4.17 कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः
karmaṇo hy
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
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.
It is necessary to consider what is right action, what is wrong action, and what is inaction, for mysterious is the law of action.
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.
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.
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.
4.19 यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः। ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāma
Word meanings
yasya—whose;sarve—every;samārambhāḥ—undertakings;kāma—desire for material pleasures;saṅkalpa—resolve;varjitāḥ—devoid of;jñāna—divine knowledge;agni—in the fire;dagdha—burnt;karmāṇam—actions;tam—him;āhuḥ—address;paṇḍitam—a sage;budhāḥ—the wise
Verse audio
Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Translation stream
He whose every exertion is devoid of intention for desirable objects, and whose actions are burnt up by the fire of wisdom—the wise call such a person a man of learning.
The wise call him a sage, for whatever he undertakes is free from the motive of desire, and his deeds are purified by the fire of Wisdom.
He whose every undertaking is free from desire and delusive identification (of the body with the self), whose actions are burnt up in the fire of knowledge - him the wise describe as a sage.
The wise call him learned whose actions are all devoid of desires and their thoughts, [Kama-sankalpa is variously translated as 'desires and purposes', 'plans and desires for results', 'hankering for desires', etc. But Sankarcarya shows sankalpa as the cause of kama. -Tr.] and whose actions have been burnt away by the fire of wisdom.
He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and (selfish) purposes, and whose actions have been burnt by the fire of knowledge,–him the wise call a sage.
Verse
ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग
Chapter 4: Wisdom in Action
jñānakarmasaṃnyāsayoga
Chapters
Verses
4.18 कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः। स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत्
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Word meanings
karmaṇi—action;akarma—in inaction;yaḥ—who;paśhyet—see;akarmaṇi—inaction;cha—also;karma—action;yaḥ—who;saḥ—they;buddhi-mān—wise;manuṣhyeṣhu—amongst humans;saḥ—they;yuktaḥ—yogis;kṛitsna-karma-kṛit—performers all kinds of actions
Verse audio
Divine Verses of the Bhagavad Gita • Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Translation stream
He who finds non-action in action, and action in non-action, is an intelligent one among men and is said to be a performer or destroyer of all actions.
He who can see inaction in action, and action in inaction, is the wisest among men. He is a saint, even though he still acts.
He who sees non-action in action and also action in non-action is wise among men. He is fit for release and has carried out all actions.
He who finds inaction in action, and action in inaction, he is the wise one [Possessed of the knowledge of Brahman] among men; he is engaged in yoga and is a performer of all actions!
He who seeth inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a Yogi and performer of all actions.
