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Chapter 3 of 18
The Yoga of Action
कर्मयोगः
The Yoga of Action
43 verses
1
अर्जुन उवाच
Arjuna said, "O Janardana (Krishna), if it is Your opinion that wisdom is superior to action, w
2
व्यामिश्रेणेव वाक्येन बुद्धिं मोहयसीव मे।
With seemingly conflicting words, you confuse my understanding; tell me one certain path by which I
3
श्री भगवानुवाच
The Blessed Lord said: O sinless one, two paths of steadfastness were spoken by Me in the past: the
4
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।
One does not attain freedom from action by not starting actions, nor does one attain perfection by m
5
न हि कश्िचत्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
No one can remain without acting even for a moment; all are forced to act by the qualities born of N
6
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।
One who restrains the organs of action but mentally dwells on sense objects, deluded in mind, is cal
7
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।
But, O Arjuna, one who controls the senses with the mind and acts without attachment excels
8
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।
Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction
9
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।
Actions other than those for sacrifice bind this world; therefore, O son of Kunti, perform action fo
10
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः।
Having created the people along with sacrifices, the Lord of Creatures said: 'By this you shall mult
11
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः।
Nourish the gods with this; let the gods nourish you
12
इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः…
The gods, nourished by sacrifice, will grant you desired enjoyments
13
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः।
The virtuous who eat the remnants of sacrifice are freed from all sins; but those who cook for thems
14
अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भवः।
From food beings arise; from rain food is born; from sacrifice rain comes; sacrifice arises from act
15
कर्म ब्रह्मोद्भवं विद्धि ब्रह्माक्षरसमुद्भवम्…
Know that action arises from the Vedas, and the Vedas arise from the Imperishable
16
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः।
O Partha, he who does not follow this wheel set in motion lives in vain, indulging in senses, with a
17
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः।
But the man who rejoices only in the Self, is satisfied with the Self, and is content in the Self al
18
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन।
For him, there is no concern here at all with performing action, nor any with non-performance
19
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
Therefore, unattached, always perform your duty; for by performing duty without attachment, one atta
20
कर्मणैव हि संसिद्धिमास्थिता जनकादयः।
Indeed, Janaka and others attained perfection through action alone
21
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
Whatever a superior person does, another person does the same; whatever they uphold as authority, an
22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन…
O Partha, there is no duty for Me in the three worlds, nor anything unattained to be attained; yet I
23
यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः।
For, O Partha, if I did not ever act without weariness, people would follow My path in every way
24
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम्।
If I did not perform action, these worlds would perish; I would be the cause of caste confusion and
25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।
As the ignorant act with attachment, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, seeking t
26
न बुद्धिभेदं जनयेदज्ञानां कर्मसङ्गिनाम्।
Let the wise not unsettle the minds of the ignorant attached to action; he should inspire them to pe
27
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।
All actions are performed by the qualities of Nature; the deluded ego thinks, 'I am the doer
28
तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।
O mighty-armed one, the knower of the truth regarding the divisions of qualities and actions, thinki
29
प्रकृतेर्गुणसम्मूढाः सज्जन्ते गुणकर्मसु।
Those deluded by Nature's gunas get attached to guna-actions
30
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा।
Dedicating all actions to Me, with mind fixed on the Self, free from desire and ego, and without fev
31
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः।
Those men who constantly follow this teaching of Mine with faith and without caviling, they too are
32
ये त्वेतदभ्यसूयन्तो नानुतिष्ठन्ति मे मतम्।
But those who find fault with this and do not follow My teaching, know them as deluded in all knowle
33
सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि।
Even a man of wisdom behaves according to his own nature
34
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थ…
Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses are fixed; let no one come under their sway, f
35
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात…
One's own duty, though defective, is superior to another's duty well-performed
36
अर्जुन उवाच
Arjuna said: O Varshneya, by what is a man compelled to commit sin, even unwillingly, as if driven b
37
श्री भगवानुवाच
The Blessed Lord said: This desire, this anger, born of the quality of rajas, is a great devourer an
38
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथाऽऽदर्शो मलेन च।
As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the womb, so is knowledge cove
39
आवृतं ज्ञानमेतेन ज्ञानिनो नित्यवैरिणा।
O son of Kunti, knowledge is covered by this constant enemy of the wise, in the form of desire, whic
40
इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिरस्याधिष्ठानमुच्यते।
The organs, mind, and intellect are said to be its abode
41
तस्मात्त्वमिन्द्रियाण्यादौ नियम्य भरतर्षभ।
Therefore, O scion of the Bharata dynasty, after first controlling the organs, completely renounce t
42
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।
They say the senses are superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is s
43
एवं बुद्धेः परं बुद्ध्वा संस्तभ्यात्मानमात्मन…
Read verse 43
About Chapter 3
Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita is titled "The Yoga of Action" (कर्मयोगः). This chapter contains 43 verses and explores selfless action (Karma Yoga). The core teaching focuses on why action is superior to inaction, and how to act without creating bondage. The Yoga of Action The Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses in total, forming a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This chapter is part of the ancient Hindu scripture Mahabharata.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 about?
Chapter 3, titled "The Yoga of Action" (कर्मयोगः), contains 43 verses. The Yoga of Action This chapter focuses on why action is superior to inaction, and how to act without creating bondage.
How many verses are in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Chapter 3 — The Yoga of Action — contains 43 verses. Each verse is available in original Sanskrit with transliteration. Full translations in 22 languages, word-by-word meanings, and audio recitation are available in the free Bhagavad Gita app.
What is the Sanskrit name of Chapter 3?
The Sanskrit name of Chapter 3 is "कर्मयोगः," which translates to "The Yoga of Action" in English. The Bhagavad Gita's 18 chapters each have a Sanskrit title ending in "Yoga," indicating a spiritual discipline or path.