कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।
स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥
स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो मनुष्य कर्ममें अकर्म देखता है और जो अकर्ममें कर्म देखता है, वह मनुष्योंमें बुद्धिमान् है, योगी है और सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंको करनेवाला है ॥
English
One who sees action in inaction, and inaction in action, is wise among people; that person is disciplined and complete in action.
What this verse means
A truly wise person sees that outward action can be inwardly free, and apparent inaction can still hide attachment or effort.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen before battle, and Krishna is explaining the strange nature of action itself. After saying action is hard to understand, he points to a person who acts without inner bondage and sees that real freedom can exist inside movement.
Why this verse still matters
You sit in a silent room after sending the message that may end a relationship. Nothing looks dramatic from outside, yet everything has changed. This verse names that hidden kind of action.
The takeaway
You can stop measuring worth by visible busyness and trust a deeper kind of effectiveness.
Word-by-word translation
कर्मणि (in action) / अकर्म (inaction) / यः (who) / पश्येत् (sees) / अकर्मणि (in inaction) / च (and) / कर्म (action) / यः (who) / सः (that one) / बुद्धिमान् (wise) / मनुष्येषु (among people) / सः (that one) / युक्तः (disciplined, united) / कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् (one who does all action completely)
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: jnana yoga (13 verses)