Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 8 (BG 3.8) — Meaning, Translation & Commentary

3.8 नियतम् bounden (prescribed or obligatory)? कुरु perform? कर्म action? त्वम् thou? कर्म action? ज्यायः superior? हि for? अकर्मणः than inaction? शरीरयात्रा maintenance of the body? अपि even? च and? ते thy? न not? प्रसिद्ध्येत् would be possible? अकर्मणः by inaction.Commentary Niyatam Karma is an obligatory duty which one is bound to perform. Thenonperformance of the bounden duties causes demerit. The performance of the obligatory duties is not a means for the attainment of a specific result. The performance does not cause any merit.Living itself involves several natural and unavoidable actions which have to be performed by all. It is ignorance to say? I can live doing nothing.

Commentaries

Contemporary scholarly and practical interpretations for modern seekers.

This interpretation draws on a specific tradition and may not represent the view of any single school. For authoritative guidance within a specific tradition, seek a qualified teacher.

Modern

In your practical life, you must understand as your prescribed duties all those actions that fall to you as a member of your family, workplace, society, and nation. From this perspective, inaction means failing to perform these duties with skill and excellence. Through mere passivity, even the maintenance of the body becomes impossible. Such inaction brings ruin to the nation, society, and family alike, while the individual themselves becomes a victim of their own idleness, suffering from physical incapacity and mental decline. It is a mistaken belief that actions are the cause of bondage and therefore should not be performed. Why—