Bhagavad Gita 3.19 · Tasmad Asaktah Satatamतस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara
asakto hyācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme.
Hindi translation
इसलिये तू निरन्तर आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्तव्य-कर्मका भलीभाँति आचरण कर; क्योंकि आसक्तिरहित होकर कर्म करता हुआ मनुष्य परमात्माको प्राप्त हो जाता है।
Meaning
If you perform actions without attachment, for the sake of the Lord, you will attain to Selfrealisation through purity of heart. (Cf.II.64IV.19,23XVIII.49).
After Swami Sivananda
Lead by how you live· 3.17–3.29→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is…
- 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend…
3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by…
- 3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention…
- 3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the…
- 3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there…
- 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way…
- 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion…
- 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without…
- 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he…
- 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is…
- 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities…
- 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities.…
Word-by-word→
- hi
- certainly
- karma
- work
- param
- the Supreme
- kāryam
- duty
- satatam
- constantly
- tasmāt
- therefore
- āpnoti
- attains
- ācharan
- performing
- asaktaḥ
- unattached
- samāchara
- perform
- pūruṣhaḥ
- a person
Related verses
- 18.57Mentally renouncing all actions in Me, having Me as the highest goal, and resorting to the…
- 3.7But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga…
- 2.33But if you will not fight this righteous war, then having abandoned your own duty and…
- 9.31Soon he becomes righteous and attains eternal peace; O Arjuna, proclaim thou for certain…