यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर ॥

Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.

• 3.1Arjuna said: If Thou thinkest that knowledge is superior to action, O Krishna, why then, O Kesava, doest Thou ask me to engage in this terrible action?
• 3.2With this seemingly perplexing speech, you seem to be confusing my understanding; therefore, tell me one certain way by which I may attain bliss.
• 3.3The Blessed Lord said, "In this world, there is a twofold path, as I said before, O sinless one: the path of knowledge of the Sankhyas and the path of action of the Yogins."
• 3.4Man does not reach actionlessness by not performing actions; nor does he attain perfection by mere renunciation.
• 3.5Verily, no one can remain for even a moment without performing action; for everyone is made to act helplessly, indeed, by the qualities born of Nature.
• 3.6He who, restraining the organs of action, sits thinking of the sense-objects in his mind, he of deluded understanding is called a hypocrite.
• 3.7But whoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
• 3.8Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.

• 3.9The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone, free from attachment.

tat

that

ayam

this

karma

action

artham

for the sake of

anyatra

else

lokaḥ

material world

kaunteya

Arjun, the son of Kunti

samāchara

perform properly

karmaṇaḥ

than action

yajña-arthāt

for the sake of sacrifice

mukta-saṅgaḥ

free from attachment

karma-bandhanaḥ

bondage through one’s work