Bhagavad Gita 3.9 meaningWhy action matters
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Work only for yourself and it ties you up. Work as a gift and it sets you free.”
What it means
“Work done only for yourself becomes a chain. Do your work as an offering, without clinging, and it sets you free.”
The original Sanskrit
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः । तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥
yajñārthātkarmaṇo.anyatra loko.ayaṃ karmabandhanaḥ tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara
Translations
Literal translation
This man becomes bound by actions other than that action meant for God. Without being attached, O son of Kunti, you perform actions for Him.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
यज्ञ के लिये किये हुए कर्म के अतिरिक्त अन्य कर्म में प्रवृत्त हुआ यह पुरुष कर्मों द्वारा बंधता है इसलिए हे क ौन्तेय आसक्ति को त्यागकर यज्ञ के निमित्त ही कर्म का सम्यक् आचरण करो।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 3.10“In the beginning, the Creator made people together with the idea of giving. ‘Grow by this,’ he said. ‘Let giving bring you what you need.’”