-armed one Arjuna; guna-karma-vibhagayoh = about the subjects 1.Guna (satvic, rajas, tamas.) & 2.karma (deeds/actions/activities); tattvavit tu = one who knows the tattvam-s; gunah = guna-s (indriyas); guneshu = in the guna-s (in  the vishaya-s); varttante iti matva = knowing that (he is ) engaged with; na sajjate = (he) never becomes attached with karmam. Lord Krishna is explaining that the person situated in Vedic wisdom knows that the atma or soul is not the same as the physical body and the senses. Such a person knows the distinction

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam) Slokam-27. (  The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature. ) Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankaravimudhatma kartahamiti manyate. prakrteh gunaih = (it is because of the) guna-s of  nature; sarvasah = in all ways (all kinds of); karmani kriyamanani  = karma-s (actions/ activities) are all being done; ahankaravimudhatma  =  one who lost his vivekam (discriminatory powers) due to ahamkaram (ego); aham kartha iti manyate  = (he) thus thinks that " I am the doer (of  the action) ". The difference between the actions of a person of wisdom and those who are ignorant is explained now. The person of wisdom recognises that the whole material existence is operating under the auspices of the three gunas or the modes of material nature being goodness, pa

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam - 26. (  Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should not be encouraged to refrain from work, but to engage in work in the spirit of devotion.) Na buddhibhedam  janayetajnanam karmasamginam, joshayet sarvakarmani vidvan yuktah samacaran. vidvan = one who knows the tattvam; karmasamginam ajnanam =  to those  foolish ignorant attached to fruitive work; buddhibhedam na  janayet = should not have confusion; sarvakarmani = all works; yuktah samacaran = with balanced mind nicely demostrate the action; joshayet = and make them complete it. As a person who falls in the mud is stained by the mud in the same way an ignorant person attached to the rewards of their actions is stained with having to receive negative reactions. Lord Krishna is stating that a person of Vedic spiritual wisdom should impart knowledge to them but in a simplified way know

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam- 25. ( As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, similarly the learned may also act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path ( universal  welfare ). Saktah karmanyavidvamsah yatha kurvanti bharata, kuryadvidvamstathasaktah cikirshurlokasamgraham. bharata = O descendant of Bharata vamsaja (Arjuna); avidvamsah = Ajnani-s (ignorant people); karmani saktah = attached to his karmam-s (swadharmam/ his duties); yatha kurvanti tatha = in which way doing (doing karma-s) that way; vidvan asaktah = jnani-s (learned people) without attachments; loka samgraham cikirshuah = with the aim of  universal welfare; kuryat = must do karmam. In this slokam the topic of the previous two slokams is being concluded with Lord Krishna confirming that those great souls who have attained atma- tatva or soul realisation should perform prescr

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-24. ( What would happen then? Lord Krishna states that the world would degenerate and decay due to the absence of prescribed Vedic activities and that He would be the cause of the pollution of traditional values of the masses and the destruction of society.) Utsideyurime lokah na kuryam karmacedaham, samkarasya ca karta syam upahanyamimah prajah. aham karma na kuryam ceda = if  I do not perform karma; ime lokah utsideyuh = this universe will be destroyed; samkarasya karta syam = (and) will be the creator of  unwanted population (impure); ima prajah upahanyah ca = (thereafter) cause to destruction of  all these living things. It is proper that people who follow the example of Lord Krishna are correct in their actions as He is omniscient and the creator of all. But because He is the Lord of all what would be wrong if He was not to engage Himself in actions. Explaining this Lord Krishna uses the

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-23. ( For, if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path. ) Yadi     hyaham     na    varteyam      jatu     karmanyatandritah, mama     vartmanuvartante     manusyah     partha     sarvasah. hi Partha = why because,  Arjuna, aham  jatu atandritah = I ever with great care ( always alert and  active ); karmani na varteyam yadi = if  not engaged in karmam; manushyah sarvasah = human beings by anyway (men in all respects); mama vartma anuvartante = would  follow my path only. In order to keep the balance of social tranquility for progress in spiritual life, there are traditional family usages meant for every civilized man. Although such rules and regulations are for the conditioned souls and not Lord Krishna, because He descended to establish the principles of Dharma, He followed the prescribed rules. Otherwise, common men would follow in His footsteps because He i

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-22. ( Hey Arjuna, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in work. ) Na  me  parthasti  kartavyam  trishu lokeshu kincana, nanavaptamavaptavyam  varta  eva  ca  karmani. partha  =  hey Arjuna; me  kartavyam  na  asti  =  for me  there is  nothing  to  perform; trishu lokeshu  =  why because  in three worlds; anavaptam  avaptavyam  =  not gained  and to be gained; kincana  na  (api)  ca  =  not there, still I am; karmani  varta  eva  =  engaged in karmam continously. Now Lord Krishna is clarifying His position by stating that there is no performance of any prescribed Vedic action required of Him; yet and still He performs actions for the benefit of the world. So in the same way Arjuna should perform prescribed actions for maintaining world order and offering the results o

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter-2. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-21. (   Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues. ) Yadyadacarati    sreshthah     tattadevetaro    janah, Sa    yat    pramanam     kurute    lokastadanuvartate. sreshthah yat yat acarati = spiritually higher and greater level  person (Sreshtan),   follows/ practices  whatever things; itarah janah tat tat eva = others too follow and practice the same only; sah yat pramanam  kurute = that person (Sreshtan) makes whichever document; lokah tat anuvarttate = the world too obey whatever Sreshtan does. The great personalities naturally set the example for the common man to follow in the manner in which they speak and in the way in which they act. This is Lord Krishna's meaning. How the performance of prescribed Vedic actions acts as an incentive to the masses is what Lord Krishna is emph

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita : Chapter-3. ( Karma-yogam ) Slokam-20. ( Even kings like Janaka and others attained the perfectional stage by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work. ) Karmanaiva    hi    samsiddhim     asthita     janakadayah, Lokasangrahamevapi     sampasyan    kartumarhasi. janakadayah  =  kings  like Janaka  and  others; karmanah  eva  hi  =  certainly by karmam only; samsiddhim  asthitah  =  attained the Supreme perfection (abode); Lokasangraham  eva  api  =  for the  sake of world's benefit too; sampasyan  =  you consider; kartum  arhasi =  certainly do karmam. Here Lord Krishna follows the approved adage of citing previous historical examples such as King Janaka the father of Sita who was Rama's wife. King Janaka by prescribed Vedic activities purified his mind and consciousness and achieved perfection; but after becomi