Chapter 4
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Last updated: 14 June 2026
ज्ञान कर्म संन्यास योग
Total Shlokas: 42~10 min readSanskrit + Multi-language Meanings
Script:
Shloka 1
श्री भगवानुवाच। इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम्। विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत्।।4.1।।
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Krishna reveals that He originally taught this imperishable yoga to the sun-god Vivasvan, who taught it to Manu, and Manu taught it to Ikshvaku. This knowledge has an ancient divine lineage.
Shloka 2
एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः। स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप।।4.2।।
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This supreme science was handed down through a chain of saintly kings, but over the long course of time, it was lost to the world. Krishna now revives this timeless teaching.
Shloka 3
स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः। भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम्।।4.3।।
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Krishna tells Arjuna that He is revealing this ancient, supreme secret because Arjuna is His devotee and friend. The deepest spiritual truths are shared on the basis of love and trust.
Shloka 4
अर्जुन उवाच। अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः। कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति।।4.4।।
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Arjuna raises a logical question: Krishna's birth was recent, while Vivasvan (the sun-god) was born at the beginning of creation. How could Krishna have taught this yoga in the beginning?
Shloka 5
श्री भगवानुवाच। बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन। तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप।।4.5।।
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Krishna explains: Both He and Arjuna have passed through many births. The difference is that Krishna remembers them all, while Arjuna does not. God's consciousness is unlimited.
Shloka 6
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन्। प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया।।4.6।।
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Although Krishna is unborn, imperishable, and the Lord of all beings, He manifests through His own divine power (Yoga-maya), controlling His own nature. God's incarnation is an act of grace, not compulsion.
Shloka 7
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।।4.7।।
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Whenever righteousness declines and unrighteousness rises, Krishna manifests Himself. This is the divine promise of God's intervention in the affairs of the world to restore balance.
Shloka 8
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्। धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे।।4.8।।
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For the protection of the good, the destruction of the wicked, and the establishment of dharma, Krishna incarnates age after age. This is His eternal promise to humanity.
Shloka 9
जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः। त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन।।4.9।।
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One who truly understands the divine nature of Krishna's birth and activities is not born again upon leaving the body, but attains Krishna's eternal abode. Divine knowledge leads to liberation.
Shloka 10
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः। बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः।।4.10।।
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Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, absorbed in Krishna's being, taking refuge in Him, many have been purified by the fire of knowledge and have attained His divine nature.
Shloka 11
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्। मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः।।4.11।।
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As people approach Krishna, so He rewards them. Everyone follows His path in all respects. God reciprocates according to the devotion and surrender of the seeker.
Shloka 12
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः। क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा।।4.12।।
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Those who desire success in worldly activities worship the celestial beings, for quick results come from ritualistic action in the human world. But this does not lead to ultimate liberation.
Shloka 13
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः। तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम्।।4.13।।
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Krishna created the four divisions of human society based on qualities and work, not birth. Although He is the creator of this system, He remains the non-doer and imperishable — beyond the effects of action.
Shloka 14
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा। इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते।।4.14।।
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Actions do not taint Krishna, nor does He desire their fruits. One who understands this truth about the Lord is also not bound by the consequences of actions.
Shloka 15
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्।।4.15।।
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The ancient seekers of liberation performed action with this understanding. Therefore, follow the example of the great souls of the past and perform your duty as they did.
Shloka 16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः। तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्।।4.16।।
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Even the wise are confused about what constitutes action and inaction. Krishna promises to explain the nature of action, knowing which one is freed from evil.
Shloka 17
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।4.17।।
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One must understand the nature of prescribed action, forbidden action, and inaction. The truth about action is deep and difficult to comprehend.
Shloka 18
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः। स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्।।4.18।।
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One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is truly wise among humans. Such a person performs all actions while remaining in yoga. This is the highest understanding of karma.
Shloka 19
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः। ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः।।4.19।।
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One whose every undertaking is free from desire and selfish purpose, and whose actions are purified by the fire of knowledge — such a person is called a sage by the wise.
Shloka 20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः। कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः।।4.20।।
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Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, ever satisfied and self-reliant, such a person does nothing at all even while fully engaged in activity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga) about?
Chapter 4, Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, deals with transcendental knowledge, the cycle of divine incarnation (avatar), and renunciation of action through wisdom. It contains 42 verses and is part of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra.
How many verses are in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga) has 42 shlokas (verses). On VedKosh each one is available with the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
What is the key teaching of Chapter 4?
The central teaching of Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga is transcendental knowledge, the cycle of divine incarnation (avatar), and renunciation of action through wisdom. Read it as part of the unfolding wisdom Krishna gives Arjuna to resolve his moral crisis and act with clarity.