Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga) in Hindi and English with meaning
Krishna has just told Arjuna to act without selfish desire; now he reveals that this teaching is ancient, and that he himself comes into the world whenever dharma declines. The chapter then shows how action done with knowledge, as an offering, stops binding us, and ends with Arjuna asked to cut his doubt with the sword of knowledge and stand up.
Listen: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
A calm computer-voiced recitation over soft music, checked line by line against the text. It is an aid to reading along, not a replacement for a priest or a family elder.
What chapter 4 is about
In chapters 2 and 3 Krishna told Arjuna that the self does not die and that he should do his duty without clinging to the result. Chapter 4 opens with a surprise: this is not a new idea. Krishna says he first taught it to Vivasvan, the Sun, who passed it to Manu and then to King Ikshvaku, and that it was lost over time. When Arjuna asks how that can be, since Krishna was born only recently, Krishna answers that he and Arjuna have both had many births; the difference is that he remembers them all.
This leads to the two best-known verses of the chapter, 4.7 and 4.8 (“yada yada hi dharmasya”): whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, Krishna comes into the world to protect the good, to remove the wrongdoers and to set dharma firmly in place again, age after age. Verse 4.11 adds that in whatever way people approach him, he meets them in that way.
The second half explains how action can be free. The wise person sees “inaction in action” (4.18): working fully but without the selfish sense of “I want this result”. Every act can be a yajna, an offering; verse 4.24 (“brahmarpanam”), which sees the offering, the fire and the one who offers all as Brahman, is recited by many families before meals. Krishna then lists many kinds of offering and says the offering of knowledge is the highest.
How is such knowledge found? Verse 4.34 says: with humility, honest questions and service to those who have seen the truth. Knowledge is a boat across every wrong (4.36) and a fire that burns up past actions (4.37). The chapter ends with a call to Arjuna (4.42): cut the doubt in your heart with the sword of knowledge, and stand up. Reading it with the meanings takes about 25 minutes.
Verses 4.1–4.15: the ancient yoga, and why Krishna comes
Krishna reveals that this teaching is old, speaks of his own births, and of acting without being bound.
Verse 4.1
श्रीभगवानुवाच
इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्।
विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्॥
Shri Bhagavan uvacha
imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam,
vivasvan manave praha manur ikshvakave 'bravit.
अर्थ: श्रीभगवान ने कहा: यह कभी नष्ट न होने वाला योग मैंने सबसे पहले सूर्यदेव विवस्वान को बताया था। विवस्वान ने इसे मनु को बताया, और मनु ने राजा इक्ष्वाकु को।
Meaning: The Lord said: I first taught this undying yoga to Vivasvan, the Sun. Vivasvan passed it to Manu, and Manu to King Ikshvaku.
Verse 4.2
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः।
स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप॥
Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarshayo viduh,
sa kaleneha mahata yogo nashtah parantapa.
अर्थ: इस तरह गुरु-शिष्य परंपरा से मिले इस योग को राजर्षि (ऋषि जैसे राजा) जानते थे। पर हे परंतप (शत्रुओं को तपाने वाले अर्जुन), बहुत समय बीतने से यह योग संसार से लुप्त हो गया।
Meaning: Handed down in this way from one to the next, it was known to the royal sages. But over a long stretch of time, Arjuna, this yoga was lost to the world.
Verse 4.3
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः।
भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम्॥
Sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah,
bhakto 'si me sakha cheti rahasyam hyetad uttamam.
अर्थ: वही पुराना योग आज मैंने तुम्हें बताया है, क्योंकि तुम मेरे भक्त हो और मित्र भी। यह सबसे ऊँचा रहस्य है।
Meaning: That same ancient yoga I have told you today, because you are my devotee and my friend. It is the highest secret.
Verse 4.4
अर्जुन उवाच
अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः।
कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति॥
Arjuna uvacha
aparam bhavato janma param janma vivasvatah,
katham etad vijaniyam tvam adau proktavan iti.
अर्थ: अर्जुन ने कहा: आपका जन्म तो अभी हाल में हुआ है, और विवस्वान का जन्म बहुत पहले। मैं कैसे समझूँ कि आपने ही आरंभ में यह योग उन्हें बताया था?
