Karma Yoga Inspirations
A few thoughts on the teachings of Karma Yoga. A few phrases to speak the language.
Of Karma Yoga and liberation
jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ karma-yogena yoginām
Gyana Yoga is the path to liberation for a few philosophers. For others, Karma Yoga is the means.
Of Universal material nature and Need to Act..
na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit
Not a moment can ever pass without any action
sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ
The material nature compels action
Of Unbaked control and desire..
karmendriyāṇi sanyamya ya āste manasā smaran
restraining senses but thinking about it in the mind.
Aligning mind and senses
yas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjuna
aligning and controlling the senses and the mind
Yagna — Freedom from bondage ..
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
Perform your work like Yagna.. otherwise it will cause bondage.
Creator’s workflow and Conservation of energy.
saha-yajñāḥ prajāḥ sṛiṣhṭvā purovācha prajāpatiḥ
This world was created as a big yagna.
parasparaṁ bhāvayantaḥ śhreyaḥ param avāpsyatha
They pleased each other and there was abundance of goodness.
karma brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam
tasmāt sarva-gataṁ brahma nityaṁ yajñe pratiṣhṭhitam
The acts were defined by the creator and he was born from the absolute. In every act of a yagna service, he is therefore present.

A contented person’s work is no big work
yas tvātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛiptaśh cha mānavaḥ
No work is big deal for a person who is contended in self
Out of harmony -A conceited man
tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ
He who enjoys without acknowledging the cycle behind him is indeed a thief
aghāyur indriyārāmo moghaṁ pārtha sa jīvati
He who does not follow the cycle and lies in the leisure of his senses..he is wasting his life
Ode to the teachers, statesmen, industrialists, reformists and the countless Karma Yogis..
kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham
The great scholars leave aside their personal agenda and work very focussed for the welfare of the subjects.
On Role Modelling
yad yad ācharati śhreṣhṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ
The world resonates on the acts and standards set by the great leaders.
Carelessness and Entropy — be it Nature, Society, Home or Self
yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ
If I conduct myself carelessly, people would follow my steps.
utsīdeyur ime lokā na kuryāṁ karma ched aham
I cause disharmony in people when I act carelessly.
Excite people around. Stop imposing.
na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām
joṣhayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān yuktaḥ samācharan
Disharmony should not be caused in ordinary people who are attached with the results. Instead they should be excited by the wise men to perform work with enthusiasm.
Unity in Diversity — Lens of seeing attributes in Action
ahankāra-vimūḍhātmā kartāham iti manyate
The conceited man thinks he is the doer of the work
guṇā guṇeṣhu vartanta iti matvā na sajjate
The wise men know that it is the gunas and attributes under the hood which are in action.. Hence they dont get attached.
Unload yourself and tread your path
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-chetasā
nirāśhīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ
Submit everything unto me. Leave aside you desire, ego, passion and get going your orbit.
Dharma of the self. Flow in your Nature. Newton’s first law and Inertia of Motion
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
swa-dharme nidhanaṁ śhreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ
It is better to follow one’s nature even if it is not well established rather than following other’s dharma. For it is fearless to be in one’s orbit of dharma.
What is the point of Suppression? Newton’s third law..
prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati
Every being follows it’s nature. What’s the point of suppression?
The impending Force of obstacles.
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau
The likes and dislikes are very deep seated in the senses
kāma eṣha krodha eṣha rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśhano mahā-pāpmā viddhyenam iha vairiṇam
Desire and Anger that are born our of Rajo guna are indeed very voracious and the real enemies.
Know yourself, Uncover and Recalibarate Reorganise self..
evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanā
jahi śhatruṁ mahā-bāho kāma-rūpaṁ durāsadam
Knowing the hierarchy of body-senses-mind-intellect and superiority of soul.. uncover the desire at each of the layers and reestablish yourself with the guidance of the self.
