Do the duty prescribed for you. Action is better than inaction, and even your body cannot be sustained by inaction.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.8
Hindi · हिन्दी
तू शास्त्रविधिसे नियत किये हुए कर्तव्यकर्म कर क्योंकि कर्म न करनेकी अपेक्षा कर्म करना श्रेष्ठ है तथा कर्म न करनेसे तेरा शरीरनिर्वाह भी सिद्ध नहीं होगा ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
नियतंprescribedकुरुdoकर्मaction, dutyत्वंyouकर्मactionज्यायःbetterहिindeedअकर्मणःthan inactionशरीरयात्राbodily maintenance, livelihoodअपिalso, evenचandतेyourनnotप्रसिद्ध्येत्would be accomplishedअकर्मणःby inaction
Read literallyprescribed · do · action, duty · you · action · better · indeed · than inaction · bodily maintenance, livelihood · also, even · and · your · not · would be accomplished · by inaction
Understanding the verse
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Do your prescribed duty, Krishna says; even keeping the body alive requires action.
Krishna tells Arjuna to do the duty assigned to him. Action is better than sitting idle, and even basic life cannot continue through inaction.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna answers the paralysis directly: do the duty that is already yours. This verse turns the argument from fear into action.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A son keeps postponing the conversation with his father about selling the farm. Waiting for certainty makes the knot tighter. Sitting down with him this Sunday is the duty in front of him.
Krishna tells Arjuna to do the duty assigned to him. Action is better than sitting idle, and even basic life cannot continue through inaction.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.8?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.8?
Verse 8 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.8 matter today?
A son keeps postponing the conversation with his father about selling the farm. Waiting for certainty makes the knot tighter. Sitting down with him this Sunday is the duty in front of him.
Do your prescribed duty, Krishna says; even keeping the body alive requires action.
What this verse means
Krishna tells Arjuna to do the duty assigned to him. Action is better than sitting idle, and even basic life cannot continue through inaction.
Context & commentary
Krishna answers the paralysis directly: do the duty that is already yours. This verse turns the argument from fear into action.
What it looks like today
A son keeps postponing the conversation with his father about selling the farm. Waiting for certainty makes the knot tighter. Sitting down with him this Sunday is the duty in front of him.
“Doing the needed thing beats freezing in fear.”
Explore related themes: kurukshetra (95 verses), duty (13 verses)