Public domain translation by Sir Edwin Arnold (1885), via Project Gutenberg. Presented unabridged.
Krishna.<br/> Now will I open unto thee--whose heart<br/> Rejects not--that last lore, deepest-concealed,<br/> That farthest secret of My Heavens and Earths,<br/> Which but to know shall set thee free from ills,--<br/> A royal lore! a Kingly mystery!<br/> Yea! for the soul such light as purgeth it<br/> From every sin; a light of holiness<br/> With inmost splendour shining; plain to see;<br/> Easy to walk by, inexhaustible!
They that receive not this, failing in faith<br/> To grasp the greater wisdom, reach not Me,<br/> Destroyer of thy foes! They sink anew<br/> Into the realm of Flesh, where all things change!
By Me the whole vast Universe of things<br/> Is spread abroad;--by Me, the Unmanifest!<br/> In Me are all existences contained;<br/> Not I in them!
Yet they are not contained,<br/> Those visible things! Receive and strive to embrace<br/> The mystery majestical! My Being--<br/> Creating all, sustaining all--still dwells<br/> Outside of all!
See! as the shoreless airs<br/> Move in the measureless space, but are not space,<br/> [And space were space without the moving airs];<br/> So all things are in Me, but are not I.
At closing of each Kalpa, Indian Prince!<br/> All things which be back to My Being come:<br/> At the beginning of each Kalpa, all<br/> Issue new-born from Me.
By Energy<br/> And help of Prakriti my outer Self,<br/> Again, and yet again, I make go forth<br/> The realms of visible things--without their will--<br/> All of them--by the power of Prakriti.
Yet these great makings, Prince! involve Me not<br/> Enchain Me not! I sit apart from them,<br/> Other, and Higher, and Free; nowise attached!
Thus doth the stuff of worlds, moulded by Me,<br/> Bring forth all that which is, moving or still,<br/> Living or lifeless! Thus the worlds go on!
The minds untaught mistake Me, veiled in form;--<br/> Naught see they of My secret Presence, nought<br/> Of My hid Nature, ruling all which lives.<br/> Vain hopes pursuing, vain deeds doing; fed<br/> On vainest knowledge, senselessly they seek<br/> An evil way, the way of brutes and fiends.<br/> But My Mahatmas, those of noble soul<br/> Who tread the path celestial, worship Me<br/> With hearts unwandering,--knowing Me the Source,<br/> Th' Eternal Source, of Life. Unendingly<br/> They glorify Me; seek Me; keep their vows<br/> Of reverence and love, with changeless faith<br/> Adoring Me. Yea, and those too adore,<br/> Who, offering sacrifice of wakened hearts,<br/> Have sense of one pervading Spirit's stress,<br/> One Force in every place, though manifold!<br/> I am the Sacrifice! I am the Prayer!<br/> I am the Funeral-Cake set for the dead!<br/> I am the healing herb! I am the ghee,<br/> The Mantra, and the flame, and that which burns!<br/> I am-of all this boundless Universe-<br/> The Father, Mother, Ancestor, and Guard!<br/> The end of Learning! That which purifies<br/> In lustral water! I am OM! I am<br/> Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Ved;<br/> The Way, the Fosterer, the Lord, the Judge,<br/> The Witness; the Abode, the Refuge-House,<br/> The Friend, the Fountain and the Sea of Life<br/> Which sends, and swallows up; Treasure of Worlds<br/> And Treasure-Chamber! Seed and Seed-Sower,<br/> Whence endless harvests spring! Sun's heat is mine;<br/> Heaven's rain is mine to grant or to withhold;<br/> Death am I, and Immortal Life I am,<br/> Arjuna! SAT and ASAT, Visible Life,<br/> And Life Invisible!
Yea! those who learn<br/> The threefold Veds, who drink the Soma-wine,<br/> Purge sins, pay sacrifice--from Me they earn<br/> Passage to Swarga; where the meats divine
Of great gods feed them in high Indra's heaven.<br/> Yet they, when that prodigious joy is o'er,<br/> Paradise spent, and wage for merits given,<br/> Come to the world of death and change once more.
They had their recompense! they stored their treasure,<br/> Following the threefold Scripture and its writ;<br/> Who seeketh such gaineth the fleeting pleasure<br/> Of joy which comes and goes! I grant them it!
But to those blessed ones who worship Me,<br/> Turning not otherwhere, with minds set fast,<br/> I bring assurance of full bliss beyond.
Nay, and of hearts which follow other gods<br/> In simple faith, their prayers arise to me,<br/> O Kunti's Son! though they pray wrongfully;<br/> For I am the Receiver and the Lord<br/> Of every sacrifice, which these know not<br/> Rightfully; so they fall to earth again!<br/> Who follow gods go to their gods; who vow<br/> Their souls to Pitris go to Pitris; minds<br/> To evil Bhuts given o'er sink to the Bhuts;<br/> And whoso loveth Me cometh to Me.<br/> Whoso shall offer Me in faith and love<br/> A leaf, a flower, a fruit, water poured forth,<br/> That offering I accept, lovingly made<br/> With pious will. Whate'er thou doest, Prince!<br/> Eating or sacrificing, giving gifts,<br/> Praying or fasting, let it all be done<br/> For Me, as Mine. So shalt thou free thyself<br/> From Karmabandh, the chain which holdeth men<br/> To good and evil issue, so shalt come<br/> Safe unto Me-when thou art quit of flesh--<br/> By faith and abdication joined to Me!
I am alike for all! I know not hate,<br/> I know not favour! What is made is Mine!<br/> But them that worship Me with love, I love;<br/> They are in Me, and I in them!
Nay, Prince!<br/> If one of evil life turn in his thought<br/> Straightly to Me, count him amidst the good;<br/> He hath the high way chosen; he shall grow<br/> Righteous ere long; he shall attain that peace<br/> Which changes not. Thou Prince of India!<br/> Be certain none can perish, trusting Me!<br/> O Pritha's Son! whoso will turn to Me,<br/> Though they be born from the very womb of Sin,<br/> Woman or man; sprung of the Vaisya caste<br/> Or lowly disregarded Sudra,--all<br/> Plant foot upon the highest path; how then<br/> The holy Brahmans and My Royal Saints?<br/> Ah! ye who into this ill world are come--<br/> Fleeting and false--set your faith fast on Me!<br/> Fix heart and thought on Me! Adore Me! Bring<br/> Offerings to Me! Make Me prostrations! Make<br/> Me your supremest joy! and, undivided,<br/> Unto My rest your spirits shall be guided.
HERE ENDS CHAPTER IX. OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA,<br/> Entitled "Rajavidyarajaguhyayog,"<br/> Or "The Book of Religion by the Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly<br/> Mystery."