Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 4-6
Chapter 4
Jnana Yoga: Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth
Chapter four Lord Krishna reveals how spiritual knowledge is
received in disciplic successionHe also reveals the reason and
nature of His descent into the material worlds. He explains thepath
of action and the path of knowledge as well as wisdom regarding
ultimate truth which results in the culmination of both paths. Thus
chapter four is entitled Jnana Yoga or the Knowledge of the Ultimate
Truth.
Verse 1
Lord Krishna said: I instructed the imperishable science of
uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness
unto the sun-god Surya, who taught it unto his sonVaisvastu Manu,
who related it unto his son King Iksvaku.
Verse 2
In this way the saintly kings came to know this science received
by disciplic succession; after a great duration of time this science
of uniting the individual consciousness with the
UltimateConsciousness became lost in this world, O conqueror of the
enemy.
Verse 3
This very same ancient science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness and which is the
supreme secret; therefore is being described by I unto you today
because you are My devotee and friend.
Verse 4
Arjuna said: your birth is recent the sun-god's birth is
previous; therefore you instructing in ancient times, how am I to
understand this?
Verse 5
Lord Krishna said: Many births of Mine and also of yours have
passed O Arjuna; I am knowledgeable of all of them; but you are not
knowing.
Verse 6
Although being birthless, imperishable and immutable, the Lord
of all living entities; being so situated I appear in this world in
My original transcendental form by My internal potency.
Verse 7
Whenever and wherever there is a decline of righteousness and a
predominance of unrighteousness, at that time I manifest personally,
O descendant of Bharata.
Verse 8
For the protection of the devotees and the annihilation of the
miscreants and to fully establish righteousness, I appear millenium
after millenium.
Verse 9
O Arjuna, one who knows the transcendental reality of my birth
and activities; by this after relinquishing one's body does not have
to accept birth again but attains unto Me.
Verse 10
Freed from attachment, fear and anger; fully absorbed in Me,
many persons being purified byknowledge and austerities, being fully
situated in Me, attained loving devotion to Me.
Verse 11
All who in whatever way surrender unto Me, I reward them
accordingly. All mankind followsMy path O Arjuna, in all respects.
Verse 12
In this world those who desire success for fruitive activities
worship the various demigods; since in human society success from
fruitive actions manifests very quickly.
Verse 13
The four divisions of human order were created by I according
to differences in quality, activities and aptitude; although the
creator of this, know I as the nondoer being immutable.
Verse 14
Activities never implicate I nor are any aspirations for the
results of any action by Me. Onewho knows I in this way, he never
becomes entangled by reactions to fruitive actions.
Verse 15
Knowing this even those who achieved liberation, the ancient
authorities performed actions; therefore you certainly must adopt
the actions performed in the past by ancient authorities.
Verse 16
Even the wise are bewildered in this matter of what is action
and what is inaction; thus I shall explain unto that action which
knowing you will be liberated from all worldly inauspiciousness.
Verse 17
The subject of actions prescribed in the Vedas should be
understood, the subject of actions prohibited in the Vedas should be
understood and the subject of renunciation of action as prescribed
by the Vedas should be understood; because the intricasy of actions
are very mysterious.
Verse 18
One who realizes the renunciation of action in activities and
action in the renunciation of activities, he is spiritually
intelligent among mankind, transcendentally situated a perfect
performer of all actions.
Verse 19
One whose every undertaking is devoid of motivation for fruitive
desires and sense gratification and who has incinerated all
activities in the fire of pure knowledge; the spirituallly
intelligent describe him as educated.
Verse 20
After giving up attachment for fruitive results, always
satisfied, indifferent to external phenomena; he in spite of being
engaged in activities does not do anything at all.
Verse 21
Bereft of desire, controlled in mind and body, relinquishing all
conceptions of proprietorship,that person never incurs sinful
reaction performing only actions to maintain body sustenance.
Verse 22
Satisfied with whatever comes by its own accord, tolerant of
dualities, devoid of envy to others and while performing is
equipoised in success or failure is never affected.
Verse 23
For one who is unattached to material nature, who is liberated,
whose heart is situated in transcendence, who performs all actions
as sacrifice unto the Ultimate Personality all reactionsare
dissolved.
Verse 24
The sacrificial paraphenalia is the Ultimate Truth; the
sacrificial fire is the Ultimate Truth, offerings of oblations and
ghee by the brahmana is the Ultimate Truth; for him being fully
absorbed in the Ultimate Truth by spiritual activity; certainly the
Ultimate Truth is attainable.
Verse 25
Karma-yogis following the path of yoga by actions engage in
worship offering sacrifices to thedemigods only; yogis worship
perfectly by invoking offerings of sacrifice into the sacrificial
fire of the Ultimate Truth, as sacrifice itself.
Verse 26
Celibates offer for sacrrificial oblations the senses such as
hearing and seeing into the fire of renunciation; householders offer
the objects of the senses such as pleasing sounds and pleasant
sights into the fire of the senses.
Verse 27
Monists offer into the fire of self-purification of the mind by
yoga, ignited by the urge for self-realization; all the senses and
their actions as well as the life breath and its functions.
Verse 28
There are others donating their possessions in charity as
sacrifice; performing austerities and penance as sacrifice,
practicing the eightfold mystic yoga system as sacrifice and
studying the Vedas and aquiring transcendental knowledge as
sacrifice; all enlightened beings and the performers of strict vows.
Verse 29
Some others offer the outgoing breath to the incoming breath and
the incoming breath to the outgoing breath; in this way checking the
flow of both the incoming and outgoing breaths they arduously
practice breath control. Others strictly reducing their food intake
offer the senses into the life breath.
Verse 30
Indeed all these are knowledgeable of the principle of
perfirming sacrifices, purified of sinfulreactions by performance of
sacrifice. Those who have tasted nectar as the result of performing
sacrifice reach the eternal, Ultimate Truth.
Verse 31
O Arjuna, one who performs no sacrifice is not fit for this
world let alone the heavenly worlds.
Verse 32
Various kinds of sacrifices like this are prescribed by the
auspices of the Vedas, understand that all manifest from actions;
knowing this you will be liberated.
Verse 33
O Arjuna, offering sacrifice in knowledge is superior to
offering sacrifice of material possessions; all fruitive activities
come to an end entirely by knowledge.
Verse 34
This knowledge should be learned by accepting a spiritual master
and by submissive inquiryand rendering service unto him. The
self-realized and holy saint endowed with divine revelation will
instruct you in wisdom.
Verse 35
O Arjuna knowing that knowledge you will never be subjected to
illusion like this again; by which you will perceive all living
entities in the soul and then in Me.
Verse 36
Even if you are the most sinful of all sinners; yet you will
cross over all sins and miseries by the boat of transcendental
knowledge.
Verse 37
O Arjuna, just as a blazing fire turns wood to ashes; similarly
the fire of knowledge turns all reactions from fruitive activities
to ashes.
Verse 38
In this world there is nothing that exists as purifying, in
comparison with transcendental knowledge. One perfected by the
science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness automatically attains that knowledge in the self in
course of time.
Verse 39
One with full faith, attentively focused who has conquered the
senses achieves transcendental knowledge and having achieved
transcendental knowledge quickly attains supreme peace.
Verse 40
The ignorant fool, one without faith in Vedic scriptures, and
one afflicted by inner doubt anduncertainty is ruined and for one
afflicted by doubt and uncertainty there is no happiness in this
world nor the next.
Verse 41
O Arjuna, activities cannot bind one who has renounced the
fruits of activities; overcoming all doubts by the transcendental
knowledge of the the science of uniting one's individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness attains the state of
self-realizaion.
Verse 42
O Arjuna by the sword of transcendental knowledge destroy these
doubts of the self, born of ignorance, situated in the heart and
taking shelter of the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness arise for battle.
