एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
पूर्वकालके मुमुक्षुओंने भी इस प्रकार जानकर कर्म किये हैं, इसलिये तू भी पूर्वजोंके द्वारा सदासे किये जानेवाले कर्मोंको ही उन्हींकी तरह कर ॥
English
Even seekers of freedom acted after knowing this. Therefore, do the work that your ancestors always did.
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
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before the war. Krishna reminds him that earlier seekers of freedom also understood this and still acted. The teaching pushes Arjuna back into his rightful duty.
Why this verse still matters
You are standing outside a hospital room, phone in hand, about to tell the truth no one wants. The path is not to escape the hard duty, but to do it cleanly.
The takeaway
You are not inventing the path alone. Steady action has always been the way through.
Word-by-word translation
एवम् (thus) / ज्ञात्वा (having known) / कृतम् (done) / कर्म (action) / पूर्वैः (by the earlier ones) / अपि (also) / मुमुक्षुभिः (by seekers of freedom) / कुरु (do) / कर्म (action) / एव (indeed) / तस्मात् (therefore) / त्वम् (you) / पूर्वैः (by the earlier ones) / पूर्वतरम् (from ancient times) / कृतम् (done) /
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses)