Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3
Karma Yoga — కర్మ యోగం
43 verses · The Path of Selfless Action
Krishna addresses Arjuna's confusion: if knowledge is supreme, why act at all? Krishna explains that action cannot be avoided (even breathing is action). The solution is to perform action without attachment — as yajna (sacrifice) to the Divine. This is Karma Yoga.
Key Verse
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् — Better is one's own dharma though imperfect, than the dharma of another well-performed.
Śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt
వేరొకరి ధర్మం బాగా చేయటం కంటే తన ధర్మం అపూర్ణంగా చేయటం మెరుగు
Spiritual Lesson
Action performed as sacrifice (yajna) transforms karma into spiritual progress. Every legitimate work is an offering to the Divine when done without selfish attachment.
Chapter Summary
Krishna addresses Arjuna's confusion: if knowledge is supreme, why act at all? Krishna explains that action cannot be avoided (even breathing is action). The solution is to perform action without attachment — as yajna (sacrifice) to the Divine. This is Karma Yoga.