Thus ends the Bhagavad-Gita Trust translation of the
Bhagavad-Gita, chapter four entitled: Jnana Yoga: Knowledge of the
Ultimate Truth.
Chapter 5
Karma-Vairagya Yoga: Action and Renunciation
In chapter five Lord Krishna delineates the understanding of
action with detachment and renunciation in action by explaining that
both inevitably lead to the same goal. He further shows how
salvation is itself aachieved by perserverance of both these
paths.Thus this chapter is entitled Karma-Vairagya Yoga or Action
and Renunciation.
Verse 1
Arjuna said: O Krishna from renunciation of activities again you
are also praising activities in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness. Please
tell I definitely which one of the two is more beneficial?
Verse 2
Lord Krishna said: Both renunciation of actions and prescribed
actions in the science of uniting the individual consciousness with
the Ultimate Consciousness lead to the path of liberation; but of
the two prescribed actions in the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness is superior to
renunciation of fruitive activity.
Verse 3
It should be known, O mighty armed one, that one who neither
disdains nor desires the fruitsof actions is always a renunciate;
certainly that person being free from all dualities is easily
liberated from bondage.
Verse 4
The unintelligent say that renunciation of action and prescribed
actions in the science of uniting the individual consciousness with
the Ultimate Consciousness are different; but not the educated. A
person perfectly engaged in even one, gains the result of both.
Verse 5
The state which is achieved by renunciation of actions; that is
reached also by prescribed actions in the science of uniting the
indivdual consciousness with the Ultimate ConsciousnessA person who
can factually see as one both renunciation of action and prescribed
action in thescience of uniting the individual consciousness with
the Ultimate Consciousness actually understands.
Verse 6
But renunciation of action, O mighty armed one, afflicts one
with distress without precribed action in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness. One
performing in prescribed actions in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness is a wise
man and without delay attains the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 7
Performing prescribed action in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness; those of
purified intelligence; those of controlled mind and those whohave
conquered the senses are not affected by actions although engaged in
actions; by self-realization of the soul within all souls of every
living being.
Verses 8, 9
A performer of prescribed activities, a knower of truth having
ascertained that it is the senses engaged in their various sense
objects, never thinks he is doing anything; in spite of seeing,
hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, breathing,
speaking, excreting and grasping; like the involuntary opening and
closing of the eyelids.
Verse 10
One who acts by dedicating all activities to the Ultimate Truth,
giving up attachment; is not affected by sin; just as a lotus leaf
in water.
Verse 11
Followers of the science of uniting the individual consciousness
with the Ultimate Consciousness, giving up attachment perform
prescribed actions by the body, by the mind , by the intelligence
and by the separated senses for purifying the self.
Verse 12
A performer of prescribed activities giving up the desire for
results of activities obtains uninterupted peace; but a performer of
fruitive activities becomes bound by obsession to the results of
actions due to desire to enjoy the fruit of actions.
Verse 13
Mentally renouncing all fruitive activities, the self-controlled
enbodied being within the physical body of nine openings; free from
thinking he is the actual doer of anything and free from thinking he
is the cause of anything resides happily.
Verse 14
The Ultimate Consciousness neither creates human misconceptions
of bodily identification; nor the bodily identifications fruitive
activities; nor the union of the fruitive actions and the resultant
fruits; but it is due to the modes of material nature, engaging in
acts.
Verse 15
The omnipresent Ultimate Consciousness never accepts the sins
nor either the virtues of anyone; actual knowledge is enveloped by
ignorance and because of that the living entities are deluded.
Verse 16
But of those whom this ignorance has been destroyed by the
knowledge of the self; that knowledge is like the rising sun
illuminated by the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 17
Those whose illusions are dispelled by knowledge, who are
endowed with spiritual intelligence, who meditate on the inner self,
whose faith is fixed and who have taken complete shelter of the
Ultimate Truth attain liberation from the material existence.
