महाभारतम् — ६.२५

अर्जुन उवाच ।

ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन ।
तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥

M N Dutt 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?

६.२५.२

व्यामिश्रेणैव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे ।
तदेकं वद निश्चित्य येन श्रेयोऽहमाप्नुयाम् ॥

M N Dutt You confound my mind by equivocal words, (praising action once and praising knowledge next). Tell me definitely what is good for me".

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

६.२५.३

लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ ।
ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥

M N Dutt 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).

६.२५.४

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते ।
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ॥

M N Dutt Man does not attain freedom from action by not performing action. By asceticism also, he does not attain to final emancipation.

६.२५.५

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥

M N Dutt None ever remains for a moment without performing some action. All perform actions impelled by the qualities (laws) of Nature.

६.२५.६

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन् ।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते ॥

M N Dutt The deluded man, who, controlling his organs of actions, ponders in his mind over the objects of senses, is a hypocrite.

६.२५.७

यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन ।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ॥

M N Dutt But he, who restraining his senses by his mind, performs Karma-yoga by the organs of actions, is superior (to all).

६.२५.८

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिध्येदकर्मणः ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, always perform action, for action is better than inaction; and your body cannot be supported (kept alive) without performing action.

६.२५.९

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.१०

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः ।
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥

M N Dutt In olden times, Creator, having created men with Sacrifice, said; “Multiply by this. May it be the giver of all that you desire.

६.२५.११

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः ।
परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ ॥

M N Dutt Please the celestial by this (Sacrifice); may the celestial please you. Thus pleasing each other you will attain to the highest good".

६.२५.१२

इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः ।
तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.१३

यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ।
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.१४

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसंभवः ।
यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः ॥

M N Dutt Creatures are the out-come of food. Food is produced by rain. The rain is produced by Sacrifice. The Sacrifice is produced by action.

६.२५.१५

कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम् ।
तस्मात्सर्वगतं ब्रह्म नित्यं यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

M N Dutt Action is produced from Brahma; Brahma is produced from the Imperishable. Therefore, all-pervading Brahma is always in the Sacrifice.

६.२५.१६

एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः ।
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ॥

M N Dutt The sensual sinful man, who does not conform. O Partha, to this Revolving Wheel, lives in vain.

६.२५.१७

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।
आत्मन्येव च संतुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.१८

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥

M N Dutt He has no concern in actions done or not done in this world. Not has he any dependence on any being.

६.२५.१९

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, being freed from all attachments, perform actions. For, the man who performs actions without attachment, attain to the Supreme.

६.२५.२०

कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः ।
लोकसंग्रहमेवापि संपश्यन्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.२१

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥

M N Dutt Whatever a great man does, so do the mass. What great men consider authorities, the mass follow.

६.२५.२२

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन ।
नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.२३

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥

M N Dutt If, O Partha, out of idleness I do not engage in actions, all men would follow my example.

६.२५.२४

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।
संकरस्य च कर्ता स्यामुपहन्यामिमाः प्रजाः ॥

M N Dutt If I do not perform actions, all the worlds breeding, and I should be the ruining of the people.

६.२५.२५

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥

M N Dutt Ignorant men act with attachment to actions, but the learned act without attachment to actions. Desiring to stick men to their duties.

६.२५.२६

न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम् ।
जोषयेत्सर्वकर्माणि विद्वान्युक्तः समाचरन् ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.२७

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः ।
अहंकारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.२८

तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः ।
गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.२९

प्रकृतेर्गुणसंमूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु ।
तानकृत्स्नविदो मन्दान्कृत्स्नविन्न विचालयेत् ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.३०

मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा ।
निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.३१

ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः ।
श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ॥

M N Dutt Those men who without cavil always follow my this opinion, being full of faith, are released from Karmabandhanam.

६.२५.३२

ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम् ।
सर्वज्ञानविमूढांस्तान्विद्धि नष्टानचेतसः ॥

M N Dutt Know, those men, that carp at my opinion and do not follow it, are devoid of conscience and bereft of all knowledge and ruined.

६.२५.३३

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि ।
प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥

M N Dutt 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?

६.२५.३४

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ ।
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ ॥

M N Dutt 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).

६.२५.३५

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

M N Dutt 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".

अर्जुन उवाच ।

६.२५.३६

अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः ।
अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः ॥

M N Dutt Arjuna said Then, O descendant of Vrishni, by whom impelled does man commit sin, though unwilling, as if driven by (some mysterious) force?

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

६.२५.३७

काम एष क्रोध एष रजोगुणसमुद्भवः ।
महाशनो महापाप्मा विद्ध्येनमिह वैरिणम् ॥

M N Dutt 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).

६.२५.३८

धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतम् ॥

M N Dutt As fire is enveloped by smoke, a mirror by dust, the foetus by the womb, so this (true knowledge) is enveloped by Desire.

६.२५.३९

आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा ।
कामरूपेण कौन्तेय दुष्पूरेणानलेन च ॥

M N Dutt O son of Kunti, the knowledge is always enveloped by this constant enemy of the man of knowledge. Desire, is like an insatiable fire.

६.२५.४०

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते ।
एतैर्विमोहयत्येष ज्ञानमावृत्य देहिनम् ॥

M N Dutt 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.

६.२५.४१

तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ ।
पाप्मानं प्रजहिह्येनं ज्ञानविज्ञाननाशनम् ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, O best of the Bharata race, brining your senses under control, cast off this sinful thing which destroys both knowledge and Science (experience).

६.२५.४२

इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥

M N Dutt 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).

६.२५.४३

एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मना ।
जहि शत्रुं महाबाहो कामरूपं दुरासदम् ॥

M N Dutt Thus, O mighty-armed, knowing that which is grater than understanding, (i.e., Self), restraining Self by Self, destroy this unconquerable enemy, Desire.

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