Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 25 (3.25)
Reflective Prompt:
A 9th grader is helping a 6th grader with math. The older student understands the answer immediately, but the younger student is struggling. What should the 9th grader do?
- ▪ Option 1: Say, "This is so easy. How can you not get it?"
- ▪ Option 2: Explain slowly, encourage the younger student, and show the steps with patience.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 25 (3.25)
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत । कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् | | ३-२५ | |
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṁso yathā kurvanti bhārata kuryādvidvāṁstathāsaktaśhchikīrṣhurlokasaṁgraham
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- सत
(saktah)— कर्म(the unwise act attached to action) - कर्माणि
(karmani)— कर्म(the unwise act attached to action) - अइवस
(avidvamsah)— कर्म(the unwise act attached to action) - यथा
(yatha)— जैसे(just as they act) - उवइ
(kurvanti)— उवइ(just as they act) - भारत
(Bharata)— हे भारत(Arjuna)
Line 2:
- उय
(kuryat)— अनासक्त(the wise should act similarly but unattached) - इव
(vidvan)— अनासक्त(the wise should act similarly but unattached) -
sjoined in kuryādvidvāṁstathāsaktaśhchikīrṣhurlokasaṁgraham - तत्
(tad)— वह(that) - असक्तः
(asaktah)— अनासक्त(the wise should act similarly but unattached) - इइउ
(chikirshuh)— लोक(wishing to hold the world together) - ओक-सरह
(loka-sangraham)— लोक(wishing to hold the world together)
English: As people who do not understand act, because of their fondness for action, so should wise people act without such being stuck, fixing their eyes, Arjuna, only on the welfare of the world.
Learnings from Shloka 25:
- Channeling Energy:: The wise do not stop working; they redirect the energy of attachment into selfless service.
- Global Welfare:: Shifting our motivation from personal ambition to world service elevates the quality of our work.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 3.25 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Just as the ignorant work hard out of attachment to personal rewards, the wise should work just as hard, but without attachment, solely for the welfare and guidance of the world.