📿 Shloka Collection

Yajnarthat Karmano'nyatra

Gita 3.9 Bhagavad Gita
📖 Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर ॥
Yajnarthat karmano'nyatra loko'yam karma bandhanah
Tadartham karma Kaunteya mukta sangah samachara
यज्ञार्थात्
for the sake of yajna (selfless offering)
कर्मणः अन्यत्र
other than such action
लोकः अयम्
this world
कर्मबन्धनः
bound by action
तदर्थम्
for that purpose
कर्म
action
कौन्तेय
O son of Kunti (Arjuna)
मुक्तसङ्गः
free from attachment
समाचर
perform well

The word yajna here does not mean only a fire ritual. It means any action performed as an offering — for a higher purpose, for the well-being of others, not just for personal gain. When action is done in the spirit of yajna, it does not create bondage. When it is done for selfish ends, it ties you to its consequences.

Krishna tells Arjuna to act muktasangah — free from attachment. When the purpose of your work is larger than yourself, and you do not cling to the outcome, that work becomes a path to liberation rather than a chain.

This verse begins the yajna-cycle teaching that continues from 3.10 through 3.16. The expanded definition of yajna appears later in Gita 4.24-4.33.

Performing action in the spirit of yajna is the heart of Karma Yoga. It is the central message of this entire chapter.

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