Bhagavad Gītā

Chapter 18: Mokṣa Saṃnyāsa Yoga

— begin anuṣṭubh meter (4x8) —

Śloka 18.1

अर्जुन उवाच
arjuna uvāca
संन्यासस्य महाबाहो
saṃnyāsasya mahābāho
तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् ।
tattvamicchāmi veditum |
त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश
tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa
पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥ १ ॥
pṛthakkeśiniṣūdana ‖ 1 ‖

~~~

arjuna: Arjuna; uvāca: he said; saṃnyāsasya: of formal renunciation; mahābāho: O Mighty-Armed; tattvam-icchāmi: truth + I wish; veditum: to know; tyāgasya: of informal renunciation; ca: and; hṛṣīkeśa: O Lord of the Senses; pṛthak-keśiniṣūdana: difference + O Slayer of the Keśi Demon

Arjuna said: “O Mighty-Armed, I wish to know the truth of formal and informal renunciation, O Lord of the Senses, and the difference between them, O Slayer of the Keśi Demon.”

Śloka 18.2

श्रीभगवान्उवाच
śrībhagavānuvāca
काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं
kāmyānāṃ karmaṇāṃ nyāsaṃ
संन्यासं कवयो विदुः ।
saṃnyāsaṃ kavayo viduḥ |
सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं
sarvakarmaphalatyāgaṃ
प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः ॥ २ ॥
prāhustyāgaṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ ‖ 2 ‖

~~~

śrī-bhagavān-uvāca: The Blessed + Lord + he said; kāmyānām: of fulfilling desire; karmaṇām: of actions; nyāsam: abandoning; saṃnyāsam: formal renunciation; kavayaḥ: poets; viduḥ: they know; sarva-karmaphala-tyāgam: all + fruit of action + abandoning; prāhuḥ-tyāgam: call + informal renunciation; vicakṣaṇāḥ: wise people

The Blessed Lord said: “The poets know formal renunciation to be the abandoning of actions that fulfill desire.  The wise call informal renunciation the abandoning of the fruit of all action.”

Śloka 18.3

त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके
tyājyaṃ doṣavadityeke
कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः ।
karma prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ |
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म
yajñadānatapaḥkarma
न त्याज्यमिति चापरे ॥ ३ ॥
na tyājyamiti cāpare ‖ 3 ‖

~~~

tyājyam: must be abandoned; doṣavat-iti-eke: defective + this + one (some); karma: action; prāhuḥ-manīṣiṇaḥ: they say + sages; yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma: sacrifice + charity + austerity + acts; na: never; tyājyam-iti: must be abandoned + thus; ca-apare: and + others

“Some sages say, ‘All action is defective and must be abandoned.’  Others say, ‘Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity must never be abandoned.’”

Śloka 18.4

निश्चयं शृणु मे तत्र
niścayaṃ śṛṇu me tatra
त्यागे भरतसत्तम ।
tyāge bharatasattama |
त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र
tyāgo hi puruṣavyāghra
त्रिविधः सम्प्रकीर्तितः ॥ ४ ॥
trividhaḥ samprakīrtitaḥ ‖ 4 ‖

~~~

niścayam: conclusion; śṛṇu: you should hear; me: my; tatra: about this; tyāge: about informal renunciation; bharatasattama: O Best of the Bhāratas; tyāgaḥ: informal renunciation; hi: certainly; puruṣavyāghra: O Tiger Among Men; trividhaḥ: three kinds; samprakīrtitaḥ: said to be

“Now hear my conclusion about informal renunciation, O Best of the Bhāratas.  It is said to be of three kinds, O Tiger Among Men.”

Śloka 18.5

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म
yajñadānatapaḥkarma
न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् ।
na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat |
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव
yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva
पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ॥ ५ ॥
pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ‖ 5 ‖

~~~

yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma: sacrifice + charity + austerity + acts; na: not; tyājyam: must be abandoned; kāryam-eva: must be performed + indeed; tat: that; yajñaḥ: sacrifice; dānam: charity; tapaḥ-ca-eva: austerity + and + even; pāvanāni: purifying; manīṣiṇām: for sages

“Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity must indeed be performed, not abandoned.  Sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying even for sages.”

Śloka 18.6

एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि
etānyapi tu karmāṇi
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च ।
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalāni ca |
कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ
kartavyānīti me pārtha
निश्चितं मतमुत्तमम् ॥ ६ ॥
niścitaṃ matamuttamam ‖ 6 ‖

~~~

etāni-api: these + also; tu: but; karmāṇi: acts; saṅgam: attachment; tyaktvā: having abandoned; phalāni: fruit; ca: and; kartavyāni-iti: must be done + thus; me: my; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; niścitam: definite; matam-uttamam: opinion + final

“But these acts must be performed having abandoned attachment to their fruit, O Son of Pṛthā.  That is my definite and final opinion.”

Śloka 18.7

नियतस्य तु संन्यासः
niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ
कर्मणो नोपपद्यते ।
karmaṇo nopapadyate |
मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्-
mohāttasya parityāgas-
तामसः परिकीर्तितः ॥ ७ ॥
tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ‖ 7 ‖

~~~

niyatasya: of required; tu: but; saṃnyāsaḥ: renunciation; karmaṇaḥ: of actions; na-upapadyate: never + proper; mohāt-tasya: due to delusion + such; parityāgaḥ-tāmasaḥ: renunciation + physical; parikīrtitaḥ: said to be

“Renunciation of required actions is never proper.  Such renunciation due to delusion is said to be physical.”

Śloka 18.8

दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म
duḥkhamityeva yatkarma
कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत् ।
kāyakleśabhayāttyajet |
स कृत्वा राजसं त्यागं
sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ
नैव त्यागफलं लभेत् ॥ ८ ॥
naiva tyāgaphalaṃ labhet ‖ 8 ‖

~~~

duḥkham-iti-eva: difficult + thus + certainly; yat-karma: which + action; kāya-kleśa-bhayāt-tyajet: body + discomfort + out of fear + he would give up; saḥ: he; kṛtvā: having performed; rājasam: emotional; tyāgam: renunciation; na-eva: not + certainly; tyāga-phalam: renunciation + fruit; labhet: he would gain

“One who would abandon action fearing bodily discomfort, thinking that, ‘It is too painful,’ having performed emotional renunciation, would not gain the fruit of renunciation.”

Śloka 18.9

कार्यमित्येव यत्कर्म
kāryamityeva yatkarma
नियतं क्रियतेऽर्जुन ।
niyataṃ kriyate’rjuna |
सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलं चैव
saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ caiva
स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः ॥ ९ ॥
sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ ‖ 9 ‖

~~~

kāryam-iti-eva: action + thus + only; yat-karma: which + action; niyatam: required; kriyate-arjuna: it is performed + O Arjuna; saṅgam: attachment; tyaktvā: having given up; phalam: fruit; ca-eva: and + certainly; saḥ: it; tyāgaḥ: renunciation; sāttvikaḥ: mental; mataḥ: considered

“Performing action thinking only that, ‘It must be done,’ having abandoned attachment to its fruit, O Arjuna, is considered mental renunciation.”

Śloka 18.10

न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म
na dveṣṭyakuśalaṃ karma
कुशले नानुषज्जते ।
kuśale nānuṣajjate |
त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो
tyāgī sattvasamāviṣṭo
मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः ॥ १० ॥
medhāvī chinnasaṃśayaḥ ‖ 10 ‖

~~~

na: neither; dveṣṭi-akuśalam: he avoids + unpleasant; karma: tasks; kuśale: to pleasant; na-anuṣajjate: nor + he clings to; tyāgī: informal renunciate; sattvasamāviṣṭaḥ: mental; medhāvī: intelligent; chinna-saṃśayaḥ: removed + doubt

“The mental, intelligent informal renunciate whose doubt is removed neither avoids unpleasant tasks nor clings to pleasant tasks.”

Śloka 18.11

न हि देहभृता शक्यं
na hi dehabhṛtā śakyaṃ
त्यक्तुं कर्माण्यशेषतः ।
tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ |
यस्तु कर्मफलत्यागी
yastu karmaphalatyāgī
स त्यागीत्यभिधीयते ॥ ११ ॥
sa tyāgītyabhidhīyate ‖ 11 ‖

~~~

na: not; hi: certainly; dehabhṛtā: embodied soul; śakyam: possible; tyaktum: to abandon; karmāṇi-aśeṣataḥ: action + completely; yaḥ-tu: he who + but; karmaphala-tyāgī: fruit of action + abandoner; saḥ: he; tyāgī-iti-abhidhīyate: informal renunciate + thus + it is said

“It is quite impossible for an embodied soul to completely abandon action.  But one who abandons the fruit of action is called an informal renunciate.”

Śloka 18.12

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च
aniṣṭamiṣṭaṃ miśraṃ ca
त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम् ।
trividhaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam |
भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य
bhavatyatyāgināṃ pretya
न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित् ॥ १२ ॥
na tu saṃnyāsināṃ kvacit ‖ 12 ‖

~~~

aniṣṭam-iṣṭam: bad + good; miśram: mixed; ca: and; trividham: threefold; karmaṇaḥ: of action; phalam: fruit; bhavati-atyāginām: it is + for the non-renunciate; pretya: after death; na: never; tu: but; saṃnyāsinām: for renunciates; kvacit: ever

“For non-renunciates, the threefold fruit of action after death is good, bad, and mixed, but never for renunciates.”

Śloka 18.13

पञ्चैतानि महाबाहो
pañcaitāni mahābāho
कारणानि निबोध मे ।
kāraṇāni nibodha me |
सांख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि
sāṃkhye kṛtānte proktāni
सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥ १३ ॥
siddhaye sarvakarmaṇām ‖ 13 ‖

~~~

pañca-etāni: five + these; mahābāho: O Mighty-Armed; kāraṇāni: causes; nibodha: you should learn; me: from me; sāṃkhye: in Sāṃkhya; kṛtānte: in the doctrine; proktāni: taught; siddhaye: for the accomplishment; sarva-karmaṇām: of all + actions

“The Sāṃkhya doctrine taught five causes for the accomplishment of all actions, O Mighty-Armed.  Now learn of them from me.”

Śloka 18.14

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता
adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā
करणं च पृथग्विधम् ।
karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham |
विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा
vividhāśca pṛthakceṣṭā
दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् ॥ १४ ॥
daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam ‖ 14 ‖

~~~

adhiṣṭhānam: body; tathā: as well as; kartā: actor; karaṇam: senses; ca: and; pṛthakvidham: various; vividhāḥ-ca: various + and; pṛthak-ceṣṭā: distinct + functions; daivam: fate; ca-eva-atra: and + certainly + here; pañcamam: fifth

“The body, the actor, the various senses, their various distinct functions, and fifth, fate…”

Śloka 18.15

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्-
śarīravāṅmanobhiryat-
कर्म प्रारभते नरः ।
karma prārabhate naraḥ |
न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा
nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā
पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः ॥ १५ ॥
pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ‖ 15 ‖

~~~

śarīra-vāk-manobhiḥ-yat-karma: by (in) body + speech + mind + whatever + action; prārabhate: he undertakes; naraḥ: person; nyāyyam: right; vā: whether; viparītam: opposite; vā: or; pañca-ete: five + these; tasya: from it; hetavaḥ: causes

“…whatever action a person undertakes in body, speech, or mind, whether right or wrong, is from these five causes.”

Śloka 18.16

तत्रैवं सति कर्तारम्-
tatraivaṃ sati kartāram-
आत्मानं केवलं तु यः ।
ātmānaṃ kevalaṃ tu yaḥ |
पश्यत्यकृतबुद्धित्वान्-
paśyatyakṛtabuddhitvān-
न स पश्यति दुर्मतिः ॥ १६ ॥
na sa paśyati durmatiḥ ‖ 16 ‖

~~~

tatra-evam: in that + so; sati: being; kartāram-ātmānam: actor + soul; kevalam: only; tu: but; yaḥ: he who; paśyati-akṛtabuddhitvāt-na: he sees + due to an unprepared intellect + not; saḥ: he; paśyati: he sees; durmatiḥ: incorrect

“That being so, one who sees the soul as the actor due to an unprepared intellect, sees incorrectly.”

Śloka 18.17

यस्य नाहंकृतो भावो
yasya nāhaṃkṛto bhāvo
बुद्धिर्यस्य न लिप्यते ।
buddhiryasya na lipyate |
हत्वापि स इमाल्ँलोकान्-
hatvāpi sa imāḷlokān-
न हन्ति न निबध्यते ॥ १७ ॥
na hanti na nibadhyate ‖ 17 ‖

~~~

yasya: he who; na-ahaṃkṛtaḥ: not + egotistical; bhāvaḥ: nature; buddhiḥ-yasya: intelligence + he whose; na: not; lipyate: it is attached; hatvā-api: having slayed + even; saḥ: he; imān-lokān-na: this + world + neither; hanti: he slays; na: nor; nibadhyate: he is bound

“One whose nature is not egotistical, whose intelligence is not attached, even having slayed in this world, they neither slay nor are they bound.”

Śloka 18.18

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं परिज्ञाता
jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ parijñātā
त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना ।
trividhā karmacodanā |
करणं कर्म कर्तेति
karaṇaṃ karma karteti
त्रिविधः कर्मसङ्ग्रहः ॥ १८ ॥
trividhaḥ karmasaṅgrahaḥ ‖ 18 ‖

~~~

jñānam: knowledge; jñeyam: known; parijñātā: knower; trividhā: threefold; karma-codanā: action + impulse; karaṇam: instrument; karma: function; kartā-iti: actor + thus; trividhaḥ: three; karma-saṅgrahaḥ: action + constituents

“The knower, the known, and the knowledge are the threefold impulse to action.  The actor, the function, and the instrument are the three constituents of action.”

Śloka 18.19

ज्ञानं कर्म च कर्ता च
jñānaṃ karma ca kartā ca
त्रिधैव गुणभेदतः ।
tridhaiva guṇabhedataḥ |
प्रोच्यते गुणसंख्याने
procyate guṇasaṃkhyāne
यथावच्छृणु तान्यपि ॥ १९ ॥
yathāvacchṛṇu tānyapi ‖ 19 ‖

~~~

jñānam: knowledge; karma: action; ca: and; kartā: actor; ca: and; tridhā-eva: three kinds + certainly; guṇa-bhedataḥ: qualities + according to difference; procyate: it is taught; guṇasaṃkhyāne: in the theory of the qualities; yathāvat-śṛṇu: as they are + you should hear; tāni-api: them + as well

“In the theory of the qualities, it is taught that there are three types of knowledge, action, and actor based on the different qualities.  Now hear of these as well.”

Śloka 18.20

सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं
sarvabhūteṣu yenaikaṃ
भावमव्ययमीक्षते ।
bhāvamavyayamīkṣate |
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु
avibhaktaṃ vibhakteṣu
तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्त्विकम् ॥ २० ॥
tajjñānaṃ viddhi sāttvikam ‖ 20 ‖

~~~

sarvabhūteṣu: among all living beings; yena-ekam: by which + single; bhāvam-avyayam-īkṣate: state + unchanging + he sees; avibhaktam: undivided; vibhakteṣu: among different; tat-jñānam: that + knowledge; viddhi: you should know; sāttvikam: mental

“Know that knowledge by which one sees a single, undivided, unchanging state among all different living beings to be mental.”

Śloka 18.21

पृथक्त्वेन तु यज्ज्ञानं
pṛthaktvena tu yajjñānaṃ
नानाभावान्पृथग्विधान् ।
nānābhāvānpṛthagvidhān |
वेत्ति सर्वेषु भूतेषु
vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu
तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि राजसम् ॥ २१ ॥
tajjñānaṃ viddhi rājasam ‖ 21 ‖

~~~

pṛthaktvena: with division; tu: but; yat-jñānam: which + knowledge; nānā-bhāvān-pṛthagvidhān: manifold + nature + various; vetti: he perceives; sarveṣu: in all; bhūteṣu: in beings; tat-jñānam: that + knowledge; viddhi: you should know; rājasam: emotional

“But that knowledge by which one perceives a manifold nature divided amongst all different beings must be known as emotional.”

Śloka 18.22

यत्तु कृत्स्नवदेकस्मिन्
yattu kṛtsnavadekasmin
कार्ये सक्तमहैतुकम् ।
kārye saktamahaitukam |
अतत्त्वार्थवदल्पं च
atattvārthavadalpaṃ ca
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ २२ ॥
tattāmasamudāhṛtam ‖ 22 ‖

~~~

yat-tu: which + and; kṛtsnavat-ekasmin: as if everything + to a single; kārye: to a thing; saktam-ahaitukam: clinging + without reason; atattvārthavat-alpam: without basis in reality + insignificant; ca: and; tat-tāmasam-udāhṛtam: that + physical + called

“And that knowledge by which one clings to a single insignificant thing as if it were everything, without any basis in reality, is called physical.”

Śloka 18.23

नियतं सङ्गरहितम्-
niyataṃ saṅgarahitam-
अरागद्वेषतः कृतम् ।
arāgadveṣataḥ kṛtam |
अफलप्रेप्सुना कर्म
aphalaprepsunā karma
यत्तत्सात्त्विकमुच्यते ॥ २३ ॥
yattatsāttvikamucyate ‖ 23 ‖

~~~

niyatam: required; saṅgarahitam-arāgadveṣataḥ: indifference + without attachment and aversion; kṛtam: performed; aphalaprepsunā: by one who desires no fruit; karma: action; yat-tat-sāttvika-mucyate: which + that + mental + it is called

“That required action which is performed with indifference, without attachment and aversion, by one who desires no fruit, is called mental.”

Śloka 18.24

यत्तु कामेप्सुना कर्म
yattu kāmepsunā karma
साहङ्कारेण वा पुनः ।
sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ |
क्रियते बहुलायासं
kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ
तद्राजसमुदाहृतम् ॥ २४ ॥
tadrājasamudāhṛtam ‖ 24 ‖

~~~

yat-tu: which + but; kāmepsunā: by one who is desirous; karma: action; sāhaṅkāreṇa: with egotism; vā: or; punaḥ: again; kriyate: it is performed; bahulāyāsam: great effort; tat-rājasam-udāhṛtam: that + emotional + called

“But that action which is performed with egotism, or with great effort, by one who desires fruit, is called emotional.”

Śloka 18.25

अनुबन्धं क्षयं हिंसाम्-
anubandhaṃ kṣayaṃ hiṃsām-
अनपेक्ष्य च पौरुषम् ।
anapekṣya ca pauruṣam |
मोहादारभ्यते कर्म
mohādārabhyate karma
यत्तत्तामसमुच्यते ॥ २५ ॥
yattattāmasamucyate ‖ 25 ‖

~~~

anubandham: consequences; kṣayam: loss; hiṃsām-anapekṣya: harm + without regard to; ca: and; pauruṣam: ability; mohāt-ārabhyate: out of delusion + it is undertaken; karma: action; yat-tat-tāmasam-ucyate: which + that + physical + it is called

“And that action which is undertaken out of delusion, without regard to consequences, loss, harm, and ability, is called physical.”

Śloka 18.26

मुक्तसङ्गोऽनहंवादी
muktasaṅgo’nahaṃvādī
धृत्युत्साहसमन्वितः ।
dhṛtyutsāhasamanvitaḥ |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योर्निर्विकारः
siddhyasiddhyornirvikāraḥ
कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥ २६ ॥
kartā sāttvika ucyate ‖ 26 ‖

~~~

muktasaṅgaḥ-anahaṃvādī: free of attachment + non-egotistical; dhṛti-utsāha-samanvitaḥ: determination + enthusiasm + possessed of; siddhi-asiddhyoḥ-nirvikāraḥ: success + failure + unchanged; kartā: actor; sāttvikaḥ: mental; ucyate: he is called

“The actor who is free of attachment, not egotistical, possessed of determination and enthusiasm, and unchanged in success and failure, is called mental.”

Śloka 18.27

रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्-
rāgī karmaphalaprepsur-
लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः ।
lubdho hiṃsātmako’śuciḥ |
हर्षशोकान्वितः कर्ता
harṣaśokānvitaḥ kartā
राजसः परिकीर्तितः ॥ २७ ॥
rājasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ‖ 27 ‖

~~~

rāgī: who is attached; karmaphala-prepsuḥ-lubdhaḥ: fruit of action + desiring + greedy; hiṃsātmakaḥ-aśuciḥ: harmful + impure; harṣa-śoka-anvitaḥ: joy + sorrow + subject to; kartā: actor; rājasaḥ: emotional; parikīrtitaḥ: called

“The actor who is attached, desiring the fruit of action, greedy, harmful, impure, and subject to joy and sorrow, is called emotional.”

Śloka 18.28

अयुक्तः प्राकृतः स्तब्धः
ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ
शठो नैष्कृतिकोऽलसः ।
śaṭho naiṣkṛtiko’lasaḥ |
विषादी दीर्घसूत्री च
viṣādī dīrghasūtrī ca
कर्ता तामस उच्यते ॥ २८ ॥
kartā tāmasa ucyate ‖ 28 ‖

~~~

ayuktaḥ: undisciplined; prākṛtaḥ: vulgar; stabdhaḥ: obstinate; śaṭhaḥ: deceitful; naiṣkṛtikaḥ-alasaḥ: deceitful + lazy; viṣādī: despondent; dīrghasūtrī: procrastinating; ca: and; kartā: actor; tāmasa: physical; ucyate: he is called

“The actor who is undisciplined, vulgar, obstinate, deceitful, wicked, lazy, despondent, and procrastinating, is called physical.”

Śloka 18.29

बुद्धेर्भेदं धृतेश्चैव
buddherbhedaṃ dhṛteścaiva
गुणतस्त्रिविधं शृणु ।
guṇatastrividhaṃ śṛṇu |
प्रोच्यमानमशेषेण
procyamānamaśeṣeṇa
पृथक्त्वेन धनञ्जय ॥ २९ ॥
pṛthaktvena dhanañjaya ‖ 29 ‖

~~~

buddheḥ-bhedam: of intelligence + different; dhṛteḥ-ca-eva: of determination + and + certainly; guṇataḥ-trividham: according to the qualities + three kinds; śṛṇu: you should hear; procyamānam-aśeṣeṇa: described + in detail; pṛthaktvena: each; dhanañjaya: O Conqueror of Wealth

“Now listen, O Conqueror of Wealth, as the three different kinds of intelligence and determination are each described in detail according to the qualities.”

Śloka 18.30

प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च
pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca
कार्याकार्ये भयाभये ।
kāryākārye bhayābhaye |
बन्धं मोक्षं च या वेत्ति
bandhaṃ mokṣaṃ ca yā vetti
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ ३० ॥
buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ‖ 30 ‖

~~~

pravṛttim: turning toward worldliness; ca: and; nivṛttim: turning away from worldliness; ca: and; kārya-akārye: about what must be done + what must not be done; bhaya-abhaye: about what must be feared + what must not be feared; bandham: bondage; mokṣam: liberation; ca: and; yā: which; vetti: it knows; buddhiḥ: intelligence; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; sāttvikī: mental

“That intelligence which knows ‘turning toward worldliness’ and ‘turning away from worldliness,’ what must be done and what must not be done, what must be feared and what must not be feared, and bondage and liberation, O Son of Pṛthā, is mental.”

