Ashtavakra Gita 18.49Chapter 18, Verse 49
Ashtavakra Gita 18.49 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "Whatever comes to be done, the straightforward one does it, good or bad. His actions are like a child's."
यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तदा तत्कुरुते ऋजुः ।शुभं वाप्यशुभं वापि तस्य चेष्टा हि बालवत् ॥
yadā yatkartumāyāti tadā tatkurute ṛjuḥ |śubhaṃ vāpyaśubhaṃ vāpi tasya ceṣṭā hi bālavat ||
Whatever comes to be done, the straightforward one does it, good or bad. His actions are like a child's.
Ashtavakra, to King Janaka
Word meanings and a note for this verse are still being written. Read it in context on the chapter 18 page, or start with the verses in where to begin.
Chapter 18, Peace in a hundred verses: The longest chapter, a third of the text, contrasting the confused who strive with the steady who are already at rest.
Read all 100 verses in this chapter →Seven mornings of short readings from the Bhagavad Gita, chosen for what you're going through, by email.
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