Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Selfless ActionKrishna
Verse 25
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता अध्याय 3, श्लोक 25
Sanskrit Shloka (श्लोक)
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत।
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसङ्ग्रहम्॥२५॥
Transliteration
Saktah Karmany-Avidvamso Yatha Kurvanti Bharata.
Kuryad-Vidvams-Tatha-Asaktash-Chikirshur-Loka-Sangraham.||25||
Word-by-Word Meaning (अन्वय)
सक्ताःsaktahattached
कर्मणिkarmanito action
अविद्वांसःavidvamsahthe ignorant
यथाyathajust as
कुर्वन्तिkurvantiact
भारतbharataO descendant of Bharata
कुर्यात्kuryatshould act
विद्वान्vidvanthe wise
तथाtathasimilarly
असक्तःasaktahwithout attachment
चिकीर्षुःchikirshudesiring
लोकसङ्ग्रहम्loka-sangrahamthe welfare of the world
Hindi Translation (हिन्दी अर्थ)
हे भारत! जैसे अज्ञानी लोग कर्म में आसक्त होकर कर्म करते हैं, वैसे ही विद्वान (ज्ञानी) भी लोकसंग्रह (जन-कल्याण) की इच्छा से अनासक्त होकर कर्म करे।
English Translation
O Bharata, just as the ignorant act with attachment to results, so should the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world.
Commentary (टीका)
This verse reveals the beautiful paradox of the wise — they act with the same energy and engagement as the worldly, but with a completely different inner attitude. The ignorant act driven by desire; the wise act driven by compassion and duty. Externally similar, their actions are internally worlds apart.