The fifth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, called đđ°đđŽđ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đŻđđđ or đđ°đđŽ-Sannyasa đŻđđ, opens on the battlefield of đđđ°đđđđˇđđ¤đđ°. Here, in the heart of the đŽđšđžđđžđ°đ¤ epic, two cousins-đ
đ°đđđđ¨ of the đŞđžđđĄđľđžđ and đśđđ°đđđđˇđđŁ, his charioteer and guide-continue their profound dialogue. The tension of war hangs heavy, but the real battle is within: đ
đ°đđđđ¨ is torn between his duty as a warrior and his longing for inner peace.
In the previous chapter, đśđđ°đđđđˇđđŁ introduced the path of đđđđžđ¨-đŻđđ, the đŻđđ of knowledge, and contrasted it with đđ°đđŽ-đŻđđ, the đŻđđ of selfless action. đ
đ°đđđđ¨ is left wondering: is it better to renounce action entirely, or to act without attachment? The fourth chapter ended with the promise that knowledge and action, when rightly understood, lead to freedom.
As the chapter closes, đśđđ°đđđđˇđđŁ paints a picture of the liberated soul-one who is at peace, seeing the same Self (đđ¤đđŽđž) in all beings, beyond likes and dislikes, beyond pride and possessiveness. This sets the stage for the next chapter, where đśđđ°đđđđˇđđŁ will introduce the path of meditation and inner discipline, showing how the mind can be trained to rest in this deep peace.
đđ đśđđ°đ đŞđ°đŽđžđ¤đđŽđ¨đ đ¨đŽđ
đ
đĽ đŞđđđŽđđ˝đ§đđŻđžđŻđ ༤
đđ°đđŽđ¸đ¨đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đŻđđđ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Salutations to the Supreme Self. Now begins the fifth chapter, titled The Yoga of Renunciation of Action.
đ
đ°đđđđ¨ đđľđžđ
đ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đ đđ°đđŽđŁđžđ đđđˇđđŁ đŞđđ¨đ°đđŻđđđ đ đśđđ¸đ¸đż ༤
đŻđđđđđ°đđŻ đđ¤đŻđđ°đđđ đ¤đ¨đđŽđ đŹđđ°đđšđż đ¸đđ¨đżđśđđđżđ¤đŽđ ༼ 1 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Arjuna said: Krishna, you have spoken about both giving up actions and also about the path of action. Please tell me clearly which one of these two is truly better, so I can follow it with confidence.
đśđđ°đđđđľđžđ¨đđľđžđ
đ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đ đđ°đđŽđŻđđđśđđ đ¨đżđđśđđ°đđŻđ¸đđ°đžđľđđđ ༤
đ¤đŻđđ¸đđ¤đ đđ°đđŽđ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đžđ¤đđđ°đđŽđŻđđđ đľđżđśđżđˇđđŻđ¤đ ༼ 2 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The Blessed Lord said: Both renunciation of actions and the path of selfless action lead to the highest spiritual fulfillment, but between the two, the yoga of action is considered superior to the mere renunciation of work.
đđđđđŻđ đ¸ đ¨đżđ¤đđŻđ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đ đŻđ đ¨ đŚđđľđđˇđđđż đ¨ đđžđđđđˇđ¤đż ༤
đ¨đżđ°đđŚđđľđđŚđđľđ đšđż đŽđšđžđŹđžđšđ đ¸đđđ đŹđđ§đžđ¤đđŞđđ°đŽđđđđŻđ¤đ ༼ 3 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
One who neither hates nor desires, who is free from the pull of opposites, should be understood as a true renouncer. Such a person, O Arjuna, is easily freed from all bondage.
đ¸đžđđđđŻđŻđđđ đŞđđĽđđđŹđžđ˛đžđ đŞđđ°đľđŚđđ¤đż đ¨ đŞđđĄđżđ¤đžđ ༤
đđđŽđŞđđŻđžđ¸đđĽđżđ¤đ đ¸đŽđđŻđđđđŻđđ°đđľđżđđŚđ¤đ đŤđ˛đŽđ ༼ 4 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Those who lack true understanding claim that the path of knowledge and the path of action are separate, but the wise do not see them as different. Whoever is sincerely established in either one of these paths will attain the results of both.
đŻđ¤đđ¸đžđđđđŻđđ đŞđđ°đžđŞđđŻđ¤đ đ¸đđĽđžđ¨đ đ¤đŚđđŻđđđđ°đŞđż đđŽđđŻđ¤đ ༤
đđđ đ¸đžđđđđŻđ đ đŻđđđ đ đŻđ đŞđśđđŻđ¤đż đ¸ đŞđśđđŻđ¤đż ༼ 5 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The state that is reached by those who follow the path of knowledge is also attained by those who follow the path of selfless action. Whoever understands that knowledge and action, when properly practiced, lead to the same ultimate goal, truly sees things as they are.
đ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đ¸đđ¤đ đŽđšđžđŹđžđšđ đŚđđđđŽđžđŞđđ¤đđŽđŻđđđ¤đ ༤
đŻđđđŻđđđđ¤đ đŽđđ¨đżđ°đđŹđđ°đšđđŽ đ¨đđżđ°đđŁđžđ§đżđđđđđ¤đż ༼ 6 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
However, O mighty-armed Arjuna, renunciation is difficult to achieve without practicing yoga. The sage who is disciplined in yoga swiftly attains the supreme reality.
đŻđđđŻđđđđ¤đ đľđżđśđđŚđđ§đžđ¤đđŽđž đľđżđđżđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđž đđżđ¤đđđŚđđ°đżđŻđ ༤
đ¸đ°đđľđđđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđđđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđž đđđ°đđľđ¨đđ¨đŞđż đ¨ đ˛đżđŞđđŻđ¤đ ༼ đ ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
A person who is established in yoga, whose mind is pure, who has mastered himself and his senses, and who sees his own self in all beings, is not affected by actions, even while actively engaged in them.
đ¨đđľ đđżđđđżđ¤đđđ°đđŽđđ¤đż đŻđđđđ¤đ đŽđ¨đđŻđđ¤ đ¤đ¤đđ¤đđľđľđżđ¤đ ༤
đŞđśđđŻđđđśđđŁđđľđ¨đđ¸đđŞđđśđđđżđđđ°đ¨đđ¨đśđđ¨đ¨đđđđđđ¨đđ¸đđľđŞđđđśđđľđ¸đ¨đ ༼ đŽ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The person who is steady in yoga and knows the truth should think, 'I am not doing anything at all,' even while seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, or breathing.
đŞđđ°đ˛đŞđ¨đđľđżđ¸đđđ¨đđđđšđđŁđ¨đđ¨đđ¨đđŽđżđˇđ¨đđ¨đżđŽđżđˇđ¨đđ¨đŞđż ༤
đđđŚđđ°đżđŻđžđŁđđđŚđđ°đżđŻđžđ°đđĽđđˇđ đľđ°đđ¤đđ¤ đđ¤đż đ§đžđ°đŻđ¨đ ༼ đŻ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Even while speaking, letting go, grasping, opening or closing the eyes, one should recognize that it is simply the senses interacting with their respective objects.
đŹđđ°đšđđŽđŁđđŻđžđ§đžđŻ đđ°đđŽđžđŁđż đ¸đđđ đ¤đđŻđđđ¤đđľđž đđ°đđ¤đż đŻđ ༤
đ˛đżđŞđđŻđ¤đ đ¨ đ¸ đŞđžđŞđđ¨ đŞđŚđđŽđŞđ¤đđ°đŽđżđľđžđđđ¸đž ༼ 10 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
One who performs actions by dedicating them to the Absolute and letting go of attachment is not stained by wrongdoing, just as a lotus leaf remains untouched by water.
