Mahabharata
Bhagavad-gītā (004) (Jnana-Karma-Sannyasa Yoga)6.26.12-15
5434 / 15823
Mahabharata · 6.26.12-15
Devanāgarī

काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ॥
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर् भवति कर्मजा ॥
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ॥
तस्य कर्तारम् अपि मां विद्ध्य् अकर्तारम् अव्ययम् ॥
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ॥
इति मां यो ऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर् न स बध्यते ॥
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैर् अपि मुमुक्षुभिः ॥
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात् त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ ||
kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhir bhavati karmajā ||
cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ ||
tasya kartāram api māṃ viddhy akartāram avyayam ||
na māṃ karmāṇi limpanti na me karmaphale spṛhā ||
iti māṃ yo 'bhijānāti karmabhir na sa badhyate ||
evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvair api mumukṣubhiḥ ||
kuru karmaiva tasmāt tvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam ||

Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिंkāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃdesiring the success of actions; seeking the fruits of deeds
यजन्त इह देवताःyajanta iha devatāḥworship the devas here; perform sacrifices to the devas
क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोकेkṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe lokequickly indeed in the human world; for soon among men
सिद्धिर् भवति कर्मजाsiddhir bhavati karmajāsuccess born of action comes; perfection comes from action
चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टंcāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃthe four varnas were created by Me; the fourfold order was created by Me
गुणकर्मविभागशःguṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥby the division of gunas and actions; according to qualities and duties
तस्य कर्तारम् अपि मांtasya kartāram api māṃknow Me, though its creator; Me, though its maker
विद्ध्य् अकर्तारम् अव्ययम्viddhy akartāram avyayamknow as the unchanging non-doer; know as the changeless non-agent
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्तिna māṃ karmāṇi limpantiactions do not taint Me; deeds do not touch Me
न मे कर्मफले स्पृहाna me karmaphale spṛhāI have no craving for the fruit of action; I do not seek the fruits of deeds
इति मां यो ऽभिजानातिiti māṃ yo 'bhijānātiwhoever thus knows Me; whoever understands Me in this way
कर्मभिर् न स बध्यतेkarmabhir na sa badhyatethat one is not bound by actions; he is not bound by deeds
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्मevaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karmathus knowing, action was performed; thus understanding, they acted
पूर्वैर् अपि मुमुक्षुभिःpūrvair api mumukṣubhiḥby the ancients too, seekers of liberation; by former seekers of liberation
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात् त्वंkuru karmaiva tasmāt tvaṃtherefore you perform action; therefore act indeed
पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtamas performed by the ancients before; as the ancients did before
Translation

"Those desiring the success of their actions worship the devas here, because in the human world success born of action comes quickly. The four varnas were created by Me according to the division of gunas and actions; though I am their creator, know Me as the unchanging non-doer. Actions do not taint Me, and I have no craving for the fruit of action. Whoever knows Me thus is not bound by actions. Knowing this, the ancients too, seekers of liberation, performed action; therefore you also perform action, as the ancients performed it before you."

Version

45d2d7d25d49 · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:55:05 PM UTC

Available inRUEN

Page between verses with