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The Bhagavad Gita

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Chapter 4
The Yoga of Knowledge and the discipline of Actions and Knowledge

Synopsis: 
1-18 The glory of the Lord with his attributes. and Selfless Action (Karmayoga) explained.
19-23 How do the Yogis and the Sages conduct ?
24-32 Different forms of sacrifice and the fruits they bring.
33-42 The glory of Knowledge.

Click here for shlokas in groups 4.1-4.10 | 4.11-4.20 | 4.21-4.30 | 4.31-4.42

4.1 §°„®S®î¯w®±î¯X®
Cî®±º ï®æqµ° ‡µ²°S®º yµ½ä°N®Ùî¯w®œ®î®±î®ã‡®±º
ï¯æw¬ î®±w®îµ y¯äœ® î®±w®±‹£¯ÈæN®îµ°…äï°q¬ ||1||

4.1 The Lord Said:
I taught this immortal Yoga to Sun-God (Vivasvan), Vivasvan conveyed it to his son Manu who in turn imparted in to his son King Ikshvaku.

4.2 I y®Š®0y®Š¯y¯äy®Ùï±î®±º Š¯cÇ®Á‡µ²° ïu®±: |
š® N¯©wµ°œ® î®±œ®q¯ ‡µ²°Sµ²° w®Ç®Ô: y®Š®0q®y® ||2||

4.2 In this way, the saintly Kings (Rajarshi or Royal sages) came to know about this by disciplic succession (Parampara). O Arjuna, the Conqueror of Enemy (Paranthapa), after a long duration of time, this science has disappeared from this world.

4.3 š® I®±º î®±‡®¾¯ qµ°u®ã ‡µ²°S®: yµ½ä°N®Ù: y®¼Š¯q®w®: |
„®Nµ²Ù°› îµ±° š®P¯ Xµ°r Š®œ®š®ãº œµã°q®u®±q®Ùî®±º ||3||

4.3 Today, The same ancient Yoga which is a supreme secret has been imparted to you (by me), because you are my devotee and friend.

4.4 Ac±Áw® Eî¯X®
Ay®Š®º „®î®qµ²° cw®â y®Š®º cw®â ï®æq®: |
N®s®îµ±°q®væcx°‡®±º q®æ¯u¹ yµ½ä°N®Ùî¯xr ||4||

4.4 Arjuna Said:
Your birth is very recent compared to that of Sun-God's birth. How can I believe that you taught this Yoga in the ancient times ?

4.5 §°„®S®î¯w®±î¯X®
…œ®²x îµ±° î®ãr°q¯x cw¯âx q®î® X¯c±Áw® |
q¯w®ãœ®º îµ°u® š®î¯Áp w® q®æº îµ°q®Ú y®Š®0q®y® ||5||

4.5 The Bhagavan said:
Arjuna, Many births of mine as well as yours have passed; I am knowledgeable of all of them.. but you do not know of these previous births.. O chastiser of enemies (Paranthapa).

4.6 Abµ²°z š®w®Ýî®ã‡®¾¯q¯â „®²q¯w¯ï±°ý®æŠµ²°z š®w¬ |
y®äN®³rº š¯æî®±vÃǯՇ®± š®0„®î¯î®¾¯ãq®â¯‡®±‡®¾¯ ||6||

4.6 Though (I am) birth less and deathless, and (I am) the Lord of all living entities, I appear in  this world in my original natural form through my divine potency (Yogamaya).

4.7 ‡®±u¯ ‡®±u¯ Ÿ u®Áš®ã S¯åx„®Áî®r „¯Š®q® |
A„®±ãq¯Úw®î®±u®Áš®ã q®u¯q¯âw®º š®³b¯î®±ãœ®º ||7||

4.7 O Descendent of Bharatha (Arjuna), whenever and wherever the righteousness is on the decline, and unrighteousness prevails, at that time I manifest myself personally.

