Bhagavad Gita 3.8 meaningPrescribed duties
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Do your job. Doing something is better than doing nothing.”
What it means
“Do the work that is yours to do. Action is better than doing nothing — you can't even keep your body alive without acting.”
The original Sanskrit · known as “Niyatam Kuru Karma Tvam”
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः । शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥
niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyedakarmaṇaḥ
Translations
Literal translation
You perform the obligatory duties, for action is superior to inaction. And, through inaction, even the maintenance of your body will not be possible.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
तुम (अपने) नियत (कर्तव्य) कर्म करो क्योंकि अकर्म से श्रेष्ठ कर्म है। तुम्हारे अकर्म होने से (तुम्हारा) शरीर निर्वाह भी नहीं सिद्ध होगा।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 3.20“Wise kings like Janaka reached perfection through action. Act also to set an example for the world.”