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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.183.20

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.19

Exemplary action and leadership by example

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।

असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्‍नोति पूरूषः ॥ १९ ॥

tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ

kāryaṁ karma samācara

asakto hy ācaran karma

param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ

Translation

Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

Act Without Attachment

  1. 1Do your duty without attachment to the results; such work leads to the Supreme.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that working for Kṛṣṇa under proper guidance, without attachment, brings progress toward life's supreme goal.
  3. 3Act for Kṛṣṇa, rather than for the results you want.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 3, Karma-yoga: exemplary action and leadership by example.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Offered action

Perform work without attachment.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 3.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

4

The story behind it

Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.

All stories for chapter 3 ›
5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.30Offer every action to KrishnaBG 5.10Action without contamination

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

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Ask about BG 3.19 — get a simple answer linked to related ideas and verses.

Back to step 3The key ideasNext · Step 5 of 7 · 5 minLive the teachingsBring it into your day with a practice and a question, straight from Prabhupāda's purports.