Chapter 4, Verse 17
Part of 4: Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog — ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगकर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः॥
Transliteration
karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ cha vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaśh cha boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
Meaning
For verily, the true nature of action enjoined by the scriptures should be known, as well as that of forbidden or unlawful action, and of inaction; the nature of action is hard to understand.
Word-by-word meaning
karmaṇaḥ — recommended actionhi — certainlyapi — alsoboddhavyam — should be knownboddhavyam — must understandcha — andvikarmaṇaḥ — forbidden actionakarmaṇaḥ — inactioncha — andboddhavyam — must understandgahanā — profoundkarmaṇaḥ — of actiongatiḥ — the true path
Commentary
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 17?▼
For verily, the true nature of action enjoined by the scriptures should be known, as well as that of forbidden or unlawful action, and of inaction; the nature of action is hard to understand.
Which chapter and verse of the Bhagavad Gita is this?▼
This is verse 17 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.