Path of Selfless Service
Verse 3.25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत। कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्िचकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम्।।3.25।।
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham
Word Meanings
saktāḥ—attached; karmaṇi—duties; avidvānsaḥ—the ignorant; yathā—as much as; kurvanti—act; bhārata—scion of Bharat (Arjun); kuryāt—should do; vidvān—the wise; tathā—thus; asaktaḥ—unattached; chikīrṣhuḥ—wishing; loka-saṅgraham—welfare of the world
Translation · English
As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
Deep Meaning · English
In this profound verse, Krishna delineates the distinction between the action of the 'ignorant' (avidvān) and the 'wise' (vidvān), not based on what they do, but on the orientation of their consciousness. The ignorant perform duties fueled by attachment and personal craving, effectively binding themselves to the cycle of cause and effect. In contrast, the wise soul, having realized the eternal Self, performs the exact same actions with complete internal detachment. This is not a withdrawal into apathy, but an active, vibrant participation in life where the ego has been replaced by a singular focus on loka-saṅgraham, or the cohesion and welfare of the world. For the seeker, this verse serves as a crucial bridge between Karma Yoga and Jñana Yoga. Krishna is showing Arjuna that enlightenment does not demand the abandonment of society or duty. Rather, it demands the radical transformation of the motivation behind the action. The wise person acts as a transparent instrument of the Divine. By mirroring the diligence of the ordinary person while maintaining the poise of a sage, the enlightened one becomes a living lighthouse, guiding others toward the path of righteousness through their own selfless conduct.
True wisdom is characterized not by the renunciation of action, but by the renunciation of the fruit of action, ensuring that every movement is a dedicated offering toward the harmony of the universe.
Connected Verses
Describes the qualities of the devotee who is free from possessiveness and ego, mirroring the 'unattached' state of the wise.
Expands on the paradox of finding action in inaction and inaction in action, which defines the state of the wise.
Highlights the necessity of the wise setting the standard for the masses, reinforcing the purpose of loka-saṅgraham.
Establishes the fundamental principle that one has a right to the work but never to the results thereof.
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