Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 16 (4.16)
Reflective Prompt:
Is action only "doing something" and inaction only "doing nothing"? What if not acting also creates a result?
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 16 (4.16)
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः । तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् | | ४-१६ | |
kiṁ karma kimakarmeti kavayo’pyatra mohitāḥ tatte karma pravakṣhyāmi yajjñātvā mokṣhyase’śhubhāt
Word-by-word guide:
Line 1:
- किम्
(kim)— कर्म(what is action and what is inaction) - कर्म
(karma)— कर्म(I will explain action to you) - किम्
(kim)— कर्म(what is action and what is inaction) -
ajoined in kimakarmeti - कः
(kah)— कौन(who) - मे
(me)— मेरा/मुझे(my/to me) -
tijoined in kimakarmeti - कवयः
(kavayah)— ज्ञानी(even the wise are confused here) - अपि
(api)— ज्ञानी(even the wise are confused here) - अत्र
(atra)— ज्ञानी(even the wise are confused here) - ओइत
(mohitah)— ज्ञानी(even the wise are confused here)
Line 2:
- तत्
(tat)— कर्म(I will explain action to you) - ते
(te)— कर्म(I will explain action to you) - कर्म
(karma)— कर्म(I will explain action to you) - प्रवक्ष्यामि
(pravakshyami)— कर्म(I will explain action to you) - यत्
(yat)— जो सच में कल्याणकारी हो(knowing which) -
jjoined in yajjñātvā - न
(na)— नहीं(not) - त्वम्
(tvam)— तुम(you) - मोक्ष्यसे
(mokshyase)— तुम मुक्त हो जाओगे(you will be freed from what is harmful) - अशुभात्
(ashubhat)— अशुभ से(you will be freed from what is harmful)
English: What is action and what is inaction? It is a question which has bewildered wise people. But I will declare to you the philosophy of action, and knowing it, you will be free from evil.
Learnings from Shloka 16:
- Subtle Nature of Action:: Outer activity does not automatically mean progress, nor does outer silence mean peace.
- Seek Sincere Discernment:: We must carefully reflect on our intentions before acting, as they shape the karmic consequences.
Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz
Practice this shloka vocabularyMatch Sanskrit words from shloka 4.16 with their Hindi and English meanings.
Practice vocabulary
Distinguishing between proper action, wrong action, and inaction requires deep spiritual discernment. True wisdom lies in understanding how the inner motive, rather than the outer movement, determines the binding nature of karma.