tasmāch chhāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau
jñātvā śhāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi||24||

Meaning : Therefore, scripture is the authority for you in deciding what should be done and what should not be done. Having understood the rules prescribed in the scriptures, you should perform your duties accordingly.

yaḥ śhāstra-vidhim utsṛijya vartate kāma-kārataḥ
na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim||23||

Meaning : Whoever acts disregarding the rules of the scriptures, driven only by desire, does not attain spiritual perfection, happiness, or the supreme goal.

etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ
ācharaty ātmanaḥ śhreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim||22||

Meaning : O son of Kunti, a person who is freed from these three gates of darkness (ignorance) acts for their own highest good and then attains the supreme destination.

āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani
mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim||21||

Meaning : Those foolish beings who are born repeatedly in demonic families and fail to attain Me, O son of Kunti, then proceed to the lowest condition after death.

āsurīṁ yonim āpannā mūḍhā janmani janmani
mām aprāpyaiva kaunteya tato yānty adhamāṁ gatim||20||

Meaning : Those foolish beings who take birth repeatedly in demonic wombs and fail to attain Me, O son of Kunti, go to an inferior and miserable condition after death.

tān ahaṁ dviṣhataḥ krūrān sansāreṣhu narādhamān
kṣhipāmy ajasram aśhubhān āsurīṣhv eva yoniṣhu||19||

Meaning : I constantly reject and cast away those cruel and lowest among humans who are impure and sinful, hurling them into demonic wombs again and again in this world.

ahankāraṁ balaṁ darpaṁ kāmaṁ krodhaṁ cha sanśhritāḥ
mām ātma-para-deheṣhu pradviṣhanto ’bhyasūyakāḥ||18||

Meaning : Those who are proud and self-conceited, stubborn in their ways, and attached to wealth and arrogance perform religious rituals only in name. Their worship is done with hypocrisy and not according to the proper rules or true spirit of the practice.

ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ
yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam||17||

Meaning : Those who are proud, stubborn, and attached to wealth and arrogance perform rituals only in name, hypocritically and without following the proper rules.

aneka-chitta-vibhrāntā moha-jāla-samāvṛitāḥ
prasaktāḥ kāma-bhogeṣhu patanti narake ’śhuchau||16||

Meaning : Those whose minds are bewildered and confused, who are covered by the net of delusion and attached to sensual pleasures, fall into impure hellish conditions.

āḍhyo ’bhijanavān asmi ko ’nyo ’sti sadṛiśho mayā
yakṣhye dāsyāmi modiṣhya ity ajñāna-vimohitāḥ||15||

Meaning : I am fierce and victorious; who else is equal to me? Deluded by ignorance, I say, “I will destroy, I will give, I will enjoy.”