Verse 4.19
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः। ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः।।
Transliteration (IAST)
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ
Word-by-Word Meanings
samārambhāḥ-undertakings
kāma-desire
saṅkalpa-selfish intention
varjitāḥ-devoid of
jñānāgni-fire of knowledge
paṇḍitam-learned/wise
Translation
One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavor is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker for whom the reactions of work have been burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge.
Commentary
The metaphor of fire burning karma is central to this chapter. Knowledge (jñāna) acts as a purifying fire that destroys the binding power of past actions. The wise person acts without kāma (selfish desire) and saṅkalpa (egoistic intention), rendering their actions karmically neutral.
Themes
jnanakarmamoksha