Chapter 3: Karma Yoga

Sanskrit Transliteration:

arjuna uvācha jyāyasī chet karmaṇas te matā buddhir janārdana tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ niyojayasi keśhava

Translation:

Arjuna said: O Janardana, O Keshava, if you consider knowledge to be superior to action, then why do you urge me to engage in this terrible action?

Commentary:

Arjuna expresses his confusion after hearing Krishna praise the path of knowledge in the previous chapter. He questions why Krishna would encourage him to fight if wisdom is supreme. This reveals the common misunderstanding that spirituality means withdrawal from worldly duties.

Learning:

When faced with difficult decisions, we often seek intellectual escape rather than accepting the responsibility to act. True wisdom is not avoiding action but understanding how to act rightly.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

vyāmiśhreṇeva vākyena buddhiṁ mohayasīva me tad ekaṁ vada niśhchitya yena śhreyo 'ham āpnuyām

Translation:

With these apparently conflicting words, you are confusing my intellect. Tell me decisively that one path by which I may attain the highest good.

Commentary:

Arjuna seeks clarity and a single definitive answer. This is the sincere student's plea—not satisfied with philosophical abstractions, he wants practical guidance that he can apply. His confusion is genuine and represents the human need for clear direction.

Learning:

When confused, it is better to admit confusion and ask for clarity rather than pretend to understand. Seeking definitive guidance shows genuine desire to learn and grow.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

śhrī bhagavān uvācha loke 'smin dvi-vidhā niṣhṭhā purā proktā mayānagha jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām

Translation:

The Supreme Lord said: O sinless one, I have already explained that in this world there is a twofold path—the path of knowledge for the contemplative, and the path of action for the active.

Commentary:

Krishna clarifies that both paths—knowledge (jnana yoga) and action (karma yoga)—are valid spiritual paths. Different people have different temperaments; some are naturally inclined to contemplation while others are suited to active engagement. Both paths lead to the same goal when practiced correctly.

Learning:

There is no single path for everyone. Honor your natural inclinations while remaining open to growth. Whether you are contemplative or action-oriented, you can attain spiritual fulfillment through your authentic path.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho 'śhnute na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati

Translation:

One cannot achieve freedom from action merely by abstaining from action, nor can one attain perfection simply by renunciation.

Commentary:

Krishna refutes the idea that avoiding work leads to spiritual liberation. Simply refusing to act does not free one from karma; the mind continues to generate desires and reactions. True renunciation is internal—letting go of attachment while continuing to fulfill one's duties.

Learning:

Avoiding responsibility is not the same as transcending it. Running away from duties does not bring peace; facing them with detachment does. Liberation comes from how we act, not from refusing to act.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhaty akarma-kṛit kāryate hy avaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ

Translation:

No one can remain without action even for a moment. Everyone is helplessly driven to action by the qualities born of material nature.

Commentary:

This verse reveals a profound truth: complete inaction is impossible. Even if the body is still, the mind continues working. The three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) of material nature constantly impel us toward activity. Understanding this, we should channel our inevitable actions toward liberation rather than bondage.

Learning:

Since action is inevitable, the question is not whether to act, but how to act. Direct your energy toward purposeful action aligned with dharma rather than trying to escape the human condition.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

karmendriyāṇi saṁyamya ya āste manasā smaran indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyāchāraḥ sa uchyate

Translation:

Those who restrain the organs of action but continue to dwell on sense objects in the mind are deluded and are called hypocrites.

Commentary:

External renunciation without internal purification is hypocrisy. A person may physically abstain from action while mentally indulging in desires. This is worse than honest engagement with the world, as it combines the bondage of desire with the pretense of spirituality.

Learning:

Authenticity matters more than appearances. It is better to honestly struggle with desires while actively working than to pretend renunciation while harboring the same attachments internally.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yas tv indriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate 'rjuna karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśhiṣhyate

Translation:

But those who control the senses with the mind and engage the organs of action in karma yoga without attachment are far superior, O Arjuna.

Commentary:

Here Krishna describes the ideal practitioner: one who maintains mental discipline while actively engaging in work. The key is performing action without attachment to results. Such a person is superior to both the inactive renunciant and the attached worker.

