The chapter where the teacher reveals who has been teaching all along. This yoga was first taught to the Sun · and the one saying so is standing on a battlefield, wearing a human body, speaking to his friend.
It carries the most famous promise in scripture · yada yada hi dharmasya, I return age after age · and closes with a sword: cut the doubt from your heart with your own knowledge, stand in yoga, and rise.
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Every Verse
Devanagari · transliteration · meaning
BG 4.1-3
Imam Vivasvate Yogam
इमं विवस्वते योगम्
Krishna opens the fourth chapter across deep time: this yoga was first taught to the Sun. And it returns today · because Arjuna is his bhakta and his sakha.
इसी परम्परा से राजर्षियों ने इसे जाना · पर महाकाल के प्रवाह में यह योग खो गया।
Received through lineage, the royal sages knew it · but by mighty time it was lost to the world.
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः । भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥४.३॥
sa evayam maya te 'dya yogah proktah puratanah · bhakto 'si me sakha cheti rahasyam hy etad uttamam
वही पुरातन योग आज मैंने तुझसे कहा · क्योंकि तू मेरा भक्त और मेरा सखा है · यह परम रहस्य है।
That same ancient yoga I speak to you TODAY · for you are my devotee and my friend · this is the supreme secret.
BG 4.4
Aparam Bhavato Janma
अपरं भवतो जन्म
Arjuna does the arithmetic against eternity: your birth is recent, the Sun's is primordial. How am I to understand this? The honest question that unlocks the avatar revelation.
अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः । कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥४.४॥
आपका जन्म तो अभी का है · और सूर्य का जन्म सृष्टि के आरम्भ का · मैं कैसे समझूँ कि आपने ही आदि में यह योग कहा था?
Your birth is recent · the Sun's is from the dawn of creation · how then shall I understand that YOU taught it in the beginning?
BG 4.5-6
Bahuni Me Vyatitani
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि
The answer is bigger than the question: many births of MINE · and of YOURS. I remember them all. Unborn, imperishable, Lord of all beings · and still I take birth, by my own maya.
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन । तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥४.५॥
bahuni me vyatitani janmani tava charjuna · tany aham veda sarvani na tvam vettha parantapa
हे अर्जुन · मेरे भी बहुत जन्म बीते हैं और तेरे भी · मैं उन सबको जानता हूँ · पर तू नहीं जानता।
Many births of mine have passed, Arjuna · and of yours · I know them all · you do not.
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् । प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ॥४.६॥
ajo 'pi sann avyayatma bhutanam ishvaro 'pi san · prakritim svam adhishthaya sambhavamy atma-mayaya
मैं अजन्मा और अविनाशी हूँ · सब प्राणियों का ईश्वर हूँ · फिर भी अपनी प्रकृति को आधार बनाकर अपनी योगमाया से जन्म लेता हूँ।
Though unborn, imperishable, Lord of all beings · standing upon my own nature, I come into being through my own maya.
BG 4.7-8
Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य
The most famous promise in the Bhagavad Gita. Whenever dharma declines · then I create myself. To protect the good, to destroy the wicked, to establish dharma · age after age after age.
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥४.७॥
paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritam · dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge
साधुओं की रक्षा के लिए · दुष्टों के विनाश के लिए · और धर्म की स्थापना के लिए · मैं हर युग में जन्म लेता हूँ।
To shelter the good, to break the wicked, to plant dharma firm again · I take birth age after age.
BG 4.9-10
Janma Karma Cha Me Divyam
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यम्
Know the divine birth in truth · and rebirth ends. You come to Me. And many have already walked through: freed of craving, fear and anger, purified in the fire of knowledge.
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्वतः । त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥४.९॥
janma karma cha me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah · tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna
मेरे जन्म और कर्म दिव्य हैं · जो इन्हें तत्व से जान लेता है · वह देह छोड़ने पर फिर जन्म नहीं लेता · वह मुझ तक आता है।
My birth and action are divine · who knows this in essence takes no rebirth · he comes to ME.
karmano hy api boddhavyam boddhavyam cha vikarmanah · akarmanash cha boddhavyam gahana karmano gatih
कर्म को भी समझना होगा · विकर्म को भी · और अकर्म को भी · क्योंकि कर्म की गति बहुत गहरी है।
Action must be understood, wrong action must be understood, inaction must be understood · deep is the way of karma.
BG 4.18
Karmany Akarma Yah Pashyet
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येत्
The Gita's great paradox: who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction · he is the wise among humans, yoked, the doer of all action.
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः । स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥४.१८॥
karmany akarma yah pashyed akarmani cha karma yah · sa buddhiman manushyeshu sa yuktah kritsna-karma-krit
जो कर्म में अकर्म देखता है और अकर्म में कर्म · वही मनुष्यों में बुद्धिमान है · वही योगयुक्त · वही सम्पूर्ण कर्मों का करने वाला।
Who sees inaction in action and action in inaction · he is the wise among humans, he is yoked, the doer of all action.
BG 4.19-21
Jnana Agni Dagdha Karmanam
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणम्
The portrait of the pandit: desire-free undertakings, karmas burnt in the fire of knowledge, ever content, doing everything · doing nothing · unstained.
