You seem to be confusing me by these contradictory words, Krishna! If you think intellect is superior, then why force me to do this terrible deed?
Tell me for certain which one I should follow for my good.
And Krishna said,
Ages ago, were enunciated by me two courses in this world, the path of knowledge for the intellectually inclined, and the path of action for yogis.
By just not starting any work, will nobody attain inner peace. Nor will anybody achieve anything by renouncing.
Nobody can even for a second remain completely inactive; he will be forced involuntarily by his natural impulses to act.
A foolish person who restrains his senses, all the time gloating in his mind over the sensual objects will be called a hypocrite.
On the other hand he who controls his mind first and then does his duties, is much superior. Certainly do your work; action is better than inaction. You cannot even live without work.
All work, other than for development of spirit, ("yagna", defined later with its multiple senses) is restrictive and binding.
Do your work with detachment.In the beginning, the creator created human beings along with yagna, and told them:"you multiply with the help of this, It will fulfil all your desires.
You serve the gods with this, and let the gods serve you in return, thus mutually serving, you will both get the best.
The gods pleased with your work will give whatever you seek. Whoever enjoys these gifts, without giving them back their due, is verily a thief.
Whoever eats his share after doing his duty will be rid of all sins. They, who cook only for themselves, eat only sin!
Life comes from food, and food from the god of rains, and the god's powers come from sacrificial worship, and sacrifice from action.
Action comes from the dictates of Scriptures and the scriptures from the universal soul.
Therefore, the all-pervading Brahma itself is based on devoted action.
Whoever, self-indulgent and leading a sinful life, does not follow this cycle, lives in vain, Arjuna.
For one however who finds joy in himself, is content with himself as he is, and in himself happy, there is nothing left to do.
There is nothing for him to gain, whether he works or not He does not depend on anything in the world for his happiness.
Therefore do without attachment all your duties. Such a personattains the ultimate.
Many a person like king Janaka has attained the highest, by work alone. And for the sake of keeping the world in order, you have to be active.
Whatever a leader does is followed by others, his criterion is accepted by them. In all the three worlds, there is nothing I have to work for, yet I continue to act. If I do not engage in action without respite, Arjuna, the people will follow that example.
The world will come to a halt if I do not act and I will be the cause of social turmoil. And I would be destroying the whole creation.
What the ignorant, attached to action, do, the wise man must do with detachment, in order to keep life going.
One should not confuse the ignorant work-bound people, but should help them by doing all things with dedication.
The ego-deluded man thinks that he is acting, when actually all actions are the work of the laws of nature.
He who knows the truth that these are merely the workings of sense organs impinging on the outside objects, Arjuna, will not be affected by them, He, who on the other hand is confused by the inherent properties of Nature, identifies himself with the mechanical workings of sense-organs.
One who knows the complete truth should not confuse those with partial knowledge.
Leave to ME all your actions with a dedicated spirit, and without worry fight on, Arjuna, not caring for self or possessions.
Those who behave in accordance with this view of mine, with full dedication and with no malice, will be freed of all sins. And those foolish men, completely ignorant of any thing, who don't do so in utter disregard of my teaching, Arjuna, are lost souls.
Even a learned man acts in accordance with his nature. All creatures follow the dictates of Nature; what is the use trying to repress?
The senses are merely attracted and repelled by the sense-objects. You should not be enslaved by them; they both are the enemies of progress.
Better one's own duty with defects, but suited to your nature, than somebody else's, even when well-done. Death doing your duty is preferable; doing somebody else's duty is dangerous!
Arjuna :
Then how is it that people commit sin against their will, pulled as it were by force?
Krishna:
Lust it is, Anger it is, born out of the dynamic principle of Nature. It is all-devouring and very destructive, and is the enemy in this attempt for self-control.
Just as fire is enveloped by smoke, mirror by dust, foetus by placenta, so is the knowledge of the knower enveloped by this property of nature in the form of lust , difficult to fill or satisfy.
Its seat is said to be the senses, mind and intellect; through these, eclipsing knowledge, it deludes beings.
So Arjuna, first you must control the senses and then eliminate this soul-destroying enemy of all knowledge.
The senses are beyond matter, mind beyond senses, intellect beyond mind and beyond that is the ultimate truth.
Thus, realizing this truth which is beyond intellect, controlling self by self, destroy, oh brave warrior, this difficult-to-catch enemy in the form of lust.
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