The Yoga of Action “Karma Yoga“
Sloka 3.1 “Karma Yoga“
Arjuna said:
If you believe that doing is better than knowing, Dear Janardana (Krishna), why then do you urge me to engage in this terrible action, O Kesava (Krishna)?
Explanation:
Arjuna wonders. If Krishna upholds the supremacy of knowledge (Jnana Yoga) over action (Karma Yoga), why then is he insisting that Arjuna must fight in this war? Arjuna needs clarity on this seeming contradiction.
Sloka 3.2 “Karma Yoga“
Arjuna said, Your vague instructions are confusing me. Therefore, please tell me decisively about the path by which I may attain the highest good.
Explanation: Arjuna feels divided between knowledge and action. He asks Krishna to show him which path to take if he wants to attain liberation.
Sloka 3.3 “Karma Yoga“
The saying of the Blessed Lord: “O blameless one, I have already outlined two routes: the knowledge road for the meditative and the action path for the proactive.
Explanation: Krishna underscores that abandoning mere actions leads to salvation. In order to attain spiritual growth, one must engage in the actions required of them without attachment.
Sloka 3.4
The Blessed Lord said:
One cannot become free from reaction, and perfection cannot be reached by renunciation on its own or by just not working.
Explanation:
In the opinion of Krishna Krishna Krishna, all living things are compelled to behave in accordance with their innate impulses. The modes of material nature, or gunas, are what propel everyone to activity; therefore, no matter what we do, we are unable to remain passive.
Sloka 3.5
The Blessed Lord said: Everyone can never stop acting, not even for a second, as they are all compelled to act hopelessly in accordance with the impulses derived from the forms of material nature.
Explanation:
According to Krishna Krishnana’s view, all living creatures are forced to act according to their natural tendencies. We cannot remain inert or do nothing because the modes of material nature, known as gunas, are what propel everyone to activity.
Sloka 3.6
The Blessed Lord said,
“One is considered a pretender if one controls one’s organs of action while focusing one’s thoughts on sensory items.
Explanation:
A hypocrite is someone who does not perform any physical activities but continually thinks about objects perceived by the senses. Absolute renunciation implies mastery over the mind and senses.
Sloka 3.7 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said:
Nonetheless, an earnest individual is considerably better if he attempts to use the intellect to regulate the active senses and starts Karma-yoga, attachment-free (in Krishna consciousness).
Explanation: Krishna emphasizes that performing one’s duties without attachment to them requires superior knowledge than mere renunciation. This means Karma yoga.
Sloka 3.8
“Follow your prescribed duty, for action is preferable to inaction,” said the Blessed Lord. Without employment, a guy could not even sustain his physical form.
Explanation: Krishna advises Arjuna on his prescribed duties. Inaction leads nowhere; even essential bodily functions require activity. Actions sustain life and promote spiritual development.
Sloka 3.9 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said:
Work must be done as a sacrifice to Vishnu; else, labor in this material world leads to servitude. That’s why, son of Kunti, you will always be free from bondage if you carry out your assigned tasks for His pleasure.
Explanation: Actions performed as a sacrifice to the divine (Yajna) do not cause bondage. Performing his duty selflessly with devotion unto God will release him from the cycle of Karma, says Krishna
Sloka 3.10
The Blessed Lord said:
In the beginning, the Creator, having created mankind together with sacrifices, said: ”” By this shall you propagate; let this be the milker of your desires.”
Explanation:
Krishna explains that at the beginning of creation, God himself established an act of sacrifice (Yajna) for human welfare and prosperity. By performing sacrifices, people can satisfy their desires and maintain the world’s existence.
Sloka 3.11 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: Because the demigods like receiving sacrifices, they will also receive pleasure from you. As a result, prosperity will rule for everyone through the partnership of men and demigods.
Explanation: Krishna underscores the mutual relationship between man and God. Humans make sacrifices to appease gods, who bless them with abundance and prosperity.
Sloka 3.12 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: “In charge of the different needs of life, the divine beings, being satisfied by their acts of the yajna [give up], will provide every need to you.” That person, however, is definitely a thief if they take pleasure in such gifts without giving them back to the gods.
Explanation: Krishna explains that people who obtain blessings and provisions from deities without reciprocating by making sacrifices are thieves. This illustrates the significance of giving thanks as well as the return of universal order.
Sloka 3.13
The Blessed Lord said: When the Lord’s followers consume food that has been offered as an offering first, they are released from every kind of sin. Those who cook for their pleasure consume only sin.
Explanation: Krishna emphasizes offering food to the deity before eating it. Those who provide their food in sacrifice are cleansed of sins, while those who eat for selfish pleasure become sinful.
