Mahabharata — Volume IV (Dutt edition) — Chapter 28
MBh 4 28.1
अर्जुन उवाच ज्यायसी चेत् कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत् किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव॥
arjuna uvāca jyāyasī cet karmaṇaste matā buddhirjanārdana| tat kiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava||
Arjuna said If knowledge, O Janardana, O Keshava, is considered by you superior to action why then do you prompt me to this fearful action?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.2
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे। तेदकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम्॥
vyāmiśreṇeva vākyena buddhiṃ mohayasīva me| tedakaṃ vada niścitya yena śreyo'hamāpnuyām||
You confound my mind by equivocal words, (praising action once and praising knowledge next). Tell me definitely what is good for me".
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.3
श्रीभगवानुवाच लोकेऽस्मिन् द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयाऽनघ। ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम्॥
śrībhagavānuvāca loke'smin dvividhā niṣṭhā purā proktā mayā'nagha| jñānayogena sāṃkhyānāṃ karmayogena yoginām||
The great one said I have told you, O sinless one, there are two paths in this world, that of the Sankhyas by Jnana-yoga (knowledge) and that of yogis by Karma-yoga (action).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.4
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽस्तुते। न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति॥
na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo'stute| na ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati||
Man does not attain freedom from action by not performing action. By asceticism also, he does not attain to final emancipation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.5
न हि कश्चित् क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्। कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः॥
na hi kaścit kṣaṇamapi jātu tiṣṭhatyakarmakṛt| kāryate hyavaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛtijairguṇaiḥ||
None ever remains for a moment without performing some action. All perform actions impelled by the qualities (laws) of Nature.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.6
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्। इन्द्रियार्थान् विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते॥
karmendriyāṇi saṃyamya ya āste manasā smaran| indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate||
The deluded man, who, controlling his organs of actions, ponders in his mind over the objects of senses, is a hypocrite.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.7
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन। कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते॥
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate'rjuna| karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate||
But he, who restraining his senses by his mind, performs Karma-yoga by the organs of actions, is superior (to all).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.8
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः। शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः॥
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ| śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ||
Therefore, always perform action, for action is better than inaction; and your body cannot be supported (kept alive) without performing action.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.9
यज्ञार्थात् कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः। तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर॥
yajñārthāt karmaṇo'nyatra loko'yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ| tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara||
The world is bound in (by the laws) of action, except the action of Sacrifice. Therefore, O son of Kunti, being free from attachment, perform actions.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.10
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः। अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्॥
sahayajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā purovāca prajāpatiḥ| anena prasaviṣyadhvameṣa vo'stviṣṭakāmadhuk||
In olden times, Creator, having created men with Sacrifice, said; “Multiply by this. May it be the giver of all that you desire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.11
देवान् भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ॥
devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ| parasparaṃ bhāvayantaḥ śreyaḥ paramavāpsyatha||
Please the celestial by this (Sacrifice); may the celestial please you. Thus pleasing each other you will attain to the highest good".