Learning:

True mastery is working diligently while remaining mentally free from attachment to outcomes. Control the mind first, then let the body perform its duties with skill and dedication.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ

Translation:

Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Without work, even the maintenance of your body would not be possible.

Commentary:

Krishna emphasizes the practical necessity of action. Beyond spiritual considerations, even basic survival requires effort. The body needs food, shelter, and care—all requiring work. Action is thus both a spiritual and practical necessity.

Learning:

Work is not a burden but a necessity and opportunity. Even mundane activities like earning a living and maintaining health are important duties. Embrace work as an integral part of life, not an obstacle to spirituality.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara

Translation:

Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu must be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, free from attachment.

Commentary:

This verse introduces the concept of yajna—work as sacrifice or offering. Actions performed for selfish gain bind us to karma, but the same actions performed as an offering to the divine become liberating. The attitude, not the action itself, determines whether we are bound or freed.

Learning:

Transform ordinary work into spiritual practice by dedicating it to a higher purpose. Whether you view this as service to God, humanity, or universal good, the key is shifting focus from personal gain to selfless contribution.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ anena prasaviṣhyadhvam eṣha vo 'stv iṣhṭa-kāma-dhuk

Translation:

In the beginning, the Creator, having created humanity together with sacrifice, said: By this shall you prosper; may this be your wish-fulfilling cow.

Commentary:

This verse connects human life to cosmic order. The principle of sacrifice—giving before receiving—was established at creation itself. Like a wish-fulfilling cow that provides abundantly, the spirit of sacrifice ensures prosperity and fulfillment for all.

Learning:

Prosperity follows generosity. The universe operates on reciprocity—what we give returns to us multiplied. Cultivate the habit of contributing and serving before expecting returns.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

devān bhāvayatānena te devā bhāvayantu vaḥ parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śhreyaḥ param avāpsyatha

Translation:

By this sacrifice, nourish the celestial gods, and may those gods nourish you. Thus nourishing one another, you shall attain the supreme good.

Commentary:

This describes the interconnected web of existence. Humans and the cosmic forces (devas) support each other in a cycle of mutual nourishment. When we perform our duties as offerings, we participate in this cosmic exchange and receive blessings in return.

Learning:

We are part of an interconnected system where giving and receiving flow naturally. Support others—family, community, nature—and they in turn support you. This interdependence is the foundation of sustainable prosperity.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Translation:

The celestial gods, pleased by sacrifice, will grant you desired enjoyments. But those who enjoy these gifts without offering anything in return are certainly thieves.

Commentary:

This verse establishes a moral principle: enjoying the gifts of life without contributing in return is a form of theft. We receive countless blessings—air, water, food, knowledge from others—and have a duty to give back through our actions and offerings.

Learning:

Gratitude must be expressed through action. We benefit from countless contributions of others and nature. To consume without contributing is to take without giving. Make your life a contribution, not just consumption.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yajña-śhiṣhṭāśhinaḥ santo muchyante sarva-kilbiṣhaiḥ bhuñjate te tv aghaṁ pāpā ye pachanty ātma-kāraṇāt

Translation:

The righteous who eat the remnants of sacrifice are freed from all sins, but the sinful who cook only for themselves eat nothing but sin.

Commentary:

Those who first offer their work and then enjoy the fruits are purified, while those who work only for personal gratification accumulate negative karma. The quality of what we receive depends on the spirit in which we give.

Learning:

The motivation behind your actions determines their spiritual quality. Working and enjoying with a service mindset purifies, while selfish motivation pollutes even good actions. Share before you consume; give before you receive.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

annād bhavanti bhūtāni parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Translation:

All living beings subsist on food, food is produced by rain, rain comes from sacrifice, and sacrifice is born of action.

Commentary:

Krishna describes the cosmic cycle connecting human action to universal sustenance. Our actions (especially righteous ones) influence the cosmic order, which provides rain, which produces food, which sustains life. Humans are thus integral participants in maintaining cosmic balance.

Learning:

Your actions have far-reaching consequences beyond what you can see. Live responsibly, knowing that your choices affect the larger web of life. Environmental stewardship and ethical action contribute to universal well-being.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣhṭhitam

Translation:

Know that action arises from the Vedas, and the Vedas arise from the Imperishable. Therefore, the all-pervading Brahman is eternally established in sacrifice.