Meaning: Arjuna said: Your birth came late, and Vivasvan’s long before. How am I to understand that you taught it to him in the beginning?
Verse 4.5
श्रीभगवानुवाच
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन।
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप॥
Shri Bhagavan uvacha
bahuni me vyatitani janmani tava charjuna,
tanyaham veda sarvani na tvam vettha parantapa.
अर्थ: श्रीभगवान ने कहा: हे अर्जुन, मेरे और तुम्हारे बहुत से जन्म बीत चुके हैं। मैं उन सबको जानता हूँ, पर तुम नहीं जानते।
Meaning: The Lord said: Many births of mine have passed, Arjuna, and many of yours. I know them all; you do not remember yours.
Verse 4.6
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्।
प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया॥
Ajo 'pi sann avyayatma bhutanam ishvaro 'pi san,
prakritim svam adhishthaya sambhavamy atma-mayaya.
अर्थ: मैं अजन्मा हूँ, मेरा स्वरूप कभी नष्ट नहीं होता, और मैं सब प्राणियों का स्वामी हूँ; फिर भी अपनी प्रकृति को अपने वश में रखकर, अपनी ही माया (दिव्य शक्ति) से मैं प्रकट होता हूँ।
Meaning: Though I am unborn, unchanging, and the lord of all beings, I come into being by my own power (maya), keeping my own nature under my command. Commentators explain “my own maya” in different ways: as his divine will and power, or as a body that only appears to be born.
Verse 4.7
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata,
abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham.
अर्थ: हे भारत (अर्जुन), जब-जब धर्म कमज़ोर पड़ता है और अधर्म बढ़ता है, तब-तब मैं स्वयं को प्रकट करता हूँ।
Meaning: Whenever dharma grows weak and adharma rises, Arjuna, then I bring myself forth into the world.
Verse 4.8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥
Paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritam,
dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge.
अर्थ: सज्जनों की रक्षा के लिए, बुरे काम करने वालों के विनाश के लिए, और धर्म को फिर से मज़बूती से स्थापित करने के लिए, मैं हर युग में प्रकट होता हूँ।
Meaning: To protect the good, to put an end to those who do evil, and to set dharma firmly in place again, I come into being age after age.
Verse 4.9
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः।
त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन॥
Janma karma cha me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah,
tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna.
अर्थ: हे अर्जुन, जो मेरे दिव्य जन्म और कर्म को इस तरह सच में जान लेता है, वह शरीर छोड़ने के बाद फिर जन्म नहीं लेता; वह मुझे पा लेता है।
Meaning: One who truly understands my birth and my deeds as divine is not born again after leaving the body, Arjuna; that person comes to me.
Verse 4.10
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः॥
Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upashritah,
bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mad-bhavam agatah.
अर्थ: आसक्ति, डर और क्रोध से मुक्त, मुझमें मन लगाए, मेरी शरण में आए बहुत से लोग ज्ञान रूपी तप से पवित्र होकर मेरे स्वरूप को पा चुके हैं।
Meaning: Free from craving, fear and anger, absorbed in me and resting in me, many people, made pure by the discipline of knowledge, have reached my state.
Verse 4.11
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥
Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamyaham,
mama vartmanuvartante manushyah partha sarvashah.
अर्थ: जो मुझे जिस भाव से भजते हैं, मैं उन्हें उसी भाव से अपनाता हूँ। हे पार्थ, सब मनुष्य हर तरह से मेरे ही मार्ग पर चलते हैं।
Meaning: In whatever way people come to me, in that same way I receive them. In every way, Arjuna, people follow my path. The second line is often read as “all paths lead to me”.
Verse 4.12
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः।
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा॥
Kankshantah karmanam siddhim yajanta iha devatah,
kshipram hi manushe loke siddhir bhavati karmaja.
अर्थ: कर्मों में सफलता चाहने वाले लोग यहाँ देवताओं की पूजा करते हैं, क्योंकि मनुष्य-लोक में कर्म से मिलने वाली सफलता जल्दी मिल जाती है।
Meaning: Wanting their work to succeed, people here worship the gods, for in the human world success that comes from action comes quickly.
