Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 17

Chapter 4 – Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥

Transliteration

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ .
akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ॥

Meaning

One must understand the nature of action, of forbidden action, and of inaction; for the way of action is profound.

Word meanings

कर्मणः – of action
हि – indeed
अपि – also
बोद्धव्यम् – should be understood
बोद्धव्यम् – should be understood
च – and
विकर्मणः – of forbidden or wrong action
अकर्मणः – of inaction
च – and
बोद्धव्यम् – should be understood
गहना – profound, hard to fathom
कर्मणः – of action
गतिः – the way, the nature

Anvaya (word order)

कर्मणः हि अपि बोद्धव्यम्, विकर्मणः च बोद्धव्यम्, अकर्मणः च बोद्धव्यम्; (यतः) कर्मणः गतिः गहना ।

Explanation

In the previous verse Krishna said that even the wise are confused about action and inaction. Now He says that to understand the matter, three things must be known: karma, vikarma and akarma. By repeating ‘boddhavyam’ — must be understood — three times, He stresses how essential this knowledge is.

‘Karma’ here means action enjoined by scripture, to be performed as duty. ‘Vikarma’ — both Shankara and Ramanuja take it as action forbidden by scripture, deeds contrary to dharma that lead to a fall. Some commentators read ‘vikarma’ as ‘special action’, action transformed by knowledge, but the principal traditional sense is forbidden action.

‘Akarma’ — inaction, or the state in which action is performed without bondage. Ramanuja interprets akarma here as knowledge of the Self — awareness of the Self's true nature while acting. For Shankara, akarma means non-action, whose right understanding is equally necessary, because merely stopping the hands does not make one truly actionless.

‘Gahana karmano gatih’ — the way of action is profound. This phrase has become proverbial in Indian thought. Which action binds and which liberates; which looks good yet is selfish within; which seems harsh yet is righteous — such judgements are exceedingly subtle. The fruit of an action depends not on outward movement alone but on the attitude, knowledge and purpose behind it. That is why, in the next verse, Krishna opens this depth with a remarkable formula.

Context

In 4.16 Krishna said that even the wise are bewildered about action and inaction. Here He says one must understand action, forbidden action and inaction. In the next verse (4.18) He gives the celebrated teaching of seeing inaction in action and action in inaction.

Life lesson

Do not judge any action as good or bad merely from its surface; look at the attitude and purpose behind it. Discernment between right and wrong grows slowly, through careful reflection and good guidance.

Key terms

Karma: action enjoined by scripture; duty
Vikarma: forbidden action, contrary to dharma
Akarma: inaction, or the state of action free from bondage
Gahana gati: the profound and subtle nature of action