karmaṇaḥ sukarmṇāsinca paramaste mate |karmaṇo'ntargataṃ śarīrayātrā pravartate ||
“In your opinion, the performance of good actions and actions themselves are the highest; by actions, the bodily journey is sustained.”
Structure
karmaṇaḥ sukarmṇāsīn ca paramas te mate karmaṇo antargataṃ śarīrayātrā pravartate
te (your) mate (opinion) paramas (supreme) ca (and) sukarmṇāsīn (righteous action) karmaṇaḥ (of action) karmaṇo (of action) antargataṃ (included in) śarīrayātrā (journey of the body) pravartate (takes place)
Word-by-Word Grammar
| Word | IAST | Type | Grammar | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| karmaṇaḥ | karmaṇaḥ | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of actions |
| sukarmṇāsīn | sukarmaṇāsīn | compound | tatpuruṣa · "sukarmaṇa + āsīn" | one who has done good actions |
| ca | ca | indeclinable | — | and |
| paramas | paramas | adjective | — | supreme |
| te | te | pronoun | genitive · plural · masculine | your |
| mate | mate | noun | locative · singular · neuter | in your opinion |
| karmaṇo | karmaṇo | noun | genitive · singular · masculine | of actions |
| antargataṃ | antargataṃ | compound | tatpuruṣa · "antargata + m" | undertaken |
| śarīrayātrā | śarīrayātrā | noun | nominative · singular · feminine | journey of the body |
| pravartate | pravartate | verb | √pra-vart · present · third | takes place |
Scholarly Commentary
Advaita Vedānta (Ādi Śaṅkarācārya): This verse, in the opinion of Śaṅkarācārya, underscores the ultimate reality of Brahman and the illusoriness of the worldly actions. According to Śaṅkara, when the Bhagavad Gītā says 'karmaṇaḥ sukarmṇāsīn ca paramas te mate,' it highlights the duality inherent in the understanding of actions as good or bad, which is transcended in the non-dual Brahman-ātman identity. In his commentary on this verse, Śaṅkara explains that the highest truth is the understanding that the Self is untouched by the consequences of actions, thus pointing towards the liberation from the cycle of birth and death. By citing this verse, Śaṅkara suggests that even the engagement in actions, when understood from the highest perspective, leads to the realization of one's true nature as pure consciousness, unencumbered by the dualities of the world.
Vaiṣṇava tradition (Rāmānujācārya / Madhvācārya): The Vaiṣṇava tradition interprets this verse as emphasizing the importance of righteous actions in the pursuit of devotion to the Supreme Lord. Rāmānujācārya, in his commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā, suggests that 'karmaṇaḥ sukarmṇāsīn ca paramas te mate' indicates the Lord's preference for actions that are performed with devotion and without attachment to their fruits. According to Rāmānuja, such actions purify the heart and prepare it for the reception of divine love, thus facilitating the relationship between the jīva and Īśvara. This verse, in the Vaiṣṇava perspective, encourages the performance of duties as a means of cultivating devotion and ultimately achieving liberation through the grace of the Lord.
Neo-Vedānta (Swami Vivekānanda / S. Rādhākrishnan): Swami Vivekānanda, in his lectures on the Bhagavad Gītā, interprets this verse as an exhortation to engage in selfless action, which is the key to individual and collective progress. According to Vivekānanda, 'karmaṇo'ntargataṃ śarīrayātrā pravartate' suggests that actions are the very basis of human existence and that the performance of one's duty is essential for the sustenance of life. He emphasizes that this verse calls for the dedication of all actions to the service of humanity, thus bringing out the universal and practical application of the Gītā's teachings. Rādhākrishnan, in his philosophical works, further expands on this idea by highlighting the importance of integrating the spiritual and the mundane, implying that the path of action can be a means to spiritual growth and self-realization, relevant to contemporary life and its challenges.