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Bhagavad Gita 4.15

Chapter 4, Verse 15

Part of 4: Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yogज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्॥

Transliteration

evaṁ jñātvā kṛitaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣhubhiḥ kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṁ kṛitam

Meaning

Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore.

Word-by-word meaning
evamthusjñātvāknowingkṛitamperformedkarmaactionspūrvaiḥof ancient timesapiindeedmumukṣhubhiḥseekers of liberationkurushould performkarmadutyevacertainlytasmātthereforetvamyoupūrvaiḥof those ancient sagespūrva-taramin ancient timeskṛitamperformed
Commentary

Knowing thus that the Self can have no desire for the fruits of actions and cannot be tainted by them, and knowing that no one can be tainted if he works without egoism, attachment and expectation of fruits, do thou perform your duty. If your heart is impure, perform actions for its purification. If you have attained AtmaJnana or the knowledge of the Self, work for the wellbeing of the world. The ancients such as Janaka and others performed actions in the days of yore. So do thou also perform action.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 15?
Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?
This is verse 15 of Chapter 4 (Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog — Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action) of the Bhagavad Gita, a scripture of 18 chapters and 700 verses spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna.