Bhagavad Gita on money and financial worry
Krishna says nothing against earning a living. His concern is wanting that never stops, which 3.39 calls a fire that is never satisfied. These verses separate honest work from that craving, and include his promise of security to those who rely on him (9.22).
5 verses from the Gita
Do the work well. Its fruit is not yours to control.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥
“You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits. Do not become the cause of the result, and do not cling to inaction.”
कर्तव्यकर्म करनेमें ही तेरा अधिकार है, फलोंमें कभी नहीं । अतः तू कर्मफलका हेतु भी मत बन और तेरी अकर्मण्यतामें भी आसक्ति न हो ॥
Give the work your full effort and let the result go.
Meaning and commentary →Yoga-kshemam vahamyaham: Krishna carries the security of those who rely on him.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
“Those who think of me alone and worship me with unwavering focus—I carry their welfare and security.”
जो अनन्य भक्त मेरा चिन्तन करते हुए मेरी उपासना करते हैं, मेरेमें निरन्तर लगे हुए उन भक्तोंका योगक्षेम अप्राप्तकी प्राप्ति और प्राप्तकी रक्षा मैं वहन करता हूँ ॥
Devotion can feel like being held instead of having to hold everything alone.
Meaning and commentary →Greed is one of the three gates to ruin.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः । कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥
“Desire, anger, and greed are the three gates of ruin. Abandon these three.”
काम, क्रोध और लोभ ये तीन प्रकारके नरकके दरवाजे जीवात्माका पतन करनेवाले हैं, इसलिये इन तीनोंका त्याग कर देना चाहिये ॥
You do not have to obey every impulse. Freedom begins when you stop feeding the forces that trap you.
Meaning and commentary →Peace belongs to the one who is not a slave to every desire.
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठंसमुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् । तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वेस शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥
“As rivers flow into the sea and the sea remains steady, so desires may enter a disciplined person without disturbing inner peace. The person who wants pleasures does not find peace.”
जैसे सम्पूर्ण नदियोंका जल चारों ओरसे जलद्वारा परिपूर्ण समुद्रमें आकर मिलता है, पर समुद्र अपनी मर्यादामें अचल प्रतिष्ठित रहता है ऐसे ही सम्पूर्ण भोगपदार्थ जिस संयमी मनुष्य को विकार उत्पन्न किये बिना ही उसको प्राप्त होते हैं, वही मनुष्य परमशान्तिको प्राप्त होता है, भोगोंकी कामनावाला नहीं ॥
You do not have to fight every desire; you can let it move through without letting it steer you.
Meaning and commentary →Keep doing your work. Even the body needs action to be maintained.
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः । शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥
“Do the duty prescribed for you. Action is better than inaction, and even your body cannot be sustained by inaction.”
तू शास्त्रविधिसे नियत किये हुए कर्तव्यकर्म कर क्योंकि कर्म न करनेकी अपेक्षा कर्म करना श्रेष्ठ है तथा कर्म न करनेसे तेरा शरीरनिर्वाह भी सिद्ध नहीं होगा ॥
Doing the needed thing beats freezing in fear.
Meaning and commentary →
Your situation is your own
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