atha aṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ Chapter 18

arjuna uvāca
1 saṃnyāsasya mahābāho tatvamicchāmi veditum । tyāgasya ca hṛṣīkeśa pṛthak keśi-niṣūdana ॥
bhagavān uvāca
2 kāmyānāṃ karmaṇāṃ nyāsaṃ saṃnyāsaṃ kavayo viduḥ । sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṃ prāhustyāgaṃ vicakṣaṇāḥ ॥
3 tyājyaṃ doṣa-vadityeke karma prāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ । yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyamiti cāpare ॥
4 niśścayaṃ śṛṇu me tatra tyāge bharata-sattama । tyāgo hi puruṣa-vyāghra tri-vidhaḥ sampra-kīrtitaḥ ॥
5 yajña-dāna-tapaḥ-karma na tyājyaṃ kāryameva tat । yajño dānaṃ tapaścaiva pāvanāni manīṣiṇām ॥
6 etānyapi tu karmāṇi saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalāni ca । kartavyānīti me pārtha niścitaṃ matamuttamam ॥
7 niyatasya tu saṃnyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopa-padyate । mohāt tasya parityāgaḥ tāmasaḥ pari-kīrtitaḥ ॥
8 duḥkhamityeva yat karma kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet । sa kṛtvā rājasaṃ tyāgaṃ naiva tyāga-phalaṃ labhet ॥
9 kāryamityeva yat karma niyataṃ kriyate'rjuna । saṅgaṃ tyaktvā phalaṃ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ ॥
10 na dveṣṭyakuśalaṃ karma kuśale nānu-ṣajjate । tyāgī sattva-samāviṣṭo medhāvī chinna-saṃśayaḥ ॥
11 na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaṃ tyaktuṃ karmāṇyaśeṣataḥ । yastu karma-phala-tyāgī sa tyāgītyabhi-dhīyate ॥
12 aniṣṭamiṣṭaṃ miśraṃ ca tri-vidhaṃ karmaṇaḥ phalam । bhavatyatyāgināṃ pretya na tu saṃnyāsināṃ kvacit ॥
13 pañcaitāni mahā-bāho kāraṇāni nibodha me । sāṅkhye kṛtānte proktāni siddhaye sarva-karmaṇām ॥
14 adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham । vividhāśca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam ॥
15 śarīra-vāṅmanobhiryat karma prārabhate naraḥ । nyāyyaṃ vā viparītaṃ vā pañcaite tasya hetavaḥ ॥
16 tatraivaṃ sati kartāraṃ ātmānaṃ kevalaṃ tu yaḥ । paśyatyakṛta-buddhitvāt na sa paśyati durmatiḥ ॥
17 yasya nāhaṃ-kṛto bhāvo buddhiryasya na lipyate । hatvā'pi sa imān lokān na hanti na nibadhyate ॥
18 jñānaṃ jñeyaṃ pari-jñātā tri-vidhā karma-codanā । karaṇaṃ karma karteti tri-vidhaḥ karma-saṅgrahaḥ ॥
19 jñānaṃ karma ca kartā ca tri-dhaiva guṇa-bhedataḥ । procyate guṇa-saṅkhyāne yathāvacchṛṇu tānyapi ॥
20 sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaṃ bhāvamavyayamīkṣate । avibhaktaṃ vibhakteṣu tajjñānaṃ viddhi sāttvikam ॥
21 pṛthaktvena tu yajjñānaṃ nānā-bhāvān pṛthagvidhān । vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu tajjñānaṃ viddhi rājasam ॥
22 yat tu kṛtsna-vadekasmin kārye saktamahaitukam । atatvārtha-vadalpaṃ ca tat tāmasamudāhṛtam ॥
23 niyataṃ saṅga-rahitaṃ arāga-dveṣataḥ kṛtam । aphala-prepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikamucyate ॥
24 yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṃ-kāreṇa vā punaḥ । kriyate bahulāyāsaṃ tad rājasamudāhṛtam ॥
25 anubandhaṃ kṣayaṃ hiṃsāṃ anapekṣya ca pauruṣam । mohādārabhyate karma yat tat tāmasamucyate ॥
26 mukta-saṅgo'nahaṃ-vādī dhṛtyutsāha-samanvitaḥ । siddhyasiddhyornirvikāraḥ kartā sāttvika ucyate ॥
