Bhagavad Gita · 4.19 · Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action·19 of 42
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः।ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ kāma-saṅkalpa-varjitāḥ
jñānāgni-dagdha-karmāṇaṁ tam āhuḥ paṇḍitaṁ budhāḥ
Sanskrit recitation
What counts as real action · 4.16–4.23 · Teaching
Translation
He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and selfish purposes, and whose actions have been burned by the fire of knowledge, the wise call him a sage.
Meaning
A sage performs actions only with a view to set an example to the masses. Though he works, he does nothing as he has no selfish interests, as his actions are burnt by the fire of wisdom which consists in the realisaion of inaction in action, through the knowledge of the Self or BrahmaJnana. BrahmaJnana is a mighty spiritual fire which consumes the results of all kinds of actions (Karmas), good and bad, and makes the enlightened sage ite free from the bonds of action. The sage who leads a life of perfect renunciation does only what is reired for the bare existence of his body. (Cf.III.19IV.10IV.37).
After Swami Sivananda
What counts as real action· 4.16–4.23→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 4.16What is action? What is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. Therefore, I shall teach you the nature of action and inaction, by knowing which you will be liberated from the evil of Samsara, the wheel of birth and death.
- 4.17For verily, the true nature of action enjoined by the scriptures should be known, as well as that of forbidden or unlawful action, and of inaction; the nature of action is hard to understand.
- 4.18He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a yogi and performer of all actions.
4.19He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and selfish purposes, and whose actions have been burned by the fire of knowledge, the wise call him a sage.
- 4.20Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything even while being engaged in activity.
- 4.21Without hope, controlling the mind and the self, having abandoned all covetousness, and performing only bodily actions, one incurs no sin.
- 4.22Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, even-minded in success and failure, he acts yet is not bound.
- 4.23To one who is devoid of attachment, who is liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, and who works for the sake of sacrifice (for the sake of God), the whole action is dissolved.
Word-by-word→
- tam
- him
- agni
- in the fire
- kāma
- desire for material pleasures
- sarve
- every
- yasya
- whose
- dagdha
- burnt
- jñāna
- divine knowledge
- āhuḥ
- address
- budhāḥ
- the wise
- saṅkalpa
- resolve
- karmāṇam
- actions
- varjitāḥ
- devoid of
- paṇḍitam
- a sage
- samārambhāḥ
- undertakings
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