Verse 18
Only those who see with equal vision the Ultimate Truth in a
brÇhmaèa endowed with Vedicknowledge and humility, in a cow, in an
elephant, in a dog and in the lower animal eating members of
humanity are learned in genuine wisdom.
Verse 19
Those whose minds are situated in equanimity, they conquer this
world in this very life; sincethey are endowed with the equal vision
of the Ultimate Truth and free from all dualities, theyare situated
in the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 20
Fully situated in the Ultimate Truth, poised in spiritual
intelligence, devoid of delusion; one realized in the Ultimate Truth
neither rejoices obtaining the pleasuarble nor laments when
obtaining the unpleasurable.
Verse 21
One whose mind is not attached to external sense objects enjoys
the happieness of the inner self; self-realized in the Ultimate
Truth by the science of uniting the individual consciousnesswith the
Ultimate Consciousness, one enjoys unlimited bliss.
Verse 22
O Arjuna, those pleasures arising from the senses contacting
sense objects are indeed the source of misery only; subject to a
beginning and an end; therefore the spiritually intelligent never
take delight in them.
Verse 23
That person who is able to neutralize in this life, the
physical, mental and emotional urges generated from desire and
passion, before the death of the body; he is fully self-controlled
and certainly happy.
Verse 24
One who experiences internal happiness with the mind immersed in
the self, and who sees the self within as well; such a one
perfecting the science of uniting the indidual consciousnesswith the
Ultimate Consciousness spiritually realizing the Ultimate Truth
attains the liberationof the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 25
Those seers of truth, whose doubts have been dispelled, devoid
of all sins, engaged in self-realization and who are always
concerned for the spiritual welfare of all living beings, achieve
liberation in the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 26
For those renounced, who aware of the soul are self-realized and
who are free from lust and anger; liberation in the Ultimate Truth
occurs in this life and the next.
Verses 27, 28
That person expelling from the mind unnecessary external sense
objects, fixing the eyes between the eyebrows, practicing the
suspension of breath control in the inhalation and exhalation of air
flowing threw the nostrils; such a person is in control of his
senses, mind and spiriual intelligence; being so dedicated to
liberation, devoid of desire, fear and anger, this wise one is
certainly always factually liberated.
Verse 29
Thus knowing I as the most worshipable beneficiary to offering
sacrifices and auterities the Ultimate Controller of all planes of
existence and the demigods thereof and the most mercifulbenefactor
of all living entities achieces perfect peace.
Thus ends the Bhagavad-Gita Trust translation of Bhagavad-Gita,
chapter five, entitled: KarmaVairagya Yoga: Action and Renunciation.
Chapter 6
Abhyasa Yoga: The Science of Self Realization
In chapter six Lord Krishna reveals astanga yoga and the exact
process of practicing such yoga.he explains in detail the
difficulties of the mind and the procedures by which one may gain
scientific mastery of the mind by the yoga process revealing our
inherent spiritual nature. Thus chapter six is entitled: Abhyasa
Yoga or The Science of Self-Realization.
Verse 1
Lord Krishna said: One who enacts obligatory prescribed actions
without expectation of the result of actions he is truly a
renunciate and a follower of the science of uniting the
individualconsciousness with the Ultimate consciousness; not one
without prescribed duties, nor one who merely renounces bodily
activities.
Verse 2
O Arjuna, you should know that which is acclaimed as
renunciation is the science of uniting the individual consciousness
with the Ultimate Consciousness; since without renouncing thedesire
for fruitive results one cannot become perfected in the science of
uniting the individualconsciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness.
Verse 3
For the sage desirious of progress in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness action is
declared as the means; and for one who has attained perfection in
uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness, cessationof action is declared as the means. Verse
4
When one is not addicted to desire for sense gratification nor
in fruitive activities, renouncingall material desires; then only it
is declared that one is elevated to the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness.