Commentary:

This verse traces the origin of action to the ultimate reality. The Vedas (divine knowledge) prescribe proper action, and the Vedas emerge from the eternal Brahman. Thus, righteous action is a manifestation of the divine order, and through sacrifice, we connect with the imperishable truth.

Learning:

Duty and righteous action are not arbitrary human inventions but expressions of cosmic order. When you perform your dharma, you align with universal truth. Find meaning in your work by seeing it as participation in something eternal.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

evaṁ pravartitaṁ chakraṁ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati

Translation:

One who does not follow this cycle of sacrifice established in the Vedas lives in vain, O Partha. Such a person, delighting only in the senses, lives a sinful life.

Commentary:

Those who refuse to participate in the cosmic cycle of giving and receiving, focusing only on sensory pleasures, waste their human life. Without contributing to the welfare of others and the universe, life becomes purposeless regardless of material achievements.

Learning:

A life focused solely on personal pleasure is ultimately empty. Purpose comes from participation in something larger than yourself. Ask not just "What do I want?" but "What can I contribute?"

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yas tv ātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛiptaśh cha mānavaḥ ātmany eva cha santuṣhṭas tasya kāryaṁ na vidyate

Translation:

But for one who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied in the Self, and who is content in the Self alone—for such a person there is no duty.

Commentary:

This verse describes the liberated soul who has transcended all worldly attachments. Such a being, established in Self-knowledge, no longer has obligatory duties because they have realized their true nature beyond action. This is the rare achievement of complete enlightenment.

Learning:

While most of us must engage with worldly duties, this verse points to the ultimate goal—inner freedom that depends on nothing external. Even while working, cultivate inner contentment that is not dependent on results.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

naiva tasya kṛitenārtho nākṛiteneha kaśhchana na chāsya sarva-bhūteṣhu kaśhchid artha-vyapāśhrayaḥ

Translation:

Such a realized being has no purpose to be served by action or inaction, nor does such a person depend on any creature for anything.

Commentary:

The enlightened person is complete in themselves. They act not from need but from spontaneous expression of their nature. Having no personal agenda, they are free from dependence on outcomes or on others for their sense of fulfillment.

Learning:

True freedom is not getting everything you want, but not needing anything to be complete. Work toward reducing your psychological dependence on external circumstances while fulfilling your practical responsibilities.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara asakto hy ācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ

Translation:

Therefore, without attachment, always perform the work that must be done, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

Commentary:

Krishna returns to practical instruction. Even if one is not yet self-realized, the path is clear: perform your duties without attachment to results. This practice itself leads to liberation. Detachment is not indifference but freedom from anxiety about outcomes.

Learning:

Give your best to every task without obsessing over results. Excellence in work combined with equanimity about outcomes is the formula for both worldly success and spiritual growth. This is the essence of karma yoga.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

karmaṇaiva hi saṁsiddhim āsthitā janakādayaḥ loka-saṅgraham evāpi sampaśhyan kartum arhasi

Translation:

King Janaka and others attained perfection by action alone. You should also perform action, considering what is necessary for the welfare of the world.

Commentary:

Krishna cites the example of King Janaka, a householder and ruler who achieved enlightenment while fulfilling worldly duties. This proves that spiritual perfection does not require withdrawal from society. Additionally, Arjuna should consider his influence on others—leaders have a duty to set positive examples.

Learning:

You can achieve the highest spiritual goals while actively engaged in worldly responsibilities. Use your position and influence to benefit others. Leadership carries the responsibility of setting examples worth following.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate

Translation:

Whatever a great person does, common people follow. Whatever standards such a person sets, the world pursues.

Commentary:

This verse emphasizes the responsibility that comes with influence. Leaders, elders, and prominent individuals shape society through their example. Their actions become models that others emulate, making personal conduct a matter of social consequence.

Learning:

Your actions influence others more than your words. Whether as a parent, manager, or community member, people observe and follow your behavior. Live as if others are learning from your example—because they are.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu kiñchana nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva cha karmaṇi

Translation:

O Partha, there is no duty for Me in all the three worlds. There is nothing I need to obtain that I do not already possess. Yet I engage in action.

Commentary:

Krishna, as the Supreme Lord, has no personal needs or obligations. He is complete and lacks nothing. Yet He continues to act, setting an example for all beings. His action is purely for the welfare of creation, not from any personal necessity.

Learning:

The highest souls work not from need but from love and responsibility. As you grow spiritually, let your motivation shift from personal gain to genuine service. Work because it benefits others, not because you lack something.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

yadi hy ahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇy atandritaḥ mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ

Translation:

If I did not engage in action tirelessly, O Partha, people would follow My path in every way.

Commentary:

Krishna explains why He continues to act despite having no need. If He were inactive, people would imitate His inaction, thinking it the path to perfection. His engagement in action guides humanity toward the proper way of living.

Learning:

Responsibility increases with capability. Those who could rest on their achievements but continue to work set the highest example. Never use your spiritual or material attainments as an excuse to stop contributing.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched aham saṅkarasya cha kartā syām upahanyām imāḥ prajāḥ

Translation:

If I ceased to work, these worlds would perish. I would be the cause of confusion and destruction of all beings.

Commentary:

The cosmic order depends on divine activity. If Krishna withdrew from action, the universe would collapse into chaos. Similarly, if influential people abandon their duties, society suffers. Responsible action maintains harmony at all levels of existence.

Learning:

Your participation matters to those who depend on you. Withdrawing from responsibility creates suffering for others. Continue to fulfill your duties, recognizing that others' well-being is connected to your actions.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāṁso yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryād vidvāṁs tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham

Translation:

As the ignorant act with attachment to results, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world.

Commentary:

The wise person works with the same diligence as the ignorant but with a different attitude. While the unwise work for personal gain, the wise work for universal benefit without attachment. External actions may look similar, but inner motivation differs completely.

Learning:

Excellence in work does not require selfish motivation. You can work as hard or harder than ambitious people while being motivated by service rather than personal gain. The quality of work need not decrease; only the anxiety about results disappears.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām joṣhayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācharan

Translation:

The wise should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action. Rather, by performing all actions with devotion, the wise should inspire them to do the same.

Commentary:

Krishna advises against disrupting people's functioning beliefs prematurely. Those attached to action should not be suddenly told that action is bondage. Instead, the wise should demonstrate detached action, gradually leading others toward higher understanding through example.

Learning:

Meet people where they are. Preaching advanced concepts to those not ready causes confusion, not growth. Inspire through your example and guide others gently according to their capacity to understand.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

prakṛiteḥ kriyamāṇāni guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśhaḥ ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate

Translation:

All actions are performed by the qualities of material nature. One whose mind is deluded by ego thinks, "I am the doer."

Commentary:

This profound verse reveals that all action is actually performed by the three gunas (qualities) of nature—sattva, rajas, and tamas. The ego creates the illusion of personal doership. Understanding this dissolves pride in achievements and blame for failures.

Learning:

You are not the ultimate doer. Your body-mind is an instrument of nature's forces. Recognize the countless factors that enable your actions—genetics, upbringing, opportunities, help from others. This understanding brings humility and freedom from stress.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

tattva-vit tu mahā-bāho guṇa-karma-vibhāgayoḥ guṇā guṇeṣhu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate

Translation:

But one who knows the truth about the divisions of the qualities and actions, O mighty-armed one, understanding that the qualities interact among themselves, remains unattached.

Commentary:

The enlightened person sees clearly how the gunas of the senses interact with the gunas of sense objects. Recognizing this mechanical interplay, they do not identify with the process. This knowledge brings detachment—not indifference, but freedom from false identification.

Learning:

Observe your reactions as natural processes rather than "you." When you feel angry, notice "anger is arising" rather than "I am angry." This subtle shift in perspective creates space for wise response rather than reactive behavior.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

prakṛiter guṇa-sammūḍhāḥ sajjante guṇa-karmasu tān akṛitsna-vido mandān kṛitsna-vin na vichālayet

Translation:

Those deluded by the qualities of nature remain attached to the actions of the qualities. But the wise should not disturb the foolish who have incomplete knowledge.

Commentary:

Most people are completely identified with their body-mind and its activities. They believe they are the doers of their actions. The wise, seeing the truth, should not suddenly disturb this belief but should gently guide through example and appropriate teaching.

Learning:

Wisdom includes knowing when and how to share knowledge. Not everyone is ready for the same truth at the same time. Be patient with others' limitations just as others have been patient with yours.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-chetasā nirāśhīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ

Translation:

Surrendering all actions to Me, with your consciousness fixed on the Self, free from desire and selfishness, fight—free from mental fever.