Śloka 18.31

यया धर्ममधर्मं च
yayā dharmamadharmaṃ ca
कार्यं चाकार्यमेव च ।
kāryaṃ cākāryameva ca |
अयथावत्प्रजानाति
ayathāvatprajānāti
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥ ३१ ॥
buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ‖ 31 ‖

~~~

yayā: by which; dharmam-adharmam: religion + irreligion; ca: and; kāryam: what must be done; ca-akāryam-eva: and + what must not be done + certainly; ca: and; ayathāvat-prajānāti: incorrectly + it knows; buddhiḥ: intelligence; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; rājasī: emotional

“That intelligence which incorrectly knows religion and irreligion, and what must be done and what must not be done, O Son of Pṛthā, is emotional.”

Śloka 18.32

अधर्मं धर्ममिति या-
adharmaṃ dharmamiti yā-
मन्यते तमसावृता ।
manyate tamasāvṛtā |
सर्वार्थान्विपरीतांश्च
sarvārthānviparītāṃśca
बुद्धिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥ ३२ ॥
buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ‖ 32 ‖

~~~

adharmam: irreligion; dharmam-iti: religion + thus; yā-manyate: which + it perceives; tamasā-āvṛtā: by ignorance + covered; sarvārthān-viparītāṃs-ca: everything + in reverse + and; buddhiḥ: intelligence; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; tāmasī: physical

“That intelligence which is covered by ignorance and perceives all things in reverse, including religion and irreligion, O Son of Pṛthā, is physical.”

Śloka 18.33

धृत्या यया धारयते
dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate
मनःप्राणेन्द्रियक्रियाः ।
manaḥprāṇendriyakriyāḥ |
योगेनाव्यभिचारिण्या
yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā
धृतिः सा पार्थ सात्त्विकी ॥ ३३ ॥
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ‖ 33 ‖

~~~

dhṛtyā: by determination; yayā: by which; dhārayate: it is controlled; manaḥ-prāṇa-indriya-kriyāḥ: mind + breath + senses + actions; yogena-avyabhicāriṇyā: through [dhyāna]-yoga + through unwavering; dhṛtiḥ: determination; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; sāttvikī: mental

“That determination by which the actions of the mind, breath, and senses are controlled through unwavering [dhyāna]-yoga, O Son of Pṛthā, is mental.”

Śloka 18.34

यया तु धर्मकामार्थान्-
yayā tu dharmakāmārthān-
धृत्या धारयतेऽर्जुन ।
dhṛtyā dhārayate’rjuna |
प्रसङ्गेन फलाकाङ्क्षी
prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī
धृतिः सा पार्थ राजसी ॥ ३४ ॥
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ‖ 34 ‖

~~~

yayā: by which; tu: but; dharma-kāma-arthān-dhṛtyā: religion + pleasure + wealth + by determination; dhārayate-arjuna: it is controlled + O Arjuna; prasaṅgena: through attachment; phalākāṅkṣī: desiring fruit; dhṛtiḥ: determination; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; rājasī: emotional

“But that determination by which religion, wealth, and pleasure are controlled through attachment, desiring fruit, O Arjuna, is emotional, O Son of Pṛthā.”

Śloka 18.35

यया स्वप्नं भयं शोकं
yayā svapnaṃ bhayaṃ śokaṃ
विषादं मदमेव च ।
viṣādaṃ madameva ca |
न विमुञ्चति दुर्मेधा
na vimuñcati durmedhā
धृतिः सा पार्थ तामसी ॥ ३५ ॥
dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ‖ 35 ‖

~~~

yayā: by which; svapnam: oversleeping; bhayam: fear; śokam: grief; viṣādam: despondency; madam-eva: addiction + certainly; ca: and; na: not; vimuñcati: he abandons; durmedhā: unintelligent; dhṛtiḥ: determination; sā: that; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; tāmasī: physical

“And that unintelligent determination by which one does not abandon oversleeping, fear, grief, despondency, and addiction, O Son of Pṛthā, is physical.”

Śloka 18.36

सुखं त्विदानीं त्रिविधं
sukhaṃ tvidānīṃ trividhaṃ
शृणु मे भरतर्षभ ।
śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha |
अभ्यासाद्रमते यत्र
abhyāsādramate yatra
दुःखान्तं च निगच्छति ॥ ३६ ॥
duḥkhāntaṃ ca nigacchati ‖ 36 ‖

~~~

sukham: happiness; tu-idānīm: but + now; trividham: three kinds; śṛṇu: you should hear; me: from me; bharatarṣabha: O Best of the Bhāratas; abhyāsāt-ramate: from (through) practice + he enjoys; yatra: from (by) which; duḥkhāntam: end of suffering; ca: and; nigacchati: he arrives at

“Now hear from me about the three kinds of happiness one enjoys through practice, O Best of the Bhāratas, and by which they arrive at the end of suffering.”

Śloka 18.37

यत्तदग्रे विषमिव
yattadagre viṣamiva
परिणामेऽमृतोपमम् ।
pariṇāme’mṛtopamam |
तत्सुखं सात्त्विकं प्रोक्तम्-
tatsukhaṃ sāttvikaṃ proktam-
आत्मबुद्धिप्रसादजम् ॥ ३७ ॥
ātmabuddhiprasādajam ‖ 37 ‖

~~~

yat-tat-agre: which + that + in the beginning; viṣam-iva: poison + like; pariṇāme-amṛta-upamam: in the end + nectar + compared to; tat-sukham: that + happiness; sāttvikam: mental; proktam-ātmabuddhi-prasāda-jam: called + self-knowledge + tranquility + born of

“That happiness which, in the beginning is like poison but in the end is like nectar, which is born of the tranquility of self-knowledge, is called mental.”

Śloka 18.38

विषयेन्द्रियसंयोगाद्-
viṣayendriyasaṃyogād-
यत्तदग्रेऽमृतोपमम् ।
yattadagre’mṛtopamam |
परिणामे विषमिव
pariṇāme viṣamiva
तत्सुखं राजसं स्मृतम् ॥ ३८ ॥
tatsukhaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ‖ 38 ‖

~~~

viṣaya-indriya-saṃyogāt-yat-tat-agre-amṛta-upamam: sense objects + senses + from contact + which + that + in the beginning + nectar + compared to; pariṇāme: in the end; viṣam-iva: poison + like; tat-sukham: that + happiness; rājasam: emotional; smṛtam: considered

“That happiness which, in the beginning is like nectar but in the end is like poison, which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects, is considered emotional.”

Śloka 18.39

यदग्रे चानुबन्धे च
yadagre cānubandhe ca
सुखं मोहनमात्मनः ।
sukhaṃ mohanamātmanaḥ |
निद्रालस्यप्रमादोत्थं
nidrālasyapramādotthaṃ
तत्तामसमुदाहृतम् ॥ ३९ ॥
tattāmasamudāhṛtam ‖ 39 ‖

~~~

yat-agre: which + in the beginning; ca-anubandhe: and + to the end; ca: and; sukham: happiness; mohanam-ātmanaḥ: deluding + self; nidrā-ālasya-pramāda-uttham: oversleeping + laziness + addiction + arising; tat-tāmasam-udāhṛtam: that + physical + called

“That happiness which is self-deluding from beginning to end, and arises from oversleeping, laziness, and addiction, is called physical.”

Śloka 18.40

न तदस्ति पृथिव्यां वा
na tadasti pṛthivyāṃ vā
दिवि देवेषु वा पुनः ।
divi deveṣu vā punaḥ |
सत्त्वं प्रकृतिजैर्मुक्तं
sattvaṃ prakṛtijairmuktaṃ
यदेभिः स्यात्त्रिभिर्गुणैः ॥ ४० ॥
yadebhiḥ syāttribhirguṇaiḥ ‖ 40 ‖

~~~

na: no; tat-asti: that + there is; pṛthivyām: on earth; vā: or; divi: in heaven; deveṣu: among the gods; vā: or; punaḥ: again; sattvam: being; prakṛtijaiḥ-muktam: by (from) born of nature + free from; yat-ebhiḥ: which + by (from) these; syāt-tribhiḥ-guṇaiḥ: can exist + by (from) three + by (from) qualities

“There is no being, either on earth or among the gods in heaven, that can exist free from these three qualities born of nature.”