Verse 4.13
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः।
तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्॥
Chatur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah,
tasya kartaram api mam viddhyakartaram avyayam.
अर्थ: चार वर्ण मैंने गुण और कर्म के बँटवारे के अनुसार बनाए हैं। उनका कर्ता होकर भी मुझे अकर्ता और अविनाशी जानो।
Meaning: The four orders of society were made by me according to qualities (guna) and work (karma). Though I am their maker, know me as one who does nothing and never changes. The verse names qualities and work, not birth; teachers have long debated how this relates to birth.
Verse 4.14
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा।
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते॥
Na mam karmani limpanti na me karma-phale spriha,
iti mam yo 'bhijanati karmabhir na sa badhyate.
अर्थ: कर्म मुझे नहीं छूते, और मुझे कर्म के फल की कोई इच्छा नहीं। जो मुझे इस तरह जान लेता है, वह भी कर्मों से नहीं बँधता।
Meaning: Actions do not stain me, and I have no longing for their fruit. Whoever knows me in this way is not bound by actions either.
Verse 4.15
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः।
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्॥
Evam jnatva kritam karma purvair api mumukshubhih,
kuru karmaiva tasmat tvam purvaih purvataram kritam.
अर्थ: यह जानकर पुराने समय के मुक्ति चाहने वालों ने भी कर्म किया। इसलिए तुम भी कर्म ही करो, जैसे पूर्वजों ने बहुत पहले से किया है।
Meaning: Knowing this, seekers of freedom in earlier times also acted. So you too should act, as the ancients did long ago.
Verses 4.16–4.24: action, inaction and the free doer
What real action is, and how a person can work fully and still stay free.
Verse 4.16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः।
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्॥
Kim karma kim akarmeti kavayo 'pyatra mohitah,
tat te karma pravakshyami yaj jnatva mokshyase 'shubhat.
अर्थ: कर्म क्या है और अकर्म क्या है, इस बारे में ज्ञानी भी उलझ जाते हैं। इसलिए मैं तुम्हें कर्म का स्वरूप बताता हूँ, जिसे जानकर तुम अशुभ (बंधन) से छूट जाओगे।
Meaning: What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. So I will explain action to you; knowing it, you will be free from what harms.
Verse 4.17
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः॥
Karmano hyapi boddhavyam boddhavyam cha vikarmanah,
akarmanash cha boddhavyam gahana karmano gatih.
अर्थ: कर्म को समझना चाहिए, विकर्म (निषिद्ध या उलटा कर्म) को समझना चाहिए, और अकर्म को भी समझना चाहिए, क्योंकि कर्म की गति बहुत गहरी है।
Meaning: One must understand action, understand wrong action (vikarma), and understand inaction, for the way of action is deep. Most teachers read vikarma as forbidden action; some read it as action of a special kind.
Verse 4.18
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः।
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्॥
Karmanyakarma yah pashyed akarmani cha karma yah,
sa buddhiman manushyeshu sa yuktah kritsna-karma-krit.
अर्थ: जो कर्म में अकर्म देखता है और अकर्म में कर्म, वही मनुष्यों में बुद्धिमान है; वही योगी है और सब कर्म करता हुआ भी स्थिर है।
Meaning: One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people. Such a person is a yogi, even while doing every kind of work. Put simply: the wise can work fully without the sense of “I am doing this for myself”, and know that merely sitting still is not freedom from action.
Verse 4.19
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसंकल्पवर्जिताः।
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः॥
Yasya sarve samarambhah kama-sankalpa-varjitah,
jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam tam ahuh panditam budhah.
अर्थ: जिसके सब काम कामना और स्वार्थी संकल्प से रहित हैं, जिसके कर्म ज्ञान की आग में जल चुके हैं, उसे ज्ञानी लोग पंडित कहते हैं।
Meaning: One whose every undertaking is free of selfish desire and scheming, whose actions have been burned in the fire of knowledge: the wise call that person truly learned.