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.12
इष्टान् भोगान् हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः। तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः॥
iṣṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ| tairdattānapradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ||
Being pleased by the Sacrifice, the celestial will give you your desired enjoyments. Therefore, he who enjoys himself without giving to the givers (celestial) is a thief.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.13
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः। भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात्॥
yajñaśiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarvakilbiṣaiḥ| bhuñjate te tvaghaṃ pāpā ye pacantyātmakāraṇāt||
The good men, who eat the leavings of the Sacrifice, are freed from all sins, but the bad men, who cook food for themselves, incur sin.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.14
अन्नाद् भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः। यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः॥
annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyādannasambhavaḥ| yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ||
Creatures are the out-come of food. Food is produced by rain. The rain is produced by Sacrifice. The Sacrifice is produced by action.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.15
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्। तस्मात् सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम्॥
karma brahmodbhavaṃ viddhi brahmākṣarasamudbhavam| tasmāt sarvagataṃ brahma nityaṃ yajñe pratiṣṭhitam||
Action is produced from Brahma; Brahma is produced from the Imperishable. Therefore, all-pervading Brahma is always in the Sacrifice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.16
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः। अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति॥
evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ| aghāyurindriyārāmo moghaṃ pārtha sa jīvati||
The sensual sinful man, who does not conform. O Partha, to this Revolving Wheel, lives in vain.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.17
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः। आत्मन्येव च संतुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते॥
yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ| ātmanyeva ca saṃtuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate||
But the man, who is attached to his own Self, who is pleased with his own Self, and who is contented with his own Self, has no actions to perform.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.18
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन। न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः॥
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana| na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ||
He has no concern in actions done or not done in this world. Not has he any dependence on any being.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.19
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर। असक्तो ह्याचरन् कर्म परमाप्नोति पुरुषः॥
tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara| asakto hyācaran karma paramāpnoti puruṣaḥ||
Therefore, being freed from all attachments, perform actions. For, the man who performs actions without attachment, attain to the Supreme.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.20
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः। लोकसंग्रहमेवापि सम्पश्यन् कर्तुमर्हसि॥
karmaṇaiva hi saṃsiddhimāsthitā janakādayaḥ| lokasaṃgrahamevāpi sampaśyan kartumarhasi||
By performing actions alone, Janaka and others attained to final emancipation (Siddhi). (And again) having regard to keeping the people to their rites, you ought to perform actions.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.21
यद् यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत् तदेवेतरो जनः। स यत् प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥
yad yadācarati śreṣṭhastat tadevetaro janaḥ| sa yat pramāṇaṃ kurute lokastadanuvartate||
Whatever a great man does, so do the mass. What great men consider authorities, the mass follow.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन। नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि॥
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lokeṣu kiṃcana| nānavāptamavāptavyaṃ varta eva ca karmaṇi||
There is, O Partha, nothing to do for Me in the three worlds. I have nothing to acquire which has not been (already) acquired; still I do perform actions.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः। मम वानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥
yadi hyahaṃ na varteyaṃ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ| mama vānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ||
If, O Partha, out of idleness I do not engage in actions, all men would follow my example.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.24
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्। संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः॥
utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṃ karma cedaham| saṃkarasya ca kartā syāmupahanyāmimāḥ prajāḥ||
If I do not perform actions, all the worlds breeding, and I should be the ruining of the people.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत। कुर्याद् विद्वांस्तथासऽक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्॥
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata| kuryād vidvāṃstathāsa'ktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham||
Ignorant men act with attachment to actions, but the learned act without attachment to actions. Desiring to stick men to their duties.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.26
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्। जोषयेत् सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान् युक्तः समाचरन्।॥
na buddhibhedaṃ janayedajñānāṃ karmasaṅginām| joṣayet sarvakarmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācaran|||
a wise man should not confuse the mind of the ignorant who are attached to actions. He should make them take to actions, by himself acting without attachments.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.27
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः। अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताऽहमिति मन्यते॥
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ| ahaṃkāravimūḍhātmā kartā'hamiti manyate||
Every thing is every way is done by the qualities (laws) of Nature (alone). He whose mind is deluded by egoism considers himself the doer of actions.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.28
तत्त्ववित् तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः। गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते॥
tattvavit tu mahābāho guṇakarmavibhāgayoḥ| guṇā guṇeṣu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate||
But, O mighty-armed, the wise men who know the difference (of Self) from qualities (laws of Nature) and from actions, feels no egoism, knowing that qualities deal with qualities.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.29
प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु। तानकृतस्नविदो मन्दान् कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत्॥
prakṛterguṇasammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇakarmasu| tānakṛtasnavido mandān kṛtsnavinna vicālayet||
The man of perfect knowledge should not shake the belief of the men of imperfect knowledge, who being deluded by the qualities of Nature, from attachments to the actions done by the qualities (laws) of Nature.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.30
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा। निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः॥
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā| nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ||
Therefore, dedicating all actions to Me, and knowing the Mystery of Self, engage in battle without desires, without any feelings (for any body) and without any mental trouble.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.31
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः। श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः॥
ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ| śraddhāvanto'nasūyanto mucyante te'pi karmabhiḥ||
Those men who without cavil always follow my this opinion, being full of faith, are released from Karmabandhanam.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.32
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्। सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान् विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः॥
ye tvetadabhyasūyanto nānutiṣṭhanti me matam| sarvajñānavimūḍhāṃstān viddhi naṣṭānacetasaḥ||
Know, those men, that carp at my opinion and do not follow it, are devoid of conscience and bereft of all knowledge and ruined.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.33
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि। प्रकृति यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति॥
sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛterjñānavānapi| prakṛti yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati||
Even a man of knowledge acts according to his own nature. All beings follow Nature. What then restraints (of the organs of action) will avail?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.34
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ। तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत् तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ॥
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitau| tayorna vaśamāgacchet tau hyasya paripanthinau||
All senses have each their likes and dislikes for respective fixed objects. But no one should be under their control, for they are one's (great) opponents, (hindrances to final emancipation).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.35
श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात्। स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt| svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ||
One's own Dharma, even if imperfectly performed is superior to the perfectly performed Dharma of others. Death is preferable in performing one's own Dharma for the Dharma of others is dangerous".
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.36
अर्जुन उवाच अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः। अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः॥
arjuna uvāca atha kena prayukto'yaṃ pāpaṃ carati pūruṣaḥ| anicchannapi vārṣṇeya balādiva niyojitaḥ||
Arjuna said Then, O descendant of Vrishni, by whom impelled does man commit sin, though unwilling, as if driven by (some mysterious) force?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.37
श्रीभगवानुवाच काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः। महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्धयेनमिह वैरिणम्॥
śrībhagavānuvāca kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajoguṇasamudbhavaḥ| mahāśano mahāpāpmā viddhayenamiha vairiṇam||
The great One said It is desire, it is wrath, born of the qualities of Passion (Raja Guna). It is greatly ravenous; it is greatly sinful. Know this to be the great enemy in this world(for final emancipation).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.38
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च। यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम्॥
dhūmenāvriyate vahniryathādarśo malena ca| yatholbenāvṛto garbhastathā tenedamāvṛtam||
As fire is enveloped by smoke, a mirror by dust, the foetus by the womb, so this (true knowledge) is enveloped by Desire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.39
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा। कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च॥
āvṛtaṃ jñānametena jñānino nityavairiṇā| kāmarūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca||
O son of Kunti, the knowledge is always enveloped by this constant enemy of the man of knowledge. Desire, is like an insatiable fire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.40
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते। एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम्॥
indriyāṇi mano buddhirasyādhiṣṭhānamucyate| etairvimohayatyeṣa jñānamāvṛtya dehinam||
It is said that its seat is in the senses, in the mind and in the understanding. By their help it deludes man, enveloping his knowledge.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.41
तस्मात् त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ। पाप्मानं प्रजहि ह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम्॥
tasmāt tvamindriyāṇyādau niyamya bharatarṣabha| pāpmānaṃ prajahi hyenaṃ jñānavijñānanāśanam||
Therefore, O best of the Bharata race, brining your senses under control, cast off this sinful thing which destroys both knowledge and Science (experience).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः। मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः॥
indriyāṇi parāṇyāhurindriyebhyaḥ paraṃ manaḥ| manasastu parā buddhiryo buddheḥ paratastu saḥ||
It is said, great are the senses (over material body); greater than the senses is the mind; greater than the mind is the understanding. That which is greater then the understanding is the (Self).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 4 28.43
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना। जहि शत्रु महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम्॥
evaṃ buddheḥ paraṃ buddhvā saṃstabhyātmānamātmanā| jahi śatru mahābāho kāmarūpaṃ durāsadam||
Thus, O mighty-armed, knowing that which is grater than understanding, (i.e., Self), restraining Self by Self, destroy this unconquerable enemy, Desire.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)