Chapter 4

Krishna. This deathless Yoga, this deep union, I taught Vivaswata,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.

Krishna. This undying Yoga, this deep union, I taught to Vivaswata,⁶ the Lord of Light. Vivaswata passed this teaching to Manu, who passed it to Ikshwaku. So the teaching passed down the line of all my royal Rishis. Then, over the years, the truth faded and was lost, noble Prince! Now I reveal this teaching to you again, this ancient wisdom, this greatest mystery, because you are my devoted follower 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?"

Arjuna. You were born recently, dear Lord, And radiant Vivaswata was born before time began! How can I understand your claim, "From the beginning, I was the one 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.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.

Krishna. I have been born many times, Arjuna, and so have you! But I remember my births, and you do not remember yours, O Slayer of your Foes! Though I am Unborn, undying, and indestructible, The Lord of all living things, still, Through Maya, through my magic, I give shape To the shifting forms of Nature, the vast primal realm. I come, go, and come again. When Righteousness Declines, O Bharata, and Wickedness Grows strong, I rise, age after age, and take Visible form. I live as a man among men, Helping the good, driving evil back, And restoring Virtue to her rightful place. Whoever knows the truth about my births on earth And my divine work, when leaving the body, Never takes up that burden again, never returns To earthly birth. That person comes to me, dear Prince! Many come to me, free from fear, Anger, and desire. Their hearts remain Fixed on me. These faithful followers are purified By the sacred fire of Knowledge. They become one with my being. Whoever worships me, I lift them up. But all people everywhere Will follow my path. Yet those Who seek rewards for their actions make sacrifices To the lesser gods. I tell you, They receive their rewards here. But I am the one Who created the Four Castes and assigned each a place According to their qualities and gifts. Yes, I Created them, yet remain at rest. I live Forever, and I brought about all those mortal births. Actions do not stain my being, because I act Without attachment.⁷ Whoever knows that I act Without being bound by action is also free from action's bonds. Understanding this, all those saints of old Acted while seeking freedom. You too must act As your ancestors did in days gone by.

Thou sayst, perplexed, It hath been asked before By singers and by sages, "What is act, And what inaction? "I will teach thee this, And, knowing, thou shalt learn which work doth save Needs must one rightly meditate those three-- Doing,--not doing,--and undoing. Here Thorny and dark the path is! He who sees How action may be rest, rest action--he Is wisest 'mid his kind; he hath the truth! He doeth well, acting or resting. Freed In all his works from prickings of desire, Burned clean in act by the white fire of truth, The wise call that man wise; and such an one, Renouncing fruit of deeds, always content. Always self-satisfying, if he works, Doth nothing that shall stain his separate soul, Which--quit of fear and hope--subduing self-- Rejecting outward impulse--yielding up To body's need nothing save body, dwells Sinless amid all sin, with equal calm Taking what may befall, by grief unmoved, Unmoved by joy, unenvyingly; the same In good and evil fortunes; nowise bound By bond of deeds. Nay, but of such an one, Whose crave is gone, whose soul is liberate, Whose heart is set on truth--of such an one What work he does is work of sacrifice, Which passeth purely into ash and smoke Consumed upon the altar! All's then God! The sacrifice is Brahm, the ghee and grain Are Brahm, the fire is Brahm, the flesh it eats Is Brahm, and unto Brahm attaineth he Who, in such office, meditates on Brahm. Some votaries there be who serve the gods With flesh and altar-smoke; but other some Who, lighting subtler fires, make purer rite With will of worship. Of the which be they Who, in white flame of continence, consume Joys of the sense, delights of eye and ear, Forgoing tender speech and sound of song: And they who, kindling fires with torch of Truth, Burn on a hidden altar-stone the bliss Of youth and love, renouncing happiness: And they who lay for offering there their wealth, Their penance, meditation, piety, Their steadfast reading of the scrolls, their lore Painfully gained with long austerities: And they who, making silent sacrifice, Draw in their breath to feed the flame of thought, And breathe it forth to waft the heart on high, Governing the ventage of each entering air Lest one sigh pass which helpeth not the soul: And they who, day by day denying needs, Lay life itself upon the altar-flame, Burning the body wan. Lo! all these keep The rite of offering, as if they slew Victims; and all thereby efface much sin. Yea! and who feed on the immortal food Left of such sacrifice, to Brahma pass, To The Unending. But for him that makes No sacrifice, he hath nor part nor lot Even in the present world. How should he share Another, O thou Glory of thy Line?

