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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
CHAPTER III
Arjuna。 Thou whom all mortals praise； Janardana！ If meditation be a
nobler thing Than action； wherefore； then； great Kesava！ Dost thou impel
me to this dreadful fight？ Now am I by thy doubtful speech disturbed！ Tell
me one thing； and tell me certainly； By what road shall I find the better
end？
Krishna。 I told thee； blameless Lord！ there be two paths Shown to this
world； two schools of wisdom。
First The Sankhya's； which doth save in way of works
Prescribed＇FN#4＇ by reason； next； the Yog； which bids Attain by
meditation； spiritually： Yet these are one！ No man shall 'scape from act By
shunning action； nay； and none shall come By mere renouncements unto
perfectness。 Nay； and no jot of time； at any time； Rests any actionless； his
nature's law Compels him； even unwilling； into act； ＇For thought is act in
fancy＇。 He who sits Suppressing all the instruments of flesh； Yet in his idle
heart thinking on them； Plays the inept and guilty hypocrite： But he who；
with strong body serving mind； Gives up his mortal powers to worthy
work； Not seeking gain； Arjuna！ such an one Is honourable。 Do thine
allotted task！ Work is more excellent than idleness； The body's life
proceeds not； lacking work。 There is a task of holiness to do； Unlike
world…binding toil； which bindeth not The faithful soul； such earthly duty
do Free from desire； and thou shalt well perform Thy heavenly purpose。
Spake Prajapati In the beginning； when all men were made； And； with
mankind； the sacrifice 〃Do this！ Work！ sacrifice！ Increase and multiply
With sacrifice！ This shall be Kamaduk； Your 'Cow of Plenty；' giving back
her milk Of all abundance。 Worship the gods thereby； The gods shall yield
thee grace。 Those meats ye crave The gods will grant to Labour； when it
pays Tithes in the altar…flame。 But if one eats Fruits of the earth； rendering
to kindly Heaven No gift of toil； that thief steals from his world。〃
Who eat of food after their sacrifice Are quit of fault； but they that
spread a feast All for themselves； eat sin and drink of sin。 By food the
living live； food comes of rain； And rain comes by the pious sacrifice； And
sacrifice is paid with tithes of toil； Thus action is of Brahma； who is One；
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
The Only； All…pervading； at all times Present in sacrifice。 He that abstains
To help the rolling wheels of this great world； Glutting his idle sense； lives
a lost life； Shameful and vain。 Existing for himself； Self…concentrated；
serving self alone； No part hath he in aught； nothing achieved； Nought
wrought or unwrought toucheth him； no hope Of help for all the living
things of earth Depends from him。＇FN#5＇ Therefore； thy task prescribed
With spirit unattached gladly perform； Since in performance of plain duty
man Mounts to his highest bliss。 By works alone Janak and ancient saints
reached blessedness！ Moreover； for the upholding of thy kind； Action thou
should'st embrace。 What the wise choose The unwise people take； what
best men do The multitude will follow。 Look on me； Thou Son of Pritha！
in the three wide worlds I am not bound to any toil； no height Awaits to
scale； no gift remains to gain； Yet I act here！ and； if I acted not Earnest
and watchfulthose that look to me For guidance； sinking back to sloth
again Because I slumbered； would decline from good； And I should break
earth's order and commit Her offspring unto ruin； Bharata！ Even as the
unknowing toil； wedded to sense； So let the enlightened toil； sense…freed；
but set To bring the world deliverance； and its bliss； Not sowing in those
simple； busy hearts Seed of despair。 Yea！ let each play his part In all he
finds to do； with unyoked soul。 All things are everywhere by Nature
wrought In interaction of the qualities。 The fool； cheated by self； thinks；
〃This I did〃 And 〃That I wrought； 〃butah； thou strong…armed Prince！ A
better…lessoned mind； knowing the play Of visible things within the world
of sense； And how the qualities must qualify； Standeth aloof even from his
acts。 Th' untaught Live mixed with them； knowing not Nature's way； Of
highest aims unwitting； slow and dull。 Those make thou not to stumble；
having the light； But all thy dues discharging； for My sake； With
meditation centred inwardly； Seeking no profit； satisfied； serene； Heedless
of issuefight！ They who shall keep My ordinance thus； the wise and
willing hearts； Have quittance from all issue of their acts； But those who
disregard My ordinance； Thinking they know； know nought； and fall to
loss； Confused and foolish。 'Sooth； the instructed one Doth of his kind；
following what fits him most： And lower creatures of their kind； in vain
Contending 'gainst the law。 Needs must it be The objects of the sense will
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
stir the sense To like and dislike； yet th' enlightened man Yields not to
these； knowing them enemies。 Finally； this is better； that one do His own
task as he may； even though he fail； Than take tasks not his own； though
they seem good。 To die performing duty is no ill； But who seeks other
roads shall wander still。
Arjuna。 Yet tell me； Teacher！ by what force doth man Go to his ill；
unwilling； as if one Pushed him that evil path？
Krishna。 Kama it is！ Passion it is！ born of the Darknesses； Which
pusheth him。 Mighty of appetite； Sinful； and strong is this！man's enemy！
As smoke blots the white fire； as clinging rust Mars the bright mirror； as
the womb surrounds The babe unborn； so is the world of things Foiled；
soiled； enclosed in this desire of flesh。 The wise fall； caught in it； the
unresting foe It is of wisdom； wearing countless forms； Fair but deceitful；
subtle as a flame。 Sense； mind； and reasonthese； O Kunti's Son！ Are
booty for it； in its play with these It maddens man； beguiling； blinding him。
Therefore； thou noblest child of Bharata！ Govern thy heart！ Constrain th'
entangled sense！ Resist the false； soft sinfulness which saps Knowledge
and judgment！ Yea； the world is strong； But what discerns it stronger； and
the mind Strongest； and high o'er all the ruling Soul。 Wherefore；
perceiving Him who reigns supreme； Put forth full force of Soul in thy
own soul！ Fight！ vanquish foes and doubts； dear Hero！ slay What haunts
thee in fond shapes； and would betray！
HERE ENDETHCHAPTER III。 OF THE BHAGAVAD…GITA；
Entitled 〃Karma…Yog；〃 Or 〃The Book of Virtue in Work。〃
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The Bhagavad…Gita； translated
CHAPTER IV
Krishna。 This deathless Yoga； this deep union； I taught
Vivaswata；＇FN#6＇ the Lord of Light； Vivaswata to Manu gave it； he To
Ikshwaku； so passed it down the line Of all my royal Rishis。 Then； with
years； The truth grew dim and perished； noble Prince！ Now once again to
thee it is declared This ancient lore； this mystery supreme Seeing I find
thee votary and friend。
Arjuna。 Thy birth； dear Lord； was in these later days； And bright
Vivaswata's preceded time！ How shall I comprehend this thing thou sayest；
〃From the beginning it was I who taught？〃
Krishna。 Manifold the renewals of my birth Have been； Arjuna！ and of
thy births； too！ But mine I know； and thine thou knowest not； O Slayer of
thy Foes！ Albeit I be Unborn； undying； indestructible； The Lord of all
things living； not the less By Maya； by my magic which I stamp On
floating Nature…forms； the primal vast I come； and go； and come。 When
Righteousness Declines； O Bharata！ when Wickedness Is strong； I rise；
from age to age； and take Visible shape； and move a man with men；
Succou