Verse 4.16
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः। तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्।।
Transliteration (IAST)
kiṁ karma kim akarmeti kavayo 'py atra mohitāḥ tat te karma pravakṣyāmi yaj jñātvā mokṣyase 'śubhāt
Word-by-Word Meanings
kim-what
karma-action
akarma-inaction
kavayaḥ-the wise/learned
mohitāḥ-bewildered
mokṣyase-you shall be liberated
Translation
Even the intelligent are bewildered in determining what is action and what is inaction. Now I shall explain to you what action is, knowing which you shall be liberated from all misfortune.
Commentary
Krishna acknowledges the subtlety of karma theory - even wise people are confused about the true nature of action and inaction. This sets up the profound teaching in the following verses about seeing inaction in action and action in inaction, which is the philosophical heart of the chapter.
Themes
karmajnanamoksha