Śloka 18.41

ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियविशां
brāhmaṇakṣatriyaviśāṃ
शूद्राणां च परन्तप ।
śūdrāṇāṃ ca parantapa |
कर्माणि प्रविभक्तानि
karmāṇi pravibhaktāni
स्वभावप्रभवैर्गुणैः ॥ ४१ ॥
svabhāvaprabhavairguṇaiḥ ‖ 41 ‖

~~~

brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśām: of the priests + of the warriors + of the merchants; śūdrāṇām: of the servants; ca: and; parantapa: O Scorcher of Foes; karmāṇi: activities; pravibhaktāni: distributed; svabhāva-prabhavaiḥ-guṇaiḥ: their nature + by born of + by the qualities

“The activities of the priest, warrior, merchant, and servant [castes], O Scorcher of Foes, are distributed according to the qualities born of their nature.”

Śloka 18.42

शमो दमस्तपः शौचं
śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ
क्षान्तिरार्जवमेव च ।
kṣāntirārjavameva ca |
ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यं
jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ
ब्रह्मकर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ ४२ ॥
brahmakarma svabhāvajam ‖ 42 ‖

~~~

śamaḥ: serenity; damaḥ-tapaḥ: self-control + austerity; śaucam: purity; kṣāntiḥ-ārjavam-eva: patience + directness + certainly; ca: and; jñānam: knowledge; vijñānam-āstikyam: realization + faith; brahma-karma: of a priest + activities; svabhāva-jam: one’s nature + born of

“Serenity, self-control, austerity, purity, patience, directness, knowledge, realization, and faith are the natural-born activities of a priest.”

Śloka 18.43

शौर्यं तेजो धृतिर्दाक्ष्यं
śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ
युद्धे चाप्यपलायनम् ।
yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam |
दानमीश्वरभावश्च
dānamīśvarabhāvaśca
क्षात्रं कर्म स्वभावजम् ॥ ४३ ॥
kṣātraṃ karma svabhāvajam ‖ 43 ‖

~~~

śauryam: heroism; tejaḥ: power; dhṛtiḥ-dākṣyam: determination + skill; yuddhe: in battle; ca-api-apalāyanam: and + also + not fleeing; dānam-īśvarabhāvaḥ-ca: charity + leadership + and; kṣātram: of a warrior; karma: activities; svabhāva-jam: one’s nature + born of

“Heroism, power, determination, skill, not fleeing in battle, charity, and leadership are the natural-born activities of a warrior.”

Śloka 18.44

कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यं
kṛṣigorakṣyavāṇijyaṃ
वैश्यकर्म स्वभावजम् ।
vaiśyakarma svabhāvajam |
परिचर्यात्मकं कर्म
paricaryātmakaṃ karma
शूद्रस्यापि स्वभावजम् ॥ ४४ ॥
śūdrasyāpi svabhāvajam ‖ 44 ‖

~~~

kṛṣi-gorakṣya-vāṇijyam: agriculture + cow herding + trade; vaiśya-karma: of a merchant + activities; svabhāva-jam: one’s nature + born of; paricaryā-ātmakam: service + belonging to the nature of; karma: activity; śūdrasya-api: of a servant + also; svabhāva-jam: one’s nature + born of

“Agriculture, tending cattle, and trade are the natural-born activities of a merchant.  And service is the natural-born activity of a servant.”

Śloka 18.45

स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ
संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ।
saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ |
स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं
svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṃ
यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ॥ ४५ ॥
yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ‖ 45 ‖

~~~

sve: each; sve: in their own; karmaṇi-abhirataḥ: in work + engaged; saṃsiddhim: perfection; labhate: he attains; naraḥ: person; svakarma-nirataḥ: own work + so engaged; siddhim: perfection; yathā: how; vindati: he attains; tat-śṛṇu: that + you should hear

“Each person attains perfection engaged in their own work.  Now hear how so engaged, one attains that perfection.”

Śloka 18.46

यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां
yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṃ
येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।
yena sarvamidaṃ tatam |
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य
svakarmaṇā tamabhyarcya
सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः ॥ ४६ ॥
siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ ‖ 46 ‖

~~~

yataḥ: from who; pravṛttiḥ-bhūtānām: emanation + of living beings; yena: by which; sarvam-idam: all + this; tatam: pervaded; svakarmaṇā: by their work; tam-abhyarcya: that + having dedicated; siddhim: perfection; vindati: he attains; mānavaḥ: person

“A person attains perfection having dedicated their work to that which emanated all living beings, and by which all this universe is pervaded.”

Śloka 18.47

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः
śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ
परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt |
स्वभावनियतं कर्म
svabhāvaniyataṃ karma
कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥ ४७ ॥
kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ‖ 47 ‖

~~~

śreyān-svadharmaḥ: better + one’s own duty; viguṇaḥ: imperfect; paradharmāt-svanuṣṭhitāt: than another’s duty + than perfectly performed; svabhāva-niyatam: one’s own nature + required; karma: work; kurvan-na-āpnoti: performing + not + he incurs; kilbiṣam: sin

“Performing one’s own duty imperfectly Is better than performing another’s duty perfectly; performing work required by one’s own nature does not incur sin.”

Śloka 18.48

सहजं कर्म कौन्तेय
sahajaṃ karma kaunteya
सदोषमपि न त्यजेत् ।
sadoṣamapi na tyajet |
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa
धूमेनाग्निरिवावृताः ॥ ४८ ॥
dhūmenāgnirivāvṛtāḥ ‖ 48 ‖

~~~

sahajam: innate; karma: work; kaunteya: O Son of Kuntī; sadoṣam-api: with fault + also; na: not; tyajet: he should give up; sarva-ārambhā: every + endeavor; hi: for; doṣeṇa: with fault; dhūmena-agniḥ-iva-āvṛtāḥ: by smoke + fire + like + covered

“One must not give up their innate work despite its faults, O Son of Kuntī, for every endeavor has some fault, like fire is covered by smoke.”

Śloka 18.49

असक्तबुद्धिः सर्वत्र
asaktabuddhiḥ sarvatra
जितात्मा विगतस्पृहः ।
jitātmā vigataspṛhaḥ |
नैष्कर्म्यसिद्धिं परमां
naiṣkarmyasiddhiṃ paramāṃ
संन्यासेनाधिगच्छति ॥ ४९ ॥
saṃnyāsenādhigacchati ‖ 49 ‖

~~~

asakta-buddhiḥ: unattached + intelligence; sarvatra: everywhere; jitātmā: self-controlled; vigataspṛhaḥ: indifferent; naiṣkarmya-siddhim: freedom from [re]action + perfection; paramām: supreme; saṃnyāsena-adhigacchati: through renunciation + he attains

“One whose intellect is unattached everywhere, who is self-controlled and indifferent, attains the supreme perfection of freedom from [re]action through renunciation.”

Śloka 18.50

सिद्धिं प्राप्तो यथा ब्रह्म
siddhiṃ prāpto yathā brahma
तथाप्नोति निबोध मे ।
tathāpnoti nibodha me |
समासेनैव कौन्तेय
samāsenaiva kaunteya
निष्ठा ज्ञानस्य या परा ॥ ५० ॥
niṣṭhā jñānasya yā parā ‖ 50 ‖

~~~

siddhim: perfection; prāptaḥ: having attained; yathā: how; brahma: Brahman; tathā-āpnoti: so + he attains; nibodha: you should learn; me: from me; samāsena-eva: briefly + certainly; kaunteya: O Son of Kuntī; niṣṭhā: state; jñānasya: of knowledge; yā: which; parā: highest

“Now briefly learn from me how, having attained that perfection, O Son of Kuntī, one attains Brahman, which is the highest state of knowledge.”

