Bhagavad Gita · 3.8
॥
Devanāgarī
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः ।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्धयेदकर्मणः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ |
śarīrayātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
नियतम्niyatamprescribed, ordained, suited [to your nature].
कुरुkuruperform, do.
कर्मkarmaaction.
त्वम्tvamyou.
कर्मkarmaaction.
ज्यायःjyāyaḥbetter, superior.
हिhiindeed, for.
अकर्मणःakarmaṇaḥthan inaction.
शरीरयात्राśarīra-yātrāthe maintenance (yātrā) of the body (śarīra), the sustaining of life.
अपि चapi caand even.
तेteyour.
न प्रसिद्धयेत्na prasiddhyetwould not be accomplished, would be impossible.
अकर्मणःakarmaṇaḥwithout action.
Translation
“Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Without action you could not even maintain your body.”
Version
60d5983eb5e0 · published Jul 2, 2026, 12:00:00 PM UTC
Available inRUENESHIZHPage between verses with