Bhagavad Gita 4.17
Spoken by Krishna · Verse 17 of 42
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः । अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥
karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ | akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ||
Three things must be understood: action, wrong-action, inaction. The nature of action is deep and impenetrable.
Word by word (3)
- karmaṇaḥ boddhavyam / vikarmaṇaḥ boddhavyam / akarmaṇaḥ boddhavyam
- — action must be understood / wrong-action must be understood / inaction must be understood · Boddhavya = must be understood, ought to be known (gerundive of budh — 'to be understood'). Three categories: karma (prescribed/right action), vikarma (vi+karma = wrong/forbidden action, action that violates dharma), akarma (a+karma = inaction, absence of action, or transcendence of action). Each must be understood in its depth.
- gahanā karmaṇaḥ gatiḥ
- — profound/impenetrable is the way of action · Gahanā = deep, impenetrable, thick (like dense forest — same root as gahana = deep/unfathomable). Karmaṇaḥ = of action. Gatiḥ = the way, movement, course. The honest admission: the nature and movement of karma is genuinely deep and difficult to penetrate. This is why careful understanding of all three categories is necessary.
- vikarma
- — vikarma = wrong-action/prohibited action (vi = against/opposed to + karma = action; vikarma is action that violates dharma, is prohibited by scripture, or produces negative karma); the three terms: karma (right/prescribed action), akarma (non-action/inaction in action), and vikarma (wrong action) form a complete typology; V17's point is that ALL three require understanding — gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ (profound is the path of action) precisely because the three are not always obvious
One must understand what action is, what wrong-action is, and what inaction is. The way of action is profound.
A modern analogy
In ethics, there are three categories: the right act, the wrong act, and the absence of action. But knowing which is which in any given situation is notoriously difficult. This verse refuses to simplify it — gahanā karmaṇaḥ gatiḥ — the path of action is genuinely deep. Respect the depth before claiming clarity.
Take with you
- Three categories, not two: karma (right action), vikarma (wrong action), akarma (inaction/transcendence of action).
- Gahanā gatiḥ — profound path. Don't rush to judgment about which applies in any given situation.
- All three must be understood, not just the one you're currently focused on.
- This verse sets up the next teaching: the truly wise see action in inaction and inaction in action — transcending all three categories.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
For one must understand what action is, what wrong action is, and what inaction is; the nature of action is profound. [1]
For, verily, even what is action should be known, and what is wrong action should be known, and what is inaction should be known; the true nature of action is profound. [4]
For the nature of right action should be known, as also of wrong action, and of inaction; the path of action is hard to understand. [6]
For one must understand of act, and then Of wrong act, and of non-act — hard and deep The matter lieth. [7]
For even the true nature of action should be known, and the true nature of unlawful action should be known, and the true nature of inaction should be known; the nature of action is profound. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Seeing inaction in action, action in inaction — that one is wise, a yogi, a complete doer of all actions.
Even the wise are confused about action vs. inaction. I will explain — knowing this frees you from all wrong.
Sitting as a neutral — unmoved by guṇas, knowing 'guṇas act' — firm, unshaken, the pure witness.
Whatever action a person initiates with body, speech, and mind — right or the reverse — these five are its causes.
One who — given the five causes — sees the self alone as doer due to unrefined intellect sees not; that is durmati.
Three-fold impulse to action: knowledge, knowable, knower. Three-fold action-structure: organ, act, agent.
Verse 17 of 42 · back to Chapter 4