CHAPTER THREE

KARMA-YOGA
Arjuna asked,
Buddhi is higher than karma, say you, O Madhusudana,
And still ask me now to fight this war inhuman!
Confused I am thoroughly and sorry,
By thy enigmatic speech, O Hari!
Tell now, for us what’s best,
To clear my doubt I request.
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Lord of Lords Krsna said,

O Arjuna, two modes of realization declared I thee.
Sankhayoga, duty in knowledge of self and Me
Karmayog, selfless work surrendering unto Me.
Both paths lead to the truth and purity.
One depends on other like philosophy and religion.
One without other is as a man without vision.
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3/1
3/2 Gita My Mother Ch.3

O Arjuna, by running away from one’s duty,

Can one achieve freedom or immunity?
Mere renouncing fire without heart pure,
Can one achieve perfection for sure?
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Material nature won’t let one prevent,

From activities even for a moment;
And you think renouncing so easy!
O perturbed warrior! It’s crazy.
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One who pretends to be an yogi,

But ever dwells in passion, is bhogi.
May he talk philosophy or walk on fire,
But he is impure, sinner and a liar.
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O Partha, a simpleton with controlled life,

Who works in devotion without much strife,
Is far, far superior than a pretender,
And in the God’s kingdom fit to enter.
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Must all perform prescribed duties well,

Even to maintain self, work is essential.
Renounce the work! And beg with a bowl!
Such nonsense, no verse ever teaches at all.
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Ch.3 Karma-Yoga 3/3

I am Lord Vishnu, the truth ultimate,

Do create all and maintain and annihilate.
So work thou only for His satisfaction,
Else be bonded by ego and reaction.
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Creator of stars, moons, suns and earth,

Bestows on every one love and warmth,
So act thou for His happiness only,
And free self from miseries worldly.
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Demigods, by yajnas, do please easily,
And shower rain on you liberally,
And purify mind, intellect, heart and body
And provide glory and take away misery.
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When thus you prosper and be happy,

Never ever forget favor of the deity.
But, if you entangle and forget this favor,
Know thyself a thief and a sinner.
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The fair share of remains of yajna be given
First to plants, cows, birds, Rishis, and then,
Before you eat it, first offer to the deity,
Else you are eating only impurity.
Lord provides all that you need,
Thank Him always sincerely indeed.
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3/4 Gita My Mother Ch.3

Lord giveth light air water and fire,

Food, shelter and clothes we wear;
Pray Him, thank Him and Him you remember,
Perform yajnas, and duties for His pleasure.
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Vedas manifest from Lord Himself,

And teach ways of realization of self.
One that works as per vedic wisdom,
Surely attains to the heavenly kingdom.
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He who follows not vedic direction,

And is fully trapped in selfish action,
And looks outside for sense satisfaction,
Know is useless and sinner, O son.
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One without ego and self realized,

Only by inner pleasures seized,
Know him pure and cleansed,
Who only by My grace illumined.
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Lord dwells in self realized one,

That is situated in pure devotion,
That is renounced from worldly desires,
And is free from fear, anger and favors. \\18\\
Ch.3 Karma-Yoga 3/5

Hence for My sake now fight, O son

Without any attachment for no one,
Without hope and worry for fruits,
Do thy duty and kill these brutes.
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Kings, like Janaka, attained to perfection,

Thru selfless work in true devotion;
You too, like them, set an example,
Kurukshetra to thee is a real temple.
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Common men pursue path of leader.

Must you set lofty path without fear.
There is no prescribed duty for Me,
Yet, never I am from duties free!
Do I need a thing? Nay, nothing!
Still, preoccupied I am with each thing!
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World will go topsy-turvy My friend,

If I stop activities even for a second,
Whole of the world may see an end.
People always track My path faithfully,
Which will cause their downfall totally.
O Partha, work is worship essentially
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3/6 Gita My Moth Ch.3

Unwise relentlessly engage in fruition,

Attached to fruits and results of action.
Must wise likewise engage in non fruition,
Without caring results or fruits of action,
Without deterring them from their path,
Slowly negating their ignorance, O Partha
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Ignorants think they only are doers

Fools can’t imagine My mystical powers.
Three mode nature is really a doer,
Soul pure is but involved never.
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O Arjuna, one in true love with Me,

Never in sense subjects engages he,
And works not for fruits, but for Me,
Attains ultimate truth and is free.
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O Arjuna, thou art wise and pure devotee,

Don’t be worked up in fruitive activity.
Surrender unto Me with no desire,
As, I am true performer and proprietor.
Shun thy fear! Now arise and fight.
Thou wilt shine then like a star bright.
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Those without envy follow My path

Are free of actions and reactions, Partha.
Ch.3 Karma-Yoga 3/7

But fools, out of envy disregard Me,

How can they be from bondages free?
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O Arjuna, just knowing is not enough,

Experiencing truth is very, very tough.
Material modes dominate even jnani,
Enslaving him in maya and money.
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Desires, attachments and aversions,

Regulate only as per My injunctions,
And never be controlled by them,
And Never care for name and fame.
True love and devotion of Me only
Insulate thee from desires worldly.
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Must one act as per one’s quality,

Monkey should not ape donkey,
Nor donkey should act monkey,
Simple is the truth of life’s key.
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Arjuna asked
O Krsna, what impels one to commit sin?
Tell me, how over them one shall win? \\36\\
3/8 Gita My Mother Ch.3

Krsna Said
O Partha, it’s lust in passion mode,
Know is the villain of the episode.
Never ending source of world wrath,
Turn this ugly enemy onto virtuous path.
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As smoke covers fire or dust a mirror,

So does lust make man obscure,
Never satisfied, it bums like fire,
And makes pure entity impure. \\38\39\\

Senses, mind and buddhi house the lust,

That bewilders self and covers as dust,
Kill this enemy, O great warrior, first,
And then you will be free from rust.
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Senses are superior than matter

Mind than senses is superior
Buddhi than mind is higher
Soul, but know thou, is super
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O Arjuna, know you are the soul pure

Eternal, imperishable, O great warrior,
Owner of this body resembling a chariot,
Whose charioteer is Buddhi or Intellect,
Horses its senses and mind its bridle,
Always run here and there, a great riddle.
Ch.3 Karma-Yoga 3/9

Expert charioteer with a whip of wisdom,

Only can steer you to the highest kingdom.
These wicked horses you must control,
Else you will fail to obtain the goal.
O Arjuna, steady your mind only in Me,
And from lust, dust and desires be free.
Surrender unto Me, fully and truly
And realize self to be Myself only.
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OM OM OM