Whenever there is a decline of Dharm (Righteousness) and a predominance of Adharm (Unrighteousness), O Arjun, then I manifest Myself. I appear from time to time for protecting the good, for transforming the wicked, and for establishing world order (Dharm). (4.07-08) The one who truly understands My transcendental appearance and activities (of creation, maintenance, and dissolution), attains My supreme abode and is not born again after leaving this body, O Arjun. (4.09) Many have become free from attachment, fear, anger, and attained salvation (Mukti) by taking refuge in Me, becoming fully absorbed in My thoughts, and becoming purified by the fire of Self-knowledge. (4.10)
Path of worship and prayer
With whatever motive people worship Me, I fulfill their desires accordingly. People worship Me with different motives. (4.11) Those who long for success in their work here on the earth worship the celestial controllers (Devas). Success in work comes quickly in this human world. (4.12) The four divisions — based on aptitude and vocation — of human society were created by Me. Though I am the author of this system of the division of labor, one should know that I do nothing (directly) and I am eternal. (See also 18.41) (4.13) Works do not bind Me, because I have no desire for the fruits of work. The one who fully understands and practices this truth is also not bound by Karm. (4.14) The ancient seekers of liberation also performed their duties with this understanding. Therefore, you should do your duty as the ancients did. (4.15)
Attached, detached, and forbidden action
Even the wise ones are confused about what is action and what is inaction. Therefore, I shall clearly explain what is action, knowing that one shall be liberated from the evil of birth and death. (4.16) The true nature of action is very difficult to understand. Therefore, one should know the nature of attached (or selfish) action, the nature of detached (or selfless) action, and also the nature of forbidden action. (4.17)
A KarmaYogi is not subject to the Karmic laws
The one who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is a wise person. Such a person is a yogi and has accomplished everything. (See also 3.05, 3.27, 5.08 and 13.29) (4.18) (To see inaction in action and vice versa is to understand that the Lord does all the work indirectly through His power by using us. He is the inactive actor. We are actively inactive, because we cannot do anything without the flow of His power. Therefore, we are not the doer, just an instrument in His hands.) A person, whose desires have become selfless by being roasted in the fire of Self-knowledge, is called a sage by the wise.
(4.19) The one who has abandoned selfish attachment to the fruits of work, and remains ever content and dependent on no one but God, such a person — though engaged in activity — does nothing at all, and incurs no Karmic reaction, good or bad. (4.20) The one who is free from desires, whose mind and senses are under control, and who has renounced all proprietorship, does not incur sin — the Karmic reaction — by doing bodily action. (4.21) Content with whatever gain comes naturally by His will, unaffected by pairs of opposites, free from envy, calm in success and failure; though engaged in work, such a KarmaYogi is not bound by Karm. (4.22) The one who is free from attachment, whose mind is fixed in Self-knowledge, who does work as a service (Seva) to the Lord, all Karmic bonds of such a philanthropic person (KarmaYogi) dissolves away. (4.23) Brahm, the eternal Being, shall be realized by the one who considers everything as a manifestation or an act of Brahm. (Also see 9.16) (4.24)
Different types of spiritual practices or sacrifices
Some yogis perform the service of worship to celestial controllers (Devas, guardian angels), while others study scriptures for Self-knowledge. Some restrain their senses and give up their sensual pleasures. Others perform breathing and other yogic exercises. Some give charity and offer their wealth as a sacrifice. (4.25-28) Those who are engaged in yogic practices, reach the breathless state of trance (Samaadhi) by offering inhalation into exhalation and exhalation into inhalation as a sacrifice (by using short breathing Kriyaa techniques).
(4.29) Others restrict their diet and offer their inhalations as sacrifice into their inhalations. All these people are the knowers of sacrifice, and are purified by their sacrifice. (4.30) Those who perform selfless service (Seva, Yajn, sacrifice) obtain the nectar of Self-knowledge as a result of their sacrifice and attain the Eternal Being (Brahm). O Arjun, even this world is not a happy place for the non-sacrificer, how can the other world be? (See also 4.38, and 5.06). (4.31) Many types of spiritual disciplines are described in the Vedas. Know them all to be born from Karm or the action of body, mind, and senses. Knowing this, you shall attain salvation (Moksh, Nirvan). (See also 3.14) (4.32)
Acquiring transcendental knowledge is a superior spiritual practice
The acquisition and propagation of Self-knowledge are superior to any material gain or gift, O Arjun. Because all actions in their entirety culminate in knowledge. (4.33) Acquire this transcendental knowledge from a Self-realized person by humble reverence, by sincere inquiry, and by service. The wise ones who have realized the Truth will teach you. (4.34) After knowing the Truth, O Arjun, you shall not again become deluded like this.
