Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya 140

Srimad Bhagavad Gita -Ramanujacharya

Chapter-4 Jñāna Vibhāga Yogaḥ

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ | akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo-gatiḥ || 17 || 17. For verily one must understand the nature of action (karma), and the nature of diversified action (vikarma) as also the nature of non-action (akarma) — profound indeed is the way of action. Commentary There is a need to understand what is meant by 'action' (karma) – that is action which leads to Liberation. There is also a need to understand 'diversified action' (vikarma) — these are actions which are classified as obligatory, periodical and desiderative works requiring various accessories. One also needs to understand 'non-action' (akarma)— that is, the knowledge of the Self. Therefore the path of action to be pursued by the seeker after Liberation is indeed mysterious, difficult to understand. What should be understood regarding 'diversified actions' is that the primary goal of Scriptural Teaching is Moksha alone [and not the various results said to accrue from these works]. And therefore the diversity created by the various results obtained from obligatory, occasional and desiderative rites and the acquisition of things required for their performance, etc., should be renounced.