The Bhagavadgîtâ, with the Sanatsugâtîya and the Anugîtâ — SBE Vol. 8 (trans. K. T. Telang, 1882)
The translator’s English as printed (K. T. Telang). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
From food are born (all) creatures ; from rain is the production of food; rain is produced by sacrifices ; sacrifices are the result of action; know that action has its source in the Vedas; the Vedas come from the Indestructible. Therefore the all-comprehending Vedas are always concerned with sacrifices. He who in this world does not turn round the wheel revolving thus, is of sinful life, indulging his senses, and, O son of Pṛtha! he lives in vain. But the man who is attached to his self only, who is contented in his self, and is pleased with his self*, has nothing to do. He has no interest at all in what is done, and none whatever in what is not done, in this world*; nor is any interest of his dependent on any being. Therefore* always perform action, which must be performed, without attachment. For a man, performing action without attachment, attains the Supreme. By action alone, did Ganaka and the rest work for perfection 5. And having regard also to the keeping of people (to their duties) you should perform action. Whatever a great man does, that other men also do. And people follow whatever he receives as authority. There is nothing, O son of Pṛtha! for me to do in (all) the three worlds,
* The commentators explain this to mean that though the Vedas elucidate all matters, their principal subject is the sacrifice.
* The distinctions here are rather nice,—an ordinary man is ‘attached’ to worldly objects, is ‘contented’ with goods &c., and is ‘pleased’ with special gains.
* No good or evil accrues to him from anything he does or omits to do.
* Sridhara says that Arguna is here told to perform action, as freedom from it is only for the man of true knowledge, which Arguna is not as yet.
* Le. final emancipation ; cf. p. 59 infra, and Îsopanishad, p. 6.
All creatures are born from food; food is produced by rain; rain comes from sacrifices; sacrifices arise from action. Know that action has its source in the Vedas, and the Vedas come from the Indestructible. Therefore the all-comprehending Vedas are always concerned with sacrifices. He who in this world does not keep turning the wheel that thus revolves is sinful in his life, given over to his senses, and, O son of Pṛtha! he lives in vain. But the man who is attached to his self alone, who is content in his self and pleased with his self, has nothing to do. He has no interest at all in what is done or in what is not done in this world, nor does any interest of his depend on any being. Therefore always perform action that must be performed, without attachment. A man who performs action without attachment attains the Supreme. By action alone did Janaka and the rest work for perfection 5. And having regard also to keeping people to their duties, you should perform action. Whatever a great man does, other men do likewise, and people follow whatever he accepts as authority. There is nothing, O son of Pṛtha! for me to do in all the three worlds,
* The commentators explain this to mean that though the Vedas elucidate all matters, their principal subject is the sacrifice.
* The distinctions here are rather nice: an ordinary man is 'attached' to worldly objects, is 'contented' with goods and so on, and is 'pleased' with special gains.
* Nothing he does or leaves undone brings him good or evil.
* Sridhara says that Arjuna is here told to perform action, since freedom from it belongs only to the man of true knowledge — which Arjuna is not yet.
* That is, final emancipation; cf. p. 59 below, and Îsopanishad, p. 6.