A core teaching · grounding in mood · easy to enter
“Right action is the path even for those seeking freedom.”
Even seekers of freedom acted after knowing this. Therefore, do the work that your ancestors always did.
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
Read literallythus · having known · done · action · by the earlier ones · also · by seekers of freedom · do · action · indeed · therefore · you · by the earlier ones · from ancient times
People seeking freedom acted in this way before you. So you should do the same rightful work that has long been done.
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
Verse 15 sits in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "Knowledge and Renunciation of Action". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
A daughter takes over her late father's grocery shop and wonders whether to sell it. Krishna's advice to Arjuna would have her keep the counter open, since others before her had the same doubts and still worked.
Did you like this verse?
Krishna points Arjuna to earlier people who sought freedom and still did their work, so he should act too.
What this verse means
People seeking freedom acted in this way before you. So you should do the same rightful work that has long been done.
Context & commentary
Krishna reminds Arjuna, frozen before the war, that earlier people who sought freedom also understood this and still acted. The teaching pushes Arjuna back into his rightful duty.
What it looks like today
A daughter takes over her late father's grocery shop and wonders whether to sell it. Krishna's advice to Arjuna would have her keep the counter open, since others before her had the same doubts and still worked.
“You are not inventing the path alone. Steady action has always been the way through.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses)