Krishna on Possessiveness and the Song of Desire

Verse 1 (14.13.1)

न बाह्यं द्रव्यमुत्सृज्य सिद्धिर्भवति भारत । शारीरं द्रव्यमुत्सृज्य सिद्धिर्भवति वा न वा ॥

na bāhyaṃ dravyamutsṛjya siddhirbhavati bhārata | śārīraṃ dravyamutsṛjya siddhirbhavati vā na vā

Perfection is not gained by giving up external things, O Bharata; by giving up bodily things, perfection may be gained or may not.

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्धिर्बवति → सिद्धिर्भवति (misprint in Wikisource: ब for भ; CE siddhir bhavati).

Verse 2 (14.13.2)

बाह्यद्रव्यविमुक्तस्य शारीरेषु च गृह्यतः । यो धर्मो यत्सुखं चैव द्विषतामस्तु तत्तव ॥

bāhyadravyavimuktasya śārīreṣu ca gṛhyataḥ | yo dharmo yatsukhaṃ caiva dviṣatāmastu tattava

For one who has let go of external possessions but still clings to bodily ones, whatever dharma and whatever pleasure is yours, let that go to your enemies.

Verse 3 (14.13.3)

द्व्यक्षरस्तु भवेन्मृत्युस्त्र्यक्षरं ब्रह्म शाश्वतम् । ममेति द्व्यक्षरो मृत्युर्नममेति च शाश्वतम् ॥

dvyakṣarastu bhavenmṛtyustryakṣaraṃ brahma śāśvatam | mameti dvyakṣaro mṛtyurnamameti ca śāśvatam

Death is of two syllables, and eternal Brahman of three: "mama" (mine) is the two-syllabled death, and "na mama" (not mine) is the eternal.

Verse 4 (14.13.4)

ब्रह्ममृत्यू ततो राजन्नात्मन्येव व्यवस्थितौ । अदृश्यमानौ भूतानि योधयेतामसंशयम् ॥

brahmamṛtyū tato rājannātmanyeva vyavasthitau | adṛśyamānau bhūtāni yodhayetāmasaṃśayam

Brahman and death, O king, both dwell in the self alone; unseen, they make beings fight, without doubt.

Verse 5 (14.13.5)

अविनाशोऽस्य तत्त्वस्य नियतो यदि भारत । भित्त्वा शरीरं भूतानामहिंसां प्रतिपद्यते ॥

avināśo'sya tattvasya niyato yadi bhārata | bhittvā śarīraṃ bhūtānāmahiṃsāṃ pratipadyate

If the indestructibility of this reality is certain, O Bharata, then one who has broken through the body attains non-injury towards beings.

Verse 6 (14.13.6)

लब्ध्वा हि पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां सहस्थावरजङ्गमाम् । ममत्वं यस्य नैव स्यात्किं तया स करिष्यति ॥

labdhvā hi pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ sahasthāvarajaṅgamām | mamatvaṃ yasya naiva syātkiṃ tayā sa kariṣyati

Even if one wins the whole earth with everything moving and unmoving on it, what will he do with it, if he has no sense of "mine" in it?

Verse 7 (14.13.7)

अथवा वसतः पार्थ वने वन्येन जीवतः । ममता यस्य वित्तेषु मृत्योरास्ये स वर्तते ॥

athavā vasataḥ pārtha vane vanyena jīvataḥ | mamatā yasya vitteṣu mṛtyorāsye sa vartate

Or, Partha, if a man lives in the forest on forest fare, yet has a sense of "mine" for his possessions, he stands in the mouth of death.

Note on the text: Corrected मृत्योरांस्ये → मृत्योरास्ये (misprint in Wikisource: stray anusvara; CE mṛtyor āsye).

Verse 8 (14.13.8)

बाह्यान्तराणां शत्रूणां स्वभावं पश्य भारत । यन्न पश्यति तद्भूतं मुच्यते स महाभयात् ॥

bāhyāntarāṇāṃ śatrūṇāṃ svabhāvaṃ paśya bhārata | yanna paśyati tadbhūtaṃ mucyate sa mahābhayāt

Look at the true nature of enemies, outer and inner, O Bharata. The being that does not see them is freed from great fear.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्यान्तराणां → बाह्यान्तराणां (misprint in Wikisource: ब्राह्य for बाह्य; CE bāhyāntarāṇāṃ).

