Word meanings
- niyatam
- constantly
- kuru
- perform
- karma
- Vedic duties
- tvam
- you
- karma
- action
- jyāyaḥ
- superior
- hi
- certainly
- akarmaṇaḥ
- than inaction
- śarīra
- bodily
- yātrā
- maintenance
- api
- even
- ca
- and
- te
- your
- na prasiddhyet
- would not be possible
- akarmaṇaḥ
- inaction
Translations
Perform your bounden duty, for action is superior to inaction, and even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you through inaction.
Do your duty as prescribed, for action for duty's sake is superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of the body would be impossible if one remained inactive.
You should perform your obligatory duties, for action is superior to inaction. Moreover, even the maintenance of your body will not be possible without action.
तू शास्त्रविधिसे नियत किये हुए कर्तव्य-कर्म कर; क्योंकि कर्म न करनेकी अपेक्षा कर्म करना श्रेष्ठ है तथा कर्म न करनेसे तेरा शरीर-निर्वाह भी सिद्ध नहीं होगा।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.