Verse 5
The conditioned being must be delivered from material nature by
the realized mind. The conditioned being must not be come degraded ;
since this very mind is the friend of the conditioned being as well
as the enemy of the conditioned being.
Verse 6
For the being who has conquered the mind; that beings mind is
the best of friends; but for one whose mind is uncontrolled, that
very mind acts as the worst of enemies.
Verse 7
The being who has conquered the mind, transcending the dualities
of cold,heat, happiness, distress, honor and dishonor is firmly
established with the Ultimate Consciousness within.
Verse 8
One perfected in the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness by acquired Vedic
knowledge and direct realization within the self, fixed in this
state with senses fully controlled observing with equal vision a
clod of dirt, a stone or gold is declared to be realized.
Verse 9
But more superior is one who with spiritual intelligence acts
equally towards natural well wishers, affectionate well-wishers,
enemies, those indifferent to disputes, mediators of disputes, the
envious, friends, saintly person as well as the sinful.
Verse 10
One perfecting the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness, consistently residing
alone in a secluded place engaged in controlling the mind;
desireless, free from proprietorship; should meditate on the inner
self.
Verses 11,12
In a sacred and purified place after establishing a seat neither
too high nor too low of kusa grass, deerskin or natural cloth;
thereupon sitting firmly on that seat controlling the mind
andactivities of the senses making the mind one pointed; one in
realization should meditate by the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness for purifying the
mind.
Verses 13, 14
Holding the body, head and neck straight, umoving and stable,
gazing upon the tip of the nose and not glancing in any direction,
fixed in the vow of celibacy, with an unagitated mind,fearless,
completely subduing the mind; the renunciate should sit
concentrating the mind upon I the Supreme Lord as the Ultimate
Goal.
Verse 15
In this way consisitently engaging the self in meditation, one
perfecting the science of unitingthe individual consciousness with
the Ultimate Consciousness, with the mind withdrawn within attains
perfect peace by the cessation of material existence into the
spiritual effulgenceof my impersonal aspect.
Verse 16
O Arjuna, the science of uniting the individual consciousness
with the Ultimate Consciousness never occurs for one who eats too
much or one who eats too little, nor also for one who sleeps too
much or sleeps too little.
Verse 17
Regulated in eating and recreation, regulated in discharging
prescribed duties for self maintenance, regulated in sleeping and
wakefulness; one by the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness is able to mitigate
all misery.
Verse 18
When the specifically disciplined mind resides solely in the
self; then devoid of attachment to all types of material desire for
sense gratification is declared properly situated spiritually.
Verse 19
As a flame in a windless place does not waver, the analogy is
cited of one perfected in the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness; just as the
self-realized being, whose controlled mind unwaveringly engages in
the science of unting theindividual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness.
Verses 20,21,22,23
Thus the mind disciplined by executing the science of uniting
the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness becomes
spiritually stable and by this, perceiving the inner self by the
purified becomes satisfied only in the inner self; thus this being
experiences superior, transcendental bliss, which is perceptible by
spiritual intelligence and thus situatedone never deviates from the
truth. By attainment of this state one does not consider any other
attainment greater than that and being situated within which one
never is distraught by even intense suffering for as soon as
suffering commences it is dispelled. Know that all perfection is the
science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness.
Verse 24
Ones eternal duty is to perfect the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness by
perserverance, dedidcation and conviction; abandoning all desiresor
sense gratification arising from the stimulus of mental imagery by
withdrawing all of the senses completely on all sides solely by the
mind.
Verse 25
By spiritual intelligence and concentrated meditation establish
the mind fully within the self;gradually step by step become focused
within, not thinking of anything else.
Verse 26
To whatever and wherever the restless and unsteady mind wanders
this mind should be restrained then and there and brought under the
control of the self alone.
Verse 27
Certainly one perfected in the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness, free from passion, of
tranquil mind, devoid of all sinful reactions; being liberated by
realization of the Ultimate Truth gains supreme bliss.
