Chapter Three (तृतीयोऽध्यायः॥)

शुभेन कर्मणा स्वर्गं निरयं च विकर्मणा। मिथ्याज्ञानेन च तमो ज्ञानेनैव परं पदम्‌ ॥१॥

याति तस्माद्विरक्तः सन्‌ ज्ञानमेव समाश्रयेत्‌। सर्वावस्थाप्रेरकश्च सर्वरूपेष्वभेदवान्‌ ॥२॥

सर्वदेशेषु कालेषु स एकः परमेश्वरः। तद्भक्तितारतम्येन तारतम्यं विमुक्तिगम्‌॥३॥

One attains heaven through good action, hell through wrongful action, darkness through false knowledge, and the supreme abode through knowledge alone. Therefore, being detached, one should resort to knowledge alone. The impeller in every state, possessing non-difference in all forms, is the one Supreme Lord in all places and at all times. In accordance with the gradation of devotion to him, there is a gradation extending into liberation.(1-3)

सच्चिदानन्द आत्मेति मानुषैस्तु सुरेश्वरैः। यथाक्रमं बहुगुणैर्ब्रह्मणा त्वखिलैर्गुणैः ॥४॥

उपास्यः सर्वदेवैश्च सर्वैरपि यथा बलम्‌। ज्ञेयो विष्णुर्विशेषस्तु ज्ञाने स्यादुत्तरोत्तरम् ॥५॥

Viṣṇu is to be worshipped by human beings as the Self that is existence, consciousness, and bliss; by the lords of the gods, with many attributes in due gradation; by Brahmā, with all attributes; and by all the gods—and indeed by everyone—according to their capacity. He is to be known, but the degree of distinction in knowledge should be successively greater. (4-5)

सर्वेऽपि पुरुषार्थास्युः ज्ञानादेव न संशयः। न लिप्यते ज्ञानावांश्च सर्वदोषैरपि क्वचित्‌ ॥६॥

All the goals of human life arise from knowledge alone—there is no doubt. And one possessed of knowledge is never tainted even by all faults. (6)

गुणदोषैः सुखस्यापि वृद्धिह्रासौ विमुक्तिगौ। नृणां सुराणां मुक्तौ तु सुखं क्लृप्तं यथाक्रमम्‌ ॥७॥

In liberation, even happiness increases or diminishes according to good qualities and defects; the happiness of human beings and gods is allotted according to rank. (7)

॥इति तृतीयोऽध्यायः॥

Thus ends the third chapter.