đđžđŻđđ¨ đŽđ¨đ¸đž đŹđđŚđđ§đđŻđž đđđľđ˛đđ°đżđđŚđđ°đżđŻđđ°đŞđż ༤
đŻđđđżđ¨đ đđ°đđŽ đđđ°đđľđđ¤đż đ¸đđđ đ¤đđŻđđđ¤đđľđžđ¤đđŽđśđđŚđđ§đŻđ ༼ 11 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Yogis, having let go of attachment, perform actions using only the body, mind, intellect, and senses, acting simply for their own self-purification.
đŻđđđđ¤đ đđ°đđŽđŤđ˛đ đ¤đđŻđđđ¤đđľđž đśđžđđ¤đżđŽđžđŞđđ¨đđ¤đż đ¨đđˇđđ đżđđđŽđ ༤
đ
đŻđđđđ¤đ đđžđŽđđžđ°đđŁ đŤđ˛đ đ¸đđđ¤đ đ¨đżđŹđ§đđŻđ¤đ ༼ 12 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
A person who is steadfast and has given up attachment to the results of their actions attains a deep and lasting peace. But someone who is not disciplined, acting out of desire and clinging to the outcomes, becomes entangled and bound by their actions.
đ¸đ°đđľđđ°đđŽđžđŁđż đŽđ¨đ¸đž đ¸đđ¨đđŻđ¸đđŻđžđ¸đđ¤đ đ¸đđđ đľđśđ ༤
đ¨đľđŚđđľđžđ°đ đŞđđ°đ đŚđđšđ đ¨đđľ đđđ°đđľđ¨đđ¨ đđžđ°đŻđ¨đ ༼ 13 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The self-controlled person, having mentally given up all actions, lives happily in the body, which is like a city with nine gates, neither acting nor causing actions to be done.
đ¨ đđ°đđ¤đđ¤đđľđ đ¨ đđ°đđŽđžđŁđż đ˛đđđ¸đđŻ đ¸đđđ¤đż đŞđđ°đđđ ༤
đ¨ đđ°đđŽđŤđ˛đ¸đđŻđđđ đ¸đđľđđžđľđ¸đđ¤đ đŞđđ°đľđ°đđ¤đ¤đ ༼ 14 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The Self does not create the sense of agency, actions, or the connection with the results of actions for anyone in the world. Instead, it is only natural tendencies that operate and bring these about.
đ¨đžđŚđ¤đđ¤đ đđ¸đđŻđđżđ¤đđŞđžđŞđ đ¨ đđđľ đ¸đđđđ¤đ đľđżđđđ ༤
đ
đđđđžđ¨đđ¨đžđľđđ¤đ đđđđžđ¨đ đ¤đđ¨ đŽđđšđđŻđđ¤đż đđđ¤đľđ ༼ 15 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The all-pervading Self does not take on anyone's sins or good deeds. Instead, knowledge is hidden by ignorance, and because of this, living beings become confused.
đđđđžđ¨đđ¨ đ¤đ đ¤đŚđđđđžđ¨đ đŻđđˇđžđ đ¨đžđśđżđ¤đŽđžđ¤đđŽđ¨đ ༤
đ¤đđˇđžđŽđžđŚđżđ¤đđŻđľđđđđđđžđ¨đ đŞđđ°đđžđśđŻđ¤đż đ¤đ¤đđŞđ°đŽđ ༼ 16 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
But for those whose ignorance has been removed by knowledge of the Self, their awareness shines like the sun, revealing the highest reality.
đ¤đŚđđŹđđŚđđ§đŻđ¸đđ¤đŚđžđ¤đđŽđžđ¨đ¸đđ¤đ¨đđ¨đżđˇđđ đžđ¸đđ¤đ¤đđŞđ°đžđŻđŁđžđ ༤
đđđđđđ¤đđŻđŞđđ¨đ°đžđľđđ¤đđ¤đżđ đđđđžđ¨đ¨đżđ°đđ§đđ¤đđ˛đđŽđˇđžđ ༼ 1đ ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Those whose understanding is centered in the Supreme, whose very identity is rooted in That, who are unwaveringly dedicated to That, and who hold That as their highest purpose, reach the state from which there is no return. Their faults have been washed away by knowledge.
