Choose, then act

There is no being anywhere on earth, or again among the gods in heaven, that is free from these three guṇas born of prakṛti.

The duties of brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, as well as of śūdras, scorcher of enemies, are distributed according to the guṇas arising from their own nature.

Calm, self-restraint, austerity, purity, patience, and uprightness as well; knowledge, insight, and faith in what is beyond—these are the brāhmaṇa's duties, born of his own nature.

Valor, spirited energy, resolve, skill, not fleeing in battle, generosity, and a commanding bearing—these are the kṣatriya's duties, born of his own nature.

Farming, cattle-herding, and trade are the vaiśya's duties, born of his own nature; and action consisting of service is the śūdra's duty as well, born of his own nature.

Devoted each to his own duty, a person attains the highest fulfillment. Hear how one devoted to his own duty finds that fulfillment.

Worshipping, through his own duty, the one from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person attains fulfillment.

Better one's own dharma imperfectly done than another's dharma done well. Doing the duty set by his own nature, a person incurs no fault.

One should not give up the duty one is born to, son of Kunti, even if it is flawed; for all undertakings are wrapped in flaw, as fire is wrapped in smoke.

Whoever has an understanding unattached everywhere, has mastered the self, and is free of craving, reaches through renunciation the supreme fulfillment that consists of freedom from action.

Learn from me in brief, son of Kunti, how one who has reached that fulfillment also attains Brahman, the highest culmination of knowledge.

United with a purified understanding, restraining the self with resolve, giving up sound and the other sense-objects, casting aside attraction and aversion;

resorting to solitude, eating little, controlling speech, body, and mind, ever devoted to meditation and concentration, taking refuge in dispassion;

giving up the sense of "I," force, arrogance, desire, anger, and possessiveness, free of "mine," at peace—such a person is fit to become Brahman.

Having become Brahman, with a serene self, he neither grieves nor desires; the same toward all beings, he attains supreme bhakti to me.

Through bhakti he comes to know me in truth, how great and who I am; then, having known me in truth, he enters into me right after.

Even while doing all actions at all times, taking refuge in me, he attains, by my grace, the eternal, unchanging state.

Mentally giving up all actions to me, holding me as the highest goal, resorting to buddhi-yoga, keep your mind fixed on me at all times.

With your mind fixed on me, you will cross over all difficulties by my grace; but if out of self-importance you will not listen, you will be destroyed.

If, relying on your sense of self, you think, "I will not fight"—this resolve of yours is false; your own prakṛti will compel you.

Bound by your own karma, born of your own nature, son of Kunti, what you don't want to do out of delusion, you will do anyway, against your will.

The Lord dwells in the region of the heart of all beings, Arjuna, turning all beings by his māyā as though they were mounted on a machine.

Take refuge in him alone with your whole being, Bhārata; by his grace you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.

So I have declared to you knowledge more hidden than every hidden thing. Reflect on it fully, and then act as you choose.

Hear again my supreme word, the most hidden of all; because you are deeply loved by me, I will now speak what is good for you.

Fix your mind on me, be devoted to me, sacrifice to me, bow down to me. You will come to me alone; this I promise you truly, for you are dear to me.

Abandoning all dharmas, take refuge in me alone. I will free you from all wrongs; do not grieve.

This is never to be spoken by you to one without austerity, nor to one without devotion, nor to one unwilling to serve, nor to one who scorns me.

Whoever teaches this deepest hidden teaching to my devotees, showing supreme bhakti toward me, will come to me alone—there is no doubt.

And among people there is no one who does me a dearer service than he, nor will there be anyone on earth dearer to me than he.

And whoever studies this sacred dialogue of ours—by him I will have been worshipped through the yajña of knowledge; this is my conviction.

And even the person who merely hears this, full of faith and free of resentment, will be liberated and will attain the happy worlds of those of righteous deeds.

Has this been heard by you, Pārtha, with a mind fixed on one point? Has the delusion born of your ignorance been destroyed, Dhanañjaya?

My delusion is destroyed, and I have regained memory through your grace, Acyuta. I stand firm, my doubts gone. I will act on your word.

So I have heard this wondrous dialogue between Vāsudeva and the great-souled Pārtha, one that makes the hair stand on end.

By the grace of Vyāsa I have heard this supreme and deeply hidden yoga, directly from Kṛṣṇa, the lord of yoga, telling it himself.

King, remembering again and again this wondrous and sacred dialogue between Keśava and Arjuna, I rejoice again and again.

And remembering again and again that utterly wondrous form of Hari, my astonishment is great, King, and I rejoice again and again.

Wherever Kṛṣṇa, the lord of yoga, is, wherever Pārtha, the wielder of the bow, is, there are fortune, victory, prosperity, and firm right conduct—this is my conviction.