Verse 4.20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः।
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किंचित्करोति सः॥
Tyaktva karma-phalasangam nitya-tripto nirashrayah,
karmanyabhipravritto 'pi naiva kinchit karoti sah.
अर्थ: कर्म के फल की आसक्ति छोड़कर, हमेशा संतुष्ट, किसी सहारे पर निर्भर न रहने वाला व्यक्ति काम में पूरी तरह लगा होकर भी वास्तव में कुछ नहीं करता (उसका कर्म बंधन नहीं बनता)।
Meaning: Having let go of attachment to the fruit of action, always content and leaning on nothing, such a person does nothing at all, even while fully at work; the work does not bind.
Verse 4.21
निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः।
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम्॥
Nirashir yata-chittatma tyakta-sarva-parigrahah,
shariram kevalam karma kurvan napnoti kilbisham.
अर्थ: जो कुछ पाने की आशा नहीं रखता, जिसका मन और शरीर वश में है, जिसने सब संग्रह छोड़ दिया है, वह केवल शरीर के लिए ज़रूरी कर्म करते हुए पाप का भागी नहीं होता।
Meaning: Expecting nothing, mind and body held steady, having given up all hoarding and possessiveness, doing only what the body needs, such a person incurs no fault.
Verse 4.22
यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः।
समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते॥
Yadriccha-labha-santushto dvandvatito vimatsarah,
samah siddhav asiddhau cha kritvapi na nibadhyate.
अर्थ: जो अपने आप मिल जाए उसमें संतुष्ट, सुख-दुख जैसे जोड़ों से ऊपर, ईर्ष्या से रहित, सफलता और असफलता में एक जैसा रहने वाला व्यक्ति कर्म करके भी नहीं बँधता।
Meaning: Content with whatever comes on its own, beyond pairs like pleasure and pain, free of envy, the same in success and failure: such a person is not bound, even while acting.
Verse 4.23
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः।
यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते॥
Gata-sangasya muktasya jnanavasthita-chetasah,
yajnayacharatah karma samagram praviliyate.
अर्थ: जिसकी आसक्ति मिट गई है, जो मुक्त है, जिसका मन ज्ञान में टिका है, और जो यज्ञ (अर्पण) के लिए कर्म करता है, उसके सारे कर्म पूरी तरह विलीन हो जाते हैं।
Meaning: For one who is free of attachment and free within, whose mind is settled in knowledge, and who acts as an offering, all action melts away completely.
Verse 4.24
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना॥
Brahmarpanam brahma havir brahmagnau brahmana hutam,
brahmaiva tena gantavyam brahma-karma-samadhina.
अर्थ: अर्पण करने की क्रिया (या स्रुवा) ब्रह्म है, अर्पित वस्तु ब्रह्म है, ब्रह्म रूपी कर्ता ब्रह्म रूपी अग्नि में आहुति देता है। जो हर कर्म में ब्रह्म को देखता है, वह ब्रह्म को ही पाता है। यह श्लोक बहुत से घरों में भोजन से पहले बोला जाता है।
Meaning: The act of offering is Brahman, the offering is Brahman, offered by Brahman into the fire that is Brahman. One who sees Brahman in every act reaches Brahman alone. “Arpanam” is read either as the act of offering or as the ladle used to offer. Many families say this verse before meals.
Verses 4.25–4.33: many kinds of offering
Krishna lists the different ways people offer their lives, and names the offering of knowledge as the highest.
Verse 4.25
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते।
ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति॥
Daivam evapare yajnam yoginah paryupasate,
brahmagnav apare yajnam yajnenaivopajuhvati.
अर्थ: कुछ योगी देवताओं के लिए यज्ञ करते हैं; दूसरे ब्रह्म रूपी अग्नि में यज्ञ के द्वारा ही यज्ञ की आहुति देते हैं (यानी अपने आप को ब्रह्म में अर्पित करते हैं)।
Meaning: Some yogis perform offerings to the gods. Others offer the sacrifice itself, by means of sacrifice, into the fire of Brahman; many teachers take this to mean offering oneself into the infinite.
Verse 4.26
श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति।
शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति॥
Shrotradinindriyanyanye samyamagnishu juhvati,
shabdadin vishayan anya indriyagnishu juhvati.
अर्थ: कुछ लोग कान आदि इंद्रियों को संयम की अग्नि में होम करते हैं; दूसरे शब्द आदि विषयों को इंद्रियों की अग्नि में होम करते हैं।
Meaning: Some offer hearing and the other senses into the fires of self-restraint. Others offer sound and the other objects of the senses into the fires of the senses, taking in only what is right.
Verse 4.27
सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे।
आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते॥
Sarvanindriya-karmani prana-karmani chapare,
atma-samyama-yogagnau juhvati jnana-dipite.
अर्थ: कुछ और लोग इंद्रियों के सब काम और प्राणों के सब काम, ज्ञान से जली हुई आत्म-संयम रूपी योग की अग्नि में होम करते हैं।
Meaning: Others offer all the workings of the senses and of the life-breath into the fire of self-mastery, lit by knowledge.
Verse 4.28
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे।
स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः॥
Dravya-yajnas tapo-yajna yoga-yajnas tathapare,
svadhyaya-jnana-yajnash cha yatayah samshita-vratah.
अर्थ: कुछ लोग धन-पदार्थों से यज्ञ करते हैं, कुछ तप से, कुछ योग-साधना से; और कड़े व्रत वाले प्रयत्नशील साधक शास्त्रों के अध्ययन और ज्ञान से यज्ञ करते हैं।
Meaning: Some offer their wealth, some their austerity, some their practice of yoga; and earnest seekers of firm vows offer the study of scripture and knowledge.
Verse 4.29
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे।
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः॥
Apane juhvati pranam prane 'panam tathapare,
prananapana-gati ruddhva pranayama-parayanah.
अर्थ: कुछ लोग प्राण को अपान में होम करते हैं और अपान को प्राण में; प्राणायाम में लगे ये लोग प्राण और अपान की गति को रोकते हैं।
Meaning: Others, devoted to breath control (pranayama), offer the in-breath into the out-breath and the out-breath into the in-breath, holding the movement of both. Texts differ on which breath is called prana and which apana.
Verse 4.30
अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति।
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः॥
Apare niyataharah pranan praneshu juhvati,
sarve 'pyete yajna-vido yajna-kshapita-kalmashah.
अर्थ: कुछ लोग भोजन को नियमित करके प्राणों को प्राणों में होम करते हैं। ये सब यज्ञ को जानने वाले हैं, और यज्ञ से इनके दोष नष्ट हो जाते हैं।
Meaning: Others, eating in measure, offer the life-breaths into the life-breaths. All of these understand sacrifice, and through sacrifice their impurities are worn away.
Verse 4.31
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम्।
नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम॥
Yajna-shishtamrita-bhujo yanti brahma sanatanam,
nayam loko 'styayajnasya kuto 'nyah kuru-sattama.
अर्थ: यज्ञ से बचे अमृत जैसे अन्न को खाने वाले सनातन ब्रह्म को पाते हैं। हे कुरुश्रेष्ठ, जो यज्ञ नहीं करता उसके लिए यह लोक भी सुखद नहीं, तो परलोक कैसे होगा?
Meaning: Those who eat what remains of the offering, which is like nectar, reach the eternal Brahman. For one who offers nothing, even this world is not a home; how then the next, best of the Kurus?
Verse 4.32
एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे।
कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे॥
Evam bahu-vidha yajna vitata brahmano mukhe,
karmajan viddhi tan sarvan evam jnatva vimokshyase.
अर्थ: इस तरह के अनेक प्रकार के यज्ञ वेदों में विस्तार से बताए गए हैं। उन सबको कर्म से उत्पन्न जानो; यह जानकर तुम मुक्त हो जाओगे।
Meaning: In this way many kinds of offering are set out in the Veda (literally “at the mouth of Brahman”). Know that all of them are born of action; knowing this, you will be free.
Verse 4.33
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप।
सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते॥
Shreyan dravya-mayad yajnaj jnana-yajnah parantapa,
sarvam karmakhilam partha jnane parisamapyate.
अर्थ: हे परंतप, धन-पदार्थों से होने वाले यज्ञ से ज्ञान-यज्ञ श्रेष्ठ है। हे पार्थ, सब कर्म पूरी तरह ज्ञान में ही जाकर पूरे होते हैं।
Meaning: Better than an offering of things is the offering of knowledge, Arjuna. All action, without exception, finds its completion in knowledge.
Verses 4.34–4.42: the boat and the fire of knowledge
How knowledge is learned, what it does, and the call to cut doubt and stand up.
Verse 4.34
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः॥
Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya,
upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah.
अर्थ: उस ज्ञान को विनम्र होकर प्रणाम करने से, सच्चे मन से प्रश्न पूछने से और सेवा करने से जानो। सत्य को देख चुके ज्ञानी तुम्हें वह ज्ञान सिखाएँगे।
Meaning: Learn it by bowing in humility, by sincere questions and by service. The wise who have seen the truth will teach you that knowledge.
Verse 4.35
यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव।
येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि॥
Yaj jnatva na punar moham evam yasyasi pandava,
yena bhutanyasheshena drakshyasy atmanyatho mayi.
अर्थ: हे पांडव, उसे जान लेने पर तुम फिर इस तरह मोह में नहीं पड़ोगे; उससे तुम सब प्राणियों को पहले अपने भीतर और फिर मुझमें देखोगे।
Meaning: Once you know it, you will not fall into confusion like this again, Arjuna. Through it you will see all beings, without exception, in yourself and then in me.
Verse 4.36
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः।
सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि॥
Api ched asi papebhyah sarvebhyah papa-krittamah,
sarvam jnana-plavenaiva vrijinam santarishyasi.
अर्थ: अगर तुम सब पापियों में सबसे बड़े पापी भी हो, तो भी ज्ञान की नाव से तुम सारे पाप के सागर को पार कर जाओगे।
Meaning: Even if you were the worst wrongdoer of all, you would cross the whole sea of wrongdoing by the boat of knowledge alone.
Verse 4.37
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा॥
Yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir bhasmasat kurute 'rjuna,
jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha.
अर्थ: हे अर्जुन, जैसे जलती हुई आग लकड़ियों को राख कर देती है, वैसे ही ज्ञान की आग सब कर्मों (के बंधन) को राख कर देती है।
Meaning: As a blazing fire turns firewood to ash, Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all actions, and their binding power, to ash.
Verse 4.38
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति॥
Na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitram iha vidyate,
tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati.
अर्थ: इस संसार में ज्ञान जैसा पवित्र करने वाला और कुछ नहीं है। योग में सिद्ध हुआ व्यक्ति समय आने पर उसे अपने भीतर स्वयं पा लेता है।
Meaning: Nothing in this world purifies like knowledge. One who has matured in yoga finds it, in time, within themselves.
Verse 4.39
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति॥
Shraddhavaml labhate jnanam tat-parah samyatendriyah,
jnanam labdhva param shantim achirenadhigacchati.
अर्थ: श्रद्धा रखने वाला, उसी में लगा हुआ और इंद्रियों को वश में रखने वाला व्यक्ति ज्ञान पाता है; और ज्ञान पाकर वह जल्दी ही परम शांति पा लेता है।
Meaning: One who has faith, who is devoted to it and holds the senses in check, gains knowledge; and having gained it, soon reaches the highest peace.
Verse 4.40
अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति।
नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः॥
Ajnash chashraddadhanash cha samshayatma vinashyati,
nayam loko 'sti na paro na sukham samshayatmanah.
अर्थ: जो अज्ञानी है, श्रद्धा नहीं रखता और हर बात पर संशय करता है, वह नष्ट हो जाता है। संशय में डूबे व्यक्ति के लिए न यह लोक है, न परलोक, न सुख।
Meaning: One who does not know, has no faith and is full of doubt comes to ruin. For a mind ruled by doubt there is neither this world nor the next, nor happiness.
Verse 4.41
योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम्।
आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनंजय॥
Yoga-sannyasta-karmanam jnana-sanchhinna-samshayam,
atmavantam na karmani nibadhnanti dhananjaya.
अर्थ: हे धनंजय, जिसने योग के द्वारा कर्मों को (भगवान को) सौंप दिया है, जिसके संशय ज्ञान से कट चुके हैं, और जो अपने आप में स्थिर है, उसे कर्म नहीं बाँधते।
Meaning: One who has handed over all actions through yoga, whose doubts are cut away by knowledge, and who is master of themselves, is not bound by actions, Arjuna.
Verse 4.42
तस्मादज्ञानसम्भूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनात्मनः।
छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत॥
Tasmad ajnana-sambhutam hrit-stham jnanasinatmanah,
chhittvainam samshayam yogam atishthottishtha bharata.
अर्थ: इसलिए हे भारत, अज्ञान से पैदा हुए, अपने हृदय में बैठे इस संशय को ज्ञान की तलवार से काटकर योग का सहारा लो, और उठ खड़े हो।
Meaning: So, Arjuna, cut this doubt in your heart, born of not knowing, with the sword of knowledge. Take your stand in yoga, and rise.
Chapter colophon
ॐ तत्सदिति श्रीमद्भगवद्गीतासूपनिषत्सु ब्रह्मविद्यायां योगशास्त्रे
श्रीकृष्णार्जुनसंवादे ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगो नाम चतुर्थोऽध्यायः॥
Om tat sad iti shrimad-bhagavad-gitasu upanishatsu brahma-vidyayam yoga-shastre
shri-krishnarjuna-samvade jnana-karma-sannyasa-yogo nama chaturtho 'dhyayah.
अर्थ: ॐ तत् सत्। इस प्रकार उपनिषद रूपी श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता में, जो ब्रह्मविद्या और योगशास्त्र है, श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुन के संवाद में “ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग” नाम का चौथा अध्याय पूरा हुआ।
Meaning: Om tat sat. Thus ends the fourth chapter, called “the yoga of knowledge and the renunciation of action”, in the Bhagavad Gita, an Upanishad, the knowledge of Brahman and a scripture of yoga, in the dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna.
Questions
What does Bhagavad Gita 4.7 (yada yada hi dharmasya) mean?
Krishna says that whenever dharma, the right order of life, grows weak and adharma rises, he brings himself forth into the world. The next verse, 4.8, gives the reason: to protect the good, to end the power of those who do harm, and to set dharma in place again, age after age. Together they are the Gita’s best-known statement about the avatar.
What is “inaction in action” in Gita 4.18?
It describes a person who works fully but without the selfish sense of “I am the doer and this result must be mine”; such work does not bind, so it is as if nothing was done. The other half, “action in inaction”, warns that merely avoiding work, while the mind still craves, is not true freedom.
Why is “brahmarpanam” (4.24) recited before meals?
The verse sees the offering, the fire, the one who offers and the act itself as Brahman. Said before eating, it turns a meal into an offering: the food, the hunger (the “fire” of digestion) and the one who eats are all seen as part of the divine. Many families and schools add 15.14 (“aham vaishvanaro bhutva”) after it.
Does verse 4.13 say caste is fixed by birth?
The verse itself says the four varnas were made “according to qualities and work” (guna and karma); it does not mention birth. Traditional commentators often linked varna to birth, while many modern teachers read it as describing people’s natures and kinds of work. We give the words as they stand and leave the debate to the reader.
Text and sources
The Sanskrit text is public domain. We checked all 42 verses and the colophon one by one against the chapter on Sanskrit Wikisource (“Bhagavadgita/Jnanakarmasannyasayogah”) and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita text of IIT Kanpur’s Gita Supersite (heritage.iitk.ac.in), whose text the open “gita/gita” dataset also reproduces (we used only its Sanskrit), comparing them by program after normalising punctuation and spelling conventions. Where they differ we follow the Gita Press reading, which Wikisource matches here. Two small differences: in 4.29 the IIT Kanpur and dataset text has “prana”, a slip for “pranam”, which Wikisource and Gita Press print; and these two write “tada ’tmanam” (4.7) and similar words with a double avagraha, where we follow the plain Gita Press spelling. The transliteration and meanings are our own.
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