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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.33.5

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.4

Why disciplined, selfless action is necessary

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्य पुरुषोऽश्न‍ुते ।

न च सन्न्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ॥ ४ ॥

na karmaṇām anārambhān

naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo ’śnute

na ca sannyasanād eva

siddhiṁ samadhigacchati

Translation

Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Purification Before Renunciation

  1. 1Simply avoiding work does not free one from its reactions, and renunciation alone does not bring perfection.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that prescribed duties purify the heart. Without this purification, entering renounced life cannot succeed.
  3. 3Begin serving the Lord. He accepts even small progress in His service, which helps one overcome great difficulties.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 3, Karma-yoga: why disciplined, selfless action is necessary.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 3.4 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 3.3Why disciplined, selfless action is necessaryBG 3.5Why disciplined, selfless action is necessaryBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomes

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

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Ask about BG 3.4 — 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.