Shloka 4

Karma-Saṃnyāsa–Karma-Yoga Saṃvāda

Renunciation and the Discipline of Action

Devanagari script

न कर्मणामनारम्भान्ेष्कर्म्य पुरुषो श्षुते । न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धि समधिगच्छति

Transliteration

na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo 'śnute | na ca saṁnyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigacchati ||

Translation

செயல்களைத் தொடங்காமலிருப்பதால் மட்டும் மனிதன் நிஷ்கர்ம நிலையை அடையான்; வெளிப்படையான சந்நியாசத்தால் மட்டும் சித்தியையும் அடையான்.

Word by Word

नnot

कर्मणाम्of actions

अनारम्भात्from non-commencement (not undertaking)

नैष्कर्म्यम्actionlessness; freedom from action (state beyond action)

पुरुषःa person

अश्नुतेattains

नnor / not

चand

संन्यसनात्from renunciation (mere giving up of actions)

एवindeed; merely

सिद्धिम्perfection; accomplishment

समधिगच्छतिattains fully; reaches

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Arjuna

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.