In Bhagavad Gita 4.15, Krishna says that knowing this, the ancient seekers of liberation performed action; therefore Arjuna too should act as they did in former times.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म
पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं
पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥ ४-१५ ॥
evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma
pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ
kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ
pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam
English transliteration evam jnaatvaa kritam karma
poorvairapi mumukshubhih
kuru karmaiva tasmaattvam
poorvaih poorvataram kritam ॥ 4.15 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Knowing this, the ancient seekers of liberation performed action. Therefore you too should perform action, as the ancients did in former times.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| एवम् evam | thus |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | knowing |
| कृतम् kṛtam | was performed |
| कर्म karma | action |
| पूर्वैः pūrvaiḥ | by the ancients |
| अपि api | also |
| मुमुक्षुभिः mumukṣubhiḥ | by seekers of liberation |
| कुरु kuru | perform |
| कर्म karma | action |
| एव eva | indeed |
| तस्मात् tasmāt | therefore |
| त्वम् tvam | you |
| पूर्वैः pūrvaiḥ | by the ancients |
| पूर्वतरम् pūrvataram | in former times |
| कृतम् kṛtam | done |
Word-wise Chanting
- e–vaṃ jñāt–vā kṛ–taṃ kar–ma 8 syllables e-vam jnaat-vaa kri-tam kar-ma
- pūr–vai–ra–pi mu–mu–kṣu–bhiḥ | 8 syllables poor-vai-ra-pi mu-mu-kshu-bhih
- ku–ru kar–mai–va tas–māt–tvaṃ 8 syllables ku-ru kar-mai-va tas-maat-tvam
- pūr–vaiḥ pūr–va–ta–raṃ kṛ–tam || 4-15 8 syllables poor-vaih poor-va-ta-ram kri-tam
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 4 Verse 15
Context
Krishna draws the practical conclusion from 4.14 for Arjuna.
Meaning
The mumukṣus, seekers of liberation of earlier times, did not abandon action. Knowing that action without attachment does not bind, they continued to act. Krishna asks Arjuna to follow their example. Liberation and engaged action are not opposites; the wise of old combined them.
The verse links Arjuna to a tradition of awakened action. We are not the first to face the tension between spiritual aspiration and worldly duty. Many before us have walked the path of acting with a free heart. Their example gives us courage.
In Practice
Recall someone you admire who combined spirituality and active service. Let their example guide one action today.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.