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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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Duty & actionChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.22

Transcendental understanding of action

यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ।

समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥ २२ ॥

yadṛcchā-lābha-santuṣṭo

dvandvātīto vimatsaraḥ

samaḥ siddhāv asiddhau ca

kṛtvāpi na nibadhyate

Translation

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

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

Contentment in Kṛṣṇa’s Service

  1. 1One who is content with gains that come naturally, free from duality and envy, and steady in success and failure is not bound by action.
  2. 2Prabhupāda explains that a Kṛṣṇa conscious person works honestly, accepts what comes, and acts to satisfy Kṛṣṇa despite happiness or distress.
  3. 3Work honestly, be satisfied with what you obtain, and do not let other work hinder your service to Kṛṣṇa.

Where we are

In the story

Chapter 4, Transcendental Knowledge: transcendental understanding of action.

What it teaches

Theme summary

Act dutifully without attachment to fruits.

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Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.22 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.

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Related verses

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

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