27 rāgī karma-phala-prepsuḥ lubdho hiṃsātmako'śuciḥ । harṣa-śokānvitaḥ kartā rājasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ॥
28 ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ śaṭho naikṛtiko'lasaḥ । viṣādī dīrgha-sūtrī ca kartā tāmasa ucyate ॥
29 buddherbhedaṃ dhṛteścaiva guṇatastri-vidhaṃ śṛṇu । procyamānamaśeṣeṇa pṛthaktvena dhanaṃ-jaya ॥
30 pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca kāryākārye bhayābhaye । bandhaṃ mokṣaṃ ca yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ॥
31 yayā dharmamadharmaṃ ca kāryaṃ cākāryameva ca । ayathā-vat prajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ॥
32 adharmaṃ dharmamiti yā manyate tamasā''vṛtā । sarvārthān viparītāṃśca buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ॥
33 dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ । yogenāvyabhi-cāriṇyā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī ॥
34 yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛtyā dhārayate'rjuna । prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī ॥
35 yayā svapnaṃ bhayaṃ śokaṃ viṣādaṃ madameva ca । na vimuñcati durmedhā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī ॥
36 sukhaṃ tvidānīṃ tri-vidhaṃ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha । abhyāsād ramate yatra duḥkhāntaṃ ca nigacchati ॥
37 yat tadagre viṣamiva pariṇāme'mṛtopamam । tat sukhaṃ sātvikaṃ proktaṃ ātma-buddhi-prasāda-jam ॥
38 viṣayendriya-saṃyogāt yat tadagre'mṛtopamam । pariṇāme viṣamiva tat sukhaṃ rājasaṃ smṛtam ॥
39 yadagre cānubandhe ca sukhaṃ mohanamātmanaḥ । nidrālasya-pramādotthaṃ tat tāmasamudāhṛtam ॥
40 na tadasti pṛthivyāṃ vā divi deveṣu vā punaḥ । satvaṃ prakṛti-jairmuktaṃ yadebhiḥ syāt tribhirguṇaiḥ ॥
41 brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṃ śūdrāṇāṃ ca paraṃ-tapa । karmāṇi pravi-bhaktāni sva-bhāva-prabhavairguṇaiḥ ॥
42 śamo damastapaḥ śaucaṃ kṣāntirārjavameva ca । jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyaṃ brahma-karma sva-bhāva-jam ॥
43 śauryaṃ tejo dhṛtirdākṣyaṃ yuddhe cāpyapalāyanam । dānamīśvara-bhāvaśca kṣātraṃ karma sva-bhāva-jam ॥
44 kṛṣi-go-rakṣa-vāṇijyaṃ vaiśya-karma sva-bhāva-jam । paricaryātmakaṃ karma śūdrasyāpi sva-bhāva-jam ॥
45 sve sve karmaṇyabhi-rataḥ saṃsiddhiṃ labhate naraḥ । sva-karma-nirataḥ siddhiṃ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
46 yataḥ pravṛttirbhūtānāṃ yena sarvamidaṃ tatam । sva-karmaṇā tamabhyarcya siddhiṃ vindati mānavaḥ ॥
47 śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt । sva-bhāva-niyataṃ karma kurvan nā'pnoti kilbiṣam ॥
48 saha-jaṃ karma kaunteya sa-doṣamapi na tyajet । sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa dhūmenāgnirivā'mṛtāḥ ॥
49 asakta-buddhiḥ sarvatra jitātmā vigata-spṛhaḥ । naiṣkarmya-siddhiṃ paramāṃ saṃnyāsenādhigacchati ॥
50 siddhiṃ prāpto yathā brahma tathā''pnoti nibodha me । samāsenaiva kaunteya niṣṭhā jñānasya yā parā ॥
51 buddhyāviśuddhayā yukto dhṛtyā''tmānaṃ niyamya ca । śabdādīn viṣayāṃstyaktvā rāga-dveṣau vyudasya ca ॥
52 vivikta-sevī laghvāśī yata-vākkāya-mānasaḥ । dhyāna-yoga-paro nityaṃ vairāgyaṃ samupāśritaḥ ॥
53 ahaṃ-kāraṃ balaṃ darpaṃ kāmaṃ krodhaṃ parigraham । vimucya nirmamaḥ śānto brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ॥
