In Bhagavad Gita 4.19, Krishna says that the wise call a person learned whose undertakings are free from desire and selfish intention, and whose actions are burned in the fire of knowledge.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः
कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं
तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥ ४-१९ ॥
yasya sarve samārambhāḥ
kāmasaṅkalpavarjitāḥ
jñānāgnidagdhakarmāṇaṃ
tamāhuḥ paṇḍitaṃ budhāḥ
English transliteration yasya sarve samaarambhaah
kaamasankalpavarjitaah
jnaanaagnidagdhakarmaanam
tamaahuh panditam budhaah ॥ 4.19 ॥
Translation / Meaning
One whose every undertaking is free from desire and selfish intention, and whose actions are burned up in the fire of knowledge, is called a sage by the wise.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| यस्य yasya | whose |
| सर्वे sarve | all |
| समारम्भाः samārambhāḥ | undertakings |
| कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः kāmasaṅkalpavarjitāḥ | free from desire and selfish intention kāma (desire) + saṅkalpa (intention) + varjitāḥ (free) |
| ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणम् jñānāgnidagdhakarmāṇam | whose actions are burned by the fire of knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + agni (fire) + dagdha (burned) + karmāṇam (actions) |
| तम् tam | him |
| आहुः āhuḥ | call |
| पण्डितम् paṇḍitam | a sage |
| बुधाः budhāḥ | the wise |
Word-wise Chanting
- yas–ya sar–ve sa–mā–ram–bhāḥ 8 syllables yas-ya sar-ve sa-maa-ram-bhaah
- kā–ma–saṅ–kal–pa–var–ji–tāḥ | 8 syllables kaa-ma-san-kal-pa-var-ji-taah
- jñā–nāg–ni–dag–dha–kar–mā–ṇaṃ 8 syllables jnaa-naag-ni-dag-dha-kar-maa-nam
- ta–mā–huḥ paṇ–ḍi–taṃ bu–dhāḥ || 4-19 8 syllables ta-maa-huh pan-di-tam bu-dhaah
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 19
Context
Krishna describes the person who has realised the vision of 4.18 (4.19–4.23).
Meaning
Such a person acts without kāma, desire, and saṅkalpa, the self-centred planning that seeks personal gain. Their actions pass through the jñānāgni, the fire of knowledge, which burns away the seeds of bondage. Actions still happen, but they no longer produce binding results.
A seed that has been roasted cannot sprout. In the same way, actions done in the light of knowledge do not produce new bondage. This image appears again later in the chapter (4.37). It assures us that knowledge has real power to transform the effects of our deeds.
In Practice
Before your next important decision, ask whether any selfish intention is hidden in it. Let it go, and act from clarity.
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.