You ask in confusion a question asked before By poets and sages: "What is action, And what is inaction?" I will teach you the difference. With this knowledge, you will learn what work brings freedom. You must carefully consider these three things: Action, inaction, and wrongful action. Here The path is dark and full of thorns! Whoever sees Rest in action and action in rest Is the wisest of all people and knows the truth! Such a person acts rightly, whether working or resting. Free from the urges of desire in all their work, Their actions are purified by truth's white fire. The wise call such a person wise. They give up the rewards of action and are always content. They find satisfaction within themselves. Even when working, They do nothing that stains their individual soul. Free from fear and hope, they control themselves. They reject outside impulses and give The body only what the body needs. They live Without sin amid all sin, accepting whatever comes With equal calm. Grief does not shake them, Nor does joy. They envy no one and remain unchanged In good fortune and bad. They are not bound By their actions. Indeed, for such a person, Whose longing is gone, whose soul is free, Whose heart is fixed on truth, every task Becomes an act of sacrifice. Their work passes wholly into ash and smoke, Consumed upon the altar! Then all is God! The sacrifice is Brahm. The ghee and grain Are Brahm. The fire is Brahm. The flesh the fire consumes Is Brahm. And whoever meditates on Brahm While performing this rite reaches Brahm. Some worshippers serve the gods With flesh and altar smoke. But others Light subtler fires and perform a purer rite Through devoted worship. Among these worshippers are those Who consume, in the white flame of self-restraint, The pleasures of the senses, the delights of sight and hearing. They give up tender words and the sound of song. Others light fires with the torch of Truth And burn, upon a hidden altar, the pleasures Of youth and love, giving up happiness. Others offer their wealth, Their penance, meditation, and devotion, Their faithful reading of sacred texts, and their knowledge Gained through long, painful disciplines. Others make a silent sacrifice. They breathe in to feed the flame of thought And breathe out to lift the heart, Controlling the passage of every breath So that no breath fails to help the soul. Others deny their needs day after day And lay life itself upon the altar's flame, Burning until the body grows pale. See! All these people observe The rite of offering as if they were killing Sacrificial victims. Through these rites, all wipe away much sin. Yes! And those who eat the immortal food Left from such sacrifices pass to Brahma, To The Unending. But whoever makes No sacrifice has no place or share Even in this world. How could such a person share In another world, you who are the Glory of your Line?

In sight of Brahma all these offerings Are spread and are accepted! Comprehend That all proceed by act; for knowing this, Thou shalt be quit of doubt. The sacrifice Which Knowledge pays is better than great gifts Offered by wealth, since gifts' worth--O my Prince! Lies in the mind which gives, the will that serves: And these are gained by reverence, by strong search, By humble heed of those who see the Truth And teach it. Knowing Truth, thy heart no more Will ache with error, for the Truth shall show All things subdued to thee, as thou to Me. Moreover, Son of Pandu! wert thou worst Of all wrong-doers, this fair ship of Truth Should bear thee safe and dry across the sea Of thy transgressions. As the kindled flame Feeds on the fuel till it sinks to ash, So unto ash, Arjuna! unto nought The flame of Knowledge wastes works' dross away! There is no purifier like thereto In all this world, and he who seeketh it Shall find it--being grown perfect--in himself. Believing, he receives it when the soul Masters itself, and cleaves to Truth, and comes-- Possessing knowledge--to the higher peace, The uttermost repose. But those untaught, And those without full faith, and those who fear Are shent; no peace is here or other where, No hope, nor happiness for whoso doubts. He that, being self-contained, hath vanquished doubt, Disparting self from service, soul from works, Enlightened and emancipate, my Prince! Works fetter him no more! Cut then atwain With sword of wisdom, Son of Bharata! This doubt that binds thy heart-beats! cleave the bond Born of thy ignorance! Be bold and wise! Give thyself to the field with me! Arise!

Before Brahma, all these offerings Are laid out and accepted! Understand That all arise from action. Knowing this, You will be free from doubt. The sacrifice Of Knowledge is better than great gifts Of wealth, my Prince! For the worth of gifts Lies in the giving mind and the will to serve. These come through reverence, determined searching, And humble attention to those who see the Truth And teach it. Once you know the Truth, your heart Will no longer suffer from error. Truth will show you All things subject to you, as you are to me. Moreover, Son of Pandu! Even if you were the worst Of all wrongdoers, this fine ship of Truth Would carry you safely and dry across the sea Of your sins. Just as a blazing fire Consumes its fuel until only ash remains, So, Arjuna, the flame of Knowledge Burns away the impurities of action until nothing remains! Nothing else in all this world Purifies like Knowledge. Whoever seeks Knowledge Will find it within himself once he has reached perfection. With faith, he gains Knowledge when his soul Masters itself and holds fast to Truth. Then, Possessing Knowledge, he reaches the highest peace, The deepest rest. But those without understanding, Those without full faith, and those who fear Are ruined. Neither here nor elsewhere is there peace, Hope, or happiness for anyone who doubts. Whoever masters himself and overcomes doubt, Separating self from service and soul from action, Is enlightened and free, my Prince! Actions no longer bind him! So cut in two, With the sword of wisdom, Son of Bharata, The doubt that grips your heart! Break the bond Born of your ignorance! Be bold and wise! Commit yourself to the battlefield with me! Arise!

HERE ENDETH CHAPTER IV. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Jnana Yog," Or "The Book of the Religion of Knowledge,"

Here ends Chapter IV of the Bhagavad-Gita, Titled "Jnana Yog," Or "The Book of the Religion of Knowledge,"