Word meanings
- saktāḥ
- attached
- karmaṇi
- duties
- avidvānsaḥ
- the ignorant
- yathā
- as much as
- kurvanti
- act
- bhārata
- scion of Bharat (Arjun)
- kuryāt
- should do
- vidvān
- the wise
- tathā
- thus
- asaktaḥ
- unattached
- cikīrṣuḥ
- wishing
- loka-saṅgraham
- welfare of the world
Translations
As the ignorant act out of attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing for the welfare of the world.
As the ignorant act, out of their fondness for action, so should the wise act without attachment, fixing their eyes, O Arjuna, only on the welfare of the world.
O scion of the Bharata dynasty, as the unenlightened people act with attachment to work, so should the enlightened person act, without attachment, desiring to prevent people from going astray.
।।3.25 -- 3.26।। हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन! कर्ममें आसक्त हुए अज्ञानीजन जिस प्रकार कर्म करते हैं, आसक्तिरहित विद्वान भी लोकसंग्रह करना चाहता हुआ उसी प्रकार कर्म करे। तत्त्वज्ञ महापुरुष कर्मोंमें आसक्तिवाले अज्ञानी मनुष्योंकी बुद्धिमें भ्रम उत्पन्न न करे, प्रत्युत स्वयं समस्त कर्मोंको अच्छी तरहसे करता हुआ उनसे भी वैसे ही करवाये।Commentary
The ignorant man works in expectation of fruits. He says? I will do such and such work and will get such and such fruit. But the wise man who knows the Self, serves not for his own end. He should so act that the world, following his example, would attain peace, harmony, purity of heart, divine light and knowledge. A wise man is one who knows the Self. (Cf.II.64III.19XVIII.49).