By this knowledge you shall behold the entire creation (first) within Me, the Supreme Being (ParBrahm), then within your own higher Self (and then see Me alone in everything). (4.35) Even if one is the most sinful of all sinners, one shall yet cross over the ocean of sin by the raft of Self-knowledge (BrahmJnaan) alone. (4.36) As the blazing fire reduces wood to ashes; similarly, the fire of Self-knowledge (BrahmJnaan) reduces all bonds of Karm to ashes, O Arjun. (4.37)
Transcendental knowledge is automatically revealed to a KarmaYogi
In truth, there is no purifier in this world like Jnaan, the true knowledge of the Supreme Being (ParBrahm). One who becomes purified by KarmaYog discovers this knowledge within, naturally, in course of time. (See also 4.31, and 5.06, 18.78) (4.38) The one who has faith and is sincere in yogic practices, and has control over the senses, gains this transcendental knowledge. Having gained this knowledge, one at once attains supreme peace. (4.39) The irrational, the faithless, and the disbeliever (atheist) perishes. There is neither this world, nor the world beyond, nor happiness for the disbeliever. (4.40)
Both transcendental knowledge and KarmaYog are needed for Nirvan
Work (Karm) does not bind a person who has renounced work — by renouncing the fruits of work — through KarmaYog, and whose doubts about the Self are completely destroyed by Vivek, the application of Selfknowledge, O Arjun. (4.41) Therefore, cut the ignoranceborn doubt (about the Supreme Being) abiding in your mind by the sword of Self-knowledge, resort to KarmaYog, and get up for the war, O Arjun. (4.42)
5. PATH OF RENUNCIATION
Arjun said: O Krishn, You praise transcendental knowledge (Saamkhya, Karm-samnyaas) and also performance of selfless service (KarmaYog). Tell me, definitely, which one is the better of the two. (See also 5.05) (5.01) The Supreme Lord said: The path of Self-knowledge (Karm-samnyaas) and the path of selfless service (KarmaYog, Seva) both lead to the supreme goal. But, of the two, KarmaYog is superior to Karm-samnyaas. (5.02) A person should be considered a true Samnyaasi (Renunciant) who neither likes nor dislikes. One is easily liberated from Karmic bondage by becoming free from the pairs of opposites, O Arjun. (5.03)
Both paths lead to the Supreme
The ignorant — not the wise — consider the path of Selfknowledge (Karm-samnyaas) and the path of selfless service (KarmaYog) as different from each other. The person who has truly mastered one, gets the benefits of both. (5.04) Whatever goal a renunciant (Samnyaasi) reaches, a KarmaYogi also reaches the same goal. Therefore, the one who sees the path of renunciation and the path of unselfish work as the same, really sees. (See also 6.01 and 6.02) (5.05) But, true renunciation (Samnyaas), O Arjun, is difficult to attain without KarmaYog. A sage equipped with KarmaYog quickly attains Brahm. (See also 4.31, and 4.38) (5.06) A KarmaYogi whose mind is pure, whose mind and senses are under control, and who sees one and the same Eternal Being (Brahm) in all beings, is not bound by Karm though engaged in work. (5.07)
A KarmaYogi works for God
The wise (or Samnyaasi) who knows the truth thinks: “I do nothing at all”. In seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, walking, sleeping, breathing; and speaking, giving, taking, as well as opening and closing the eyes, a Samnyaasi believes that only the senses are operating upon their objects. (See also 3.27, 13.29, and 14.19) (5.08-09). One who does all work as an offering to the Lord — abandoning selfish attachment to the results — remains untouched by Karmic reaction or sin as a lotus leaf never gets wet by water. (5.10) The KarmaYogis perform action — without selfish attachment — with their body, mind, intellect, and senses only for the sake of self-purification. (5.11) A KarmaYogi attains Supreme Bliss by abandoning attachment to the fruits of work; while others, who are attached to the fruits of work, become bound by selfish work. (5.12)