Ramanuja's Gita Bhashyam - Chapter 4 - sloka 17

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja Gita Bhashya, published by Ramakrishna Mission.

The Philosophy of Action - Sloka 16-22

1 Gita Sloka every day - Chapter 4 -JnanaKarmaSanyasa Yoga - Sloka 17

Karmanah hi api bodhatvyam bodhatvyam cha vikarmanah I

Akarmanah cha bodhatvyam gahana karmanah gatih II sloka 17

कर्मणः हि अपि बोधत्व्यं बोधत्व्यं च विकर्मणः ।

अकर्मणः च बोधत्व्यं गहना कर्मणः गतिः ।। श्लोक १७

For there is what ought to be known in action. Likewise there is what ought to be know in multi-form action. And there is what ought to be understood in non-action. Thus mysterious is the way of action.

There is something whih ought to be known in regard to action (karma) which forms the means of attaining release. So also is the case of multi-forms of action (vikarma). These are what have acquired variegationas obligatory, occasional and desire prompted works requiring numerous requisites. There is also something to be known about non-action, ie knowledge of self. Therefore deep ie difficult to understand is the way of action to be pursued by the seeker after release. What should be known as regards multiform or variegated forms of karma is that the attribution of differences leading to differences of fruits in obligatory occasional & desire-prompted rites and acquisitions of things required for their performance , must be renounced, realising that the sastras aim at only one result, ie., release.