Chapter 3: Karma Yoga

"Arjuna said: O Krishna, if you consider knowledge superior to action, then why do you urge me to engage in this terrible action?"

"Your words seem confusing to me. Please tell me clearly one path by which I can attain the highest good."

"The Supreme Lord said: There are two paths — the path of knowledge for contemplative people and the path of action for active people."

"A person does not attain freedom from action by avoiding work, nor does he achieve perfection by mere renunciation."

"No one can remain inactive even for a moment. Everyone is forced to act by nature."

"One who controls the senses externally but dwells on sense objects in the mind is a hypocrite."

"But one who controls the senses with the mind and performs action without attachment is superior."

"Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Even maintaining the body requires action."

"Work done as sacrifice for a higher purpose frees one from bondage; otherwise, it binds."

"In the beginning, the Creator created beings along with sacrifice and said: by this you shall prosper."

"By performing sacrifice, nourish the divine forces, and they will nourish you. Thus, by mutual cooperation, you will attain prosperity."

"The divine forces will provide necessities, but one who enjoys them without offering in return is a thief."

"Those who eat food offered in sacrifice are freed from sins, but those who cook for themselves alone eat sin."

"All beings depend on food, food comes from rain, rain comes from sacrifice, and sacrifice arises from action."

"Know that action comes from the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the Supreme. Therefore, the divine is always present in sacrifice."

"One who does not follow this cycle of duty lives in vain, indulging in senses and living a sinful life."

"One who is satisfied in the self alone has no duty to perform."

"Such a person has nothing to gain or lose from actions and is independent of others."

"Therefore, perform your duty without attachment. By doing so, one attains the highest."

"Even kings like Janaka attained perfection through action. You should act for the welfare of society."

"Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world follows."

"O Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do, yet I continue to act."

"If I did not perform action, people would follow my example and stop working."

"If I stopped acting, the world would fall into chaos and destruction."

"Just as ignorant people act with attachment, the wise should act without attachment for the welfare of society."

"The wise should not disturb the minds of the ignorant attached to action, but should encourage them by performing duties properly."

"All actions are performed by nature, but one whose mind is deluded by ego thinks, 'I am the doer.'"

"The wise understand that actions are carried out by nature’s qualities and do not become attached."

"Those deluded by nature become attached to actions, but the wise should not disturb them."

"Dedicate all actions to Me, free from desire and ego, and perform your duty without anxiety."

"Those who follow these teachings with faith and without envy are freed from the bondage of action."

"But those who disregard these teachings and do not follow them are deluded and lost."

"Even a wise person acts according to their nature. All beings follow their nature; what can repression do?"

"Attraction and aversion exist for sense objects. One should not come under their control, as they are obstacles."

"It is better to perform one’s own duty imperfectly than another’s duty perfectly. Following another’s path is dangerous."

"Arjuna said: What forces a person to commit sin, even against their will?"

"The Supreme Lord said: It is desire, born of passion, which turns into anger — this is the enemy."

"As fire is covered by smoke, knowledge is covered by desire."

"This eternal enemy, desire, covers knowledge and is never satisfied."

"The senses, mind, and intellect are the seats of desire, which deludes the soul."

"Therefore, control the senses first and destroy this enemy which destroys knowledge."

"The senses are superior to the body, the mind is superior to the senses, the intellect is superior to the mind, and the self is superior to the intellect."

"Knowing the self to be superior, control the lower self and conquer desire — the greatest enemy."