Chapter 3 · Verse 25

Path of Selfless Service

सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत। कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्िचकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्

saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham

Word Meanings

saktāḥ karmaṇi avidvānsaḥ yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryāt vidvān tathā asaktaḥ chikīrṣhuḥ loka-saṅgraham

Translation

As the ignorant act with attachment to their work, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, seeking the welfare of the world.

Commentary

सक्ताः attached? कर्मणि to action? अविद्वांसः the ignorant? यथा as? कुर्वन्ति act? भारत O Bharata? कुर्यात् should act? विद्वान् the wise? तथा so? असक्तः unattached? चिकीर्षुः wishing? लोकसंग्रहम् the welfare of the world.Commentary The ignorant man works in expectation of fruits. He says? I will do such and such work and will get such and such fruit. But the wise man who knows the Self? serves not for his own end. He should so act that the world? following his example? would attain peace? harmony? purity of heart? divine light and knowledge. A wise man is one who knows the Self. (Cf.II.64III.19XVIII.49).