Gita Verse 4.17

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4, Verse 17

Sanskrit Verse

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।

अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।4.17।।

Transliteration

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ cha vikarmaṇaḥ

akarmaṇaśh cha boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

Word meanings

karmaṇaḥ—recommended action; hi—certainly; api—also; boddhavyam—should be known; boddhavyam—must understand; cha—and; vikarmaṇaḥ—forbidden action; akarmaṇaḥ—inaction; cha—and; boddhavyam—must understand; gahanā—profound; karmaṇaḥ—of action; gatiḥ—the true path

Swami Sivananda's translation

For 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.

Chapter link: Gita Chapter 4