Verse 9 (14.13.9)

कामात्मानं न प्रशंसन्ति लोके । न चाकामात्का चिदस्ति प्रवृत्तिः । सर्वे कामा मनसोऽङ्गात्प्रसूता । यान्पण्डितः संहरते विचिन्त्य । भूयो भूयो जन्मनोऽभ्यासयोगाद् । योगी योगं सारमार्गं विचिन्त्य ॥

kāmātmānaṃ na praśaṃsanti loke | na cākāmātkā cidasti pravṛttiḥ | sarve kāmā manaso'ṅgātprasūtā | yānpaṇḍitaḥ saṃharate vicintya | bhūyo bhūyo janmano'bhyāsayogād | yogī yogaṃ sāramārgaṃ vicintya

The world does not praise one whose self is desire, yet no action whatever arises without desire. All desires are born of the mind, which is part of oneself, and the wise man draws them in by reflection. By repeated practice, birth after birth, the yogi, reflecting on yoga, comes to the path that is its essence.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (14.13.9 and its star passage 14.13.9b*0031_01-04): Wikisource prints only one broken line here, द्योगी योगं सारमार्गं विचिन्त्य (labelled 14-13-9f, i.e. the sixth line of a verse whose first five lines are lost). Lines 1-2 = CE 14.13.9 lines 1-2 (kāmātmānaṃ na praśaṃsanti loke / na cākāmāt kā cid asti pravṛttiḥ); lines 3-6 = the star passage (sarve kāmā manaso 'ṅgāt prasūtā / yān paṇḍitaḥ saṃharate vicintya / bhūyo bhūyo janmano 'bhyāsayogād / yogī yogaṃ sāramārgaṃ vicintya). The द् at the head of Wikisource's line is the end of line 5 (-योगाद्) and has been moved back; the sixth line is Wikisource's own.

Verse 10 (14.13.10)

दानं हि वेदाध्ययनं तपश्च । कामेन कर्माणि च वैदिकानि । व्रतं यज्ञान्नियमान्ध्यानयोगान् । कामेन यो नारभते विदित्वा । यद्यद्ध्ययं कामयते स धर्मो । न यो धर्मो नियमस्तस्य मूलम् ॥

dānaṃ hi vedādhyayanaṃ tapaśca | kāmena karmāṇi ca vaidikāni | vrataṃ yajñānniyamāndhyānayogān | kāmena yo nārabhate viditvā | yadyaddhyayaṃ kāmayate sa dharmo | na yo dharmo niyamastasya mūlam

Gifts, study of the Vedas, austerity and Vedic rites are all done out of desire. Vows, sacrifices, restraints and the disciplines of meditation: no one begins them without desire, once he understands this. Whatever a man desires is his dharma, and what is not dharma has no discipline as its root.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: Wikisource prints only the last line of this verse, नयो धर्मो नियमस्तस्य मूलम् (labelled 14-13-10e). Lines 1-2 = CE 14.13.9 lines 3-4 (dānaṃ hi vedādhyayanaṃ tapaś ca / kāmena karmāṇi ca vaidikāni); lines 3-6 = CE 14.13.10 (vrataṃ yajñān niyamān dhyānayogān / kāmena yo nārabhate viditvā / yad yad dhy ayaṃ kāmayate sa dharmo / na yo dharmo niyamas tasya mūlam). The last line is Wikisource's own (नयो read as न यो).

Verse 11 (14.13.11)

अत्र गाथाः कामगीताः कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः । शृणु सङ्कीर्त्यमानास्ता अखिलेन युधिष्ठिर ॥

atra gāthāḥ kāmagītāḥ kīrtayanti purāvidaḥ | śṛṇu saṅkīrtyamānāstā akhilena yudhiṣṭhira

On this subject those who know the ancient lore recite the songs of Desire. Hear them as I recite them in full, Yudhishthira.

Verse 12 (14.13.12)

नाहं शक्योऽनुपायेन हन्तुं भूतेन केनचित् ॥

nāhaṃ śakyo'nupāyena hantuṃ bhūtena kenacit

I cannot be killed by any being without the right means.

Note on the text: No alignment was found; this single line is CE 14.13.12 line 1 (12a: nāhaṃ śakyo 'nupāyena hantuṃ bhūtena kena cit); the next verse holds lines 2-3 (12c, 12e).

Verse 13 (14.13.13)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं ज्ञात्वा प्रहरणे बलम् । तस्य तस्मिन्प्रहरणे पुनः प्रादुर्भवाम्यहम् ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ jñātvā praharaṇe balam | tasya tasminpraharaṇe punaḥ prādurbhavāmyaham

Whoever strives to kill me, relying on the strength of his weapon, I appear again in that very stroke.

Note on the text: No alignment was found; the verse is CE 14.13.12 lines 2-3 (12c, 12e).

Verse 14 (14.13.14)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं यज्ञैर्विविधदक्षिणैः । जङ्गमेष्विव धर्मात्मा पुनः प्रादुर्भवाम्यहम् ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ yajñairvividhadakṣiṇaiḥ | jaṅgameṣviva dharmātmā punaḥ prādurbhavāmyaham

Whoever strives to kill me with sacrifices rich in many kinds of fees, I appear again, like a righteous soul among moving beings.

