Verse 4.17
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।
Transliteration (IAST)
karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ ca vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
Word-by-Word Meanings
karmaṇaḥ-of prescribed action
boddhavyam-must be understood
vikarmaṇaḥ-of forbidden action
akarmaṇaḥ-of inaction
gahanā-very difficult/deep
gatiḥ-the course/path
Translation
The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.
Commentary
Krishna introduces three categories: karma (prescribed duty), vikarma (prohibited action), and akarma (inaction/transcendence of action). Understanding these distinctions requires deep discernment. The word 'gahanā' emphasizes that this is not a simple intellectual exercise but requires profound contemplation.
Themes
karmajnanadharma