Home Vedic Pedia Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Lord Krishna emphasises the duty of each and every member of society to carry out their functions and responsibilities in each and every stages of life. He also speaks why such duties ought to be performed, what benefits one can gain by performing them.  Blending poetry with philosophy, Lord Krishna describes how these three kinds of desire shroud Atman, the divine spark in you. Sattva is like smoke around fire. The brilliance and splendour of Atman shines forth in a sattvika person. Rajas covers Atman like dust on a mirror. He talks about creating energy, focussing the intellect on the ideal, surrender to it and act dedicatedly towards it. “Cultivate sattva, refine rajas and eliminate tamas”. He concludes with a highly inspiring message “Kill the formidable enemy in the form of desire by rising to the highest desire, that of Self Realisation”.

Slogam 1:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.1

arjuna uvāca

jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te

matā buddhir janārdana

tat kiḿ karmaṇi ghore māḿ

niyojayasi keśava



Translation


Arjuna said: O Janardana, O Keshava, why do You want to engage me in this ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive w...View More

Slogam 2:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.2

vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena

buddhiḿ mohayasīva me

tad ekaḿ vada niścitya

yena śreyo ‘ham āpnuyām



Translation 


My intelligence is bewildered by Your equivocal instructions. Therefore, please tell me decisively which will be most beneficial for me.

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Slogam 3:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.3

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

loke ‘smin dvi-vidhā niṣṭhā

purā proktā mayānagha

jñāna-yogena sāńkhyānāḿ

karma-yogena yoginām



Translation 


The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who try ...View More

Slogam 4:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.4

na karmaṇām anārambhān

naiṣkarmyaḿ puruṣo ‘śnute

na ca sannyasanād eva

siddhiḿ samadhigacchati



Translation 


Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

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Slogam 5:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.5

na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api

jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt

kāryate hy avaśaḥ karma

sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair guṇaiḥ



Translation 


Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can ref...View More

Slogam 6:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.6

karmendriyāṇi saḿyamya

ya āste manasā smaran

indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā

mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate



Translation 


One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.

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Slogam 7:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.7

karmendriyāṇi saḿyamya

ya āste manasā smaran

indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā

mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate



Translation 


On the other hand, if a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Krishna consciousness] without attachment, ...View More

Slogam 8:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.8

yas tv indriyāṇi manasā

niyamyārabhate ‘rjuna

karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam

asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate



Translation 


Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.

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Slogam 9:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.9

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ‘nyatra

loko ‘yaḿ karma-bandhanaḥ

tad-arthaḿ karma kaunteya

mukta-sańgaḥ samācara



Translation 


Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perfo...View More

Slogam 10:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.10

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā

purovāca prajāpatiḥ

anena prasaviṣyadhvam

eṣa vo ‘stv iṣṭa-kāma-dhuk



Translation 


In the beginning of creation, the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods, along with sacrifices for Vishnu, and ...View More

Slogam 11:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.11

devān bhāvayatānena

te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ

parasparaḿ bhāvayantaḥ

śreyaḥ param avāpsyatha



Translation 


The demigods, being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you, and thus, by cooperation between men and demigods, prosperity will reign for all.

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Slogam 12:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.12

istan bhogan hi vo deva

dasyante yajna-bhavitah

tair dattan apradayaibhyo

yo bhunkte stena eva sah



Translation 


In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajna [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who...View More

Slogam 13:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.13

yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo

mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ

bhuñjate te tv aghaḿ pāpā

ye pacanty ātma-kāraṇāt



Translation 


The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others, who prepare...View More

Slogam 14:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.14

annād bhavanti bhūtāni

parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ

yajñād bhavati parjanyo

yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ



Translation 


All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of pr...View More

Slogam 15:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.15

karma brahmodbhavaḿ viddhi

brahmākṣara-samudbhavam

tasmāt sarva-gataḿ brahma

nityaḿ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam



Translation 


Regulated activities are prescribed in the Vedas, and the Vedas are directly manifested from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Consequently th...View More

Slogam 16:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.16

evaḿ pravartitaḿ cakraḿ

nānuvartayatīha yaḥ

aghāyur indriyārāmo

moghaḿ pārtha sa jīvati



Translation 


My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only fo...View More

Slogam 17:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.17

yas tv ātma-ratir eva syād

ātma-tṛptaś ca mānavaḥ

ātmany eva ca santuṣṭas

tasya kāryaḿ na vidyate



Translation 


But for one who takes pleasure in the self, whose human life is one of self-realization, and who is satisfied in the self only, fully satiated—fo...View More

Slogam 18:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.18

naiva tasya kṛtenārtho

nākṛteneha kaścana

na cāsya sarva-bhūteṣu

kaścid artha-vyapāśrayaḥ



Translation 


A self-realized man has no purpose to fulfill in the discharge of his prescribed duties, nor has he any reason not to perform such work. Nor has he any need...View More

Slogam 19:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.19

tasmad asaktah? satatam´

karyam´ karma samacara

asakto hy acaran karma

param apnoti purus?ah?



Translation 


Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

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Slogam 20:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.20

karmaṇaiva hi saḿsiddhim

āsthitā janakādayaḥ

loka-sańgraham evāpi

sampaśyan kartum arhasi



Translation 


Kings such as Janaka attained perfection solely by performance of prescribed duties. Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should...View More

Slogam 21:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas

tat tad evetaro janaḥ

sa yat pramāṇaḿ kurute

lokas tad anuvartate



Translation 


Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

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Slogam 22:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.22

na me pārthāsti kartavyaḿ

triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana

nānavāptam avāptavyaḿ

varta eva ca karmaṇi



Translation 


O son of Pritha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anythin...View More

Slogam 23:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.23

yadi hy ahaḿ na varteyaḿ

jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ

mama vartmānuvartante

manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ



Translation 


For if I ever failed to engage in carefully performing prescribed duties, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path.

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Slogam 24:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.24

utsīdeyur ime lokā

na kuryāḿ karma ced aham

sańkarasya ca kartā syām

upahanyām imāḥ prajāḥ



Translation 


If I did not perform prescribed duties, all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereb...View More

Slogam 25:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.25

saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāḿso

yathā kurvanti bhārata

kuryād vidvāḿs tathāsaktaś

cikīrṣur loka-sańgraham



Translation 


As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, the learned may similarly act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading...View More

Slogam 26:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.26

na buddhi-bhedam´ janayed

ajñanam´ karma-sanginam

jos?ayet sarva-karman?i

vidvan yuktah? samacaran



Translation 


So as not to disrupt the minds of ignorant men attached to the fruitive results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not induce them to stop work. Rath...View More

Slogam 27:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.27

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni

guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ

ahańkāra-vimūḍhātmā

kartāham iti manyate



Translation 


Te spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of ...View More

Slogam 28:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.28

tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho

guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ

guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta

iti matvā na sajjate



Translation 


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 betw...View More

Slogam 29:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.29

prakṛter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ

sajjante guṇa-karmasu

tān akṛtsna-vido mandān

kṛtsna-vin na vicālayet



Translation 


Bewildered by the modes of material nature, the ignorant fully engage themselves in material activities and become attached. But the wise should not u...View More

Slogam 30:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.30

mayi sarvan?i karman?i

sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa

nirasir nirmamo bhutva

yudhyasva vigata-jvarah?



Translation 


Therefore, O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethar...View More

Slogam 31:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.31

ye me matam idaḿ nityam

anutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ

śraddhāvanto ‘nasūyanto

mucyante te ‘pi karmabhiḥ



Translation 


Those persons who execute their duties according to My injunctions and who follow this teaching faithfully, without envy, become free from the bonda...View More

Slogam 32:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.32

ye tv etad abhyasūyanto

nānutiṣṭhanti me matam

sarva-jñāna-vimūḍhāḿs tān

viddhi naṣṭān acetasaḥ



Translation 


But those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not follow them are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled, and ruined ...View More

Slogam 33:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.33

sadṛśaḿ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ

prakṛter jñānavān api

prakṛtiḿ yānti bhūtāni

nigrahaḥ kiḿ kariṣyati



Translation 


Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature, for everyone follows the nature he has acquired from the three modes. What can rep...View More

Slogam 34:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.34

indriyasyendriyasyārthe

rāga-dveṣau vyavasthitau

tayor na vaśam āgacchet

tau hy asya paripanthinau



Translation 


There are principles to regulate attachment and aversion pertaining to the senses and their objects. One should not come under the control of such attachment...View More

Slogam 35:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.35

śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ

para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt

sva-dharme nidhanaḿ śreyaḥ

para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ



Translation 


It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course...View More

Slogam 36:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.36

arjuna uvāca

atha kena prayukto ‘yaḿ

pāpaḿ carati pūruṣaḥ

anicchann api vārṣṇeya

balād iva niyojitaḥ



Translation 


Arjuna said: O descendant of Vrishni, by what is one impelled to sinful acts, even unwillingly, as if engaged by force?

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Slogam 37:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.37

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

kāma eṣa krodha eṣa

rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ

mahāśano mahā-pāpmā

viddhy enam iha vairiṇam



Translation 


The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later tr...View More

Slogam 38:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.38

dhumenavriyate vahnir

yathadarso malena ca

yatholbenavr?to garbhas

tatha tenedam avr?tam



Translation 


As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, the living entity is similarly covered by different degrees of this lust.

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Slogam 39:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.39

āvṛtaḿ jñānam etena

jñānino nitya-vairiṇā

kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya

duṣpūreṇānalena ca



Translation 


Thus the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.

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Slogam 40:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.40

indriyāṇi mano buddhir

asyādhiṣṭhānam ucyate

etair vimohayaty eṣa

jñānam āvṛtya dehinam



Translation 


The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust. Through them lust covers the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders ...View More

Slogam 41:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.41

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau

niyamya bharatarṣabha

pāpmānaḿ prajahi hy enaḿ

jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam



Translation 


Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destr...View More

Slogam 42:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.42

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur

indriyebhyaḥ paraḿ manaḥ

manasas tu parā buddhir

yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ



Translation 


The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is ev...View More

Slogam 43:

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3.43

evaḿ buddheḥ paraḿ buddhvā

saḿstabhyātmānam ātmanā

jahi śatruḿ mahā-bāho

kāma-rūpaḿ durāsadam



Translation 


Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by del...View More