Arjuna, troubled by the seeming contradictions in Krishna’s words, spoke with humility and confusion: “Krishna, your teachings appear to confound my understanding. Sometimes you praise the path of knowledge, at other times the path of action. Please, tell me clearly—by what means may I attain the highest good?” With compassion, the Blessed Lord replied, “O sinless Arjuna, in this world I have explained a twofold path: for those inclined to deep contemplation, the Sankhyas, I have described the path of knowledge; for those who seek union through discipline, the Yogis, I have prescribed the path of selfless action. “Know this: one does not attain freedom from action merely by abstaining from deeds, nor does perfection come through renunciation alone. No one, even for a moment, can remain truly inactive; all are compelled to act by the qualities born of their own nature. “One who outwardly restrains the organs of action but inwardly dwells on sense objects is deluded—a hypocrite. But he who, mastering his senses with his mind, performs his duties unattached, that one excels, O Arjuna. “Therefore, perform the actions prescribed for you. Action is superior to inaction, for even the maintenance of your body is impossible without action. Except for actions performed in the spirit of sacrifice, actions bind this world. So, O son of Kunti, act for the sake of sacrifice, free from attachment. “In the beginning, the Creator, having brought forth beings along with sacrifice, declared: ‘By this shall you prosper; let sacrifice be the fulfiller of your desires.’ Through sacrifice, nourish the gods, and may the gods in turn nourish you. Thus, supporting one another, you shall attain the highest good. “The gods, satisfied by sacrifice, will grant you the enjoyments you desire. But he who partakes of these gifts without offering in return is a thief. The virtuous, who consume the remnants of sacrifice, are freed from all sin; but those who cook only for themselves eat only sin. “Beings are born from food; food is produced by rain; rain arises from sacrifice, and sacrifice is born of action. Action itself arises from the Vedas, and the Vedas spring from the Imperishable. Therefore, O Arjuna, the Veda is ever established in sacrifice. “He who does not follow this cycle, who lives for the pleasures of the senses, lives in vain—a sinful life. But the man who delights only in the Self, is satisfied and content within the Self, has nothing to do. For such a person, there is no purpose in what is done or left undone, nor does he depend on any being for any end. “Still, always perform your prescribed actions, without attachment. By acting without attachment, one attains the highest. Even kings like Janaka attained perfection through action. Moreover, for the welfare of the world, you should act. “Whatever a superior person does, others follow. Whatever standard he sets, the world follows that. For myself, O Partha, there is nothing to achieve in all the three worlds, nothing unattained to be gained—yet I act. For if I did not act diligently, people everywhere would follow my example. If I ceased to act, these worlds would perish; I would cause confusion and the destruction of all beings. “As the ignorant act with attachment, so should the wise act—without attachment and for the welfare of the world. The wise should not disturb the understanding of those attached to action, but should encourage them to act, while remaining disciplined themselves. “In truth, all actions are performed by the qualities of nature; but the deluded, blinded by ego, think, ‘I am the doer.’ But the wise, who know the distinction between the qualities and action, see that ‘qualities act upon qualities’ and remain unattached. “Those whose minds are confused by nature’s qualities become attached to their actions. The wise should not unsettle the understanding of the ignorant who do not know better. “Surrender all your actions to me, with your mind focused on the Self. Free from desire and possessiveness, fight without inner turmoil. “Those who faithfully follow this teaching of mine, without envy, are freed from the bondage of actions. But those who, out of envy, do not follow my teaching—know them to be lost, confused in all knowledge, and lacking discernment. “Even the wise act according to their own nature; all beings follow their nature. What can mere restraint accomplish? Every sense has its own attachment and aversion toward its objects; one should not come under their sway, for they are obstacles. “It is better to perform one’s own duty, even imperfectly, than to do another’s duty perfectly. To die in one’s own duty is better; another’s duty brings fear.” At this, Arjuna asked, “O Krishna, by what is a person impelled to commit sin, even against his own will, as if forced by some power?” The Blessed Lord answered, “It is desire, it is anger, born of the quality of passion—know this as the great devourer, the great sinner, the enemy in this world. Just as fire is covered by smoke, a mirror by dust, and an embryo by the womb, so is knowledge covered by desire. “Desire, the eternal enemy of the wise, is insatiable as fire and veils knowledge. Its abode is said to be the senses, the mind, and the intellect; through these, it confuses and deludes the embodied being. “Therefore, O best of Bharatas, first restrain your senses and destroy this evil, the destroyer of knowledge and wisdom.