Sloka 3.14 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: Rain is the source of food grains, which are the foundation of all living things. The performance raises the yajna [sacrifice], and the yajna is born of prescribed duties.
Explanation: Krishna delineates the circle of support: food grains depend on rain, which comes through sacrifices. Sacrifices arise from prescribed duties, implying a network of actions.
Sloka 3.15
The Blessed Lord said, “Regulated tasks are laid out in the Vedas, and the Vedas are immediately displayed from the Supreme Character of Godhead.” This means that acts of sacrifice are where the all-pervading transcending is located eternally.
Explanation: Krishna states that the Vedas themselves come from God, who prescribes rituals and regulates activities. Thus, ritualistic performances harmonize with eternal wills.
Sloka 3.16 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: Dear Arjuna, if one does not follow the Vedic cycle of sacrifice, then one is genuinely living a life of sin. A person who lives only to satisfy their senses is living in vain.
Explanation: Krishna also forewarns that breaking the cycle of sacrifice and duty will lead to a sinful, meaningless life motivated only by sensual cravings.
Sloka 3.17
The Blessed Lord said: However, for someone who enjoys themselves, whose purpose in life is self-realization, and who finds complete satisfaction in themselves alone, satiated—for him there is no duty.
Explanation: According to Krishna, a self-realized person is delighted with themselves, so they do not require any prescribed duties. Such people have no obligations at all, but they live in perfect accord with God’s will.
Sloka 3.18
The Blessed Lord said: “A self-realized man has nothing to gain from carrying out his assigned tasks, and he has no excuse not to do so. ” Nor does he need to depend on any other living being.
Explanation: For such a person, there are no shoulds, compulsions, or obligations to act other than what they want. The latter has achieved fulfillment within themselves, hence not being dependent on others at all.
Sloka 3.19
The Blessed Lord said: As a result, one should act out of duty and not become attached to the results of their labors, as this is the path that leads to the Supreme.
Explanation: Krishna counsels action without regard for the outcome. Such selfless conduct leads to liberation itself, becoming united with God’s consciousness, or the Supreme Consciousness.
Sloka 3.20 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: “Kings like Janaka attained perfection solely through the performance of assigned tasks. Therefore, you should complete your work for the sole purpose of educating people in general.
Explanation: Using the example of King Janaka, among others, Krishna tells Arjuna that one can achieve perfection through selfless action. Arjuna, too, must perform his duties as an example to others and keep them righteous.
Sloka 3.21
The Blessed Lord said: “Whatever action a great man performs, commoners follow. And the world aspires to meet the standards he sets with his admirable deeds.
Explanation: Krishna insists that leading by example is of the utmost importance. The deeds of great people shape and set the standards for society. From this, it can be deduced that whatever Arjuna does will impact many.
Sloka 3.22 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said, O son of Pritha, there is no work prescribed for me within all three worlds. Nor am I in need of anything, nor do I have a need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties.
Explanation: Krishna also explains that even though He, as Supreme Being, has neither obligations nor desires, He still acts. This is to set an example for others.
Sloka 3.23
The Blessed Lord said: “For if I did not engage in work, O Partha, certainly all men would follow my path.”
Explanation: If Krishna desisted from acting, then people would imitate him, which would lead to disorder and negligence of duties. For this reason, he acts to maintain the natural order and give precedent.
Sloka 3.24 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would perish. I would be the cause of creating an unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings.
Explanation: Again, Krishna emphasizes that His actions sustain stability and order in the cosmos. If not, there would be mass confusion, resulting in the collapse of societal norms.
Sloka 3.25
The Blessed Lord said: “As those who are foolish execute their responsibilities with connection to results, O Bharata, so the wise should act without attachment for the sake of setting others on the correct route.”
Explanation: According to Krishna, the unattached wise should carry out their responsibilities without attachment to their fruits. Thus, he sets himself up as a model for the ignorant, who are led towards egoless activity.
Sloka “Karma Yoga“
The Blessed Lord declared, “Let the wise not sabotage the attached minds of the ignorant.”. They should not be discouraged but should be encouraged to perform their duties with devotion.
Explanation: Instead of discouraging individuals who are attached to the results of their actions, they should be motivated to continue with what they were doing before, which will slowly lead them toward selflessness and devotion.
Sloka 3.27
The Blessed Lord said: Under the influence of the three modes of material nature, the disoriented soul believes that he is the doer of the things that nature does.
Explanation: According to Krishna, it is material nature (gunas) that deluded people think makes them act. In an actual sense, it’s only nature that does everything.
Sloka 3.28
The Blessed Lord said: “One who is in the knowledge of the Absolute Truth, Omighty-armed, does not engage himself in the senses and senses of gratification, knowing well the differences between work in devotion and work for fruitive results.”
