Chapter Three (तृतीयोऽध्यायः॥)

śubhēna karmaṇā svargaṁ nirayaṁ ca vikarmaṇā। mithyājñānēna ca tamō jñānēnaiva paraṁ padam‌ ॥1॥

yāti tasmādviraktaḥ san‌ jñānamēva samāśrayēt‌। sarvāvasthāprērakaśca sarvarūpēṣvabhēdavān‌ ॥2॥

sarvadēśēṣu kālēṣu sa ēkaḥ paramēśvaraḥ। tadbhaktitāratamyēna tāratamyaṁ vimuktigam‌॥3॥

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 one Supreme Lord, the impeller in every state and the same in all His forms, exists in all places and at all times. Corresponding to the gradation of devotion to Him, there is gradation even in liberation. (1–3)

saccidānanda ātmēti mānuṣaistu surēśvaraiḥ। yathākramaṁ bahuguṇairbrahmaṇā tvakhilairguṇaiḥ ॥4॥

upāsyaḥ sarvadēvaiśca sarvairapi yathā balam‌। jñēyō viṣṇurviśēṣastu jñānē syāduttarōttaram ॥5॥

Viṣṇu is to be worshipped by human beings as the Self who is existence, consciousness, and bliss; by the lords of the gods, through many attributes in due gradation; and by Brahmā, through all attributes. He is to be worshipped by all the gods, and indeed by everyone, according to their capacity. He is to be known, but the knowledge of Him becomes progressively more specific and complete at each successive level. (4–5)

sarvē’pi puruṣārthāsyuḥ jñānādēva na saṁśayaḥ। na lipyatē jñānāvāṁśca sarvadōṣairapi kvacit‌ ॥6॥

All the goals of human life are attained through knowledge alone — there is no doubt. One possessed of knowledge is never tainted by any faults whatsoever. (6)

guṇadōṣaiḥ sukhasyāpi vr̥ddhihrāsau vimuktigau। nr̥ṇāṁ surāṇāṁ muktau tu sukhaṁ klr̥ptaṁ yathākramam‌ ॥7॥

The increase and diminution of happiness, according to qualities and defects, extend even into liberation. In liberation, the happiness of human beings and gods is allotted according to their respective rank. (7)

॥iti tr̥tīyō’dhyāyaḥ॥

Thus ends the third chapter.