Chapter 4, Verse 15 (Bhagavad Gita 4.15)
Chapter 4: Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog – Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action
Sanskrit Shloka
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्
Transliteration
evaṁ jñātvā kṛitaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣhubhiḥ kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṁ kṛitam
Word Meanings
evam—thus; jñātvā—knowing; kṛitam—performed; karma—actions; pūrvaiḥ—of ancient times; api—indeed; mumukṣhubhiḥ—seekers of liberation; kuru—should perform; karma—duty; eva—certainly; tasmāt—therefore; tvam—you; pūrvaiḥ—of those ancient sages; pūrva-taram—in ancient times; kṛitam—performed
Translation
Having known this, the seekers of liberation in ancient times also performed their prescribed duties; therefore, you too should perform your actions just as the ancients did in the past.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse bridges the perceived gap between spiritual realization and worldly activity. It teaches that true renunciation is not the abandonment of work, but the abandonment of egoistic attachment to the fruits of work. By following the path of the enlightened ancestors, the seeker learns to harmonize their personal duty with a higher consciousness. This integration transforms mundane tasks into acts of devotion and self-purification. Ultimately, the sloka reminds us that the highest state of being is expressed through dynamic, selfless action in the world.