सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत । कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसंग्रहम् ॥
saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata | kuryād vidvāṃs tathāsaktaś cikīrṣur loka-saṃgraham ||
The wise act like the unwise — same actions, same engagement — but without attachment, for the world's welfare.
Word by word (3)
- saktāḥ avidvāṃsaḥ yathā kurvanti
- — as the unwise act, attached · Saktāḥ = attached (plural). Avidvāṃsaḥ = the unwise, those without knowledge (a-vidvān). Kurvanti = they act. The unwise act with full attachment — driven by desire, ego, need for results. They are the common human mode.
- vidvāṃs tathā asaktaḥ cikīrṣuḥ
- — the wise act the same way — but unattached — wishing lokasaṃgraha · Vidvāṃs = the wise one (vidvān, from vid, to know). Tathā = similarly, in the same way. Asaktaḥ = unattached. Cikīrṣu = wishing to do (desiderative of kṛ, to do). Loka-saṃgraha = welfare of the world. The profound teaching: same outer action, completely different inner orientation.
- cikīrṣuḥ loka-saṃgraham
- — cikīrṣuḥ = wishing to accomplish/motivated by (from kṛ = to do; desiderative = one who desires to do); loka-saṃgraham = world-welfare/world-holding (loka = world; saṃgraha = holding together, gathering, sustaining; the integrated welfare of all beings in the social/cosmic order) — the wise act the same externally but their motivation is loka-saṃgraha, not personal gain or attachment
As the unwise act with attachment to their work, so should the wise act — similarly engaged — but without attachment, seeking the welfare of the world.
A modern analogy
Two surgeons perform the same operation with equal technical excellence. One is anxious about their reputation riding on the outcome (saktaḥ — attached). The other is fully present to the patient's welfare, calm in outcome (asaktaḥ — unattached). From outside the operating theater, both look identical. Inside: completely different.
Take with you
- Karma-yoga does not mean different actions — it means the same actions with different inner orientation.
- The wise person's motivation is lokasaṃgraha (world-welfare) not personal gain or ego-satisfaction.
- Asakti (non-attachment) in action is an internal shift, not an external withdrawal.
- You can be fully engaged, energetic, and committed to outcomes AND be unattached to personal results.
V25 is the social wisdom of karma-yoga: the sage does not withdraw from the patterns of ordinary life but participates in them with a completely different inner state. The outer form is the same — action, engagement, effort. The inner structure is completely different — asakta (unattached), cikīrṣu loka-saṃgraha (motivated by world-welfare). This makes the sage both effective in the world AND free from it simultaneously. Shankaracharya uses V25 to explain why jñāna-yoga and karma-yoga can look identical from outside: both produce action; the difference is entirely in the quality of consciousness behind the action.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
As the ignorant act with attachment to works, O Bharata, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing the welfare of the world. [1]
As the unlearned act from attachment to action, O Bharata, so should the learned act, but without attachment, desirous of the welfare of the world. [4]
As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to the fruit, so should the wise perform them without attachment, and for the benefit of humanity. [6]
As the unknowing ones do on, attached to work, so, unattached, Should the wise man do also, seeking to maintain The world. [7]
As the unlearned act with attachment, O descendant of Bharata, so should the learned man act without attachment, wishing to do good to the world. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
Whatever the great one does, others follow. The standard they set — the world adopts. Lead by example.
Don't shake the intellect of those not ready for the philosophy. Lead by example — let your action draw others forward.
Your right is to act — never to the fruits. Don't act for results. Don't hide in inaction.
Do the work rooted in yoga, unattached. Equanimity in success and failure — that IS yoga.
Therefore: do your required action without attachment — this is the path that leads to the Supreme.
Who acts in duty without depending on fruit — that one is the true sannyāsī and yogī, not the fireless or the inactive.