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Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 3.19
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरूषः ॥ १९ ॥
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ
kāryaṁ karma samācara
asakto hy ācaran karma
param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ
Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioWhat this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.
3 study points
Do your duty without attachment to the results; such work leads to the Supreme.
Prabhupāda explains that working for Kṛṣṇa under proper guidance, without attachment, brings progress toward life's supreme goal.
Act for Kṛṣṇa, rather than for the results you want.
Prescribed duties as the recommended path to attain the Supreme
One should act as a matter of duty without being attached to the fruits
By working without attachment one attains the Supreme
Two meanings of ‘Supreme’
The Supreme is the Personality of Godhead for the devotees
The Supreme is liberation for the impersonalists
Certainty of progress for Krishna conscious devotees — A person acting in Krishna consciousness under proper guidance and without attachment to the results, is certainly making progress towards the Supreme goal of life
‘Perfect action of highest degree’ as per Supreme Personality of Godhead’
To act on behalf of the Supreme, without attachment for the result
Example of ‘Personal Attachment‘ – To be a good man or a non-violent man e.g. Arjuna wants to avoid fighting; but is told to fight for the interest of Krishna FOCUS OF LEARNING: PURPORT 3.19 continued…
Vedic rituals vs Krishna consciousness
Purpose of Vedic rituals like prescribed sacrifices – They are performed for purification of impious activities that were performed in the field of sense gratification
Action in Krishna consciousness – Such action is transcendental to the reactions of good and evil work
A Krishna conscious person acts only on behalf of Krishna and has no attachment to the results
Engages in all kinds of activities but is completely unattached
Dutifully acting without attachment sets the correct example for others, who are less advanced
Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.
The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.
Offered action
Perform work without attachment.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What does BG 3.19 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?
Do one task today purely because it is right.
Mahābhārata episodes and stories from the purports that shed light on this verse.
Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.
Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.