Chapter 3, Verse 9 (Bhagavad Gita 3.9)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः। तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर
Transliteration
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara
Word Meanings
yajña-arthāt—for the sake of sacrifice; karmaṇaḥ—than action; anyatra—else; lokaḥ—material world; ayam—this; karma-bandhanaḥ—bondage through one’s work; tat—that; artham—for the sake of; karma—action; kaunteya—Arjun, the son of Kunti; mukta-saṅgaḥ—free from attachment; samāchara—perform properly
Translation
Work done as a sacrifice (yajna) does not bind the soul; all other actions lead to karmic entanglement. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties solely as an offering, completely free from personal attachment.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse teaches that the bondage of karma arises not from the act itself, but from the sense of doership and desire for fruits. By reframing work as 'yajna'—a sacred offering for the welfare of the world—the practitioner shifts their focus from personal ego to a higher spiritual purpose. This transformation liberates the individual from the cycle of anxiety, expectations, and disappointment. It implies that true freedom is found in dedicating one's talents to the collective good while maintaining internal detachment. Ultimately, it turns every mundane action into a meditative act of devotion.