Bhagavad Gita 3.25सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्िचकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārata
kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham
Sanskrit recitation
Lead by how you live · 3.17–3.29 · Teaching
Translation
As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
Hindi translation
।।3.25 -- 3.26।। हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन! कर्ममें आसक्त हुए अज्ञानीजन जिस प्रकार कर्म करते हैं, आसक्तिरहित विद्वान भी लोकसंग्रह करना चाहता हुआ उसी प्रकार कर्म करे। तत्त्वज्ञ महापुरुष कर्मोंमें आसक्तिवाले अज्ञानी मनुष्योंकी बुद्धिमें भ्रम उत्पन्न न करे, प्रत्युत स्वयं समस्त कर्मोंको अच्छी तरहसे करता हुआ उनसे भी वैसे ही करवाये।
Meaning
The ignorant man works in expectation of fruits. He says, I will do such and such work and will get such and such fruit. But the wise man who knows the Self, serves not for his own end. He should so act that the world, following his example, would attain peace, harmony, purity of heart, divine light and knowledge. A wise man is one who knows the Self. (Cf.II.64III.19XVIII.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→
- tathā
- thus
- yathā
- as much as
- kuryāt
- should do
- vidvān
- the wise
- bhārata
- scion of Bharat (Arjun)
- kurvanti
- act
- asaktaḥ
- unattached
- karmaṇi
- duties
- saktāḥ
- attached
- avidvānsaḥ
- the ignorant
- chikīrṣhuḥ
- wishing
- loka-saṅgraham
- welfare of the world
Read this when you feel
Related verses
- 18.8He who abandons action out of fear of bodily trouble (because it is painful), does not…
- 6.1The Blessed Lord said: He who performs his bounden duty without depending on the fruits of…
- 2.57He who is everywhere without attachment, upon encountering anything good or bad, neither…
- 12.11If you are unable to do even this, then, resort to union with Me and renounce the fruits…