The Way of Understanding

तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् ।
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥1॥

Sanjaya said: To him, overcome with pity, his eyes brimming and troubled, sunk in sorrow, Madhusudana spoke these words.

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् ।
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥2॥

Arjuna, where has this weakness come from at such a moment? It is unworthy of a noble man; it wins neither heaven nor honour.

क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥3॥

Do not give in to weakness, Partha; it does not become you. Shake off this small-heartedness and stand up, scorcher of foes.

कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥4॥

Arjuna said: Madhusudana, how am I to shoot arrows in battle at Bhishma and Drona, who deserve my worship?

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्
श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके ।
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥5॥

Better to live on alms in this world than to kill these great teachers. Kill them, and whatever I enjoy after that is smeared with their blood.

न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः ।
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ॥6॥

Nor do we know which is better for us, that we win or that they win. Dhritarashtra's sons stand before us, and killing them we would not care to live.

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः ।
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥7॥

My nature is crippled by this weakness and my mind is confused about what is right. So I ask you: tell me clearly what is best. I am your student, I take refuge in you, teach me.

न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद्
यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् ।
अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं
राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ॥8॥

Even unrivalled rule over a prosperous earth, even lordship over the gods, would not drive away this grief that is drying up my senses.

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप ।
न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ॥9॥

Sanjaya said: Having said this to Krishna, Arjuna told Govinda, "I will not fight," and fell silent.

तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत ।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ॥10॥

And there between the two armies, O Bharata, Krishna said this to the grieving Arjuna, almost smiling as he spoke.

अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे ।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥11॥

The Lord said: You grieve for those who need no grieving, and yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise mourn neither the dead nor the living.

न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः ।
न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥12॥

There was never a time when I was not, nor you, nor these kings; nor will any of us cease to be hereafter.

देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा ।
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति ॥13॥

As the one who dwells in the body passes through childhood, youth and age, so it passes to another body. A steady person is not confused by this.

मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः ।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥14॥

Contact with things brings cold and heat, pleasure and pain, Kaunteya. They come and go and do not last. Learn to bear them, Bharata.

यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ ।
समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते ॥15॥

The steady one whom these do not shake, best of men, who is the same in pain and pleasure, is fit for what does not die.

नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः ।
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः ॥16॥

What is unreal never comes to be; what is real never ceases to be. Those who see the truth of things have seen where each of these ends.

अविनाशि तु तद्विद्धि येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।
विनाशमव्ययस्यास्य न कश्चित्कर्तुमर्हति ॥17॥

Know that to be indestructible by which all this is spread out. No one can bring about the destruction of that which does not change.

अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः ।
अनाशिनोऽप्रमेयस्य तस्माद्युध्यस्व भारत ॥18॥

These bodies come to an end; the one who wears them is lasting, indestructible, beyond measure. So fight, Bharata.

य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् ।
उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते ॥19॥

One who thinks this kills and one who thinks it is killed, neither understands. It does not kill, and it is not killed.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥20॥

It is not born and it does not die; having been, it does not cease to be. Unborn, everlasting, changeless, ancient: it is not killed when the body is killed.

वेदाविनाशिनं नित्यं य एनमजमव्ययम् ।
कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ॥21॥

Partha, the one who knows this as indestructible, unchanging, unborn and undying, how does such a person kill, or cause anyone to kill?

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥22॥

As a man discards worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the embodied one leaves worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥23॥

Weapons do not cut it, fire does not burn it, water does not wet it and wind does not dry it.

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च ।
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ॥24॥

It cannot be cut or burned or wetted or dried. It is lasting, everywhere, unmoving, steady, without beginning.

अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते ।
तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि ॥25॥

It is called unmanifest, beyond thought, beyond change. Knowing it so, you should not grieve.

अथ चैनं नित्यजातं नित्यं वा मन्यसे मृतम् ।
तथापि त्वं महाबाहो नैवं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥26॥

And even if you think of it as constantly born and constantly dying, even then, mighty-armed one, you should not grieve like this.

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च ।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥27॥

For whatever is born, death is certain; for whatever dies, birth is certain. So you should not grieve over what cannot be avoided.

