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Chapter 4 of 18
The Yoga of Knowledge
ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः
The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action
42 verses
1
श्री भगवानुवाच
The Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; Vivasvan told it to Manu; Manu s
2
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः।
The royal sages knew this yoga received through succession; O Parantapa, it was lost here by great t
3
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः।
That same ancient yoga, spoken by Me to you today, because you are My devotee and friend, is indeed
4
अर्जुन उवाच
Arjuna said: Your birth was later, and Vivasvan's birth was earlier
5
श्री भगवानुवाच
The Blessed Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed, and also yours, O Arjuna; I know them all, b
6
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्।
Though unborn and imperishable by nature, and Lord of all beings, I take birth by subjugating My own
7
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
Whenever virtue declines and vice rises, O Bharata, I manifest Myself
8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
For the protection of the pious, the destruction of the evil-doers, and the establishment of virtue,
9
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः।
He who truly knows My divine birth and actions, O Arjuna, having abandoned the body, is not born aga
10
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।
Many, freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by knowl
11
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।
As men approach Me, so I reward them; all paths lead to Me, O Arjuna
12
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः।
Those desiring success in actions worship the gods here; for success born of action comes quickly in
13
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः।
The fourfold order was created by Me according to the division of qualities and duties; though I am
14
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा।
Actions do not taint Me, nor do I desire the results of actions
15
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः।
Knowing this, the ancient seekers of liberation performed action
16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः।
What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here
17
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।
Indeed, the nature of action must be known, the nature of forbidden action must be known, and the na
18
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among men, a yogi, and the doer of all
19
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः।
The wise call him learned whose all undertakings are free from desire and resolve, and whose actions
20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः।
Having given up attachment to the results of action, ever-content, dependent on nothing, he does not
21
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः।
Without desire, with mind and self controlled, having abandoned all possessions, performing only bod
22
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः।
Content with what comes unasked, beyond dualities, free from envy, equal in success and failure, one
23
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः।
For the unattached, liberated, and knowledge-established one acting for sacrifice, all action dissol
24
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा …
Brahman is the offering, Brahman is the ghee, Brahman is the fire, and Brahman is the one who pours
25
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते।
Some yogis worship the gods alone; others offer the self as sacrifice in the fire of Brahman
26
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्व…
Some offer the senses like hearing in the fire of restraint; others offer sound and other objects in
27
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे।
Others offer all sense actions and life-force actions into the fire of self-control yoga, lit by kno
28
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे।
Some perform sacrifices of wealth, austerity, and yoga; others, ascetics with strict vows, offer stu
29
अपाने जुह्वति प्राण प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे।
Some offer the outgoing breath into the incoming breath, and others the incoming into the outgoing,
30
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति।
Others, with regulated diet, offer life-breaths into life-breaths
31
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्।
Those who eat the nectar of sacrifice's remnants reach the eternal Brahman
32
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे।
Thus, various kinds of sacrifices are spread at the mouth of the Vedas
33
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।
O scorcher of foes, the sacrifice of knowledge is superior to any material sacrifice
34
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया।
Know that truth through prostration, inquiry, and service; the wise seers of truth will impart that
35
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव।
Knowing this, O Pandava, you will not be deluded again in this way, and through it, you will see all
36
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः।
Even if you are the worst sinner of all sinners, you shall cross all sin by the raft of knowledge al
37
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
As a blazing fire turns fuel to ash, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge turn all actions to ash
38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
Indeed, nothing purifying in this world equals knowledge
39
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
The faithful, devoted, and self-controlled person attains knowledge; gaining knowledge, they quickly
40
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति।
The ignorant, faithless, and doubting person perishes; for the doubting soul, there is neither this
41
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्।
O Dhananjaya, actions do not bind one who has renounced actions through yoga, whose doubts are cut b
42
तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः।
Therefore, O scion of Bharata, cut asunder this doubt in your heart, arising from ignorance, with th
About Chapter 4
Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita is titled "The Yoga of Knowledge" (ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः). This chapter contains 42 verses and explores divine knowledge and the yoga of action. The core teaching focuses on the ancient tradition of spiritual knowledge and how God incarnates to restore dharma. The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation 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 4 about?
Chapter 4, titled "The Yoga of Knowledge" (ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः), contains 42 verses. The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action This chapter focuses on the ancient tradition of spiritual knowledge and how God incarnates to restore dharma.
How many verses are in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Chapter 4 — The Yoga of Knowledge — contains 42 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 4?
The Sanskrit name of Chapter 4 is "ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः," which translates to "The Yoga of Knowledge" in English. The Bhagavad Gita's 18 chapters each have a Sanskrit title ending in "Yoga," indicating a spiritual discipline or path.