Verse 28
Consistently experiencing in this way the realization of the
self, one perfected in the science of unting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness is freed from all
material contamination easily attaining transcendental happiness
being in realization of the Ultimate Truth.
Verse 29
One perfectly realized and perfected in the sceience of uniting
the individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness,
identifying with this consciousness everywhere and in everything
perceives the realized self situated in all living entities and all
living entities in therealized self.
Verse 30
For one who sees I everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am
never forgotten by them and they are never forgotten by Me.
Verse 31
One who taking shelter of Me, rendering service with a spirit of
devotion always as the non-differential one residing in the heart of
all living entities; such a living entity perfected in the science
of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness resides in I although being in various circumstances.
Verse 32
One who perceives in comparison with the self, all living
entities equally, in happiness and distress; such a one perfected in
the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the
Ultimate Consciousness is considered the highest.
Verse 33
Arjuna said: O Krishna in this science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness by equality of vision
as described by you; I do not perceive a permanent situation due to
the minds flickering nature.
Verse 34
O Krishna, the flickering mind is certainly turbulent, strong
and obstinate; I think that subduing the mind is more difficult than
the wind.
Verse 35
Lord Krishna said: O mighty armed one, undoubtedly the mind is
fickle and difficult to master; but it can be controlled by diligent
practice, O Arjuna and detachment from sense enjoyment.
Verse 36
But the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the
Ultimate Consciousness practiced by one with uncontrolled mind is
difficult to obtain; thus it is My opinion that in this endeavor
controlling the mind is the practical and appropriate means of
achievement.
Verse 37
Arjuna said: O Krishna what is the fate of the unsucessful
transcendentalist engaged with faith in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness;but whose
mind deviates failing to achieve perfection in the science of
uniting the individualconsciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness.
Verse 38
O mighty armed one, bewildered on the path to the Ultimate
Truth, without any refuge, deviated from both yoga and meditation;
is it not that one is ruined like a fragmented cloud?
Verse 39
O Krishna this doubt of mine, I am requesting You to completely
dispel; other than You, the remover of this doubt is not to be
found.
Verse 40
Lord Krishna said: O Arjuna their never exists destruction for
one in this life nor in the next life; since dear friend anyone who
is engaged in virtuous acts never comes to evil.
Verse 41
After achieving the planets of those who performed pious
activities; one who has fallen from the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness, after
residing there for many, many years takes birth in a family of the
pious and prosperous.
Verse 42
Otherwise one surely takes birth in a family endowed with wisdom
in the science of uniting the individual consciousness with the
Ultimate Consciousness; certainly such a birth as this isvery rare
in this world.
Verse 43
O Arjuna, in this way the revival of spiritual intelligence is
regained that was practiced in a previous life; thererfter he
endeavors once again for perfection.
Verse 44
Because of the strength of the previous practice one is
irresistibly attracted; certainly even the inquisitive in the
science of uniting the individual consciousness with the Ultimate
Consciousness surpasses the ritualistic principles for fruitive
actions in the Vedas.
Verse 45
One perfected in the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness diligently endeavoring
by ridgid practice, purified of worldly attachment; achieves the
perfection of many, many lifetimes and attains the supreme goal.
Verse 46
One perfecting the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness is considered superior
to the performers of asceticism and is superior to the followers of
impersonal knowledge. One perfected in the science of uniting the
individual consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousnessis also
superior to the fruitive worker; therefore O Arjuna, just become one
perfected in the science of uniting the individual consciousness
with the Ultimate Consciousness.
Verse 47
Of all those perfecting the science of uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness one who in full faith
is always thinking of I within, deeply dedicated to me,rendering
devotional service to I is the most superior of all.
Thus ends the Bhagavad-Gita Trust translation of Bhagavad-Gita,
chapter six, entitled: Abhyasa Yoga: The Science of Self
Realization.