यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः। तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर।।3.9।।
yajna-arthat karmaNau anyatra lokaH ayam karma-bandhanah; tat-artham karma kaunteya mukta-sangaH samAcara
Translation
Work performed as a sacrifice to the Supreme is the only way to act; otherwise, this world becomes a prison of action. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your duties for the sake of the Divine, free from attachment.
Word Meanings
yajña‑arthāt — for the sake of sacrifice; karmaṇo — of work; anyatra — otherwise; lokaḥ — world; ayaṁ — this; karma‑bandhanaḥ — bondage by work; tat — of Him; artham — for the sake; karma — work; kaunteya — O son of Kunti; mukta‑saṅgaḥ — liberated from attachment; samācara — perform perfectly
Understanding the Verse
In this verse, Lord Krishna expands on the principle introduced in the previous verses: that all actions must be offered as yajña (sacrifice) to the Supreme. The phrase "yajña‑arthāt karmaṇo" stresses that the purpose of work should be the service of the Divine, not personal gain. When work is done with this self‑less motive, it becomes a means of purification, transforming the ordinary duties of life into a spiritual offering.
Krishna then warns, "anyatra lokaḥ‑ayaṁ karma‑bandhanaḥ" – if one acts for any other reason, the material world itself becomes a source of bondage. Here "lokaḥ" signifies the entire realm of material existence, governed by the three gunas that bind the soul. By acting out of desire, ego, or selfish ambition, a person entraps himself in the endless cycle of cause and effect (karma), which leads to further birth and suffering.
The directive "tad‑artham karma" (for that purpose, perform work) clarifies the correct approach: each individual must continue to fulfill his prescribed duties (dharma) but do so with the consciousness that the results belong to the Divine. This teaching dissolves the conflict between renunciation and action. One does not need to abandon worldly responsibilities; instead, one must re‑orient the intention behind them.
Krishna addresses Arjuna as "kaunteya" – a reminder of his lineage and his role as a warrior. The personal address reinforces that the teaching is not abstract but meant for a specific seeker who is ready to act. The final injunction, "mukta‑saṅgaḥ samācara," urges Arjuna to act "free from attachment". The word "mukta‑saṅgaḥ" literally means "one whose association is liberated" – a person whose mind is unattached, whose heart rests in the Divine, and whose actions are performed without desire for personal reward.
Thus, the verse integrates three essential concepts: the sanctity of selfless work, the danger of material attachment, and the path of disciplined action performed with devotion. It guides seekers to transform every ordinary activity into a sacred ritual, thereby attaining spiritual progress while living fully in the world. This synthesis of karma‑yoga lays the foundation for the later discussion on renunciation and the true nature of action in subsequent chapters.