Verse 15 (14.13.15)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं वेदैर्वेदान्तसाधनैः । स्थावरेष्विव भूतात्मा तस्य प्रादुर्भवाम्यहम् ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ vedairvedāntasādhanaiḥ | sthāvareṣviva bhūtātmā tasya prādurbhavāmyaham

Whoever strives to kill me with the Vedas and the practices of the Vedanta, I appear again in him, like the soul of beings among the unmoving.

Verse 16 (14.13.16)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं धृत्या सत्यपराक्रमः । भावो भवामि तस्याहं स च मां नावबुध्यते ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ dhṛtyā satyaparākramaḥ | bhāvo bhavāmi tasyāhaṃ sa ca māṃ nāvabudhyate

Whoever strives to kill me with steadfastness, true in valour, I become a state of his own being, and he does not recognise me.

Verse 17 (14.13.17)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं तपसा संशितव्रतः । ततस्तपसि तस्याथ पुनः प्रादुर्भवाम्यहम् ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ tapasā saṃśitavrataḥ | tatastapasi tasyātha punaḥ prādurbhavāmyaham

Whoever strives to kill me by austerity, firm in his vows, then I appear again in that very austerity of his.

Note on the text: Corrected ततस्पपसि तस्यथ → ततस्तपसि तस्याथ (misprints in Wikisource: स्प for स्त; a dropped long ā; CE tatas tapasi tasyātha).

Verse 18 (14.13.18)

यो मां प्रयतते हन्तुं मोक्षमास्थाय पण्डितः । तस्य मोक्षरतिस्थस्य नृत्यामि च हसामि च । अवध्यः सर्वभूतानामहमेकः सनातनः ॥

yo māṃ prayatate hantuṃ mokṣamāsthāya paṇḍitaḥ | tasya mokṣaratisthasya nṛtyāmi ca hasāmi ca | avadhyaḥ sarvabhūtānāmahamekaḥ sanātanaḥ

Whoever, being wise, strives to kill me by resorting to liberation, at him who delights in liberation I dance and laugh. I alone am eternal and cannot be killed by any being.

Verse 19 (14.13.19)

तस्मात्त्वमपि तं कामं यज्ञैर्विविधदक्षिणैः । धर्मे कुरु महाराज तत्र ते स भविष्यति ॥

tasmāttvamapi taṃ kāmaṃ yajñairvividhadakṣiṇaiḥ | dharme kuru mahārāja tatra te sa bhaviṣyati

Therefore, great king, you too should turn that desire towards dharma through sacrifices rich in many kinds of fees; in that it will be yours.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from काम (carried over from the Desire-song heading) to वासुदेव: the song ends with the previous verse (CE 14.13.17), and this verse is Krishna's application to Yudhishthira.

Verse 20 (14.13.20)

मा ते व्यथाऽस्तु निहतान्बन्धून्वीक्ष्य पुनःपुनः । न शक्यास्ते पुनर्द्रष्टुं ये हतास्मिन्रणाजिरे ॥

mā te vyathā'stu nihatānbandhūnvīkṣya punaḥpunaḥ | na śakyāste punardraṣṭuṃ ye hatāsminraṇājire

Do not grieve, seeing your slain kinsmen again and again. Those who were slain on this field of battle cannot be seen again.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रष्ट्रं → द्रष्टुं (misprint in Wikisource: broken form of the infinitive; CE draṣṭuṃ) and येऽहतास्मिन् → ये हतास्मिन् (misprint in Wikisource: the avagraha would read 'who were not slain' and reverse the sense; CE ye hatāsmin). Speaker corrected from काम to वासुदेव (carried over). The CE has a verse between the previous verse and this one, 14.13.19 (yajasva vājimedhena vidhivad dakṣiṇāvatā / anyaiś ca vividhair yajñaiḥ samṛddhair āptadakṣiṇaiḥ), which the page does not contain (its numbering runs 19, 20, 21 without a gap), so nothing is restored.

Verse 21 (14.13.21)

स त्वमिष्ट्वा महायज्ञैः समृद्धैराप्तदक्षिणैः । कीर्तिं लोके परां प्राप्य गतिमग्र्यां गमिष्यसि ॥

sa tvamiṣṭvā mahāyajñaiḥ samṛddhairāptadakṣiṇaiḥ | kīrtiṃ loke parāṃ prāpya gatimagryāṃ gamiṣyasi

Having offered great and rich sacrifices with ample fees, you will win supreme fame in the world and go to the highest goal.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from काम to वासुदेव (carried over).