Śloka 18.51

बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो
buddhyā viśuddhayā yukto
धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च ।
dhṛtyātmānaṃ niyamya ca |
शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा
śabdādīnviṣayāṃstyaktvā
रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च ॥ ५१ ॥
rāgadveṣau vyudasya ca ‖ 51 ‖

~~~

buddhyā: with intellect; viśuddhayā: with purified; yuktaḥ: endowed; dhṛtyā-ātmānam: with firmness + self; niyamya: having restrained; ca: and; śabda-ādīn-viṣayāṃs-tyaktvā: sound + staring with + sense objects + having abandoned; rāgadveṣau: attachment and aversion; vyudasya: having cast aside; ca: and

“Endowed with a purified intellect, having firmly restrained oneself, having abandoned the sense objects starting with sound, having cast aside attachment and aversion…”

Śloka 18.52

विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी
viviktasevī laghvāśī
यतवाक्कायमानसः ।
yatavākkāyamānasaḥ |
ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं
dhyānayogaparo nityaṃ
वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः ॥ ५२ ॥
vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ ‖ 52 ‖

~~~

viviktasevī: practicing alone; laghvāśī: eating little; yata-vāk-kāya-mānasaḥ: having controlled + speech + body + thought; dhyānayoga-paraḥ: dhyānayoga + engrossed in; nityam: continually; vairāgyam: non-attachment; samupāśritaḥ: supported by

“…practicing alone, eating little, having controlled speech, body, and thought, continually engrossed in dhyānayoga, supported by non-attachment…”

Śloka 18.53

अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं
ahaṅkāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ
कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम् ।
kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigraham |
विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो
vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto
ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ॥ ५३ ॥
brahmabhūyāya kalpate ‖ 53 ‖

~~~

ahaṅkāram: egotism; balam: forcefulness; darpam: arrogance; kāmam: desire; krodham: anger; parigraham: possessiveness; vimucya: having forsaken; nirmamaḥ: unselfish; śāntaḥ: peaceful; brahmabhūyāya: for becoming Brahman; kalpate: he is fit

“…unselfish, peaceful, and having forsaken egotism, forcefulness, arrogance, desire, anger, and possessiveness, one is fit for becoming Brahman.”

Śloka 18.54

ब्रह्मभूतः प्रसन्नात्मा
brahmabhūtaḥ prasannātmā
न शोचति न काङ्क्षति ।
na śocati na kāṅkṣati |
समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु
samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
मद्भक्तिं लभते पराम् ॥ ५४ ॥
madbhaktiṃ labhate parām ‖ 54 ‖

~~~

brahmabhūtaḥ: having become Brahman; prasannātmā: who is peaceful; na: neither; śocati: he grieves; na: nor; kāṅkṣati: he desires; samaḥ: same; sarveṣu: to all; bhūteṣu: to beings; madbhaktim: devotion to me; labhate: he gains; parām: supreme

“Having become Brahman, the peaceful one neither grieves nor desires.  The same to all beings, they gain supreme devotion to me.”

Śloka 18.55

भक्त्या मामभिजानाति
bhaktyā māmabhijānāti
यावान्यश्चास्मि तत्त्वतः ।
yāvānyaścāsmi tattvataḥ |
ततो मां तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा
tato māṃ tattvato jñātvā
विशते तदनन्तरम् ॥ ५५ ॥
viśate tadanantaram ‖ 55 ‖

~~~

bhaktyā: through devotion; mām-abhijānāti: me + he knows; yāvān-yaḥ-ca-asmi: as much + who + and + I am; tattvataḥ: truly; tataḥ: then; mām: me; tattvataḥ: truly; jñātvā: having known; viśate: he enters; tat-anantaram: that + without delay

“Through devotion, one knows me as I truly am.  Having truly known me, then one enters me without delay.”

Śloka 18.56

सर्वकर्माण्यपि सदा
sarvakarmāṇyapi sadā
कुर्वाणो मद्व्यपाश्रयः ।
kurvāṇo madvyapāśrayaḥ |
मत्प्रसादादवाप्नोति
matprasādādavāpnoti
शाश्वतं पदमव्ययम् ॥ ५६ ॥
śāśvataṃ padamavyayam ‖ 56 ‖

~~~

sarva-karmāṇi-api: all + actions + also; sadā: constantly; kurvāṇaḥ: performing; mat-vyapāśrayaḥ: from (in) me + taking refuge in; mat-prasādāt-avāpnoti: from (by) me + from (by) grace + he attains; śāśvatam: eternal; padan-avyayam: state + unchanging

“Constantly performing all actions while taking refuge in me, one attains the eternal, unchanging state by my grace.”

Śloka 18.57

चेतसा सर्वकर्माणि
cetasā sarvakarmāṇi
मयि संन्यस्य मत्परः ।
mayi saṃnyasya matparaḥ |
बुद्धियोगमुपाश्रित्य
buddhiyogamupāśritya
मच्चित्तः सततं भव ॥ ५७ ॥
maccittaḥ satataṃ bhava ‖ 57 ‖

~~~

cetasā: by the mind; sarva-karmāṇi: all + actions; mayi: unto me; saṃnyasya: having surrendered; matparaḥ: devoted to me; buddhiyogam-upāśritya: buddhiyoga + having taken shelter in; maccittaḥ: mind fixed on me; satatam: constantly; bhava: you should be

“Having taken shelter in buddhiyoga, and having mentally surrendered all actions unto me, be devoted to me, and constantly fix your mind on me.”

Śloka 18.58

मच्चित्तः सर्वदुर्गाणि
maccittaḥ sarvadurgāṇi
मत्प्रसादात्तरिष्यसि ।
matprasādāttariṣyasi |
अथ चेत्त्वमहङ्कारान्
atha cettvamahaṅkārān
नश्रोष्यसि विनङ्क्ष्यसि ॥ ५८ ॥
naśroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi ‖ 58 ‖

~~~

maccittaḥ: mind fixed on me; sarva-durgāṇi: all + difficulties; mat-prasādāt-tariṣyasi: from (by) my + from (by) grace + you will overcome; atha: but; cet-tvam-ahaṅkārāt: if + you + out of egotism; na-śroṣyasi: not + you will listen; vinaṅkṣyasi: you will perish

“With your mind fixed on me, you will overcome all difficulties by my grace.  But if you will not listen out of egotism, you will perish.”

