Public domain translation by Sir Edwin Arnold (1885), via Project Gutenberg. Presented unabridged.
Arjuna.<br/> Yet, Krishna! at the one time thou dost laud<br/> Surcease of works, and, at another time,<br/> Service through work. Of these twain plainly tell<br/> Which is the better way?
Krishna.<br/> To cease from works<br/> Is well, and to do works in holiness<br/> Is well; and both conduct to bliss supreme;<br/> But of these twain the better way is his<br/> Who working piously refraineth not.
That is the true Renouncer, firm and fixed,<br/> Who--seeking nought, rejecting nought--dwells proof<br/> Against the "opposites."[FN#8] O valiant Prince!<br/> In doing, such breaks lightly from all deed:<br/> 'Tis the new scholar talks as they were two,<br/> This Sankhya and this Yoga: wise men know<br/> Who husbands one plucks golden fruit of both!<br/> The region of high rest which Sankhyans reach<br/> Yogins attain. Who sees these twain as one<br/> Sees with clear eyes! Yet such abstraction, Chief!<br/> Is hard to win without much holiness.<br/> Whoso is fixed in holiness, self-ruled,<br/> Pure-hearted, lord of senses and of self,<br/> Lost in the common life of all which lives--<br/> A "Yogayukt"--he is a Saint who wends<br/> Straightway to Brahm. Such an one is not touched<br/> By taint of deeds. "Nought of myself I do!"<br/> Thus will he think-who holds the truth of truths--<br/> In seeing, hearing, touching, smelling; when<br/> He eats, or goes, or breathes; slumbers or talks,<br/> Holds fast or loosens, opes his eyes or shuts;<br/> Always assured "This is the sense-world plays<br/> With senses."He that acts in thought of Brahm,<br/> Detaching end from act, with act content,<br/> The world of sense can no more stain his soul<br/> Than waters mar th' enamelled lotus-leaf.<br/> With life, with heart, with mind,-nay, with the help<br/> Of all five senses--letting selfhood go--<br/> Yogins toil ever towards their souls' release.<br/> Such votaries, renouncing fruit of deeds,<br/> Gain endless peace: the unvowed, the passion-bound,<br/> Seeking a fruit from works, are fastened down.<br/> The embodied sage, withdrawn within his soul,<br/> At every act sits godlike in "the town<br/> Which hath nine gateways,"[FN#9] neither doing aught<br/> Nor causing any deed. This world's Lord makes<br/> Neither the work, nor passion for the work,<br/> Nor lust for fruit of work; the man's own self<br/> Pushes to these! The Master of this World<br/> Takes on himself the good or evil deeds<br/> Of no man--dwelling beyond! Mankind errs here<br/> By folly, darkening knowledge. But, for whom<br/> That darkness of the soul is chased by light,<br/> Splendid and clear shines manifest the Truth<br/> As if a Sun of Wisdom sprang to shed<br/> Its beams of dawn. Him meditating still,<br/> Him seeking, with Him blended, stayed on Him,<br/> The souls illuminated take that road<br/> Which hath no turning back--their sins flung off<br/> By strength of faith. [Who will may have this Light;<br/> Who hath it sees.] To him who wisely sees,<br/> The Brahman with his scrolls and sanctities,<br/> The cow, the elephant, the unclean dog,<br/> The Outcast gorging dog's meat, are all one.
The world is overcome--aye! even here!<br/> By such as fix their faith on Unity.<br/> The sinless Brahma dwells in Unity,<br/> And they in Brahma. Be not over-glad<br/> Attaining joy, and be not over-sad<br/> Encountering grief, but, stayed on Brahma, still<br/> Constant let each abide! The sage whose soul<br/> Holds off from outer contacts, in himself<br/> Finds bliss; to Brahma joined by piety,<br/> His spirit tastes eternal peace. The joys<br/> Springing from sense-life are but quickening wombs<br/> Which breed sure griefs: those joys begin and end!<br/> The wise mind takes no pleasure, Kunti's Son!<br/> In such as those! But if a man shall learn,<br/> Even while he lives and bears his body's chain,<br/> To master lust and anger, he is blest!<br/> He is the Yukta; he hath happiness,<br/> Contentment, light, within: his life is merged<br/> In Brahma's life; he doth Nirvana touch!<br/> Thus go the Rishis unto rest, who dwell<br/> With sins effaced, with doubts at end, with hearts<br/> Governed and calm. Glad in all good they live,<br/> Nigh to the peace of God; and all those live<br/> Who pass their days exempt from greed and wrath,<br/> Subduing self and senses, knowing the Soul!
The Saint who shuts outside his placid soul<br/> All touch of sense, letting no contact through;<br/> Whose quiet eyes gaze straight from fixed brows,<br/> Whose outward breath and inward breath are drawn<br/> Equal and slow through nostrils still and close;<br/> That one-with organs, heart, and mind constrained,<br/> Bent on deliverance, having put away<br/> Passion, and fear, and rage;--hath, even now,<br/> Obtained deliverance, ever and ever freed.<br/> Yea! for he knows Me Who am He that heeds<br/> The sacrifice and worship, God revealed;<br/> And He who heeds not, being Lord of Worlds,<br/> Lover of all that lives, God unrevealed,<br/> Wherein who will shall find surety and shield!
HERE ENDS CHAPTER V. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA,<br/> Entitled "Karmasanyasayog,"<br/> Or "The Book of Religion by Renouncing Fruit of Works."