The Bhagavad-Gita | Page 9

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 issue--fight! 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 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 reason--these, 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 ENDETH CHAPTER III. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Karma-Yog,"
Or "The Book of Virtue in Work."




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, Succouring the good,
thrusting the evil back, And setting Virtue on her seat again. Who knows the truth
touching my births on earth And my divine work, when he quits the flesh Puts on its load
no more, falls no more down To earthly birth: to Me he comes, dear Prince! Many there
be who come! from fear set free, From anger, from desire; keeping their hearts Fixed
upon me--my Faithful--purified By sacred flame of Knowledge. Such as these Mix with
my being. Whoso worship me, Them I exalt; but all men everywhere Shall fall into my
path; albeit, those souls Which seek reward for works, make sacrifice Now, to the lower
gods. I say to thee Here have they their reward. But I am He Made the Four Castes, and
portioned them a place After their qualities and gifts. Yea, I Created, the Reposeful; I that
live Immortally, made all those mortal births: For works soil not my essence, being works
Wrought uninvolved.[FN#7] Who knows me acting thus Unchained by action, action
binds not him; And, so perceiving, all those saints of old Worked, seeking for deliverance.
Work thou As, in the days gone by, thy fathers did.
Thou sayst, perplexed, It hath been asked before By singers and by sages, "What is act,
And what inaction? "I will teach thee