Purity

Acts of sacrifice, giving, and austerity should not be given up; they must indeed be performed. Sacrifice, giving, and austerity are purifiers of the wise.

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत् | यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम् ||१८-५||

One who is free from expectation, pure, capable, indifferent, untroubled, and who has given up every undertaking — that devotee of mine is dear to me.

अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः | सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||१२-१६||

This is the king of sciences, the king of secrets, supremely purifying, directly experienced, in accord with dharma, easy to practice, and imperishable.

राजविद्या राजगुह्यं पवित्रमिदमुत्तमम् | प्रत्यक्षावगमं धर्म्यं सुसुखं कर्तुमव्ययम् ||९-२||

But those people of virtuous deeds, whose evil has come to an end — they, freed from the delusion of the pairs of opposites, worship me with firm resolve.

येषां त्वन्तगतं पापं जनानां पुण्यकर्मणाम् | ते द्वन्द्वमोहनिर्मुक्ता भजन्ते मां दृढव्रताः ||७-२८||

One who acts, offering actions to Brahman and abandoning attachment, is not tainted by evil, as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.

ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः | लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ||५-१०||

There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. In time, one perfected in yoga finds it within oneself.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते | तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ||४-३८||

One who has not turned away from bad conduct, who is not at peace, not composed, whose mind is not calm—cannot attain it even through knowledge.

नाविरतो दुश्चरितान्नाशान्तो नासमाहितः । नाशान्तमानसो वाऽपि प्रज्ञानेनैनमाप्नुयात् ॥ २४॥

Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity of intention — this is called austerity of the mind.

मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः | भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते ||१७-१६||

vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, freedom from malice, and absence of excessive pride — these belong to one born for a divine destiny, Bharata.

तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता | भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत ||१६-३||

That very Brahman is partless, without options, stainless. Knowing 'I am that Brahman,' one surely attains Brahman.

तदेव निष्कलं ब्रह्म निर्विकल्पं निरञ्जनम् । तद्ब्रह्माहमिति ज्ञात्वा ब्रह्म सम्पद्यते ध्रुवम्

Om. The mind is said to be of two kinds — pure and impure. The impure is that which is beset with desire and willful resolve; the pure is free of desire.

ॐ मनो हि द्विविधं प्रोक्तं शुद्धं चाशुद्धमेव च । अशुद्धं कामसङ्कल्पं शुद्धं कामविवर्जितम्

But one who has understanding, thoughtful, always pure—he reaches that state, from which he is not born again.

यस्तु विज्ञानवान्भवति समनस्कः सदा शुचिः । स तु तत्पदमाप्नोति यस्माद्भूयो न जायते ॥ ८॥

Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers, and the wise; purity, uprightness, celibacy, and nonviolence — this is called austerity of the body.

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् | ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते ||१७-१४||

The sacrifice offered according to scriptural injunction by those who desire no fruit, with the mind fixed on the conviction that it simply ought to be offered — that is sattvic.

अफलाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते | यष्टव्यमेवेति मनः समाधाय स सात्त्विकः ||१७-११||

The sages whose impurities are destroyed, whose doubts are cut away, who are self-controlled and delight in the welfare of all beings, attain the peace of Brahman.

लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषयः क्षीणकल्मषाः | छिन्नद्वैधा यतात्मानः सर्वभूतहिते रताः ||५-२५||