Shloka 4
Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda
Renunciation and the Discipline of Action
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्ेष्कर्म्य पुरुषो श्षुते । न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धि समधिगच्छति
na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo 'śnute | na ca saṁnyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigacchati ||
មនុស្សមិនអាចឈានទៅរកភាពលើសកម្ម (និស្កម្ម្យៈ) ដោយគ្រាន់តែមិនចាប់ផ្តើមធ្វើកម្មទេ; ហើយក៏មិនអាចឈានទៅរកសិទ្ធិ (ភាពសម្រេច) ដោយគ្រាន់តែបោះបង់កម្មខាងក្រៅប៉ុណ្ណោះដែរ។
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Neither mere inactivity (not starting actions) nor mere external renunciation guarantees liberation or perfection; what matters is the disciplined performance of duty without bondage—an inner renunciation rather than a superficial withdrawal.
In the midst of the Kurukṣetra crisis, Arjuna raises a philosophical concern about whether avoiding action or adopting renunciation can lead to spiritual success, setting up the teaching that right action aligned with dharma is necessary.