Bhagavad Gita BG 4.17
Chapter 4, Verse 17 — Meaning, Translation & Explanation
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः । अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥
karmano hy api boddhavyam boddhavyam ca vikarmana akarmanas ca boddhavyam gahana karmano gatih
Meaning
The nature of action must be understood; the nature of forbidden action must be understood; and the nature of inaction must be understood — deep and difficult is the way of action.
Understanding
Three categories to understand: karma (right action), vikarma (forbidden/prohibited action — actions that violate dharma), and akarma (inaction — the deepest and most subtle). Gahana karmano gatih — the way of action is deep and difficult, like a dense forest where one easily loses the path. The depth of this topic justifies the careful treatment that follows.
Word by Word
| Word | IAST | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| बोद्धव्यम् | boddhavyam | must be understood, to be known |
| विकर्मणः | vikarmana | of forbidden/prohibited action |
| अकर्मणः | akarmana | of inaction, non-action |
| गहना | gahana | deep, dense, impenetrable |
| गतिः | gatih | way, course, movement |
| कर्मणः | karmaṇaḥ | of action / about action (genitive) |
| हि | hi | for / indeed (causal) |
| अपि | api | also / even |
| च | ca | and (repeated for each — action, forbidden action, inaction) |