đľđżđŚđđŻđžđľđżđ¨đŻđ¸đđŞđ¨đđ¨đ đŹđđ°đžđšđđŽđŁđ đđľđż đšđ¸đđ¤đżđ¨đż ༤
đśđđ¨đż đđđľ đśđđľđŞđžđđ đ đŞđđĄđżđ¤đžđ đ¸đŽđŚđ°đđśđżđ¨đ ༼ 1đŽ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The wise, who are endowed with true knowledge and humility, see with equal vision a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and even a person considered an outcaste who eats dog meat.
đđšđđľ đ¤đđ°đđđżđ¤đ đ¸đ°đđđ đŻđđˇđžđ đ¸đžđŽđđŻđ đ¸đđĽđżđ¤đ đŽđ¨đ ༤
đ¨đżđ°đđŚđđˇđ đšđż đ¸đŽđ đŹđđ°đšđđŽ đ¤đ¸đđŽđžđŚđđŹđđ°đšđđŽđŁđż đ¤đ đ¸đđĽđżđ¤đžđ ༼ 1đŻ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Those whose minds are firmly set in seeing equality overcome the cycle of birth and death even while living in this world. Because Brahman is flawless and the same in all, such people are truly established in Brahman.
đ¨ đŞđđ°đšđđˇđđŻđđ¤đđŞđđ°đżđŻđ đŞđđ°đžđŞđđŻ đ¨đđŚđđľđżđđđ¤đđŞđđ°đžđŞđđŻ đđžđŞđđ°đżđŻđŽđ ༤
đ¸đđĽđżđ°đŹđđŚđđ§đżđ°đ¸đđŽđđ˘đ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđľđżđŚđđŹđđ°đšđđŽđŁđż đ¸đđĽđżđ¤đ ༼ 20 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
One who knows the absolute reality and is firmly established in it, with a steady and undeluded mind, does not become elated when encountering pleasant things nor disturbed when facing unpleasant experiences.
đŹđžđšđđŻđ¸đđŞđ°đđśđđˇđđľđ¸đđđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđž đľđżđđŚđ¤đđŻđžđ¤đđŽđ¨đż đŻđ¤đđ¸đđđŽđ ༤
đ¸ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđŻđđđŻđđđđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđž đ¸đđđŽđđđˇđŻđŽđśđđ¨đđ¤đ ༼ 21 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
One whose mind is not attached to external sense experiences finds true happiness within the self. Such a person, whose consciousness is united with meditation on Brahman, enjoys a happiness that does not fade or end.
đŻđ đšđż đ¸đđ¸đđŞđ°đđśđđž đđđđž đŚđđđđŻđđ¨đŻ đđľ đ¤đ ༤
đđŚđđŻđđ¤đľđđ¤đ đđđđ¤đđŻ đ¨ đ¤đđˇđ đ°đŽđ¤đ đŹđđ§đ ༼ 22 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Pleasures that arise from contact with external objects are truly sources of suffering, since they have both a beginning and an end. Therefore, Arjuna, a wise person does not seek happiness in them.
đśđđđ¨đđ¤đđšđđľ đŻđ đ¸đđ˘đđ đŞđđ°đžđđđśđ°đđ°đľđżđŽđđđđˇđŁđžđ¤đ ༤
đđžđŽđđđ°đđ§đđŚđđđľđ đľđđđ đ¸ đŻđđđđ¤đ đ¸ đ¸đđđ đ¨đ°đ ༼ 23 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Whoever, while still alive, can withstand the powerful urges that arise from desire and anger before leaving the body, that person is truly disciplined and finds real happiness.
đŻđđ˝đđ¤đđ¸đđđđ˝đđ¤đ°đžđ°đžđŽđ¸đđ¤đĽđžđđ¤đ°đđđđŻđđ¤đżđ°đđľ đŻđ ༤
đ¸ đŻđđđ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđ¨đżđ°đđľđžđŁđ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđđđ¤đđ˝đ§đżđđđđđ¤đż ༼ 24 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The yogi who finds happiness, delight, and illumination entirely within himself, having become one with Brahman, attains the ultimate liberation that is absorption in Brahman.
