यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः। तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम।।18.78।

Wherever Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, is; and wherever Arjuna, the wielder of the bow, is; there is prosperity, victory, happiness, and a firm policy; this is my conviction.

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 This is not a withdrawal into apathy, but an active, vibrant participation in life where the ego has been replaced by a singular focus on loka-saṅgraham, or the cohesion and welfare of the world.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.

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