Bhagavad Gita 4.16 meaningWisdom in action
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“What is right action? Even wise people wonder. Let me explain.”
What it means
“What is action and what is inaction? Even wise people are confused about this. I will explain action, and knowing it will free you from harm.”
The original Sanskrit
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः । तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥
kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo.apyatra mohitāḥ tatte karma pravakṣyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣyase.aśubhāt
Translations
Literal translation
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 Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
कर्म क्या है और अकर्म क्या है? इस विषय में बुद्धिमान पुरुष भी भ्रमित हो जाते हैं। इसलि ये मैं तुम्हें कर्म कहूँगा, (अर्थात् कर्म और अकर्म का स्वरूप समझाऊँगा) जिसको जानकर तुम अशुभ (संसार बन्धन) से मुक्त हो जाओगे।
Swami Tejomayananda
Go deeper
Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
Loading commentaries…
Keep reading · 4.17“You need to understand action, wrong action and inaction. The nature of action is subtle and hard to grasp.”