Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 4.16 किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः
श्लोक 4.16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः ।
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥
kiṃ karma kimakarmeti kavayo'pyatra mohitāḥ |
tatte karma pravakṣyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣyase'śubhāt ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कर्म क्या है और अकर्म क्या है — इस विषय में ज्ञानी भी भ्रमित हो जाते हैं। इसलिए मैं तुम्हें कर्म का वह स्वरूप बताऊँगा, जिसे जानकर तुम अशुभ से मुक्त हो जाओगे।
Meaning in English
What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. I shall explain action to you, knowing which you will be freed from evil.
Bhagavad Gita 4.16 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| किम् | kim | what |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| किम् | kim | what |
| अकर्म | akarma | inaction |
| इति | iti | thus |
| कवयः | kavayaḥ | the wise |
| अपि | api | even |
| अत्र | atra | in this |
| मोहिताः | mohitāḥ | are bewildered |
| तत् | tat | that |
| ते | te | to you |
| कर्म | karma | action |
| प्रवक्ष्यामि | pravakṣyāmi | I shall explain |
| यत् | yat | which |
| ज्ञात्वा | jñātvā | knowing |
| मोक्ष्यसे | mokṣyase | you will be freed |
| अशुभात् | aśubhāt | from evil |
Explanation
What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. Krishna promises to explain the nature of action to Arjuna, and says that knowing it will free him from evil, that is, from the bondage and misfortune of worldly existence.
This verse opens a short but dense section (4.16 to 4.24) on the true nature of action. Krishna admits that the question is not simple: what looks like doing may be non-doing, and what looks like stillness may be action. Shankara reads aśubha as the cycle of birth and death. Ramanuja takes the knowledge promised here as knowing action to be a form of knowledge of the Self. The verse prepares for the famous paradox of 4.18.
भावार्थ
कर्म क्या है और अकर्म क्या है, इस विषय में बुद्धिमान लोग भी मोहित हो जाते हैं। इसलिए मैं तुम्हें कर्म का तत्त्व बताऊँगा, जिसे जानकर तुम अशुभ से मुक्त हो जाओगे।
Living it today
Some questions are genuinely hard, even for experts. Admit confusion honestly and keep learning instead of pretending to certainty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 4.16?
What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. Krishna promises to explain the nature of action to Arjuna, and says that knowing it will free him from evil, that is, from the bondage and misfortune of worldly existence.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.16?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 4.16 in daily life?
Some questions are genuinely hard, even for experts. Admit confusion honestly and keep learning instead of pretending to certainty.
Reflected on verse 4.16?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.