Commentary:

Krishna instructs Arjuna to dedicate all actions to the divine, maintaining Self-awareness. Free from personal desires and the sense of "mine," Arjuna should fight without the mental agitation (fever) that comes from attachment to outcomes. This is the practical application of karma yoga.

Learning:

Dedicate your work to something higher than yourself. Whether you call it God, duty, or service to humanity, this dedication frees you from the anxiety of personal stakes. Work with full engagement but without the fever of selfish concern.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

ye me matam idaṁ nityam anutiṣhṭhanti mānavāḥ śhraddhāvanto 'nasūyanto muchyante te 'pi karmabhiḥ

Translation:

Those who constantly follow this teaching of Mine with faith and without envy are freed from the bondage of actions.

Commentary:

Krishna promises liberation to those who practice his teaching with faith and without jealousy. Faith means trust in the teaching even before experiencing its fruits. Freedom from envy means accepting others' progress without resentment.

Learning:

Consistent practice with faith brings results. Trust the process even when you don't immediately see outcomes. And never be jealous of others' success—their achievement does not diminish your potential.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

ye tv etad abhyasūyanto nānutiṣhṭhanti me matam sarva-jñāna-vimūḍhāṁs tān viddhi naṣhṭān achetasaḥ

Translation:

But those who find fault with this teaching and do not follow it, consider them deluded in all knowledge, lost, and senseless.

Commentary:

Strong words warn against rejecting this wisdom. Those who dismiss the teaching out of cynicism or intellectual pride, refusing to practice it, remain trapped in confusion. They may have book knowledge but lack the practical wisdom that transforms life.

Learning:

Criticism without practice is worthless. Before rejecting any wisdom teaching, sincerely try it. Intellectual analysis alone cannot reveal truths that require experiential understanding.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati

Translation:

Even a person of knowledge acts according to their own nature. All beings follow their nature. What can repression accomplish?

Commentary:

Krishna acknowledges the power of ingrained tendencies. Even the wise act according to their conditioning. Mere suppression of natural tendencies is ineffective—transformation must come through understanding and gradual purification, not forced repression.

Learning:

Don't fight your nature; understand and channel it. Repression creates internal conflict and eventual explosion. Instead, redirect your natural energies toward constructive ends while gradually refining your tendencies through awareness.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau tayor na vaśham āgachchhet tau hy asya paripanthinau

Translation:

Attachment and aversion for sense objects are seated in the senses. One should not come under their control, for they are obstacles on the path.

Commentary:

Each sense has natural attractions and aversions toward its objects. These tendencies are not inherently wrong but become problematic when they control us. The path to freedom involves mastering these reactions rather than being driven by them.

Learning:

Notice your automatic likes and dislikes without being enslaved by them. You can acknowledge preferences while not being controlled by them. The goal is responsive choice, not reactive compulsion.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

śhreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ

Translation:

It is better to perform one's own duty imperfectly than to perform another's duty perfectly. It is better to die in one's own duty; another's duty is fraught with danger.

Commentary:

This famous verse emphasizes the importance of following one's own dharma—one's natural role, duties, and capabilities. Imitating others' paths, even successfully, leads to spiritual danger. Authenticity is more important than borrowed perfection.

Learning:

Be yourself rather than a poor copy of someone else. Your unique path, even with its imperfections, is more suitable for your growth than perfectly following someone else's way. Discover and honor your own nature and calling.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

arjuna uvācha atha kena prayukto 'yaṁ pāpaṁ charati pūruṣhaḥ anichchhann api vārṣhṇeya balād iva niyojitaḥ

Translation:

Arjuna said: O descendant of Vrishni, by what is one impelled to commit sin, even unwillingly, as if driven by force?

Commentary:

Arjuna asks a universal human question: Why do we do wrong even when we know better? This is the struggle everyone faces—the gap between knowledge and action, between intention and behavior.

Learning:

Recognizing this inner conflict is the beginning of wisdom. We all experience the pull toward actions we know are harmful. Understanding the forces that drive us is the first step toward freedom.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

śhrī bhagavān uvācha kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhy enam iha vairiṇam

Translation:

The Supreme Lord said: It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of passion. Know this to be the great devourer, the great sin—the enemy here.

