यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर ॥
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
यज्ञ कर्तव्यपालन के लिये किये जानेवाले कर्मोंसे अन्यत्र अपने लिये किये जानेवाले कर्मोंमें लगा हुआ यह मनुष्यसमुदाय कर्मोंसे बँधता है, इसलिये हे कुन्तीनन्दन तू आसक्तिरहित होकर उस यज्ञके लिये ही कर्तव्यकर्म कर ॥
English
Actions done for sacrifice free a person; actions done for personal gain bind. Therefore, Arjuna, do your duty without attachment for that purpose alone.
What this verse means
Work done only for personal gain creates bondage. Work done as an offering, without attachment, should be done instead.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle. Krishna sharpens the lesson: action itself is not the problem. Action done for selfish gain binds; action offered without grasping becomes the right way to move.
Why this verse still matters
You send the email, then keep checking for praise. The knot tightens when the action is for your ego; it loosens when the action is for what needs doing.
The takeaway
There is relief in serving something larger than your own gain.
Word-by-word translation
यज्ञार्थात् (for the purpose of sacrifice) / कर्मणः (from action) / अन्यत्र (other than) / लोकः अयम् (this world) / कर्मबन्धनः (bound by action) / तत्-अर्थम् (for that purpose) / कर्म (action) / कौन्तेय (son of Kunti) / मुक्तसंगः (free from attachment) / समाचर (perform)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3: Karma Yoga — The Yoga of Action, which contains 43 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses), attachment (20 verses)