Śloka 18.59

यदहङ्कारमाश्रित्य
yadahaṅkāramāśritya
न योत्स्य इति मन्यसे ।
na yotsya iti manyase |
मिथ्यैष व्यवसायस्ते
mithyaiṣa vyavasāyaste
प्रकृतिस्त्वां नियोक्ष्यति ॥ ५९ ॥
prakṛtistvāṃ niyokṣyati ‖ 59 ‖

~~~

yat-ahaṅkāram-āśritya: if + egotism + having resorted to; na: not; yotsye: I will fight; iti: thus; manyase: you think; mithyā-eṣaḥ: false + this; vyavasāyaḥ-te: effort + your; prakṛtiḥ-tvām: nature + you; niyokṣyati: it will compel

“If, having resorted to egotism, you think, ‘This is all false.  I will not fight,’ then your effort is in vain.  For your nature will compel you.”

Śloka 18.60

स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय
svabhāvajena kaunteya
निबद्धः स्वेन कर्मणा ।
nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā |
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्-
kartuṃ necchasi yanmohāt-
करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् ॥ ६० ॥
kariṣyasyavaśo’pi tat ‖ 60 ‖

~~~

svabhāva-jena: by your nature + born of; kaunteya: O Son of Kuntī; nibaddhaḥ: bound; svena: by your own; karmaṇā: by actions; kartum: to act; na-icchasi: not + you wish; yat-mohāt-kariṣyasi-avaśaḥ-api: from which + out of delusion + you will do + involuntarily + even; tat: that

“You are bound to the actions born of your nature, O Son of Kuntī.  That which you do not wish to do out of delusion, you will do, even involuntarily.”

Śloka 18.61

ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां
īśvaraḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ
हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति ।
hṛddeśe’rjuna tiṣṭhati |
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि
bhrāmayansarvabhūtāni
यन्त्रारूढानि मायया ॥ ६१ ॥
yantrārūḍhāni māyayā ‖ 61 ‖

~~~

īśvaraḥ: Oversoul; sarva-bhūtānām: of all + living beings; hṛddeśe-arjuna: in the space of the heart + O Arjuna; tiṣṭhati: it resides; bhrāmayan-sarva-bhūtāni: causing to revolve + all + living beings; yantra-ārūḍhāni: on a machine + mounted; māyayā: by power

“The Oversoul resides in the heart of all living beings, O Arjuna, causing them to revolve by its power, as if mounted on a wheel.”

Śloka 18.62

तमेव शरणं गच्छ
tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha
सर्वभावेन भारत ।
sarvabhāvena bhārata |
तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं
tatprasādātparāṃ śāntiṃ
स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥ ६२ ॥
sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ‖ 62 ‖

~~~

tam-eva: that + certainly; śaraṇam: refuge; gaccha: you should seek; sarvabhāvena: with the whole being; bhārata: O Descendant of Bharata; tat-prasādāt-parām: that + from (by) grace + Supreme; śāntim: peace; sthānam: State; prāpsyasi: you will attain; śāśvatam: eternal

“Seek refuge in that Oversoul alone with your whole being, O Descendant of Bharata.  By its grace, you will attain the eternal peace of the Supreme State.”

Śloka 18.63

इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं
iti te jñānamākhyātaṃ
गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया ।
guhyādguhyataraṃ mayā |
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण
vimṛśyaitadaśeṣeṇa
यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ॥ ६३ ॥
yathecchasi tathā kuru ‖ 63 ‖

~~~

iti: thus; te: your; jñānam-ākhyātam: knowledge + declared; guhyāt-guhya-taram: than (of) secret + secret + most; mayā: by me; vimṛśya-etat-aśeṣeṇa: having considered + this + fully; yathā-icchasi: as + you wish; tathā: then; kuru: you should do

“Thus, I have declared to you the most secret of secret knowledge.  Having considered it fully, then do as you wish.”

Śloka 18.64

सर्वगुह्यतमं भूयः
sarvaguhyatamaṃ bhūyaḥ
शृणु मे परमं वचः ।
śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ |
इष्टोऽसि मे दृढमिति
iṣṭo’si me dṛḍhamiti
ततो वक्ष्यामि ते हितम् ॥ ६४ ॥
tato vakṣyāmi te hitam ‖ 64 ‖

~~~

sarva-guhya-tamam: all + secret + most; bhūyaḥ: again; śṛṇu: you should hear; me: from me; paramam: supreme; vacaḥ: teaching; iṣṭaḥ-asi: dear + you are; me: to me; dṛḍham-iti: very + thus; tataḥ: so; vakṣyāmi: I will speak; te: your; hitam: benefit

“Once again, hear my supreme teaching, the most secret of all.  You are very dear to me, so I will speak for your benefit.”

Śloka 18.65

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो
manmanā bhava madbhakto
मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु ।
madyājī māṃ namaskuru |
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते
māmevaiṣyasi satyaṃ te
प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ॥ ६५ ॥
pratijāne priyo’si me ‖ 65 ‖

~~~

manmanā: mind fixed on me; bhava: you should be; madbhaktaḥ: my devotee; madyājī: my worshipper; mām: me; namaskuru: you should bow to; mām-eva-eṣyasi: me + certainly + you will come to; satyam: sincerely; te: to you; pratijāne: I promise; priyaḥ-asi: dear + you are; me: to me

“Fix your mind on me, be my devotee, worship me, and bow to me.  You are dear to me; I sincerely promise you will come to me.”

Śloka 18.66

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य
sarvadharmānparityajya
मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
māmekaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो
ahaṃ tvāṃ sarvapāpebhyo
मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥ ६६ ॥
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ‖ 66 ‖

~~~

sarva-dharmān-parityajya: all + dogmas + having abandoned; mām-ekam: me + alone; śaraṇam: refuge; vraja: taking; aham: I; tvām: you; sarva-pāpebhyaḥ: all + from sin; mokṣayiṣyāmi: I will free; mā: not; śucaḥ: grief

“Having abandoned all dogmas, take refuge in me alone.  Do not grieve, I will free you from all sin.”

Śloka 18.67

इदं ते नातपस्काय
idaṃ te nātapaskāya
नाभक्ताय कदाचन ।
nābhaktāya kadācana |
न चाशुश्रूषवे वाच्यं
na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ
न च मां योऽभ्यसूयति ॥ ६७ ॥
na ca māṃ yo’bhyasūyati ‖ 67 ‖

~~~

idam: this; te: by you; na-atapaskāya: never + for (to) the undevoted; na-abhaktāya: not + for (to) the non-austere; kadācana: ever; na: not; ca-aśuśrūṣave: and + for (to) who doesn’t listen; vācyam: must be spoken; na: not; ca: and; mām: me; yaḥ-abhyasūyati: he who + he envies

“This secret must never be spoken by you to anyone who is not devoted, is not austere, does not listen, or envies me.”

Śloka 18.68

य इदं परमं गुह्यं
ya idaṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ
मद्भक्तेष्वभिधास्यति ।
madbhakteṣvabhidhāsyati |
भक्तिं मयि परां कृत्वा
bhaktiṃ mayi parāṃ kṛtvā
मामेवैष्यत्यसंशयः ॥ ६८ ॥
māmevaiṣyatyasaṃśayaḥ ‖ 68 ‖

~~~

yaḥ: whoever; idam: this; paramam: supreme; guhyam: secret; madbhakteṣu-abhidhāsyati: to my devotees + he will teach; bhaktim: devotion; mayi: to me; parām: supreme; kṛtvā: having done; mām-eva-eṣyati-asaṃśayaḥ: me + certainly + he will come to + without a doubt

“Whoever with supreme devotion to me will teach this supreme secret to my devotees, having done so, will come to me, without a doubt.”

