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The Lord spoke:
I imparted this eternal yoga to Vivasvan, who then conveyed it to Manu; Manu, in turn, passed it on to Ikshvaku.
Thus, the royal sages understood this tradition. However, over a long period, this yoga was lost here, O Parantapa.
Today, I have imparted this ancient knowledge to you because you are my devotee and friend. This is indeed the supreme secret.
Arjuna said:
Arjuna is puzzled and asks Krishna how he should understand that Krishna spoke to Vivasvan in the beginning, considering that Krishna's birth is recent compared to Vivasvan's.
The Lord spoke:
Krishna tells Arjuna that both of them have had many past births, but while Krishna is aware of all of them, Arjuna is not.
Even though I am birthless and my transcendental body never deteriorates, and although I am the Lord of all living entities, I still appear in every millennium in my original transcendental form by my internal potency.
Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Bharata, I incarnate myself to restore balance.
"To protect the virtuous, to destroy the wicked, and to establish righteousness, I appear in every age."
O Arjuna, one who truly understands my divine birth and actions, upon leaving the body, does not take birth again and attains me.
Many who are free from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in me and taking refuge in me, have been purified by the austerity of knowledge and have attained my divine state.
In whatever way people approach me, I reciprocate with them accordingly. Everyone follows my path in all respects, O son of Pritha.
Those who desire the success of their actions worship the gods here, for in the human world, success born of actions is quickly achieved.
I have created the fourfold division of society based on qualities and actions. However, know that while I am the creator of this system, I am also beyond creation and immutable.
Actions do not taint me, nor do I have a longing for their results. Therefore, one who understands this truth about me is not entangled in actions.
Thus, knowing this, actions were performed by the ancients and also by those desiring liberation. Therefore, you should perform actions as were done by the ancients in the past.
The nature of action and inaction is perplexing even to the wise. I will explain to you the truth of action, by knowing which you will be freed from all evils.
The nature of action, forbidden action, and inaction must be understood, as the path of action is indeed profound.
He who can perceive inaction within action and action within inaction is truly wise among men. He is the one who is engaged in all actions.
The wise call him a sage whose every action is free from desire and resolve, and whose deeds are consumed by the fire of knowledge.
He who has given up attachment to the results of his actions, who is always content and independent, even though fully engaged in work, does nothing at all.
A person who is free from desires, who has control over their mind and self, and who has given up all possessions, performs actions only for the maintenance of the body and does not incur sin.
One who is content with whatever comes of its own accord, who is beyond dualities and free from envy, who remains equipoised in both success and failure, is never entangled even while performing actions.
For one who is free from attachment and liberated, with a mind established in knowledge, all actions performed as a sacrifice are completely dissolved.
The act of offering, the oblation, and the fire are all considered as Brahman. The one who offers is also Brahman, and through this realization, one reaches Brahman by being absorbed in actions that are Brahman.
Some yogis worship the divine as a form of sacrifice, while others offer sacrifices into the fire of Brahman using sacrifice itself.
Some people sacrifice their senses like ears into the fire of restraint, while others sacrifice objects like sound into the fire of the senses.
Others offer all the actions of the senses and the actions of the life forces into the fire of self-discipline, which is kindled by knowledge.
Some perform sacrifices with material possessions, others through austerity, yoga, or self-study and knowledge. Ascetics who are firm in their vows also perform sacrifices.
Some offer the incoming breath into the outgoing breath, and the outgoing breath into the incoming breath. Others, having restrained the movements of both the incoming and outgoing breaths, are dedicated to the practice of breath control.
Others, who regulate their diet, offer their life energies into the life forces. All these individuals are knowledgeable about sacrifices and have their sins eradicated through sacrifices.
Those who partake in the remnants of sacrifice attain the eternal Brahman. For those who do not perform sacrifices, this world is not available, let alone the next, O best of the Kurus.
In this way, various types of sacrifices are laid out in the realm of Brahman. Understand that they all arise from actions; by knowing this, you will achieve liberation.
O Arjuna, the sacrifice performed in knowledge is superior to any material sacrifice. Ultimately, all actions culminate in knowledge.
Approach those who have realized the truth with reverence, inquiry, and service. They will impart knowledge to you, for they are wise and have seen the truth.
Once you have realized this knowledge, O son of Pāṇḍu, you will never again fall into illusion. You will see all living beings entirely within the Self and also within Me.
Even if you are considered the worst of all sinners, with the boat of knowledge, you will be able to cross over all sins.
Just as a blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn all actions to ashes.
Indeed, there is nothing as purifying as knowledge in this world. Over time, one who has achieved perfection in yoga discovers this truth within themselves.
A person with faith, dedication, and self-control gains knowledge, and upon gaining this knowledge, he quickly achieves the highest peace.
The ignorant and faithless, who have a doubting mind, are doomed to destruction. For the doubting soul, there is neither this world nor the next, nor any happiness.
O Dhananjaya, actions do not bind the one who has renounced actions through yoga, whose doubts have been dispelled by knowledge, and who is self-controlled.
Therefore, O Bharata, cut off this doubt born of ignorance residing in your heart with the sword of knowledge, and engage in yoga. Arise and take action.
