Chapter V- Arjuna. Yet, Krishna at the one time thou dost laud
- Surcease of works, and, at another time,
- Service through work. Of these twain plainly tell
- Which is the better way?
- Krishna. To cease from works
- Is well, and to do works in holiness
- Is well; and both conduct to bliss supreme;
- But of these twain the better way is his
- Who working piously refraineth not.
- That is the true Renouncer, firm and fixed,
- Who- seeking nought, rejecting nought- dwells proof
- Against the "opposites." O valiant Prince!
- In doing, such breaks lightly from all deed:
- 'Tis the new scholar talks as they were two,
- This Sankhya and this Yoga: wise men know
- Who husbands one plucks golden fruit of both!
- The region of high rest which Sankhyans reach
- Yogins attain. Who sees these twain as one
- Sees with clear eyes! Yet such abstraction, Chief!
- Is hard to win without much holiness.
- Whoso is fixed in holiness, self-ruled,
- Pure-hearted, lord of senses and of self,
- Lost in the common life of all which lives-
- A "Yogayukt"- he is a Saint who wends
- Straightway to Brahm. Such an one is not touched
- By taint of deeds. "Nought of myself I do!"
- Thus will he think- who holds the truth of truths-
- In seeing, hearing, touching, smelling; when
- He eats, or goes, or breathes; slumbers or talks,
- Holds fast or loosens, opes his eyes or shuts;
- Always assured "This is the sense-world plays
- With senses." He that acts in thought of Brahm,
- Detaching end from act, with act content,
- The world of sense can no more stain his soul
- Than waters mar th' enamelled lotus-leaf.
- With life, with heart, with mind,- nay, with the help
- Of all five senses- letting selfhood go-
- Yogins toil ever towards their souls' release.
- Such votaries, renouncing fruit of deeds,
- Gain endless peace: the unvowed, the passion-bound,
- Seeking a fruit from works, are fastened down.
- The embodied sage, withdrawn within his soul,
- At every act sits godlike in "the town
- Which hath nine gateways," neither doing aught
- Nor causing any deed. This world's Lord makes
- Neither the work, nor passion for the work,
- Nor lust for fruit of work; the man's own self
- Pushes to these! The Master of this World
- Takes on himself the good or evil deeds
- Of no man- dwelling beyond! Mankind errs here
- By folly, darkening knowledge. But, for whom
- That darkness of the soul is chased by light,
- Splendid and clear shines manifest the Truth
- As if a Sun of Wisdom sprang to shed
- Its beams of dawn. Him meditating still,
- Him seeking, with Him blended, stayed on Him,
- The souls illuminated take that road
- Which hath no turning back- their sins flung off,
- By strength of faith. [Who will may have this Light;
- Who hath it sees.] To him who wisely sees,
- The Brahman with his scrolls and sanctities,
- The cow, the elephant, the unclean dog,
- The Outcast gorging dog's meat, are all one.
- The world is overcome- aye! even here!
- By such as fix their faith on Unity.
- The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity,
- And they in Brahma. Be not over-glad
- Attaining joy, and be not over-sad
- Encountering grief, but, stayed on Brahma, still
- Constant let each abide! The sage whose soul
- Holds off from outer contacts, in himself
- Finds bliss; to Brahma joined by piety,
- His spirit tastes eternal peace. The joys
- Springing from sense-life are but quickening wombs
- Which breed sure griefs: those joys begin and end!
- The wise mind takes no pleasure, Kunti's Son!
- In such as those! But if a man shall learn,
- Even while he lives and bears his body's chain,
- To master lust and anger, he is blest!
- He is the Yukta; he hath happiness,
- Contentment, light, within: his life is merged
- In Brahma's life; he doth Nirvana touch!
- Thus go the Rishis unto rest, who dwell
- With sins effaced, with doubts at end, with hearts
- Governed and calm. Glad in all good they live,
- Nigh to the peace of God; and all those live
- Who pass their days exempt from greed and wrath,
- Subduing self and senses, knowing the Soul!
- The Saint who shuts outside his placid soul
- All touch of sense, letting no contact through;
- Whose quiet eyes gaze straight from fixed brows,
- Whose outward breath and inward breath are drawn
- Equal and slow through nostrils still and close;
- That one- with organs, heart, and mind constrained,
- Bent on deliverance, having put away
- Passion, and fear, and rage;- hath even now,
- Obtained deliverance, ever and ever freed.
- Yea! for he knows Me Who am He that heeds
- The sacrifice and worship, God revealed;
- And He who heeds not, being Lord of Worlds,
- Lover of all that lives, God unrevealed,
- Wherein who will shall find surety and shield!
HERE ENDETH Chapter V OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA, Entitled "Karmasanyasayog," Or "The Book of Religion by Renouncing Fruit of Works." |
