Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.25 सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत
श्लोक 3.25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata |
kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
हे भारत! जैसे अज्ञानी लोग आसक्त होकर कर्म करते हैं, वैसे ही ज्ञानी को लोक-कल्याण की इच्छा से, आसक्ति रहित होकर कर्म करना चाहिए।
Meaning in English
Just as the unwise act with attachment to their work, O Bharata (Arjuna), so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
Bhagavad Gita 3.25 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सक्ताः | saktāḥ | attached |
| कर्मणि | karmaṇi | to action |
| अविद्वांसः | avidvāṃsaḥ | the unwise |
| यथा | yathā | as |
| कुर्वन्ति | kurvanti | act |
| भारत | bhārata | O Bharata (Arjuna) |
| कुर्यात् | kuryāt | should act |
| विद्वान् | vidvān | the wise |
| तथा | tathā | so |
| असक्तः | asaktaḥ | unattached |
| चिकीर्षुः | cikīrṣuḥ | wishing to bring about |
| लोकसंग्रहम् | loka-saṃgraham | the welfare of the world |
Explanation
As the unwise act out of attachment to their work, O Bharata, so should the wise act, but without attachment, wishing to hold the world together.
The outward activity of the wise and the unwise may look the same; the difference lies inside. The ignorant work for results, the wise for lokasangraha, the common good. Shankara reads this as advice for the knower who continues to act for others' sake. Tilak and Gandhi took it as a description of the ideal public worker: as energetic as anyone ambitious, but free of self-interest.
भावार्थ
हे भारत! जैसे कर्म में आसक्त अज्ञानी लोग कर्म करते हैं, वैसे ही आसक्ति रहित ज्ञानी को भी लोकसंग्रह की इच्छा से कर्म करना चाहिए।
Living it today
Work with the same energy as someone chasing a reward, but let your aim be the good of others. Same effort, different fuel.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.25?
As the unwise act out of attachment to their work, O Bharata, so should the wise act, but without attachment, wishing to hold the world together.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.25?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.25 in daily life?
Work with the same energy as someone chasing a reward, but let your aim be the good of others. Same effort, different fuel.
Reflected on verse 3.25?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.