Verse 4.17

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 4.17:

कर्मणो ह्य् अपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
अकर्मणश् च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥ १७ ॥

karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ |
akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ || 17 ||

karmaṇaḥ–action; hi–because; api–also; boddhavyam–should be understood; boddhavyam–should be understood; ca–and; vikarmaṇaḥ–of prohibited action; akarmaṇaḥ–of inaction; ca–and; boddhavyam–should be understood; gahanā–profound; karmaṇaḥ–of action; gatiḥ–the science.

Action, prohibited action and non-action should be distinctly understood, for the science of karma is most profound.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

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

Forbidden action (vikarma) leads to a miserable destination. This is the principle. Akarma means ‘to not perform one’s prescribed action (karma)’. Why is it auspicious for sannyāsīs to refrain from their prescribed duty? In other words, how will they attain the highest welfare without performing action? The principle of karma is extremely deep and difficult to understand. The word karma implies all three aspects: action (karma), inaction (akarma) and forbidden action (vikarma).

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

It is difficult to understand the fundamental principle of karma. Only the karma prescribed in scripture is the cause of liberation (mokṣa). Forbidden action (vikarma), which is the opposite of prescribed duty, leads the living entities to a miserable destination. To not perform the karma prescribed in the scriptures is called akarma (inaction).

There are three levels of inaction:

(1) The ignorant do not perform the karma prescribed in the Vedas, due to laziness.

(2) Those who know the result of karma, or prescribed duties, to be perishable and miserable become resentful. Being disgusted with karma, they act to attain liberation.

(3) After hearing topics of Śrī Bhagavān (hari-kathā), some persons abandon prescribed karma and cultivate bhakti.

tāvat karmāṇi kurvīta na nirvidyeta yāvatā
mat-kathā-śravaṇādau vā śraddhā yāvan na jāyate

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.9)

A person should perform his prescribed duty as long as he has not developed renunciation (from karma) or faith in hearing and reciting topics about Me.

In this current verse of the Gītā, the word karmaṇo in the phrase gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ implies all three aspects–karma, akarma and vikarma.