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This deathless Yoga, this deep union-Loss, I taught Vivaswata, the Lord of Light; Vivaswata to Manu gave it; he To Ikshwaku; so passed it down the line Of all my royal Rishis. Then, with years, The truth grew dim and perished, noble Prince! Now once again to thee it is declared— This ancient lore, this mystery supreme— Seeing I find thee faithful and my friend.

Thy birth, dear Lord, was in these later days, And bright Vivaswata's was in the old: How shall I comprehend this thing thou say'st, "From the beginning it was I who taught"?

Births many, Arjuna, have been, both thine And mine; and all of them are known to me, Though thou knowest not, O Slayer of thy Foes! Unborn and deathless, Lord of all that lives, I seem to take a body; yet I do By mine own power assume my mortal frame.

Whenever piety declines, O Prince! And impiety is raised, I loose Myself forth into birth. For the salvation Of those who are good, for destruction of Evil in men, for establishment Of righteousness, I come, in age to age.

He who thus knows My nature, and My task Of heavenly birth, is not, at death reborn; But, freed from fleshly bonds, attains to Me. Many there be who, freed from fear and rage And filled with Me, resort to Me, and—Loss By the fire of knowledge purified—attain My Being. However men approach Me, so I welcome them; for the paths men take From every side are Mine, Arjuna!

They that desire the fruit of deeds on earth Make sacrifice to idols. Swiftly here, In this world of mortals, comes the fruit Of work. The four great Castes were made by Me, With separation of their qualities And acts. Yet I am changeless, and above All action; those who comprehend Me so Are freed from bonds of action.

Action imprisons the world Unless it is done as sacrifice; Free, therefore, from the bonds of selfishness, Perform thy task, O Prince! as sacrifice! Who doeth work for Me alone, and takes Me as the Supreme, who serves Me faithfully, And free from every link of selfishness Holds dear to Me—to him I am dear.

Many the paths of sacrifice, Arjuna! Some offer sacrifice of breath; and some Pour out the offering of the senses; some Offer up hearing and the other powers In fires of abstinence; and some give wealth, And some do penance; and the more severe In vow offer the reading of their books. And some devout ones make oblation with The indrawn breath caught in the outgoing, And outgoing breath in breathing inward held, Thus checking either gate of vital air.

Others abstain from food, and offer up Their breath unto the life-winds; all of these Know what the sacrifice imports, and purge Their sins by sacrifice. Those who thus eat Of the Amrita left from sacrifice Attain the Ancient Brahma. This world is not For him that doth not sacrifice; much less The Other World, Arjuna! best of men!

Thus manifold are the sacrifices spread Before the face of Brahma. Know thou all Spring from act; and, knowing this, be free! Better than sacrifice of things is sacrifice Of knowledge, Conqueror of thy Foes! for all Deed-Loss perfect in its place finds place In Knowledge. This shalt thou attain, Arjuna! Seeking the wise, and asking humbly of them. Those who have truth will teach thee truth. When thou Hast learnt the truth, then shalt thou not again, Son of Kunti, fall into error—for Thou shalt perceive all things that live in thee And in the Supreme Self.

Even the most sinful, if he crosses With the barque of knowledge all the seas of sin, Shall find deliverance! As the kindled fire Reduces wood to ashes, Arjuna! So doth the fire of knowledge burn to ash All actions! Nothing in this world is pure As knowledge; he who hath attained the same In course of time doth find it in himself.

He who hath faith, and seeketh knowledge well, And mastereth his senses, winneth it; And, winning, straightway reacheth the Supreme Repose of Peace. But the ignorant one, Who hath no faith and doubts at every turn,— He is the lost! Nor this world, nor the next, Nor joy is for the doubting soul. Therefore, With sword of knowledge, cleaving doubt asunder, Arm thyself, Son of Bharata! Arise In faith! Stand up and fight, Dhananjaya!