My Personal Gita

Krishna

4.15 एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्

evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ | kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam

Word meanings

evam—thus;jñātvā—knowing;kṛitam—performed;karma—actions;pūrvaiḥ—of ancient times;api—indeed;mumukṣhubhiḥ—seekers of liberation;kuru—should perform;karma—duty;eva—certainly;tasmāt—therefore;tvam—you;pūrvaiḥ—of those ancient sages;pūrva-taram—in ancient times;kṛitam—performed

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Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati

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BG.4.15

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My Personal Gita

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Realizing in this fashion, ancient seekers of salvation also undertook action. Hence, you too should, by all means, perform the action that was performed by the ancients.

Shri Purohit Swami

In the light of wisdom, our ancestors, who sought deliverance, performed their acts. Act thou also, as did our fathers of old.

Swami Adidevananda

Knowing thus, even ancient seekers for liberation and work. Therefore, do your wok only as the ancients did in olden times.

Swami Gambirananda

Having known thus, duties were performed even by the ancient seekers of Liberation. Thererfore you undertake action itself as was performed earlier by the ancient ones.

Swami Sivananda

Having known this, the ancient seekers after freedom also performed actions; therefore, do thou perform actions as did the ancients in days of yore.

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Krishna

4.17 कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ | akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

Word meanings

karmaṇaḥ—recommended action;hi—certainly;api—also;boddhavyam—should be known;boddhavyam—must understand;cha—and;vikarmaṇaḥ—forbidden action;akarmaṇaḥ—inaction;cha—and;boddhavyam—must understand;gahanā—profound;karmaṇaḥ—of action;gatiḥ—the true path

Verse audio

Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati

Translation stream

BG.4.17

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My Personal Gita

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Something has to be understood about good action; something has to be understood about wrong action; and something has to be understood about non-action. It is difficult to comprehend the way of action.

Shri Purohit Swami

It is necessary to consider what is right action, what is wrong action, and what is inaction, for mysterious is the law of action.

Swami Adidevananda

For, there is what ought to be known in action. Likewise there is what ought to be known in multi-form action. And there is what ought to be understood in non-action. Thus mysterious is the way of action.

Swami Gambirananda

For there is something to be known even about action, and something to be known about prohibited action; and something has to be known about inaction. The true nature of action is inscrutable.

Swami Sivananda

For, verily the true nature of action (enjoined by the scriptures) should be known, also (that) of forbidden (or unlawful) action, and of inaction; hard to understand is the nature (path) of action.

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Krishna

4.16 किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः। तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्

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Word meanings

kim—what;karma—action;kim—what;akarma—inaction;iti—thus;kavayaḥ—the wise;api—even;atra—in this;mohitāḥ—are confused;tat—that;te—to you;karma—action;pravakṣhyāmi—I shall explain;yat—which;jñātvā—knowing;mokṣhyase—you may free yourself;aśhubhāt—from inauspiciousness

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Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati

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Your notes on Verse 4.16:

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BG.4.16

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My Personal Gita

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Even the wise are perplexed about what is action and what is non-action; I shall properly teach you the action, by knowing which you will be freed from evil.

Shri Purohit Swami

What is action and what is inaction? It is a question which has bewildered the wise. But I will declare unto thee the philosophy of action, and knowing it, thou shalt be free from evil.

Swami Adidevananda

What is action? What is non-action? Even the wise are puzzled in respect of these. I shall declare to you that kind of action by knowing which you will be freed from evil.

Swami Gambirananda

Even the intelligent are confounded as to what is action and what is inaction. I shall tell you of that action by knowing which you will become free from evil.

Swami Sivananda

What is action? What is inaction? As to this even the wise are confused. Therefore, I shall teach thee such action (the nature of action and inaction), by knowing which thou shalt be liberated from the evil (of Samsara, the world of birth and death).

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