Verse 4.15

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 4.15:

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैर् अपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात् त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥ १५ ॥

evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvair api mumukṣubhiḥ |
kuru karmaiva tasmāt tvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam || 15 ||

evam–thus; jñātvā–knowing; kṛtam–performed (to give an example to the world); karma–work; pūrvaiḥ–by the sages (in ancient times); api–even; mumukṣubhiḥ–who desired liberation; kuru–you must perform;karma–action; eva–certainly; tasmāt–therefore; tvam–you; pūrvaiḥ–by those ancients; pūrvataram–previously; kṛtam–performed.

Even the seekers of liberation in ancient times performed their prescribed duties simply to set the standard for common men. Therefore, you should also perform your work, following the example of these predecessor authorities.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

“Previous authorities such as Janaka, knowing Me in this way, have also performed their prescribed duty to set an ideal for humanity.”