Bhagavad Gita · 3.3 · Path of Selfless Service·3 of 43
श्री भगवानुवाच लोकेऽस्मिन्द्विविधा निष्ठा पुरा प्रोक्ता मयानघ।ज्ञानयोगेन सांख्यानां कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् ॥
śhrī bhagavān uvācha loke’smin dvi-vidhā niṣhṭhā purā
proktā mayānagha jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām
Sanskrit recitation
Why act at all · 3.1–3.9 · Teaching
Translation
The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."
Meaning
The path of knowledge of the Sankhyas (Jnana Yoga) was described by Lord Krishna in chapter II, verses 11 to 38 the path of action (Karma Yoga) from 40 to 53.Pura Prokta may also mean In the beginning of creation the twofold path was given by Me to this world.Those who are endowed with the four means and who have sharp, subtle intellect and bold understanding are fit for Jnana Yoga. Those who have a tendency or inclination for wok are fit for Karma Yoga. (The four means are discrimination, dispassion, sixfold virutes, and longing for liberation. The sixfold virtues are control of the mind, control of the senses, fortitude (endurance), turning away from the objects of the world, faith and tranillity.)It is not possible for a man to practise the two Yogas simultaneously. Karma Yoga is a means to an end. It purifies the heart and prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge. The Karma Yogi should take up Jnana Yoga as soon as his heart is purified. Jnana Yoga takes the aspirant directly to the goal without any extraneous help. (Cf.V.5).
After Swami Sivananda
Why act at all· 3.1–3.9→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.1Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action?
- 3.2With this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one certain way by which I may attain bliss.
3.3The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."
- 3.4Man does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation.
- 3.5Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
- 3.6He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
- 3.7But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
- 3.8Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
- 3.9The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone, free from attachment.
Word-by-word→
- loke
- in the world
- asmin
- this
- mayā
- by me (Shree Krishna)
- purā
- previously
- anagha
- sinless
- proktā
- explained
- yoginām
- of the yogis
- dvi-vidhā
- two kinds of
- karma-yogena
- through the path of action
- niṣhṭhā
- faith
- sānkhyānām
- for those inclined toward contemplation
- jñāna-yogena
- through the path of knowledge
- śhrī-bhagavān uvācha
- the Blessed Lord said
Related verses
- 3.1Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O…
- 3.13The righteous who eat the remnants of the sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those…
- 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend…
- 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion…