In Bhagavad Gita 4.16, Krishna says even the wise are confused about what is action and what is inaction, and promises to explain action so that Arjuna may be freed from evil.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति
कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि
यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥ ४-१६ ॥
kiṃ karma kimakarmeti
kavayo’pyatra mohitāḥ
tatte karma pravakṣyāmi
yajjñātvā mokṣyase’śubhāt
English transliteration kim karma kimakarmeti
kavayo’pyatra mohitaah
tatte karma pravakshyaami
yajjnaatvaa mokshyase’shubhaat ॥ 4.16 ॥
Translation / Meaning
What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. I shall explain to you what action is, knowing which you will be freed from evil.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| किम् kim | what |
| कर्म karma | action |
| किम् kim | what |
| अकर्म akarma | inaction |
| इति iti | thus |
| कवयः kavayaḥ | the wise |
| अपि api | even |
| अत्र atra | here |
| मोहिताः mohitāḥ | are confused |
| तत् tat | that |
| ते te | to you |
| कर्म karma | action |
| प्रवक्ष्यामि pravakṣyāmi | I shall explain |
| यत् yat | which |
| ज्ञात्वा jñātvā | knowing |
| मोक्ष्यसे mokṣyase | you will be freed |
| अशुभात् aśubhāt | from evil |
Word-wise Chanting
- kiṃ kar–ma ki–ma–kar–me–ti 8 syllables kim kar-ma ki-ma-kar-me-ti
- ka–va–yo–‘pyat–ra mo–hi–tāḥ | 8 syllables ka-va-yo-‘pyat-ra mo-hi-taah
- tat–te kar–ma pra–vakṣ–yā–mi 8 syllables tat-te kar-ma pra-vaksh-yaa-mi
- yaj–jñāt–vā mokṣ–ya–se–‘śu–bhāt || 4-16 8 syllables yaj-jnaat-vaa moksh-ya-se-‘shu-bhaat
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 16
Context
Krishna introduces a subtle teaching on the nature of action (4.16–4.24).
Meaning
The question sounds simple but is profound. Is sitting still truly inaction? Is busy activity truly action in the spiritual sense? Even kavis, poets and sages, are bewildered. Krishna promises to clarify, and says that this understanding itself brings freedom from aśubha, the inauspicious bondage of karma.
Many of our confusions come from thinking of action only in outward terms. The Gita invites us to look at the inner state behind action. What binds or frees is not the movement of the body but the movement of the heart. This insight is the key to the rest of the chapter.
In Practice
Notice today the difference between times you are busy but inwardly scattered, and times you are active but inwardly calm. Which feels more like true action?
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.