Mahakatha
M 80% OFF

Chapter 3 · Verse 8 · Karma Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 3.8

empowering Karma & Action Dharma & Duty Attachment & Letting Go

Sanskrit

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः। शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः।।3.8।।

Transliteration

niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ

Word by Word

niyatam constantly
kuru perform
karma Vedic duties
tvam you
karma action
jyāyaḥ superior
hi certainly
akarmaṇaḥ than inaction
śharīra bodily
yātrā maintenance
api even
cha and
te your
na prasiddhyet would not be possible
akarmaṇaḥ inaction
Simplified Perspective

Krishna cuts through Arjuna's paralysis with a truth as old as creation itself: the universe runs on action, not escape. Inaction is not peace—it is delusion pretending to be wisdom.

Even to maintain your body, you must act; even to breathe, the cosmos acts through you. When you perform your duty without clinging to its fruits, you transform every deed into worship, every moment into an offering at the altar of the Divine.

Listen

Bhagavad Gita 3.8 — BG 3.8

0:00
Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

Your Mantra Prescription

This mantra is prescribed for clarity and purpose. Is that what you're going through?

2.2M people trust Mahakatha