4.8 y®‹q¯än¯‡®± š¯u®²w¯º ïw¯ý¯‡®± X® u®±Ç®Êȳq¯º |
u®Áš®0š¯Úy®w¯s¯Á‡®± š®0„®î¯ï± ‡®±±Sµ° ‡®±±Sµ° ||8||

4.8 For the protections of the virtuous devotees, and for the annihilation of the of the evil-doers, and for the purpose of fully establishing the righteousness (Dharma)... I appear (I am born) from millennium to millennium.

4.9 cw®â N®î®±Á X® îµ± vî®ãîµ±°î®º ‡µ²° îµ°rÙ q®q®ÙÉæq®: |
q®æN¯ÙÉæ uµ°œ®º y®¼w®cÁw®â wµ¶r ¯îµ±°r šµ²°c±Áw® ||9||

4.9 O Arjuna, One who knows about my birth and activities does not have to accept rebirth  after relinquishing one's body; they some unto me.

4.10 ï°q®Š¯S®„®‡®±Nµ²ä°u¯ î®±w®â‡®¾¯ ¯î®±±y¯¤q¯: |
…œ®îµ½° b¯Ýw®q®y®š¯ y®½q¯ î®±u¯áî®î®¾¯S®q¯: ||10||

4.10 May who, Completely free of attachment, fear and anger, completely absorbed in me, depending on me, and purified by knowledge and austerities, 
have become one with me.

4.11 ‡µ±° ‡®±s¯ ¯º y®äy®u®ã0qµ° q®0š®Ùsµ¶î® „®b¯î®±ãœ®î®¾¬ |
 î®q¯âÁw®±î®q®Á0qµ î®±w®±Ç¯ã: y¯s®Á š®î®Áý®: ||11||

4.11 O Arjuna (Paartha), All those who surrender unto me in whatever way, I reward them accordingly. All of the mankind follows my path in all respects.

4.12 N¯0£®0q®: N®î®±Án¯º ›vܺ ‡®±c0q¬ Cœ® uµ°î®q¯: |
¤y®äº Ÿ ¯w®±Çµ° Œµ²°Nµ° ›v܄®Áî®r N®î®±Áb¯ ||12||

4.12 In this world, men seek the success of their activities  (Karma) worship various gods.; since in human society, success from actions  happens very quickly.

4.13 X¯q®±î®ÁoãÁº î®±‡®¾¯ š®³Ç®Ôº S®±oN®î®±ÁS®ý®: |
q®š®ã N®q¯ÁŠ®î®±z ¯º ïu®ÜÉãN®q¯ÁŠ®î®±î®ã‡®±î®¾¬ ||13||

4.13 I creates the four orders of human society (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra). This was done based on differences in quality, activities, and aptitude. Although the creator of this, know me, as the non-doer.

4.14 w® ¯º N®î®¾¯Áp ª0y®0r w® îµ± N®î®±Áy®Œµ° š®Þȳœ¯ |
Cr ¯º ‡µ²°†Ãb¯w¯r N®î®±Á†Ãw®Á š® …u®ãqµ ||14|

4.14 Neither Actions implicate me nor do I aspire for the results of any of my actions. One who knows about this, is never entangled by the desire for results of his actions.

4.15 I b¯Ýq¯æ N®³q®º N®î®±Á y®½îµÁ¶Š®z î®±±î®±±£®±†Ã: |
N®±Š®± N®îµ±Á¶î® q®š¯âq¬ q®æ¬ y®½îµÁ¶: y®½î®Áq®Š®º N®³q®º ||15||

4.15 Having known this, even in the past, the seekers of liberation (of all materialistic things) performed prescribed actions. Therefore, you too must perform actions like the ones performed by the previous generations.

