BHAGAVAD GITA

practises meditation, can easily control Nature if he rises above the sway of the pairs of opposites,

like love and hate, etc.

Indriyasyendriyasyaarthe raagadweshau vyavasthitau;

Tayor na vasham aagacchet tau hyasya paripanthinau.

34. Attachment and aversion for the objects of the senses abide in the senses; let none come

under their sway, for they are his foes.

Shreyaan swadharmo vigunah paradharmaat swanushthitaat;

Swadharme nidhanam shreyah paradharmo bhayaavahah.

35. Better is one’s own duty, though devoid of merit, than the duty of another well

discharged. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another is fraught with fear.

Arjuna Uvaacha:

Atha kena prayukto’yam paapam charati poorushah;

Anicchann api vaarshneya balaad iva niyojitah.

Arjuna said:

36. But impelled by what does man commit sin, though against his wishes, O Varshneya

(Krishna), constrained, as it were, by force?

Sri Bhagavaan Uvaacha:

Kaama esha krodha esha rajoguna samudbhavah;

Mahaashano mahaapaapmaa viddhyenam iha vairinam.

The Blessed Lord said:

37. It is desire, it is anger born of the quality of Rajas, all-sinful and all-devouring; know this

as the foe here (in this world).

Dhoomenaavriyate vahnir yathaadarsho malena cha;

Yatholbenaavrito garbhas tathaa tenedam aavritam.

38. As fire is enveloped by smoke, as amirror by dust, and as an embryo by the amnion, so is

this enveloped by that.

Aavritam jnaanam etena jnaanino nityavairinaa;

Kaamaroopena kaunteya dushpoorenaanalena cha.

39. O Arjuna, wisdom is enveloped by this constant enemy of the wise in the form of desire,

which is unappeasable as fire!

Indriyaani mano buddhir asyaadhishthaanam uchyate;

 

THE YOGA OF ACTION

Etair vimohayatyesha jnaanam aavritya dehinam.

40. The senses, mind and intellect are said to be its seat; through these it deludes the

embodied by veiling his wisdom.

Tasmaat twam indriyaanyaadau niyamya bharatarshabha;

Paapmaanam prajahi hyenam jnaana vijnaana naashanam.

41. Therefore, O best of the Bharatas (Arjuna), controlling the senses first, do thou kill this

sinful thing (desire), the destroyer of knowledge and realisation!

Indriyaani paraanyaahur indriyebhyah param manah;

Manasastu paraa buddhir yo buddheh paratastu sah.

42. They say that the senses are superior (to the body); superior to the senses is the mind;

superior to the mind is the intellect; and one who is superior even to the intellect is He—the Self.