Chapter 3: Karma Yoga, The Yoga of Action

Maa Sita Ram sharanam!

Shri Hanuman sharanam!

Shri Krishna Arjuna sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 3.6: If our mind is constantly thinking of sense objects, then restraining body's senses does not help. We need to streamline our thought process.

Verse 3.8: We must always carry out our righteous duties (karma), as doing so is better than not doing anything.

Verse 3.9: If we carry out our righteous duties (karma) as a dedication and sacrifice for our Dear Lord, and our karma are for His satisfaction, then we will not be bound by results of our karma.

Verse 3.17: For a person whose source of happiness is in his true self of atman, such a person attains true peace and joy; for him, there is no karma.

Verse 3.19: Carryout your karma as a duty without attachment to its results/rewards/fruits. This is the path to supreme peace and happiness.

Verse 3.22: Shri Krishna says to Arjuna, there is no karma in the three worlds that is prescribed for Me, still I am engaged in karma to set an example for all.

Verse 3.23: Shri Krishna says to Arjuna, if I don't carry out karma, then people will follow my example and lose faith in karma yoga.

Verse 3.25: Wise and learned people should carry out their karma without attachment to its results/rewards/fruits, and set an example for others to follow this right path of karma yoga.

Verse 3.36: Arjuna asks Shri Krishna, why are we sometimes compelled by force to do sinful acts even if we know it is not good to do so.

Verse 3.37: Shri Krishna replies, selfish/material desires (कामना) are the reason for sinful actions. When these selfish desires are not fulfilled anger and unrest arise that destroys a person's peace and happiness.

Verse 3.38: As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust; selfish/material desires (कामना) cover jiva atmas pure divine nature of sat-chit-ananda (divine truth-consciousness-happiness).

Verse 3.39: Selfish/material desires (कामना) burn in a jiva atmas mind and intellect like a never-ending fire and cover his true divine nature of sat-chit-ananda.

Verse 3.40: Selfish/material desires reside in our mind and intellect. Strong desires shape our intellect, which ultimately shapes our karma and destiny. These desires overcome our true divine nature of sat-chit-ananda.

Verse 3.41: O Arjuna, by constant practice you must discipline your body's senses, mind, and intellect, and take them on the path of real peace and happiness instead of selfish desires.

Verse 3.42: Mind is higher than body's senses, intellect is higher than the mind and self (jiva atma) is higher than intellect.

Verse 3.43: Knowing the self (jiva atma) to be higher than body, mind, and intellect, we should try to overcome our internal enemy of selfish/material desires with constant effort and spiritual knowledge.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Nanda-nandan sharanam!