Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga · Verse 19

Bhagavad Gita 4.19

Knowledge frees action from craving and leaves no binding trace.

Wisdom translation, edited by Ankur Shukla. Commentary AI-drafted, human-reviewed. Reviewed June 2026. Methodology →

यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः ।
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिसके सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंके आरम्भ संकल्प और कामनासे रहित हैं तथा जिसके सम्पूर्ण कर्म ज्ञानरूपी अग्निसे जल गये हैं, उसको ज्ञानिजन भी पण्डित बुद्धिमान् कहते हैं ॥
English
The wise call that person learned whose actions begin without desire or personal planning, and whose deeds are burned by the fire of knowledge.

What this verse means

A truly wise person starts actions without craving or mental scheming, and knowledge has already burned up the binding force of those actions.

Context & commentary

On the battlefield, Arjuna is still frozen, and Krishna keeps refining the meaning of right action. After showing that true wisdom sees beyond action and inaction, he now defines the person whom the wise respect: one whose beginnings are free from craving and whose karmic burden has been consumed by knowledge.

Why this verse still matters

You send the difficult message after checking your motives one last time. Not to win, not to be praised, not to control the result — only because it is the clean thing to do.

The takeaway

You can act in the world without being driven by wanting or trapped by your own deeds.

Word-by-word translation

यस्य (whose) / सर्वे (all) / समारम्भाः (undertakings, beginnings of action) / कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः (free from desire and intention) / ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं (whose actions are burnt by the fire of knowledge) / तम् (that person) / आहुः (they call) / पण्डितं (learned, wise) / बुधाः (the wise)

Share this verse X WhatsApp

Related verses