Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4, verse 18 · Krishna

Bhagavad Gita 4.18 · Karmanyakarma Yah

कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥

karmaṇyakarma yaḥ paśyedakarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ |
sa buddhimānmanuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsnakarmakṛt ||

Translation

One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people; such a person is disciplined, and accomplishes every action.

Context

Spoken by Krishna in chapter 4, Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga — “The Yoga of Knowledge and the Renunciation of Action”, which has 42 verses.

Frequently asked questions

What does Bhagavad Gita 4.18 mean?

One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people; such a person is disciplined, and accomplishes every action.

Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.18?

Krishna, speaking to Arjuna, in chapter 4, Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge and the Renunciation of Action).

Sanskrit text: traditional, public domain. Translation and explanation are our own.