06.025
Arjuna said:
O Janardana, if you consider intelligence to be superior to action, then why do you urge me to engage in this dreadful action, O Keshava?
You confuse my mind with mixed words. Therefore, please tell me decisively one thing by which I can attain the ultimate good.
The Blessed Lord spoke:
In this world, I have previously described the twofold path, O sinless one: the path of knowledge for the contemplative and the path of action for the active.
A person cannot achieve a state of inaction simply by avoiding actions, nor can he attain perfection merely through renunciation.
No one can ever remain inactive even for a moment, for everyone is compelled to act by the modes of nature.
He who controls the organs of action but sits in contemplation of sense objects with the mind is considered a deluded soul, a hypocrite.
"O Arjuna, the one who controls his senses with his mind and engages in the yoga of action without attachment, using the organs of action, excels."
You should perform your prescribed duties, as action is superior to inaction. Without action, even the basic maintenance of your body would not be possible.
Actions should be performed as a sacrifice, otherwise, they cause bondage in this world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties without attachment.
In the beginning, having created all beings along with sacrifices, the Creator said: "Through this, may you prosper and let it be the fulfiller of your desires."
By performing sacrifices for the gods, may they bless you in return. Supporting each other in this way, you will achieve the highest good.
The gods, being pleased by sacrifices, will grant you the enjoyments you desire. However, one who enjoys these gifts without sharing them with others is nothing but a thief.
Saintly individuals who partake in the remnants of sacrifices are freed from all sins, while those who cook for themselves alone are considered sinful and partake in sin.
Beings are born from food, and food is produced by rain. Rain is produced by sacrifice, which in turn arises from action.
Understand that actions originate from Brahman, which itself arises from the imperishable. Hence, the omnipresent Brahman is eternally established in the act of sacrifice.
O son of Pṛthā, the person who does not follow the cycle of duties set forth lives a life of sin and indulgence, ultimately in vain.
A person who finds joy, satisfaction, and contentment within himself alone has no duties to perform.
He has no purpose to fulfill by action or inaction in this world, nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
Therefore, always perform your duty without attachment, because by doing so, a person reaches the highest state.
Janaka and others achieved perfection solely through action; therefore, you should act, considering the welfare of the world.
People follow the example set by a great person. Whatever actions he performs, others imitate. The standards he sets become the norms for the world.
O Arjuna, there is no duty for me in all the three worlds. There is nothing that I need to achieve or obtain, yet I am always engaged in action.
O Pārtha, if I were not to engage in action tirelessly, people would follow my path in every way.
If I did not perform action, these worlds would perish; I would be the creator of chaos and destroy these creatures.
O Bharata, just as the ignorant act with attachment to their actions, the wise should act without attachment, aiming for the welfare of the world.
The wise should not disturb the minds of the ignorant who are attached to actions. Instead, he should engage them in all actions, performing his duties properly and remaining steadfast.
All actions are performed by the modes of material nature. However, the soul deluded by ego thinks, "I am the doer."
O mighty-armed one, the knower of the truth regarding the division of qualities and actions, understanding that qualities function within their own realm, remains unattached.
People who are confused by the qualities of nature become attached to the activities of those qualities. A wise person, who has complete understanding, should not unsettle those ignorant individuals.
Renounce all actions in me with a mind focused on the self, free from desires and sense of ownership, and fight without any distress.
Those who follow my teachings with faith and without envy are also freed from the bondage of actions.
Those who, out of envy, do not follow my teachings, should be understood as being devoid of all knowledge, lost and lacking in intelligence.
Even a wise person acts according to their own nature. All beings follow their nature; what can restraint achieve?
In every sense object, attachment and aversion are present. One should not fall under their influence, as they are obstacles to one's progress.
It is better to perform one's own duties imperfectly than to master the duties of another. Death in carrying out one's own duty is preferable; the duty of another is perilous.
Arjuna said:
Arjuna asks, "O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, by whom is a man compelled to commit sin, even against his will, as if driven by force?"
The Blessed Lord spoke:
Desire and anger, arising from the mode of passion, are all-consuming and highly sinful. Recognize them as formidable enemies in this world.
Just as fire is obscured by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, in the same way, knowledge is obscured by desire.
O son of Kunti, knowledge is obscured by this eternal enemy in the form of insatiable desire, which burns like fire.
The senses, mind, and intellect are considered the seat of desire. Through these, desire deludes the embodied soul by obscuring knowledge.
Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first control the senses and then destroy this sin which destroys both knowledge and wisdom.
"The senses are said to be superior, but the mind is above the senses. Beyond the mind is the intellect, and beyond the intellect is the self."
O mighty-armed one, thus having realized the transcendental nature of the intellect and having controlled the mind by the self, conquer the formidable enemy in the form of desire.