Commentary:

Krishna identifies the root cause: kama (desire/lust) and its frustrated form, krodha (anger). These arise from rajas (passion/activity) and are never satisfied. Like fire that grows with fuel, desire consumes more the more it is fed. This is humanity's greatest internal enemy.

Learning:

Uncontrolled desire and anger are your primary obstacles. Recognize them as enemies that promise happiness but deliver suffering. Managing these forces is essential for any meaningful progress in life.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśho malena cha yatholbenāvṛito garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛitam

Translation:

As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror by dust, and as an embryo by the womb, so is knowledge covered by desire.

Commentary:

Three analogies illustrate how desire obscures wisdom. Smoke around fire is thin and easily dispersed; dust on a mirror requires some effort to clean; but an embryo in the womb can only emerge with time. Similarly, desire covers knowledge in varying degrees of thickness.

Learning:

Your natural wisdom is already present but covered by desires. The work is not acquiring something new but uncovering what's already there. Different levels of covering require different amounts of effort to clear.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

āvṛitaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣhpūreṇānalena cha

Translation:

Knowledge is covered by this eternal enemy of the wise in the form of desire, O son of Kunti, which is like an insatiable fire.

Commentary:

Even the wise face this enemy. Desire is called eternal because it exists as long as the soul is bound to material nature. It is insatiable—like fire that grows with fuel, desire increases with indulgence rather than being satisfied by it.

Learning:

Don't think you can satisfy desire through indulgence. More fuel creates more fire. The path to peace is not getting everything you want but reducing the intensity of wanting itself.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣhṭhānam uchyate etair vimohayaty eṣha jñānam āvṛitya dehinam

Translation:

The senses, mind, and intellect are said to be its seat. Through these, it covers knowledge and deludes the embodied being.

Commentary:

Desire operates through three levels: the senses (interface with external world), the mind (emotional processing), and the intellect (rational capacity). All three can be hijacked by desire, distorting perception, feeling, and judgment. The soul is thus deluded at every level.

Learning:

Be vigilant at all levels. Desire can disguise itself as sensory pleasure, emotional need, or even rational justification. Question your senses, feelings, and reasoning when strong desires are present.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau niyamya bharatarṣhabha pāpmānaṁ prajahi hy enaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśhanam

Translation:

Therefore, O best of the Bharatas, first controlling the senses, slay this sinful destroyer of knowledge and realization.

Commentary:

Krishna prescribes the method: begin with sense control. The senses are the doorway through which desire enters. By regulating sensory engagement, one can progressively conquer desire. This enemy destroys both theoretical knowledge and practical realization.

Learning:

Start with the most accessible level—your senses. Be mindful of what you expose yourself to. Reduce unnecessary sensory stimulation. This creates space for clarity and weakens desire's grip on your mind.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

indriyāṇi parāṇy āhur indriyebhyaḥ paraṁ manaḥ manasas tu parā buddhir yo buddheḥ paratas tu saḥ

Translation:

The senses are said to be superior to the body; the mind is superior to the senses; the intellect is superior to the mind; and that which is superior to the intellect is the Self.

Commentary:

Krishna reveals the hierarchy of human faculties. The gross body is controlled by the subtle senses. The senses are governed by the mind. The mind is directed by the intellect (discriminative faculty). And beyond intellect is the Atman—the true Self. Each higher level can regulate the lower.

Learning:

Use higher faculties to control lower ones. When senses pull you, use your mind to redirect them. When emotions disturb, use intellect to gain perspective. And ultimately, rest in the awareness that witnesses all these levels.

Sanskrit Transliteration:

evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā saṁstabhyātmānam ātmanā jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam

Translation:

Thus knowing that which is beyond the intellect, O mighty-armed one, steady the self by the Self and slay this formidable enemy in the form of desire.

Commentary:

The chapter concludes with a call to action. Understanding the Self as transcendent to body, senses, mind, and intellect, one should stabilize in that awareness and conquer desire. This enemy is formidable (durāsadam) but not invincible when the Self is known.

Learning:

Victory over desire requires more than willpower—it requires Self-knowledge. Anchor yourself in your deepest identity, beyond the fluctuations of desire. From that stable foundation, you have the strength to master your lower nature. This is the essence of Karma Yoga.