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Shloka 14

ध्यानयोगः — Dhyāna-Yoga

Discipline of Meditation and Mental Restraint

ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र--इन चार वर्णोंका समूह गुण और कर्मोंके विभागपूर्वक मेरे द्वारा रचा गया है।* इस प्रकार उस सृष्टि-रचनादि कर्मका कर्ता होनेपर भी मुझ अविनाशी परमेश्वरको तू वास्तवमें अकर्ता ही जानः ।।

cāturvarṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma-vibhāgaśaḥ | tasya kartāram api māṁ viddhy akartāram avyayam || na māṁ karmāṇi limpanti na me karma-phale spṛhā | iti māṁ yo 'bhijānāti karmabhir na sa badhyate ||

Die vierfache Ordnung—brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya und śūdra—habe ich hervorgebracht, unterschieden nach der Verteilung der Eigenschaften und nach der Art der Werke, die sie verrichten. Und doch, obgleich ich der Ursprung dieser Ordnung bin, erkenne mich wahrhaft als Nicht-Handelnden und Unvergänglichen. Handlungen beflecken mich nicht, und nach der Frucht der Handlung begehre ich nicht. Wer mich in dieser Wahrheit erkennt, wird auch durch Handlungen nicht gebunden.

not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
Formcommon, accusative, singular
कर्माणिactions
कर्माणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
Formneuter, nominative, plural
लिम्पन्तिstain/taint (bind)
लिम्पन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootलिप्
Formpresent, third, plural, parasmaipada
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मेof me / my
मे:
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
Formcommon, genitive, singular
कर्मफलेin the fruit of action
कर्मफले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मफल
Formneuter, locative, singular
स्पृहाdesire/longing
स्पृहा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootस्पृहा
Formfeminine, nominative, singular
इतिthus
इति:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति
माम्me
माम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
Formcommon, accusative, singular
यःwho
यः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootयद्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
अभिजानातिknows/recognizes
अभिजानाति:
TypeVerb
Rootज्ञा
Formpresent, third, singular, parasmaipada
कर्मभिःby actions
कर्मभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकर्मन्
Formneuter, instrumental, plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formmasculine, nominative, singular
बध्यतेis bound
बध्यते:
TypeVerb
Rootबन्ध्
Formpresent, third, singular, atmanepada, passive

अजुन उवाच

A
Arjuna
K
Krishna (the Lord speaking in the verse content)
B
brāhmaṇa
K
kṣatriya
V
vaiśya
Ś
śūdra

Educational Q&A

The Lord explains that social roles are differentiated by qualities (guṇa) and work (karma), yet the Supreme remains untouched by action and desire for results. Knowing this truth supports Karma-yoga: performing one’s duty without possessive attachment, thereby avoiding bondage.

In the midst of the Kurukṣetra teaching, Krishna addresses Arjuna’s moral confusion about action and responsibility. He clarifies how duty can be performed without spiritual entanglement by understanding the Lord’s transcendence and by relinquishing craving for outcomes.