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Chapter 3 · Karma-yoga · 43 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 3 · Karma-yoga
3.83.10

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.9

Work as sacrifice

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।

तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥ ९ ॥

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra

loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ

tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya

mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara

Translation

Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

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

Work for Viṣṇu’s Satisfaction

  1. 1Perform your prescribed duties to satisfy Viṣṇu; otherwise, work binds you to the material world.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that both good and evil work have binding reactions, but work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings freedom.
  3. 3Work to please Kṛṣṇa, not to satisfy your senses, under the expert guidance of His devotee.

Where we are

In the story

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

What it teaches

Study note

Krishna reframes activity through its purpose and offering.

How it feels

Interpretive

Meaningful responsibility

2

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Action & reaction

Work for sacrifice does not produce ordinary bondage.

Sacrifice / offering

Work performed for sacrifice is distinguished from binding action.

3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

For whose satisfaction am I truly working?

Practice

Consciously offer one work session for Krishna’s satisfaction.

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 4.17Transcendental understanding of actionBG 4.18Transcendental understanding of actionBG 3.13The cycle of sacrifice and dutyBG 4.24Transcendental understanding of action

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

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Ask about BG 3.9 — 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.