Bg. 3.9 · Bhagavad-gita As It Is

Devanagari

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः । तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥ ९ ॥

Verse text

yajṣārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara

Synonyms

yajṣa-arthāt — done only for the sake of Yajṣa, or Viṣṇu ; karmaṇaḥ — than work ; anyatra — otherwise ; lokaḥ — world ; ayam — this ; karma-bandhanaḥ — bondage by work ; tat — of Him ; artham — for the sake ; karma — work ; kaunteya — O son of Kuntī ; mukta-saṅgaḥ — liberated from association ; samācara — do perfectly.

Translation

Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

9. Without performing actions for the purpose of sacrifice, the people of the world are bound by their actions. O son of Kuntī, perform actions for that purpose, freed from attachment to results.

Translation (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

9. Without performing actions for the purpose of sacrifice, the people of the world are bound by their actions. O son of Kuntī, perform actions for that purpose, freed from attachment to results.

Purport

Since one has to work even for the simple maintenance of the body, the prescribed duties for a particular social position and quality are so made that that purpose can be fulfilled. Yajṣa means Lord Viṣṇu, or sacrificial performances. All sacrificial performances also are meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. The Vedas enjoin: yajṣo vai viṣṇuḥ. In other words, the same purpose is served whether one performs prescribed yajṣas or directly serves Lord Viṣṇu. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is therefore performance of yajṣa as it is prescribed in this verse. The varṇāśrama institution also aims at satisfying Lord Viṣṇu. Varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān/ viṣṇur ārādhyate ( Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.8.8). Therefore one has to work for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu. Any other work done in this material world will be a cause of bondage, for both good and evil work have their reactions, and any reaction binds the performer. Therefore, one has to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to satisfy Kṛṣṇa (or Viṣṇu); and while performing such activities one is in a liberated stage. This is the great art of doing work, and in the beginning this process requires very expert guidance. One should therefore act very diligently, under the expert guidance of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, or under the direct instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself (under whom Arjuna had the opportunity to work). Nothing should be performed for sense gratification, but everything should be done for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This practice will not only save one from the reaction of work, but also gradually elevate one to transcendental loving service of the Lord, which alone can raise one to the kingdom of God.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

“The smṛti scriptures say that one is bound by actions: karmaṇā badhyate jantuḥ. ( Mahābhārata 12.241.7) Therefore, I will become bound by performing actions.” “No, action offered to the Supreme Lord does not bind one.” That is explained in this verse. “Dharma (scriptural duties) offered to Viṣṇu without personal desire is called yajṣa. Persons become bound by karma by any other actions for any other purpose. Therefore you should perform actions (karma -amācara) for the accomplishing such duties (tad-artham).” “But even if I perform actions which are offered to Viṣṇu, if I perform them with desires, then I will still become bound.” “One should become devoid of the desire for results (mukta-saṅgaḥ).” Thus the Lord spoke to Uddhava: sva-dharma-stho yajan yajṣair anāśīḥ-kāma uddhava na yāti svarga-narakau yady anyan na samācaret asmiḹ loke vartamānaḥ sva-dharma-stho ’naghaḥ śuciḥ jṣānaṁ viśuddham āpnoti mad-bhaktiṁ vā yadṛcchayā My dear Uddhava, a person who is situated in his prescribed duty, properly worshiping by Vedic sacrifices but not desiring the fruitive result of such worship, will not go to the heavenly planets; similarly, by not performing forbidden activities he will not go to hell. One who is situated in his prescribed duty, free from sinful activities and cleansed of material contamination, in this very life obtains transcendental knowledge or, by fortune, devotional service unto Me. SB 11.20.10-11

Purport (Baladeva Vidyabhusana)

“But by performing actions, one will become bound up. We hear such statements as karmaṇā badhyate jantur: living entities are bound by actions.” (Mahābhārata 12.241.7) In this verse yajṣa means the Supreme Lord, for the śruti says yajṣo vai viṣṇur: yajṣa is Viṣṇu. (Taittirīya Saṁhitā 1.7.4) “Living entities (ayam lokaḥ) are bound by actions (karma bandhanaḥ) in performing actions for the purpose of self enjoyment, without intending to please Viṣṇu (yajṣārthāt anyatra). Therefore perform actions for the pleasure of Viṣṇu (tad artham). O son of Kuntī, giving up the desire for personal happiness (mukta saṅgaḥ), worshipping Viṣṇu through sacrifices and other means by lawfullly obtained wealth, and maintaining your body with the remnants of the sacrifice, you will not be bound.”

Surrender Unto Me

This Section (3‑9) describes niskama‑karma. Krsna is recommending niskama‑karma, which is work with knowledge and detachment. Niskama‑karma allows the soul who is active by nature, to be purified through detached activities. And higher still when those detached activities are offered to Krsna with devotion ‑ then it is karma‑yoga or bhakti‑yoga. In this jnana platform which Krsna is recommending is not renunciation of work but renunciation of the fruits of one's activities ‑ this is called buddhi‑yoga or niskama‑karma. Now Krsna is going back to the bottom of the yoga ladder and then up, gradually. The next Section is called "From karmakanda to karma yoga". When one comes into this material world is because he has material desires. Practically speaking he is envious of Krsna, he doesn't want to accept that Krsna is the controller or the enjoyer, he has material desire, he wants to enjoy. An anim a human being like an animal enjoys his senses as much as he can without any restrictions ‑ this is just animal life. The vedic civilization or the vedic culture suplies a way that one can satisfy his material desires and become purified rather than degraded. The very bottom of human life which isn't really human life, is when one is try to gratify his senses without any restrictions not following any rules and regulations ‑ this is practically speaking, in the mode of ignorance. The vedic civilization tells one how one can enjoy his material desires, his material attachments by surrender to the vedic formulas can satisfy his senses but surrender to the authority of the vedas ‑ that is called "karma‑kanda". One gets his sense enjoyement but he gets it by surrender to the Vedas. And just by the process of accepting authority of how one goes to himself, this elevates one. Because he is not just doing what he wants, he is accepting authority that is descending. There is some subservience to God in that, and therefore it is purifying. This vedic system is glorious. [ C . FROM KARMA‑KANDA TO KARMA‑YOGA (3. 10‑16) If one cannot perform detached, dutiful work, it is better to follow the karma‑kanda section of the Vedas. But do these Vedic prescribed duties, which prescribe sacrifices, for Krsna's pleasure.]