जिसकी पकड़ छूट गई · जो मुक्त है · जिसका मन ज्ञान में ठहरा है · जो यज्ञ के लिए कर्म करता है · उसका सारा कर्म फल समेत घुल जाता है।
For one unattached, freed, mind established in knowledge, acting for yajña · karma dissolves entire.
BG 4.24
Brahmarpanam Brahma Havih
ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविः
The shloka India says before food · given its full cosmic weight. The offering, the oblation, the fire, the offerer · all Brahman · and Brahman alone is reached.
अर्पण भी ब्रह्म है · आहुति भी ब्रह्म · ब्रह्म की अग्नि में ब्रह्म ही अर्पित करता है · जो कर्म में ब्रह्म देखता है वह ब्रह्म को ही पाता है।
Brahman is the offering, Brahman the oblation, into the Brahman-fire, offered by Brahman · Brahman alone is reached by one absorbed in Brahman-action.
BG 4.25-27
Daivam Eva Apare Yajnam
दैवमेवापरे यज्ञम्
The gallery of fires: deva-worship, the Brahman-fire, senses into restraint, the world into the senses · and everything, breath included, into the fire lit by knowledge.
और कोई इन्द्रियों और प्राणों के सब कर्म · ज्ञान से जली आत्म-संयम योग की अग्नि में होम देते हैं।
Others offer all actions of sense and breath into the fire of self-mastery · lit by knowledge.
BG 4.28-30
Dravya Yajnas Tapo Yajnah
द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञाः
Wealth, tapas, yoga, study, sharpened vows · and the breath fires: prana into apana, both flows stopped. All of these know yajña · and yajña burns their stains away.
कोई नपा-तुला खाकर प्राणों को प्राणों में होम देते हैं · ये सब यज्ञ को जानने वाले हैं · यज्ञ ने इनके मैल धो दिए हैं।
Others, regulated in food, offer breaths into breaths · ALL these are knowers of yajña, their stains destroyed by yajña.
BG 4.31-32
Yajna Shishta Amrita Bhujah
यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजः
What remains after the offering is nectar · and it leads to eternal Brahman. For the one who never offers, not even this world. Knowing this, you are released.
ऐसे कितने ही यज्ञ वेद रूपी ब्रह्म के मुख से फैले हैं · इन सबको कर्म से जन्मा जान · यह जानकर तू मुक्त हो जाएगा।
Thus many kinds of yajña spread from the mouth of Brahman · know them all born of karma · knowing this, you will be released.
BG 4.33-34
Tad Viddhi Pranipatena
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन
Higher than every material yajña: the yajña of knowledge. And the way to it is the humblest road in the Gita · bow, ask, serve · and the seers of truth will teach you.
हे परन्तप · द्रव्यमय यज्ञों से ऊँचा है ज्ञान का यज्ञ · क्योंकि हे पार्थ · सारे के सारे कर्म ज्ञान में ही आकर पूरे होते हैं।
Higher than the yajña of materials is the yajña of knowledge · for all karma, without remainder, completes itself in knowing.
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्वदर्शिनः ॥४.३४॥
tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya · upadekshyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darshinah
उस ज्ञान को झुक कर प्रणाम करके · खुल कर पूछ कर · और सच्ची सेवा करके जान · तत्व को देख चुके ज्ञानी तुझे सिखा देंगे।
Know it by prostration, by sincere questioning, by service · the knowers who have SEEN the truth will teach you.
BG 4.35-36
Api Ched Asi Papebhyah
अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः
Never again the fog of delusion · all beings seen in the Self, and in Me. And the widest mercy in the chapter: even the worst of all sinners crosses over · on the boat of knowledge.
api ched asi papebhyah sarvebhyah papa-krittamah · sarvam jnana-plavenaiva vrijinam santarishyasi
और अगर तू सब पापियों से भी बड़ा पापी हो · तब भी ज्ञान की नाव से तू सारे पाप-सागर को पार कर जाएगा।
Even were you the most sinning of all sinners · by the boat of knowledge alone you will cross the whole sea of sin.
BG 4.37-38
Jnanagnih Sarva Karmani
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि
As kindled fire turns fuel to ash · so the fire of knowledge turns ALL karma to ash. Nothing in this world purifies like knowledge · found in time, within.
यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन । ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥४.३७॥
जैसे भड़की हुई आग ईंधन को राख कर देती है · वैसे ही ज्ञान की अग्नि सारे कर्मों को राख कर देती है।
As a kindled fire reduces firewood to ash · so the fire of knowledge reduces all karma to ash.
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते । तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥४.३८॥
na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitram iha vidyate · tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati
इस जगत में ज्ञान के जैसा पवित्र कुछ भी नहीं · जो योग में पक चुका है वह समय आने पर इसे अपने ही भीतर पा लेता है।
Nothing here purifies like knowledge · the one ripened in yoga finds it, in time, within himself.
BG 4.39-40
Shraddhavan Labhate Jnanam
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानम्
The faithful, striving, self-mastered one gains knowledge · and soon, supreme peace. But the doubt-souled one loses everything: this world, the next, and happiness itself.