YajurVeda (Swami Satyaprakash Saraswati)

Yajurveda Adhyay 40 / Mantra 2

17 Mantra
40/2
Devata- आत्मा देवता Rishi- दीर्घतमा ऋषिः Chhand- भुरिगनुष्टुप् Swara- गान्धारः
Mantra with Swara
कु॒र्वन्ने॒वेह कर्मा॑णि जिजीवि॒षेच्छ॒तꣳ समाः॑।ए॒वं त्वयि॒ नान्यथे॒तोऽस्ति॒ न कर्म॑ लिप्यते॒ नरे॑॥२॥

कु॒र्वन्। ए॒व। इ॒ह। कर्मा॑णि। जि॒जी॒वि॒षेत्। श॒तम्। समाः॑ ॥ ए॒वम्। त्वयि॑। न। अ॒न्यथा॑। इ॒तः। अ॒स्ति॒। न। कर्म॑। लि॒प्य॒ते॒। नरे॑ ॥२ ॥

Mantra without Swara
कुर्वन्नेवेह कर्माणि जिजीविषेच्छतँ समाः । एवन्त्वयि नान्यथेतो स्ति न कर्म लिप्यते नरे ॥

कुर्वन्। एव। इह। कर्माणि। जिजीविषेत्। शतम्। समाः॥ एवम्। त्वयि। न। अन्यथा। इतः। अस्ति। न। कर्म। लिप्यते। नरे॥२॥

YajurVeda (Swami Satyaprakash Saraswati)

English
YajurVeda (Swami Satyaprakash Saraswati) - English
Translation
Let one desire to live a hundred years in this world only actively engaged in his work. For you, there is no other way. And as such, the deeds do not cling to man. (1)
Note
When every possession of this world is worthless, as it has to be taken away from us, then why should one make any effort at all? Why should one engage himself in any action what soever? One must renounce each and everything and sit idle, do ing nothing, but thinking of the God Supreme only. That will be a calamity. So a middle path is suggested. Kurvan eva ih karmāņi, only engaged in one's work in this world. As long as a person is in this world, he or she should remain engaged in work. Śatam samāḥ jijivişet, one should desire to live for a hun dred years (only engaged in one's normal work). This is a stark reality that one must die. If death is certain and inevitable, then all our activity, all our enthusiasm for acquir ing wealth, and accomplish great things is a farce. In fact it is, but this depressing thought should not overwhelm us. If we desire to live for a hundred years, it should be only on the condition that we are fit to work and willing to work. No doubt this world is a drama, a farce, but as long as you are here, play your part in it or get out. Ifyou renounce work, renounce life also. Life without work will be an unbearable burden. Evain tvyi na anyathā itaḥ asti, there is no other option for you than this. Karma nare na lipyate, the deeds do not cling to man. It is only attachment and selfishness that clings to man, not the act itself.