Verse 3.25
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत। कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्।।
Transliteration (IAST)
saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāṁso yathā kurvanti bhārata | kuryād vidvāṁs tathāsaktaś cikīrṣur loka-saṅgraham ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
सक्ताः-attached
अविद्वांसः-the ignorant
विद्वान्-the wise
असक्तः-unattached
चिकीर्षुः-desiring to do
लोकसंग्रहम्-welfare of the world
Translation
As the ignorant act with attachment, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world.
Commentary
This verse draws a parallel between the ignorant and the wise in their external actions, while distinguishing their internal states. Both act, but the wise person acts without attachment and with the motive of lokasamgraha - universal welfare. The difference lies in consciousness, not in the action itself.
Themes
karmadutydharmajnana