THE BHAGAVAD GITA Chapter 4
Excerpts from God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita
by Paramahansa Yogananda
The Path of Knowledge — Jnana Yoga
IV:1-2
The exalted Lord said to Arjuna:
I gave this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvat (the sun-god); Vivasvat passed on the knowledge to Manu (the Hindu lawgiver); Manu told it to Ikshvaku (founder of the solar dynasty of the Kshatriyas). Handed down in this way in orderly succession, the Rajarishis (royal rishis) knew it. But, O Scorcher of Foes (Arjuna)! by the long passage of time, this Yoga was lost sight of on earth. [—Commentary]
IV:11
O Partha (Arjuna)! in whatever way people are devoted to Me, in that measure I manifest Myself to them. All men, in every manner (of seeking Me), pursue a path to Me. [—Commentary]
Freedom from Karma
IV:17
The nature of karma (action) is very difficult to know. Verily, in order to understand fully the nature of proper action, one has also to understand the nature of contrary (wrong) action and the nature of inaction. [—Commentary]
IV:22
That man of action is free from karma who receives with contentment whatever befalls him, who is poised above the dualities, who is devoid of jealousy or envy or enmity, and who looks equally on gain and loss. [—Commentary]
Brahman (God) is Everywhere & in All Beings
IV:24
The process of offering and the oblation itself—both are Spirit. The fire and he who makes oblation into it are other forms of Spirit. By realizing this, being absorbed in Brahman (Spirit) during all activities, verily such a one goes to Spirit alone. [—Commentary]
Alternative translation:
For those who are completely absorbed in God-consciousness, the oblation is Brahman, the ladle [long-handled spoon] with which it is offered is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, and the sacrificial fire is also Brahman. Such persons, who view everything as God, easily attain him.
Kriya Yoga — Pranayama
IV:29
Other devotees offer as sacrifice the incoming breath of prana in the outgoing breath of apana, and the outgoing breath of apana in the incoming breath of prana, thus arresting the cause of inhalation and exhalation (rendering breath unnecessary) by intent practice of pranayama (the life-control technique of Kriya Yoga). [—Commentary]
Wisdom & Ignorance
IV:38
Verily, nothing else in this world is as sanctifying as wisdom. In due course of time, the devotee who is successful in yoga will spontaneously realize this within his Self. [—Commentary]
IV:40
The ignorant, the man lacking in devotion, the doubt-filled man, ultimately perishes. The unsettled individual has neither this world (earthly happiness), nor the next (astral happiness), nor the supreme happiness of God. [—Commentary]
Raja Yoga ('the Royal Yoga')
IV:41
O Winner of Wealth (Arjuna), he who has relinquished work by yoga, and who has torn apart his doubts by wisdom, becomes poised in the Self; actions do not entangle him. [—Commentary]
IV:42
Therefore, O Descendant of Bharata (Arjuna), arise! Take shelter in yoga, slashing with the sword of wisdom this ignorance-born doubt existing in thy heart about the Self! [—Commentary]