4.16 Oº N®î®±Á  Oî®±N®îµ±Á°r N®î®‡µ²°y®ãq®ä îµ²°Ÿq¯: |
q®qµÙ°N®î®±Á y®ä¯Èãï± ‡®±b¬ b¯Ýq¯æ îµ²°£®Èãšµ°ý®±„¯q¬ ||16||

4.16 Even the wise men are puzzled by the questions "what is action ?" and "what  is inaction ?". Therefore, I shall explain to you the truth about actions (Karma); after knowing this, you will be free of all evil effects of (binding, attachment).

4.17 N®î®±Ánµ²° œ®ãz „µ²°u®Üî®ãº „µ²°u®Üî®ãº X® ïN®î®±Áo: |
AN®î®±Áoý®Ï „µ²°u®Üî®ãº S®œ®w¯ N®î®±Ánµ²° S®r: ||17||

4.17 The truth about  Actions (Karma) prescribed by Vedas should be understood and the truth about actions prohibited by Vedas should be understood.  The  subject of renouncing the actions as prescribed by Vedas should also be understood. This is because of the fact that the intricacies of actions is mysterious.

4.18 N®î®±ÁoãN®î®±Á ‡®±: y®ýµã°u®N®î®±Áp X® N®î®±Á ‡®±: |
š® …±vÜ¯w®âw®±Çµã°Ç®± š® ‡®±±N®Ù: N®³q®éÉÝN®î®±ÁN®³q¬ ||18||

4.18 He who realizes the action in inactions and realizes the inaction in actions is spiritually intelligent. He is a "yogi" (transcendentally situated), and is a perfect performer of all actions.

4.19 ‡®±š®ã š®îµÁ° š®î®¾¯Š®0„¯: N¯î®±š®0N®©Þî®dÁq¯: |
b¯Ýw¯TÝu®S®ÜN®î®¾¯Áoº q®î®¾¯œ®±: y®0mq®º …±u¯: ||19||

4.19 One whose every undertaking is free from motivation for desires, sense gratifications, and one  who has burnt all activities in the fire of pure knowledge, the wise (budhaha) call him a "Panditha" (educated)

4.20 q®ãN¯ÙÉæ N®î®±Áy®Œ¯š®0S®º xq®ãq®³yµ½Ù°xŠ¯ý®ä‡®±: |
N®î®±Áoã†Ãy®äqµ²Ù°z wµ¶î® O0Yq®ÊŠµ²°r š®: ||20||

4.20 He who, After having given up attachment  for results of actions, always satisfied, showing indifference to the external world; he is does nothing at all despite of engaging in daily activities.

4.21 xŠ¯þ°‡®±Áq®Yq¯Ùq¯â q®ãN®Ùš®î®Áy®‹S®äœ®: |
ý¯‹°Š®º Nµ°î®©º N®î®±Á N®±î®Áw¯Ýyµ½Ý°r OªàÇ®º ||21||

4.21 Person who is free of desire,  controlling his mind and body, given up all the concepts of ownership, is never going to incur any sin while performing actions only for body sustenance.

4.22 ‡®±u®³X¯ÐŒ¯„®š®0q®±Çµ²Ô° u®æ0u¯ær°qµ²° ïî®±q®éŠ®: |
š®î®±: ›u¯Üî®›u¹Ü X® N®³q¯æz w® x…u®ãqµ ||22||

4.22  (He is) Satisfied with whatever that is got unsought, is free from jealousy and is tolerant of duality (like happiness and unhappiness); he is never disturbed by success or failure while performing the actions.

4.23 S®q®š®0S®š®ã î®±±N®Ùš®ã b¯Ýw¯î®›Úq®Xµ°q®š®: |
‡®±b¯Ý‡®¾¯X®Š®q®: N®î®±Á š®î®±S®äº y®ä練‡®±qµ ||23||

4.23 For one who is unattached to all the things of materialistic nature, who is liberated (no identification with the body and does not claim it as his own),  who performs all actions as a sacrifice to the supreme lord, ; all his reactions are dissolved.

4.24 …䜯ây®Áoº …䜮⠜®ï…äÁœ¯âS¹Ý …䜮ân¯ œ®±q®º |
…䜵âÈ¶î® qµ°w® S®0q®î®ãº …䜮âN®î®±Áš®î®¾¯vÃw¯ ||24||

4.24 The sacrificial ladle (with which the oblation is pored into the fire) is the Ultimate truth. The sacrificial fire is the ultimate truth. Offerings like oblations and ghee by the Brahmana is the ultimate truth. This Ultimate truth (of united one's consciousness with the ultimate consciousness) is attainable by one who is absorbed in the ultimate truth by performing sacrifices and spiritual activities.

4.25 uµ¶î®îµ±°î¯y®Šµ ‡®±cݺ ‡µ²°Tw®: y®‡®±Áy¯š®qµ |
…䜯âS¯Ýî®y®Šµ° ‡®±cݺ ‡®±bµÝ°wµ¶îµ½°y®c±œ®ær ||25||

4.25 Karma-Yogis (those who follow the path of yoga by Actions) engage themselves in worship and offer to the demigods only. The Jnana-Yogi worships by pouring into the fire of Brahma (Ultimate truth), the very sacrifice in the form of "Self" through the sacrifice known as the perception of identity.

4.26 ýµ²ä°q¯äv°x°Kv䇮¾¯oãwµã° š®0‡®±î®¾¯TÝÇ®± c±œ®ær |
ý®„¯Ûv°xæÇ®‡®¾¯w®w®ã C0v䇮¾¯TÝÇ®± c±œ®ær ||26||

4.26 Others offer as sacrifice, their senses of hearing, seeing etc into the fire of self-discipline; other yogis offer sound and other objects of perception into the fires of the senses.

4.27 š®î¯Áp°0v䇮±N®î®¾¯Áp y¯äoN®î®¾¯Áp X¯y®Šµ |
Bq®âš®0‡®±î®±‡µ²°S¯S¹Ý c±œ®ær b¯Ýw®v°zqµ ||27||

4.27 Others offer themselves (their senses, their actions and "Prana" (life breath) and its functions) into the fire of self-purification, kindled by the urge for knowledge and self-realization.

4.28 u®äî®ã‡®±b¯Ýš®Ùyµ½°‡®±b¯Ý ‡µ²°S®‡®±b¯Ýš®Ùs¯y®Šµ° |
š¯æu¯㇮±b¯Ýw®‡®±b¯Ýý®Ï ‡®±q®‡®±: š®0þq®î®äq¯: ||29||

4.28 There are others who donate their possessions in charity as sacrifice, some offer austerities and penance as sacrifice, others sacrifice through the practice of Yoga , and other study the yoga; they are all enlightened beings and are the performers of the strict vows.

4.29 Ay¯wµ c±œ®ær y¯äoº y¯änµ°y¯w®º q®s¯y®Šµ° |
y¯än¯y¯w®S®r° Š®±u¬u¯æ y¯än¯‡®¾¯î®±y®Š¯‡®±n¯: ||29||

4.30 Ay®Šµ x‡®±q¯œ¯Š¯: y¯än¯0y¯änµ°Ç®± c±œ®ær |
š®îµÁ°yµã°qµ ‡®±b¯Ýïuµ²° ‡®±cÝ£®zq®N®©âǯ: ||30||

4.29 - 4.30 : Some others offer the exhalation (outgoing breath) to the inhalation (incoming breath) and offer the inhalation (incoming breath)  to the  exhalation (outgoing breath). In this way,  they check the flow of both incoming  and outgoing breath, they practice "Pranayama" (breath control). Others enforce strict reduction in food intake and offer their senses into their "Prana" (life breath).

To be Contd....

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References: 
1. The Bhavadgita or the Song Divine: Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India.
2. Selected shlokas of Bhagavadgita set to Music by Vanaraj Bhatia and Produced by Music Today.

Click here if you would like to Contribute. You can help us typing the shlokas in Kannada and also by interpreting them (if you know some Sanskrit.)
Click here if you would like to send Feedback.