Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita 3.19
Chapter 3, verse 19: the Sanskrit, the Roman letters, the meaning and what it is used for.
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः
tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara
asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ
Meaning
Therefore, always do the work that must be done without attachment; for a person who works without attachment reaches the highest.
Explanation
Duty here means the work that falls to you. The verse puts together two ideas that may seem opposed: keep working, and do not be attached. The point is that detachment is the quality of the worker, not a reason to stop working. It is one of the verses most used for ordinary professional life.
Where it fits
This is verse 19 of 43 in chapter 3, "The path of action" (Karma Yoga). previous verse (3.18) · next verse (3.20)
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Related verses
- Bhagavad Gita 2.38
- Bhagavad Gita 2.47
- Bhagavad Gita 2.48
- Bhagavad Gita 3.35
- Bhagavad Gita 4.18
- Bhagavad Gita 18.47
Questions people ask
What does Bhagavad Gita 3.19 mean?
Therefore, always do the work that must be done without attachment; for a person who works without attachment reaches the highest.
Where is this verse?
It is verse 19 of chapter 3 (The path of action), which has 43 verses.
Meanings and explanations are our own wording, not an authorised translation. Readers of the Gita follow different traditions and teachers; please ask yours about what you read here.