Shloka 19
Karma Yoga — Karma Yoga
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर । असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥ ३.१९ ॥
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samācara | asakto hy ācaran karma param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ || 3.19 ||
ஆகையால் பற்றற்றவனாக எப்போதும் செய்யவேண்டிய கடமைக் கர்மத்தைச் செய்; ஏனெனில் பற்றின்றி கர்மத்தைச் செய்பவன் பரமத்தை அடைகிறான்.
Therefore, always perform the obligatory action without attachment; for performing action without attachment, a person attains the Supreme.
Therefore, without attachment, always carry out the action that ought to be done; for by acting without attachment a person reaches the highest (goal/state).
Traditional translations often identify ‘the Supreme’ with God-realization; academic translations keep ‘param’ open as ‘the highest good’ (including liberation). The verse is central to niṣkāma karma: obligation plus non-appropriation of results.
FAQs
Nonattachment reframes work as process-focused rather than ego-focused, supporting resilience and reducing rumination about outcomes.
The verse suggests that action need not bind when it is not appropriated as ‘mine’ and not driven by craving for results.
After describing the rare self-satisfied sage (3.17–18), Krishna gives Arjuna a practical norm: keep acting, but relinquish attachment.
A framework for ethical professionalism: perform responsibilities consistently, avoid corruption by incentives, and measure success by integrity of effort.