Supreme goal

Tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samachara, asakto hy acharan karma param apnoti purushah

Therefore, without attachment, constantly perform action which is duty, for by performing action without attachment, one attains the Supreme.

Tad-buddhayas tad-atmanah tan-nishthhas tat-parayanah, gacchanty apunar-avrittim jnana-nirdhuta-kalmashah

Those whose intellect is absorbed in That, whose self is That, who are established in That, and whose supreme goal is That — they go to the state of no-return, their impurities washed away by knowledge. Complete absorption in the Supreme leads to final liberation.

Prayatnad yatamanas tu yogi samshuddha-kilbishah, aneka-janma-samsiddhas tato yati param gatim

The yogi who strives with great effort, purified of all impurities, perfected through many lifetimes — then attains the supreme goal. The supreme goal is reached not in a moment but through sustained effort across many lives, with each life building on the purification of the last.

Udarah sarva evaite jnani tv atmaiva me matam, asthitah sa hi yuktatma mam evanuttamam gatim

All these devotees are certainly noble souls, but I consider the jnani to be My very Self. Established in yoga, the jnani has attained Me as the supreme goal. While all four types of devotees are noble, the enlightened devotee (jnani) who sees no distinction between self and God is considered the most exalted.

Antavat tu phalam tesham tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam, devan deva-yajo yanti mad-bhakta yanti mam api

But the fruit gained by these men of small understanding is finite. The worshipers of the devas go to the devas, but My devotees come to Me. Worship of limited powers yields limited, temporary results, while devotion to the Supreme leads to the supreme eternal goal.

Vedeshu yajneshu tapahsu chaiva daneshu yat punya-phalam pradishtam, atyeti tat sarvam idam viditva yogi param sthanam upaiti chadyam

The yogi who knows this truth surpasses all rewards from studying the Vedas, performing sacrifices, austerities, and giving charity, and attains the supreme primordial abode.

Ye tu dharmyāmṛitam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate, śhraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te 'tīva me priyāḥ

Those who follow this immortal dharma as I have declared, endowed with faith and considering Me as their supreme goal—such devotees are most dear to Me.

Samam pashyan hi sarvatra samavasthitam ishvaram, na hinasty atmanatmanam tato yati param gatim

Because one who sees the Lord equally everywhere does not harm the self by the self, that person reaches the supreme destination. Perception of divine equality prevents self-destructive actions and leads to the highest goal.

Etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ, ācharaty ātmanaḥ śhreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim

Liberated from these three gates to darkness, O son of Kunti, a person does what is best for the soul and thus attains the supreme goal.