54 brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati । samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu madbhaktiṃ labhate parām ॥
55 bhaktyā māmabhi-jānāti yāvān yaścāsmi tattvataḥ । tato māṃ tattvato jñātvā viśate tadanantaram ॥
56 sarva-karmāṇyapi sadā kurvāṇo madvyapāśrayaḥ । matprasādādavāpnoti śāśvataṃ padamavyayam ॥
57 cetasā sarva-karmāṇi mayi saṃnyasya matparaḥ । buddhi-yogamupāśritya maccittaḥ satataṃ bhava ॥
58 maccittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi matprasādāt tariṣyasi । atha cet tvamahaṃ-kārāt na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi ॥
59 yadahaṃ-kāramāśritya na yotsya iti manyase । mithyaiṣa vyavasāyaste prakṛtistvāṃ niyokṣyati ॥
60 sva-bhāva-jena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā । kartuṃ necchasi yanmohāt kariṣyasyavaśo'pi tat ॥
61 īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ hṛddeśe'rjuna tiṣṭhati । bhrāmayan sarva-bhūtāni yantrārūḍhāni māyayā ॥
62 tameva śaraṇaṃ gaccha sarva-bhāvena bhārata । tat-prasādāt parāṃ śāntiṃ sthānaṃ prāpsyasi śāśvatam ॥
63 iti te jñānamākhyātaṃ guhyād guhya-taraṃ mayā । vimṛśśaitadaśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru ॥
64 sarva-guhya-tamaṃ bhūyaḥ śṛṇu me paramaṃ vacaḥ । iṣṭo'si me dṛḍhamiti tato vakṣyāmi te hitam ॥
65 manmanā bhava madbhakto madyājī māṃ namaskuru । māmevaiṣyasi satyaṃ te pratijāne priyo'si me ॥
66 sarva-dharmān parityajya māmekaṃ śaraṇaṃ vraja । ahaṃ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ ॥
67 idaṃ te nātapaskāya nābhaktāya kadācana । na cāśuśrūṣave vācyaṃ na ca māṃ yo'bhyasūyati ॥
68 ya imaṃ paramaṃ guhyaṃ mad-bhakteṣvabhi-dhāsyati । bhaktiṃ mayi parāṃ kṛtvā māmevaiṣyatyasaṃśayaḥ ॥
69 na ca tasmānmanuṣyeṣu kaścinme priya-kṛttamaḥ । bhavitā na ca me tasmāt anyaḥ priya-taro bhuvi ॥
70 adhyeṣyate ca ya imaṃ dharmyaṃ saṃvādamāvayoḥ । jñāna-yajñena tenāhaṃ iṣṭaḥ syāmiti me matiḥ ॥
71 śrraddhā-vānanasūyaśca śṛṇuyādapi yo naraḥ । so'pi muktaḥ śubhān lokān prāpnuyātpuṇya-karmaṇām ॥
72 kaccidetacchrutaṃ pārtha tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā । kaccidajñāna-saṃmohaḥ pranaṣṭaste dhanaṃ-jaya ॥
arjuna uvāca
73 naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtirlabdhā tvat-prasādānmayā'cyuta । sthito'smi gata-sandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava ॥
74 ityahaṃ vāsu-devasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ । saṃvādamimamaśrauṣaṃ adbhutaṃ roma-harṣaṇam ॥
75 vyāsa-prasādācchrutavān etad guhyamahaṃ param । yogaṃ yogeśvarāt kṛṣṇāt sākṣāt kathayataḥ svayam ॥
76 rājan saṃsmṛtya-saṃsmṛtya saṃvādamimamadbhutam । keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaṃ hṛṣyāmi ca muhurmuhuḥ ॥
77 tacca saṃsmṛtya-saṃsmṛtya rūpamatyadbhutaṃ hareḥ । vismayo me mahān rājan hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ-punaḥ ॥
78 yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ । tatra śrīrvijayo bhūtiḥ dhruvā nītirmatirmama ॥

iti aṣṭādaśo'dhyāyaḥ

These are Chapters 25 to 42, presented in the form of a dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, in the Avantara Parva part of Bhishma Maha Parva of the 100,000-verse long Sri Mahabharata Samhita composed by Sri Vedavyasa.