Word meanings
- yajña-arthāt
- for the sake of sacrifice
- karmaṇaḥ
- than action
- anyatra
- else
- lokaḥ
- material world
- ayam
- this
- karma-bandhanaḥ
- bondage through one’s work
- tat
- that
- artham
- for the sake of
- karma
- action
- kaunteya
- Arjun, the son of Kunti
- mukta-saṅgaḥ
- free from attachment
- samācara
- perform properly
Translations
The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform actions for that sake alone, free from attachment.
In this world, people are fettered by their actions, unless they are performed as a sacrifice. Therefore, O Arjuna, let your actions be done without attachment, as a sacrifice only.
This man becomes bound by actions other than those intended for God. Without being attached, O son of Kunti, perform actions for Him.
यज्ञ (कर्तव्यपालन) के लिये किये जानेवाले कर्मोंसे अन्यत्र (अपने लिये किये जानेवाले) कर्मोंमें लगा हुआ यह मनुष्य-समुदाय कर्मोंसे बँधता है, इसलिये हे कुन्तीनन्दन ! तू आसक्ति-रहित होकर उस यज्ञके लिये ही कर्तव्य-कर्म कर।Commentary
Yajna means sacrifice or religious rite or any unselfish action done with a pure motive. It means also Isvara. The Taittiriya Samhita (of the Veda) says Yajna verily is Vishnu (174). If anyone does actions for the sake of the Lord, he is not bound. His heart is purified by performing actions for the sake of the Lord. Where this spirit of unselfishness does not govern the action, it will bind one to Samsara however good or glorious it may be. (Cf.II.48).