Jnana Karma Sannyas Yoga
Jnana Karma Sannyas Yoga • 42 verses
Krishna reveals that he has taught this imperishable yoga in former ages and explains the mystery of divine incarnation. He then teaches how knowledge liberates the karma yogi — how right action combined with wisdom burns all karmic residue.
Chapter Overview
Krishna says something startling here: he has taught this before, long ago, and the teaching was lost. Arjuna, reasonably, points out that Krishna was born well after those kings. Krishna's reply is that they have both lived many lives; only one of them remembers.
That opens into the promise the chapter is known for. Whenever righteousness fades and wrongdoing rises, he takes form again — not once, but as often as it is needed.
The practical teaching follows. Action does not bind you; attachment to it does. A person who acts without grasping is free while still working, and Krishna calls this seeing action in inaction, and inaction in action — a knot worth sitting with rather than solving quickly.
Knowledge is what burns the residue. Whatever has accumulated behind you, Krishna says, wisdom reduces it to ash the way fire reduces wood. Seek it from those who have seen the truth, and ask honestly.
Key Verses
श्रीभगवानुवाच | इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् | विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ||४-१||
śrībhagavānuvāca . imaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavānahamavyayam . vivasvānmanave prāha manurikṣvākave.abravīt ||4-1||
The Blessed Lord said: I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः | स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ||४-२||
evaṃ paramparāprāptamimaṃ rājarṣayo viduḥ . sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa ||4-2||
This, handed down thus in regular succession, the royal sages knew. This Yoga, by long lapse of time, has been lost here, O Parantapa (burner of the foes).
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः | भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ||४-३||
sa evāyaṃ mayā te.adya yogaḥ proktaḥ purātanaḥ . bhakto.asi me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam ||4-3||
That same ancient Yoga has been today taught to thee by Me, for thou art My devotee and My friend; it is the supreme secret.
अर्जुन उवाच | अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः | कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ||४-४||
arjuna uvāca . aparaṃ bhavato janma paraṃ janma vivasvataḥ . kathametadvijānīyāṃ tvamādau proktavāniti ||4-4||
Arjuna said: Later on was Thy birth, and prior to it was the birth of Vivasvan (the Sun); how am I to understand that Thou taughtest this Yoga in the beginning?
श्रीभगवानुवाच | बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन | तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ||४-५||
śrībhagavānuvāca . bahūni me vyatītāni janmāni tava cārjuna . tānyahaṃ veda sarvāṇi na tvaṃ vettha parantapa ||4-5||
The Blessed Lord said: Many births of Mine have passed as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know them all but thou knowest not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes).