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भवार्जुन’ इति ।‘स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः ।स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु ॥यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम् ।स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः’ इति ।तथा चाह याज्ञवल्क्यः—‘तथाविपक्वकरण आत्मज्ञानस्य न क्षमः’ इति ।यस्मात् विशुद्धसत्त्वस्यैव नित्यानित्यविवेकद्वारेण मोक्षसाधनज्ञाननिष्पत्तिः; तस्मात्सत्त्वशुद्ध्यर्थं सर्वेश्वरमुद्दिश्य सर्वाणि वाङ्मनःकायलक्षणानि श्रौतस्मार्तानि कर्माणि समाचरेत् यावद्विशुद्धसत्त्व इहामुत्रफलभोगविरागो योगारूढो भवति ।तथा चाह भगवान्—‘आरुरुक्षोर्मुनेर्योगं कर्म कारणमुच्यते’ इति, ‘संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दुःखमाप्तुमयोगतः’ इति ।तस्य लक्षणमुक्तम्—‘यदा हि नेन्द्रियार्थेषु न कर्मस्वनुषज्जते ।सर्वसङ्कल्पसंन्यासी योगारूढस्तदोच्यते’ इति ।यस्तु पुनरेवं यज्ञदानादिना विशुद्धसत्त्व इहामुत्रफलभोगविरागो योगारूढो भवति, तस्य शम एव कारणं न कर्म ।तथा चोक्तम्—‘योगारूढस्य तस्यैव शमः कारणमुच्यते’ इति ।यस्माद्योगारूढस्य शम एव कारणं न कर्म, तस्माच्छमदमादिसाधनसंपन्नः श्रवणादिसमन्वितः ‘योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः ।निराशीर्यतचित्ता
In plain words
Behold this, O Arjuna! 'A person devoted to his own duty attains spiritual perfection. Hear how one finds perfection while engaged in his work: by worshipping through his own duty Him from whom all beings originate and by whom this entire universe is pervaded, a human being attains perfection.' As Sage Yājñavalkya declares: 'One whose mind and senses are unpurified is incapable of attaining Self-knowledge.' Because the liberating knowledge of reality arises exclusively in a purified mind through the power of discrimination between the eternal and the transient, one must perform all Vedic and traditional duties of speech, mind, and body as an offering to the Supreme Lord. This must be continued until the mind is cleansed, dispassion towards all worldly and heavenly enjoyments arises, and one becomes established in yoga readiness. As the Lord stated: 'Action is said to be the means for the sage who wishes to climb to yoga; but renunciation, O mighty-armed Arjuna, is difficult to reach without yoga.' Its mark is further defined: 'When a person ceases to be attached to sense objects and actions, and abandons all personal desires and resolves, he is said to be established in yoga.' When through sacrifices, charity, and other duties one's mind is thus purified, and dispassion towards all enjoyments is attained, for that person tranquility alone is the means, not action. As it is said: 'Tranquility is said to be the cause for one who has ascended to yoga.' Since tranquility alone is the path for such a yogi, equipped with inner and outer control as well as scriptural hearing, 'he should constantly practice meditation in solitude, free from all desires and possessions, with his mind and body completely disciplined.'
Close to the Sanskrit
Become [that], O Arjuna! 'A man devoted to his own duty attains perfection; hear how he finds perfection while engaged in his duty. From whom is the activity of beings, by whom all this is pervaded, having worshipped him through his own duty, a man attains perfection,' and so on. And Yajnavalkya states: 'One whose instruments are un-ripened is not capable of self-knowledge.' Because the accomplishment of knowledge, which is the means to liberation, arises solely for one of purified mind through the doorway of discrimination between the eternal and transient, therefore for the purification of the mind, dedicating all actions of speech, mind, and body, prescribed by Sruti and Smriti, to the supreme Lord, one should perform them until, with purified mind, he becomes detached from the enjoyment of fruits here and hereafter, and ascended to yoga. And so the Lord said: 'Action is said to be the cause for the sage who desires to ascend; renunciation, O mighty-armed one, is difficult to attain without yoga.' Its characteristic was stated: 'When indeed one is not attached to sensory objects or to actions, as the renouncer of all resolves, then he is called ascended to yoga.' But whoever, having become purified in mind through sacrifice, charity, etc., in this manner, and being detached from the enjoyment of fruits here and hereafter, has ascended to yoga, for him tranquility alone is the cause, not action. And so it is said: 'Tranquility is said to be the cause for him who has ascended to yoga.' Since tranquility alone is the cause for one ascended to yoga and not action, therefore the yogi, endowed with means such as control of mind and senses, equipped with hearing and other practices, 'should constantly engage the self in meditation, remaining in a secluded place, free from desires, with controlled mind and body, having abandoned all possessions.'