Chapter 4 · Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

    Verse 17

    Sanskrit Text — Chapter 4, Verse 17

    कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।4.17।।

    Transliteration (IAST)

    karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ cha vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaśh cha boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

    Translation

    For, there is what ought to be known in action; likewise, there is what ought to be known in multi-form action; and there is what ought to be understood in non-action. Thus, mysterious is the way of action.
    — Swami AdidevanandaFeatured

    Have questions about this verse?

    Ask VedIQ for deeper insights, contextual explanations, or connections to your life situation.

    Ask VedIQ about 4.17

    More from Chapter 4 · Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

    Nearby chapters

    Cite this verse
    APA

    Bhagavad Gita 4.17 — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action. (n.d.). VedIQ SI. Retrieved 2026, from https://vediqsi.com/gita/chapter/4/verse/17

    MLA

    "Bhagavad Gita 4.17 — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action." VedIQ SI, https://vediqsi.com/gita/chapter/4/verse/17. Accessed 2026.

    Wikipedia

    <ref>[https://vediqsi.com/gita/chapter/4/verse/17 Bhagavad Gita 4.17 — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action], VedIQ SI.</ref>

    Sanskrit texts are in the public domain. Translations sourced from scholarly editions.