अव्यक्तादीनि भूतानि व्यक्तमध्यानि भारत ।
अव्यक्तनिधनान्येव तत्र का परिदेवना ॥28॥

Beings are unseen at the start, seen in the middle, and unseen again at the end, Bharata. What is there in this to mourn?

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेनमाश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः ।
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति
श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ॥29॥

One sees it as a wonder, another speaks of it as a wonder, another hears of it as a wonder; and even after hearing, no one knows it.

देही नित्यमवध्योऽयं देहे सर्वस्य भारत ।
तस्मात्सर्वाणि भूतानि न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि ॥30॥

The one who dwells in the body of everyone can never be killed, Bharata. So you should not grieve for any creature.

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि ।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ॥31॥

Look at your own duty too, and do not waver. For a kshatriya there is nothing better than a rightful battle.

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् ।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ॥32॥

Such a battle, coming of itself, is an open door to heaven, Partha. Lucky are the kshatriyas who get one.

अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं सङ्ग्रामं न करिष्यसि ।
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥33॥

But if you will not fight this rightful battle, you will lose both your duty and your good name, and take on guilt.

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् ।
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥34॥

People will tell of your disgrace for a long time, and for a man who has been honoured, disgrace is worse than dying.

भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥35॥

The great warriors will think you left the field out of fear, and those who held you high will think little of you.

अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः ।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥36॥

Your enemies will say many things they should not, mocking your strength. What could hurt more than that?

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥37॥

Killed, you gain heaven; victorious, you enjoy the earth. So stand up, Kaunteya, decided on battle.

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ।
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥38॥

Treat pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat as the same, and then join battle. That way you take on no guilt.

एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु ।
बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ॥39॥

That was the understanding of Sankhya; now hear it from the side of yoga. Joined to this understanding, Partha, you will throw off the bondage of action.

नेहाभिक्रमनाशोऽस्ति प्रत्यवायो न विद्यते ।
स्वल्पमप्यस्य धर्मस्य त्रायते महतो भयात् ॥40॥

On this path no effort is wasted and nothing goes wrong in reverse. Even a little of this practice protects from great fear.

व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिरेकेह कुरुनन्दन ।
बहुशाखा ह्यनन्ताश्च बुद्धयोऽव्यवसायिनाम् ॥41॥

Here the mind that has decided is single, Kurunandana. The minds of those who cannot decide branch out endlessly.

यामिमां पुष्पितां वाचं प्रवदन्त्यविपश्चितः ।
वेदवादरताः पार्थ नान्यदस्तीति वादिनः ॥42॥

Those who know little, Partha, delighting in the letter of the Veda and saying there is nothing beyond it, speak this showy language.

कामात्मानः स्वर्गपरा जन्मकर्मफलप्रदाम् ।
क्रियाविशेषबहुलां भोगैश्वर्यगतिं प्रति ॥43॥

Full of desire, with heaven as their goal, they talk of elaborate rites that yield birth and reward and lead to enjoyment and power.

भोगैश्वर्यप्रसक्तानां तयापहृतचेतसाम् ।
व्यवसायात्मिका बुद्धिः समाधौ न विधीयते ॥44॥

For those caught up in enjoyment and power, their minds carried off by such talk, the settled understanding of samadhi does not arise.

त्रैगुण्यविषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भवार्जुन ।
निर्द्वन्द्वो नित्यसत्त्वस्थो निर्योगक्षेम आत्मवान् ॥45॥

The Vedas deal with the three gunas; go beyond them, Arjuna. Free of opposites, steady in what is pure, not scheming to get and keep, be settled in yourself.

यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः सम्प्लुतोदके ।
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः ॥46॥

As much use as a small well has when water is everywhere around, that much use have all the Vedas for a knower who sees.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥47॥

Your right is to the work alone, never to its fruits. Do not make the fruit your motive, and do not be attached to not working either.

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥48॥

Settled in yoga, Dhananjaya, do your work, letting attachment go, the same whether it succeeds or fails. That evenness is what yoga means.

दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्धनञ्जय ।
बुद्धौ शरणमन्विच्छ कृपणाः फलहेतवः ॥49॥

Work done for reward is far below work done with this understanding, Dhananjaya. Take refuge in that understanding; those who run after fruit are to be pitied.

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते ।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥50॥

Joined to that understanding, a person sheds both good and bad deeds here itself. So take to yoga: yoga is skill in action.

कर्मजं बुद्धियुक्ता हि फलं त्यक्त्वा मनीषिणः ।
जन्मबन्धविनिर्मुक्ताः पदं गच्छन्त्यनामयम् ॥51॥

The wise, joined to that understanding, give up the fruit born of action, are freed from the bondage of birth, and reach a state where nothing ails them.

यदा ते मोहकलिलं बुद्धिर्व्यतितरिष्यति ।
तदा गन्तासि निर्वेदं श्रोतव्यस्य श्रुतस्य च ॥52॥

When your understanding crosses the thicket of confusion, you will become indifferent to all that has been heard and all that is yet to be heard.

श्रुतिविप्रतिपन्ना ते यदा स्थास्यति निश्चला ।
समाधावचला बुद्धिस्तदा योगमवाप्स्यसि ॥53॥

When your understanding, now pulled about by what you have heard, stands still and unmoving in samadhi, then you will reach yoga.

स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव ।
स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥54॥

Arjuna said: Keshava, how do you describe someone whose wisdom is steady, who is settled in samadhi? How does such a person speak, sit, move?

प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् ।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ॥55॥

The Lord said: When a person lets go of every desire that rises in the mind, Partha, and is content in the self by the self, then his wisdom is called steady.

दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः ।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ॥56॥

The one whose mind is not troubled in sorrow, who does not hanker in pleasure, from whom longing, fear and anger have gone, is called a sage of steady mind.

यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् ।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥57॥

The one who is unattached everywhere, who neither rejoices at good nor recoils from bad, has settled wisdom.

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥58॥

When someone draws in the senses from what they feed on, the way a tortoise pulls in its limbs, that person's wisdom is settled.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिनः ।
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते ॥59॥

Objects fall away from one who fasts from them, but the taste for them stays. Even that taste goes when the highest has been seen.

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चितः ।
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मनः ॥60॥

Even in a discerning person who is trying, Kaunteya, the senses churn and carry the mind away by force.

तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्परः ।
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥61॥

Holding them all in check, let one sit intent on me. For the one whose senses are under control, wisdom is settled.

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते ।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ॥62॥

Dwelling on objects, a person grows attached to them; from attachment comes desire, and from desire, anger.

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः ।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति ॥63॥

Anger brings confusion, confusion clouds memory, clouded memory destroys understanding, and with understanding gone the person is lost.

रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् ।
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति ॥64॥

But one who moves among things with senses under control, free of liking and disliking, and with the self in hand, comes to clarity.

Variant reading: रागद्वेषविमुक्तैस्तु (कुछ संस्करणों में)

प्रसादे सर्वदुःखानां हानिरस्योपजायते ।
प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धिः पर्यवतिष्ठते ॥65॥

In that clarity all his sorrows end, for the understanding of one whose mind is clear soon becomes firm.

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना ।
न चाभावयतः शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम् ॥66॥

The undisciplined have no understanding and no steady feeling; without that there is no peace, and where there is no peace, where is happiness?

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते ।
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि ॥67॥

When the mind follows after the wandering senses, it carries away wisdom the way wind carries a boat on water.

तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वशः ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥68॥

So, mighty-armed one, the person whose senses are drawn back from their objects on every side has settled wisdom.

या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी ।
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुनेः ॥69॥

What is night for all beings is waking time for the one who is restrained; and what is waking time for beings is night for the sage who sees.

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् ।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥70॥

As waters enter the sea, which fills and yet stays level, so all desires enter the one who finds peace; the one who chases desires does not.

विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः ।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति ॥71॥

The person who lets go of all wanting and moves about without craving, without "mine" and without "I", comes to peace.

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थितिः पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति ।
स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति ॥72॥

This is the state of Brahman, Partha. Reaching it, one is no longer confused; settled in it even at the last moment, one comes to the peace of Brahman.