Chapter 3, Verse 25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत | कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ||३-२५||
saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata . kuryādvidvāṃstathāsaktaścikīrṣurlokasaṃgraham ||3-25||
Meaning
3.25 As the ignorant men act from attachment to action, O Bharata (Arjuna), so should the wise act without attachment, wishing the welfare of the world.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna draws a luminous contrast. The ignorant work with attachment, driven by desire for personal results; the wise work with the same energy and dedication but asakta, without attachment, moved instead by chikirshu lokasangraham — the wish to benefit the world.
Outwardly, the two may look identical: both are busy, both are committed. The difference lies entirely in the inner motive. The unwise are bound by their grasping; the wise are free because their effort flows from selfless concern for the common good. This is the maturity karma-yoga calls for. Wisdom does not mean doing less or caring less, but caring differently — pouring oneself fully into right action while releasing the ego's claim on its fruits. The sage thus becomes both a benefactor to the world and free within, working tirelessly yet untouched.
💡 Key Takeaway
Work as hard as the most driven person, but let your motive be the good of all rather than personal gain.
Related Verses
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन | कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते ||३-७||
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate.arjuna . karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate ||3-7||
3.7 But whosoever, controlling the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, engages himself in Karma Yoga with the organs of action, without attachment, he excels.
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ||३-९||
yajñārthātkarmaṇo.anyatra loko.ayaṃ karmabandhanaḥ . tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara ||3-9||
3.9 The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform action for that sake (for sacrifice alone), free from attachment.
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन | न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ||३-१८||
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana . na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ||3-18||
3.18 For him there is no interest whatever in what is done or what is not done; nor does he depend on any being for any object.