कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः।मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान्विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान्।।17.6।।
Tormenting the aggregate of elements in the body, and also Me dwelling within the body, know them to be of demonic resolve.
आहारस्त्वपि सर्वस्य त्रिविधो भवति प्रियः।यज्ञस्तपस्तथा दानं तेषां भेदमिमं श्रृणु।।17.7।।
Food, too, is dear to all and is of three kinds; so also are sacrifices, austerity, and charity. Hear the distinction among them.
आयुःसत्त्वबलारोग्यसुखप्रीतिविवर्धनाः।रस्याः स्निग्धाः स्थिरा हृद्या आहाराः सात्त्विकप्रियाः।।17.8।।
Foods that increase life, purity, strength, health, happiness, and satisfaction, that are savory, unctuous, firm, and pleasing to the heart, are dear to the sattvic.
कट्वम्ललवणात्युष्णतीक्ष्णरूक्षविदाहिनः।आहारा राजसस्येष्टा दुःखशोकामयप्रदाः।।17.9।।
Foods that are bitter, sour, salty, excessively hot, pungent, dry, and burning are preferred by the rajasic, and produce pain, grief, and disease.
यातयामं गतरसं पूति पर्युषितं च यत्।उच्छिष्टमपि चामेध्यं भोजनं तामसप्रियम्।।17.10।।
Food that is stale, tasteless, putrid, decomposed, leftover, and impure is dear to the tamasic.
अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते।यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः।।17.11।।
Sacrifice that is offered according to scriptural ordinance by those who do not seek reward, with the mind firmly set on the thought, 'it must be done,' is sattvic.
अभिसंधाय तु फलं दम्भार्थमपि चैव यत्।इज्यते भरतश्रेष्ठ तं यज्ञं विद्धि राजसम्।।17.12।।
But sacrifice that is performed with a desire for reward, or for the sake of ostentation, know that sacrifice, O best of Bharatas, to be rajasic.
विधिहीनमसृष्टान्नं मन्त्रहीनमदक्षिणम्।श्रद्धाविरहितं यज्ञं तामसं परिचक्षते।।17.13।।
Sacrifice that is contrary to ordinance, in which food is not distributed, which lacks mantras and offerings, and is devoid of faith, is declared to be tamasic.
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, celibacy, and nonviolence—these are called bodily austerity.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते।।17.15।।
Speech that does not cause agitation, that is truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, and regular study and recitation—these are called austerity of speech.
मनःप्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते।।17.16।।
Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-control, and purity of disposition—this is called mental austerity.
श्रद्धया परया तप्तं तपस्तत्ित्रविधं नरैः।अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्युक्तैः सात्त्विकं परिचक्षते।।17.17।।
This threefold austerity, practiced with supreme faith by steadfast people, without desire for reward, is said to be sattvic.
सत्कारमानपूजार्थं तपो दम्भेन चैव यत्।क्रियते तदिह प्रोक्तं राजसं चलमध्रुवम्।।17.18।।
Austerity performed for the sake of respect, honor, or worship, and also with hypocrisy, is declared here to be passionate, unsteady, and insincere.
मूढग्राहेणात्मनो यत्पीडया क्रियते तपः।परस्योत्सादनार्थं वा तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.19।।
Austerity undertaken with a deluded understanding, causing suffering to oneself, or for the purpose of harming another, is said to be of darkness.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्।।17.20।।
That gift which is given with the thought, 'It should be given,' to one who does no service in return, in the proper place, at the proper time, and to a worthy person, is remembered as pure.
यत्तु प्रत्युपकारार्थं फलमुद्दिश्य वा पुनः।दीयते च परिक्लिष्टं तद्दानं राजसं स्मृतम्।।17.21।।
But that which is given with the expectation of a return, or with a desire for reward, or reluctantly, is remembered as passionate.
अदेशकाले यद्दानमपात्रेभ्यश्च दीयते।असत्कृतमवज्ञातं तत्तामसमुदाहृतम्।।17.22।।
That gift which is given at the wrong place or time, to unworthy recipients, without respect or with contempt, is declared to be of darkness.
तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः।ब्राह्मणास्तेन वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च विहिताः पुरा।।17.23।।
'Om Tat Sat'—this threefold designation of Brahman is remembered; by this, the Brahmins, the Vedas, and sacrifices were formerly ordained.
तस्मादोमित्युदाहृत्य यज्ञदानतपःक्रियाः।प्रवर्तन्ते विधानोक्ताः सततं ब्रह्मवादिनाम्।।17.24।।
Therefore, uttering 'Om,' acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, as prescribed by ordinance, are always begun by those who know Brahman.
तदित्यनभिसन्धाय फलं यज्ञतपःक्रियाः।दानक्रियाश्च विविधाः क्रियन्ते मोक्षकाङ्क्षि।।17.25।।
Uttering 'Tat,' without seeking reward, various acts of sacrifice, austerity, and charity are performed by those who desire liberation.
सद्भावे साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्प्रयुज्यते।प्रशस्ते कर्मणि तथा सच्छब्दः पार्थ युज्यते।।17.26।।
'Sat' is used in the sense of reality and goodness; likewise, O Partha, the word 'Sat' is applied to praiseworthy action.
यज्ञे तपसि दाने च स्थितिः सदिति चोच्यते।कर्म चैव तदर्थीयं सदित्येवाभिधीयते।।17.27।।
Steadfastness in sacrifice, austerity, and charity is also called 'Sat'; and action for these purposes is likewise designated as 'Sat.'
अश्रद्धया हुतं दत्तं तपस्तप्तं कृतं च यत्।असदित्युच्यते पार्थ न च तत्प्रेत्य नो इह।।17.28।।
Whatever is offered, given, or performed as austerity or act, without faith, is called 'asat,' O Partha; it is neither here nor after death.
अर्जुन उवाच संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्। त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन।।18.1।।
Arjuna said: O mighty-armed one, I wish to understand the truth of renunciation and abandonment, O Hrishikesha, and their distinction, O slayer of Keshin.
श्री भगवानुवाच काम्यानां कर्मणां न्यासं संन्यासं कवयो विदुः। सर्वकर्मफलत्यागं प्राहुस्त्यागं विचक्षणाः।।18.2।।
The Blessed Lord said: The wise understand renunciation as the giving up of actions done with desire; the learned declare abandonment to be the relinquishing of the fruits of all actions.
त्याज्यं दोषवदित्येके कर्म प्राहुर्मनीषिणः। यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यमिति चापरे।।18.3।।
Some thinkers declare that action should be abandoned as evil, while others say that acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be given up.
निश्चयं श्रृणु मे तत्र त्यागे भरतसत्तम।त्यागो हि पुरुषव्याघ्र त्रिविधः संप्रकीर्तितः।।18.4।।
Hear from me the final decision about abandonment, O best of the Bharatas; for abandonment, O tiger among men, is declared to be of three kinds.
यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्।यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्।।18.5।।
Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity are not to be abandoned; they must be performed. Sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying even for the wise.
एतान्यपि तु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा फलानि च।कर्तव्यानीति मे पार्थ निश्िचतं मतमुत्तमम्।।18.6।।
But even these actions should be performed, giving up attachment and desire for results. This, O Partha, is my firm and best judgment.
नियतस्य तु संन्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते।मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः।।18.7।।
But the renunciation of prescribed action is not proper; abandonment of such action out of delusion is declared to be of darkness.