तत्त्ववित्तु महाबाहो गुणकर्मविभागयोः।गुणा गुणेषु वर्तन्त इति मत्वा न सज्जते ॥

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

• 3.17But for that man who rejoices only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self and is content in the Self alone, indeed there is nothing to do.
• 3.18For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
• 3.19Therefore, without attachment, always perform the actions that should be done; for by performing actions without attachment, one reaches the Supreme.
• 3.20Janaka and others attained perfection indeed through action alone; even with the intention of protecting the masses, you should perform action.
• 3.21Whatever a great man does, others also do; whatever he establishes as the standard, the world follows.
• 3.22There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that needs to be attained; yet I engage Myself in action.
• 3.23For, should I not ever engage myself in action, unwearied, people would in every way follow my path, O Arjuna.
• 3.24These worlds would perish if I did not perform action; I would be the author of confusion of castes and destruction of these beings.
• 3.25As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
• 3.26Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.
• 3.27All actions are wrought in all cases by the qualities of Nature alone. He whose mind is deluded by egoism thinks, "I am the doer."

• 3.28But he who knows the Truth, O mighty-armed Arjuna, about the divisions of the qualities and their functions, knowing that the Gunas, as senses, move amidst the Gunas, as the sense-objects, is not attached.

• 3.29Those deluded by the qualities of Nature are attached to the functions of the qualities. The man of perfect knowledge should not unsettle the foolish one who is of imperfect knowledge.

na

never

tu

but

iti

thus

matvā

knowing

sajjate

becomes attached

vartante

are engaged

guṇāḥ

modes of material nature in the shape of the senses, mind, etc

tattva-vit

the knower of the Truth

guṇeṣhu

modes of material nature in the shape of objects of perception

mahā-bāho

mighty-armed one

guṇa-karma

from guṇas and karma

vibhāgayoḥ

distinguish