Karma Yoga

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन |

O Janardana, O Keshava, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work, then why do You want to engage me in this terrible warfare?

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् |

Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः |

Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage.

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः |

My dear Arjuna, one who does not follow in human life the cycle of sacrifice thus established by the Vedas certainly leads a life full of sin. Living only for the satisfaction of the senses, such a person lives in vain.

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |

Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः |

Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः |

The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |

It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one's own duty is better than engaging in another's duties, for to follow another's path is dangerous.