Explanation: One who has actual knowledge knows well how actions performed with devotion differ from those driven by a desire for results, so as not to get attached to sense gratification.
Sloka 3.29
The Blessed Lord said: “Perplexed by the ways of the natural world, the uninformed fully engage themselves in material pursuits and become committed.” Even though the performers’ lack of knowledge makes these duties inferior, the wise shouldn’t make them feel uneasy.
Explanation: Enlightened people must, therefore, refrain from disturbing ignorant people busy in mundane activities but should gradually guide them towards enhancing spiritual knowledge and sacrificing action based on selfish motives.
Sloka 3.30
The Blessed Lord said: The wise shouldn’t frighten them, even though these responsibilities are inferior due to the performers’ lack of knowledge.
Explanation: Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that he must dedicate all his work to Him and perform his actions objectively and without thought of reward. Such disinterestedness leads one away from sluggishness or possessiveness, resulting in liberation.
Sloka 3.31
The Blessed Lord said: “Those who faithfully execute their duties as instructed and follow this teaching With no envy, break free from the self-imposed shackles and engage in productive activity.
Explanation: Those who follow Krishna will have no sins in their account as long as they are not jealous and do not have any feelings toward anything.
Sloka 3.32
The Blessed Lord said: Those who disregard these teachings out of envy and fail to follow them regularly are considered to be lacking in all knowledge. They are condemned to ignorance and bondage.
Explanation: Krishna intimates that if anyone does not follow his teachings because of envy or ignorance, he or she shall indeed be bound in sinkholes of association forever.
Sloka 3.33
The Blessed Lord said: Even a man of knowledge acts according to his nature, for everyone follows his nature. What can repression accomplish?
Explanation: Krishna declares that people naturally act according to their nature. Even a scholarly person may not entirely suppress the proclivities one is born with; it is essential to understand one’s nature so that one can align oneself with it.
Sloka 3.34
The Blessed Lord said: Rules govern attachment and aversion to the senses and the things they perceive.
Such attachment and aversion are obstacles on the road to self-realization; thus, one should not allow them to rule them.
Explanation: Our senses are naturally drawn to things and repel things, but we shouldn’t let that influence us. Therefore, overcoming these tendencies is critical for self-realization.
Sloka 3.35
The Blessed Lord said: It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties, ideally.
Destruction in the course of performing one’s obligation is preferable to performing someone else’s duties; following another’s path is dangerous.
Explanation: Krishna stresses the importance of performing actions imperfectly instead of taking on the responsibility of others.
Each person has a unique role, and fulfilling it is safer than doing someone else’s task.
Sloka 3.36
You, descendant of Vrishni, ask: What compels one to perform immoral acts against their will?
Explanation: Arjuna asks Krishna: Why would someone act immorally, despite having better judgment, under the influence of an outside force?
Sloka 3.37 Karma Yoga
The all-devouring, sinful enemy, in the form of lust and wrath, is what the Blessed Lord identified with Arjuna as the real adversary of this world.
Explanation: According to Krishna, due to passion mode, lust becomes the prime reason that influences people towards wicked activities.
When unmet, lust leads to anger, which manifests itself as a destructive force causing sinfulness.
Sloka 3.38
The Blessed Lord said: Smoke covers fire, dust covers a mirror, and an embryo hides inside the womb; the living thing is also coated in different degrees with this powerful longing.
Explanation: Krishna affirms that lust acts as a cover over the soul just as smoke covers fire, dust settles on the mirror, or the womb envelops an embryo, thereby obstructing the realization of its true self.
Sloka 3.39 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: Thus, desire, which never finds satisfaction and burns like fire, covers a man’s pure mind, according to the Blessed Lord.
Explanation: Lust is a never-satisfied destroyer that veils pure consciousness, making it stray away from its true essence and path toward spirituality.
Sloka 3.40
The Blessed Lord said: This lust has its seat in the senses, the intellect, and the mind. Through them, lust obscures and confounds the basic understanding of the living thing.
fundamental knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.
Explanation: According to Krishna, sexual desire resides within our senses, minds, and intelligence, obscuring rationality and leading us into ignorance about who we indeed are as spiritual beings, thus bewildering us.
Sloka 3.41 Karma Yoga
The Blessed Lord said: Thus, O Arjuna, the greatest of the Bharatas, from the outset, restrained this tremendous emblem of sin (lust) by controlling the senses and eliminating this enemy of wisdom and self-realization.
Explanation: Krishna tells him to control his senses from the beginning to prevent lust, which hinders knowledge and realization of the self.
Sloka 3.42
The Blessed Lord said:
- The working bysense is superior to lower matter.
- The mind is higher than the senses.
- Intelligence is still higher than the mind.
- He (the soul) is even higher than intelligence.
