Actions done for sacrifice free a person; actions done for personal gain bind. Therefore, Arjuna, do your duty without attachment for that purpose alone.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.9
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 ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
यज्ञार्थात्for the purpose of sacrificeकर्मणःfrom actionअन्यत्रother thanलोकः अयम्this worldकर्मबन्धनःbound by actionतत्-अर्थम्for that purposeकर्मactionकौन्तेयson of Kuntiमुक्तसंगःfree from attachmentसमाचरperform
Read literallyfor the purpose of sacrifice · from action · other than · this world · bound by action · for that purpose · action · son of Kunti · free from attachment · perform
Understanding the verse
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Work done as yajna, an offering, frees; work done for personal gain binds.
Work done only for personal gain creates bondage. Work done as an offering, without attachment, should be done instead.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna sharpens the lesson by locating the problem in motive: action done for selfish gain binds; action offered without grasping becomes the right way to move.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A volunteer cooks at the gurdwara langar every Sunday and keeps waiting for someone to praise her dal. When she cooks for the people eating, the work loosens its grip on her.
The takeaway
“Work offered for something larger than yourself feels lighter.”
Work done only for personal gain creates bondage. Work done as an offering, without attachment, should be done instead.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.9?
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 3.9?
Verse 9 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 3.9 matter today?
A volunteer cooks at the gurdwara langar every Sunday and keeps waiting for someone to praise her dal. When she cooks for the people eating, the work loosens its grip on her.
Work done as yajna, an offering, frees; work done for personal gain binds.
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
Krishna sharpens the lesson by locating the problem in motive: action done for selfish gain binds; action offered without grasping becomes the right way to move.
What it looks like today
A volunteer cooks at the gurdwara langar every Sunday and keeps waiting for someone to praise her dal. When she cooks for the people eating, the work loosens its grip on her.
“Work offered for something larger than yourself feels lighter.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), yajna (32 verses), attachment (20 verses)