Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 19
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 19
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः॥१९॥
Transliteration
Tasmad-Asaktah Satatam Karyam Karma Samachara.
Asakto Hy-Acharan Karma Param-Apnoti Purushah.||19||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
तस्मात्tasmattherefore
असक्तःasaktahwithout attachment
सततम्satatamconstantly/always
कार्यम्karyamobligatory
कर्मkarmaaction/duty
समाचरsamacharaperform well
असक्तःasaktahunattached
हिhiindeed
आचरन्acharanperforming
कर्मkarmaaction
परम्paramthe Supreme
आप्नोतिapnotiattains
पूरुषःpurushaha person
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
इसलिए तू सदा आसक्ति रहित होकर कर्तव्य-कर्म का सम्यक् आचरण कर। क्योंकि अनासक्त होकर कर्म करने वाला मनुष्य परम (मोक्ष/परमात्मा) को प्राप्त होता है।
English Translation
Therefore, always perform your obligatory duty without attachment. For by performing action without attachment, a person attains the Supreme.
Commentary (टीका)
This verse distills the essence of Karma Yoga into a simple, powerful formula: act always, act dutifully, act without attachment. The word 'satatam' (always) is important — detached action is not occasional but a way of life. The promise is extraordinary — through selfless action alone, one can attain the highest spiritual goal.