कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्िचकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥
As the ignorant act with attachment to action, so should the wise act without attachment, seeking the welfare of the world.
A core teaching · grounding in mood · a little context helps
“Wisdom keeps acting, but never for personal gain.”
As the ignorant act with attachment to action, so should the wise act without attachment, seeking the welfare of the world.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallyattached · in action · the ignorant · as · perform · O Bharata · should perform · the wise · likewise · without attachment · desiring to do · the welfare/order of the world
A wise person should keep acting, but without clinging to the results. The point is to support the world, not feed ego.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Verse 25 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
You’re the senior person in a room full of anxious newcomers, and everyone is watching how you handle the pressure. Stay active, stay steady, and let your example carry the room.
Did you like this verse?
The wise should work as hard as the attached do, minus the attachment, for the world's good.
What this verse means
A wise person should keep acting, but without clinging to the results. The point is to support the world, not feed ego.
Context & commentary
Even the wise must work, to keep the world in order and to guide others by example, with personal gain set aside.
What it looks like today
You’re the senior person in a room full of anxious newcomers, and everyone is watching how you handle the pressure. Stay active, stay steady, and let your example carry the room.
“You can stay fully engaged without getting trapped by craving recognition or payoff.”