đ˛đđđ¤đ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđ¨đżđ°đđľđžđŁđŽđđˇđŻđ đđđˇđđŁđđ˛đđŽđˇđžđ ༤
đđżđ¨đđ¨đŚđđľđđ§đž đŻđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđžđ¨đ đ¸đ°đđľđđđ¤đšđżđ¤đ đ°đ¤đžđ ༼ 25 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Those sages whose faults have been worn away, who have overcome all doubts and dualities, who have mastered themselves, and who are dedicated to the well-being of all creatures, attain liberation in the Absolute.
đđžđŽđđđ°đđ§đľđżđŻđđđđ¤đžđ¨đžđ đŻđ¤đđ¨đžđ đŻđ¤đđđ¤đ¸đžđŽđ ༤
đ
đđżđ¤đ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđ¨đżđ°đđľđžđŁđ đľđ°đđ¤đ¤đ đľđżđŚđżđ¤đžđ¤đđŽđ¨đžđŽđ ༼ 26 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
For those who are free from desire and anger, who are self-disciplined and have mastered their minds, and who have realized their true nature, liberation in Brahman is present everywhere.
đ¸đđŞđ°đđśđžđ¨đđđđ¤đđľđž đŹđšđżđ°đđŹđžđšđđŻđžđđśđđđđđˇđđśđđđđľđžđđ¤đ°đ đđđ°đđľđđ ༤
đŞđđ°đžđŁđžđŞđžđ¨đ đ¸đŽđ đđđ¤đđľđž đ¨đžđ¸đžđđđŻđđ¤đ°đđžđ°đżđŁđ ༼ 2đ ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Withdrawing attention from all external sensory contacts, fixing the gaze steadily between the eyebrows, and balancing both the outgoing and incoming breaths moving through the nostrils,
đŻđ¤đđđŚđđ°đżđŻđŽđ¨đđŹđđŚđđ§đżđ°đđŽđđ¨đżđ°đđŽđđđđˇđŞđ°đžđŻđŁđ ༤
đľđżđđ¤đđđđđžđđŻđđđ°đđ§đ đŻđ đ¸đŚđž đŽđđđđ¤ đđľ đ¸đ ༼ 2đŽ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
The sage who has mastered his senses, mind, and intellect, who is fully dedicated to liberation, and who is free from desire, fear, and anger, is always liberated.
đđđđđ¤đžđ°đ đŻđđđđ¤đŞđ¸đžđ đ¸đ°đđľđ˛đđđŽđšđđśđđľđ°đŽđ ༤
đ¸đđšđđŚđ đ¸đ°đđľđđđ¤đžđ¨đžđ đđđđžđ¤đđľđž đŽđžđ đśđžđđ¤đżđŽđđđđđ¤đż ༼ 2đŻ ŕĽĽ
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
One who recognizes Me as the ultimate recipient of all sacrifices and austerities, the supreme Lord of all worlds, and the true friend of every being, attains lasting peace.
đđ đ¤đ¤đđ¸đŚđżđ¤đż đśđđ°đđŽđŚđđđđľđŚđđđđ¤đžđ¸đđŞđ¨đżđˇđ¤đđ¸đ đŹđđ°đšđđŽđľđżđŚđđŻđžđŻđžđ đŻđđđśđžđ¸đđ¤đđ°đ
đśđđ°đđđđˇđđŁđžđ°đđđđ¨đ¸đđľđžđŚđ đđ°đđŽđ¸đđ¨đđŻđžđ¸đŻđđđ đ¨đžđŽ đŞđđđŽđđ˝đ§đđŻđžđŻđ ༼5 ༼
Translation (đđžđľđžđ°đđĽ):
Thus ends the fifth chapter, called The Yoga of Renunciation of Action, in the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, which is found in the glorious Bhagavad Gita, a scripture on yoga and the knowledge of Brahman.
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