Śloka 18.69

न च तस्मान्मनुष्येषु
na ca tasmānmanuṣyeṣu
कश्चिन्मे प्रियकृत्तमः ।
kaścinme priyakṛttamaḥ |
भविता न च मे तस्माद्-
bhavitā na ca me tasmād-
अन्यः प्रियतरो भुवि ॥ ६९ ॥
anyaḥ priyataro bhuvi ‖ 69 ‖

~~~

na: never; ca: and; tasmāt-manuṣyeṣu: than him + among men; kaścit-me: anyone + to me; priyakṛt-tamaḥ: dear + more; bhavitā: will be; na: not; ca: and; me: to me; tasmāt-anyaḥ: than him + another; priya-taraḥ: dear + more; bhuvi: in the world

“There is no one among men more dear to me than them, nor will there ever be another more dear in this world.”

Śloka 18.70

अध्येष्यते च य इमं
adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṃ
धर्म्यं संवादमावयोः ।
dharmyaṃ saṃvādamāvayoḥ |
ज्ञानयज्ञेन तेनाहम्-
jñānayajñena tenāham-
इष्टः स्यामिति मे मतिः ॥ ७० ॥
iṣṭaḥ syāmiti me matiḥ ‖ 70 ‖

~~~

adhyeṣyate: he will study; ca: and; yaḥ: he who; imam: this; dharmyam: sacred; saṃvādam-āvayoḥ: conversation + of ours; jñānayajñena: by the sacrifice of knowledge; tena-aham-iṣṭaḥ: by that + I + worshipped; syām-iti: I will be + thus; me: my; matiḥ: opinion

“In my opinion, I will be worshipped through the sacrifice of knowledge by anyone who will study this sacred conversation of ours.”

Śloka 18.71

श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च
śraddhāvānanasūyaśca
शृणुयादपि यो नरः ।
śṛṇuyādapi yo naraḥ |
सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाल्ँलोकान्-
so’pi muktaḥ śubhāḷlokān-
प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥ ७१ ॥
prāpnuyātpuṇyakarmaṇām ‖ 71 ‖

~~~

śraddhāvān-anasūyaḥ-ca: with faith + without envy + and; śṛṇuyāt-api: he may hear + moreover; yaḥ: he who; naraḥ: person; saḥ-api: he + also; muktaḥ: liberated; śubhān-lokān-prāpnuyāt-puṇyakarmaṇām: auspicious + planets + he may attain + of the pious

“Moreover, anyone who may listen to it with faith and without envy is liberated.  Even they may attain the auspicious planets of the pious.”

Śloka 18.72

कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ
kaccidetacchrutaṃ pārtha
त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा ।
tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā |
कच्चिदज्ञानसम्मोहः
kaccidajñānasammohaḥ
प्रणष्टस्ते धनञ्जय ॥ ७२ ॥
praṇaṣṭaste dhanañjaya ‖ 72 ‖

~~~

kaccit-etat-śrutam: has + this + been heard; pārtha: O Son of Pṛthā; tvayā-ekāgreṇa: by you + with concentrated; cetasā: with mind; kaccit-ajñāna-sammohaḥ: has + ignorant + delusion; praṇaṣṭaḥ-te: been removed + your; dhanañjaya: O Conqueror of Wealth

“Have you heard this with a concentrated mind, O Son of Pṛthā?  Has your ignorant delusion been removed, O Conqueror of Wealth?”

Śloka 18.73

अर्जुन उवाच
arjuna uvāca
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्-
naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir-
लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत ।
labdhā tvatprasādānmayācyuta |
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः
sthito’smi gatasandehaḥ
करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥ ७३ ॥
kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ‖ 73 ‖

~~~

arjuna: Arjuna; uvāca: he said; naṣṭaḥ: has been dispelled; mohaḥ: delusion; smṛtiḥ-labdhā: memory + has been regained; tvat-prasādāt-mayā-acyuta: from (by) your + mercy + by (for) me + O Imperishable; sthitaḥ-asmi: standing firm + I am; gata-sandehaḥ: removed + doubts; kariṣye: I will obey; vacanam: instructions; tava: your

Arjuna said: “My delusion has been dispelled.  My memory has been regained by your grace, O Imperishable.  I am standing firm with all doubts removed.  I will obey your instructions.”

Śloka 18.74

सञ्जय उवाच
sañjaya uvāca
इत्यहं वासुदेवस्य
ityahaṃ vāsudevasya
पार्थस्य च महात्मनः ।
pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ |
संवादमिममश्रौषम्-
saṃvādamimamaśrauṣam-
अद्भुतं रोमहर्षणम् ॥ ७४ ॥
adbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam ‖ 74 ‖

~~~

sañjaya: Sañjaya; uvāca: he said; iti-aham: thus + I; vāsudevasya: of the Son of Vasudeva; pārthasya: of the Son of Pṛthā; ca: and; mahātmanaḥ: of great souls; saṃvādam-imam-aśrauṣam-adbhutam: conversation + this + I have heard + amazing; romaharṣaṇam: hair standing on end

Sañjaya said: “Thus, I have heard the conversation of two great souls, the Son of Vasudeva and the Son of Pṛthā, and it is so amazing that my hair is standing on end.”

Śloka 18.75

व्यासप्रसादाच्छ्रुतवान्-
vyāsaprasādācchrutavān-
एतद्गुह्यमहं परम् ।
etadguhyamahaṃ param |
योगं योगेश्वरात्कृष्णात्-
yogaṃ yogeśvarātkṛṣṇāt-
साक्षात्कथयतः स्वयम् ॥ ७५ ॥
sākṣātkathayataḥ svayam ‖ 75 ‖

~~~

vyāsa-prasādāt-śrutavān-etat-guhyam-aham: Vyāsa + from (by) the grace + I have heard + this + secret + I; param: supreme; yogam: [buddhi]-yoga; yogeśvarāt-kṛṣṇāt-sākṣāt-kathayataḥ: from the Lord of Yoga + from Kṛṣṇa + from directly + from declared; svayam: himself

“By the grace of Vyāsa, I have heard this secret, supreme [buddhi]-yoga directly from Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Yoga, as he, himself, declared it.”

Śloka 18.76

राजन्संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य
rājansaṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya
संवादमिममद्भुतम् ।
saṃvādamimamadbhutam |
केशवार्जुनयोः पुण्यं
keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaṃ
हृष्यामि च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ ७६ ॥
hṛṣyāmi ca muhurmuhuḥ ‖ 76 ‖

~~~

rājan-saṃsmṛtya: O King + having remembered; saṃsmṛtya: having remembered; saṃvādam-imam-adbhutam: conversation + this + amazing; keśava-arjunayoḥ: Handsome-Haired + Arjuna; puṇyam: holy; hṛṣyāmi: I rejoice; ca: and; muhuḥ-muhuḥ: again + again

“Having repeatedly remembered this amazing, holy conversation between the Handsome-Haired and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again, O King!”

Śloka 18.77

तच्च संस्मृत्य संस्मृत्य
tacca saṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya
रूपमत्यद्भुतं हरेः ।
rūpamatyadbhutaṃ hareḥ |
विस्मयो मे महान्राजन्-
vismayo me mahānrājan-
हृष्यामि च पुनः पुनः ॥ ७७ ॥
hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ ‖ 77 ‖

~~~

tat-ca: that + and; saṃsmṛtya: having remembered; saṃsmṛtya: having remembered; rūpam-atyadbhutam: form + most amazing; hareḥ: of Hari; vismayaḥ: astonishment; me: my; mahān-rājan-hṛṣyāmi: great + O King + I rejoice; ca: and; punaḥ: again; punaḥ: again

“And having repeatedly remembered that most amazing form of Hari, my astonishment is great, and I rejoice again and again, O King!”

Śloka 18.78

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo
यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ |
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्-
tatra śrīrvijayo bhūtir-
ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥ ७८ ॥
dhruvā nītirmatirmama ‖ 78 ‖

~~~

yatra: wherever; yogeśvaraḥ: Lord of Yoga; kṛṣṇaḥ: Kṛṣṇa; yatra: wherever; pārthaḥ: Son of Pṛthā; dhanurdharaḥ: archer; tatra: there; śrīḥ-vijayaḥ: good fortune + victory; bhūtiḥ-dhruvā: glory + lasting; nītiḥ-matiḥ-mama: righteousness + opinion + my

“Wherever there is Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of Yoga, and wherever there is the Son of Pṛthā, the Archer, there will be good fortune, victory, glory, and lasting righteousness.  That is my opinion.”