Bhagavad Gita Summary - Chapter 3

Karm Yog (Yog of Action)

Summary Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 1-2

After Kaal preaches Arjun about Knowledge and action, in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 1-2, Arjun questions Shri Krishna (Kaal was inside the body of Shri Krishna), “If you consider knowledge superior to actions, then why are you misleading me? Please give me the right advice for my welfare. These contradictory statements of yours are misleading me.”

Baseless way of Worship | Summary Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 3-8

Verse 3 to 8 – God says, in this lok (universe), the learned think highly of knowledge; and yogi, of karmyog (related to actions); nevertheless, there is no one who can avoid doing actions. So, inaction is not possible and just by giving up actions also, one can not achieve the goal (siddhi-supernatural power/ spiritual success). Because, the three gunas (Rajgun-Brahma, Satgun-Vishnu, Tamgun-Shiv) born of Maya (Prakriti), out of their nature, forcefully make the living beings perform actions. Those foolish devotees (sadhak) who forcefully control their senses of actions and sit in meditation, their mind continues to be overwhelmed by the influence of the senses of knowledge. Because of pretensions, those people appear to be in meditation. They are frauds i.e. by abandoning actions, one can not do worship. One should keep performing desirable actions, and by knowledge keep one’s mind and senses engrossed in good deeds. The actions which are performed in accordance with the scriptures are best and if you will not perform worldly actions, then how will you earn bread (sustain family)? 

The essence of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 6 to 9  is that it has been forbidden to sit in special posture in a secluded place, close eyes- ears etc, and forcefully meditate. Worship according to the method mentioned in holy scriptures, has been described as meritorious. 

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse 7, it is said, “Remember me all the time and also fight. Thus, by following my orders i.e. by doing worship besides performing worldly acts, you will achieve me.”

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse 8-10 it has been explained that even if you worship ‘that God’ i.e. Supreme God, (whose description has been given in 18:62 and 15:1-4), that too has to be done after taking initiation from a ‘Tattavdarshi saint’ while performing worldly acts. That devotee after death goes to that divine Supreme God. The indication of a Tattavdarshi saint is given in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 34. This evidence is also given in Holy Yajurveda, Bhagavad Gita Chapter 40 Mantra 10 and 13. 

It is said in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 10 that Prajapati (Lord of all beings) had said that all beings should perform yagya (sacrificial ceremony). By this, one will attain worldly pleasures, but not salvation. This proves that one does not attain anything other than worldly pleasures and heaven, from yagyas. 

It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 11 that may the gods after being fostered by the yagya, foster you i.e. they will make you wealthy. Thus, you should support each other.

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 12, it is said that gods fostered by yagya provide you with worldly comforts (wealth) on the basis of the fruits of your actions. Those, who do not contribute a part of it in ‘dharm’ (meritorious acts) i.e. who do not perform yagyas, are sinful and thieves.

It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 13 that the devotees who after offering food to the God situated in yagya, provide meal to everyone, acquire the benefits of yagya. [The meaning of becoming free from all sins is that those who do not perform yagya are said to be sinful and those who perform yagya in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures, they are saved from all those sins which they would have incurred because of not doing any yagya.] If someone does not perform any yagya, he is said to be a thief.

In Verse 14-15, it is said that living beings arise from food grains. Food grains arise from rain; rain from yagya; yagya arise from auspicious actions and actions arise from Brahm (Kaal) and Brahm (Kaal) originated from the Immortal God. That Omnipresent, Immortal God only is always situated in yagya i.e. He (Supreme God) only provides the benefits of the yagyas. This proves that full benefit of yagya is only obtained from the Supreme God only.

In both of these Verses, it is clear that Kaal (Brahm) has originated from the Immortal God. That Omnipresent God only, is worshippable through yagyas and He only gives the fruits of one’s actions.

It is written in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 16 that one who does not perform yagya is wasting his life. One who does not follow the rules of worship {to do bhajan (remember/worship God), yagya, charity, compassion} of this lok (universe), keeps enjoying oneself without any restraints, that sinful soul has come to this world in vain.

Summary Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 9-16

The gist of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 9-16 is that by performing yagya, one solely gets worldly comforts and not liberation.

Besides, it has also been proved that all these comforts also are provided by Supreme God, who Himself is Kabir Sahib (KavirDev). Except me (Sant Rampal Das), all the translators of Srimad bhagwat Gita have written the meaning of Brahm both as Ved and God. This is an evidence of their limited knowledge; the meaning of Brahm is God and not Ved.

The meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 17-18 is that one who meditates (dhyaan), he does not even need to perform other yagyas because (dhyaan) meditation itself is a yagya and only that person meditates a lot who becomes a hermit (one who leaves home and lives in forest) like Shringi rishi. He also used to remain in meditation. Then he can not perform other yagyas. But after becoming aware of ‘tatvagyan’ (the true knowledge) neither a devotee does baseless (arbitrary way of worship) worship, nor selfishly makes anyone else do it. His aim is no more to selfishly earn money. Therefore, it is said that there is no work left i.e. he/she is always engrossed in the thought of God.

It is evident in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 19-20 that the yagya, performed as a duty of a human being, helps in attainment of God and delivers the fruit of yagya as well.

Summary Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 21-24

It is said in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 21-24 that Oh Arjun! The knowledgeable sadhus-saints should perform good deeds in accordance with the scriptures because, the rest of the society follows them (saints). Although, I do not need to perform any action in the three loks because I can obtain all the comforts of the three loks without doing anything, even then, I perform good deeds so that other people should follow me; otherwise, I will prove to be the destroyer of the society, the producer of mixed caste (an offspring of a woman and a man of two different castes).

It is said in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 25-26 and 29 that those foolish people who are doing wrong worship, they will not listen when told; rather, will become annoyed. Therefore, the knowledgeable persons should worship according to the injunctions of the scriptures and also make them follow it.

It is said in Verse 27-28 that a foolish person, by nature, takes false pride by considering himself the doer. Wise men do not come under the influence of ‘gunas’.

Kaal says in Verse 30, that Arjun, by being dependent on me through knowledge, free from desires, free from possessiveness and abandoning grief, you may fight.

The essence of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 31-32 is that those who follow the above-mentioned opinion of mine, they are saved from evil actions. Those who do not follow it are foolish and ignorant. Their decline (84-lakh births) is certain.

The purport of above-mentioned opinion is that instead of worshipping gods-goddesses, ghosts and pitras, one should only worship God. One should only perform yagyas, chant ‘Om’ naam, that too without any desire, considering it one’s duty as a human being and one should acquire a complete Guru and do it in accordance with the scriptures.

Verse 33-34 – one does not have love-hatred. 

In Bhagavad Gita Chapter no. 3, Verse no. 35, it is said that other’s incorrect worship (lacking quality) which is not based on scriptures, no matter how good it appears and no matter how much those ignorant people scare you, should not be accepted under fear. One should adhere to the sermon given by Guru Ji (Tatvadarshi Sant), which is according to the scriptures, with full faith. One must not get confused. One should follow one’s true way of worship unto the last breath and even dying for one’s true way of worship is beneficial.

Read Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verses