Read a Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on this Verse
k-MaR<aae ùiPa baeÖVYa& baeÖVYa& c ivk-MaR<a" )
Ak-MaR<aê baeÖVYa& GahNaa k-MaR<aae GaiTa" )) 17 ))
karmaëo hy api boddhavyaà
boddhavyaà ca vikarmaëaù
akarmaëaç ca boddhavyaà
gahanä karmaëo gatiù
SYNONYMS
karmaëaù-of work; hi-certainly; api-also; boddhavyam-should be understood; boddhavyam-should be understood; ca-also; vikarmaëaù-of forbidden work; akarmaëaù-of inaction; ca-also; boddhavyam-should be understood; gahanä-very difficult; karmaëaù-of work; gatiù-entrance.
TRANSLATION
The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.
PURPORT
If one is serious about liberation from material bondage, one has to understand the distinctions between action, inaction and unauthorized actions. One has to apply oneself to such an analysis of action, reaction and perverted actions because it is a very difficult subject matter. To understand Kåñëa consciousness and action according to its modes, one has to learn one's relationship with the Supreme; i.e., one who has learned perfectly knows that every living entity is an eternal servitor of the Lord and that consequently one has to act in Kåñëa consciousness. The entire Bhagavad-gétä is directed toward this conclusion. Any other conclusions, against this consciousness and its attendant actions, are vikarmas, or prohibited actions. To understand all this one has to associate with authorities in Kåñëa consciousness and learn the secret from them; this is as good as learning from the Lord directly. Otherwise, even the most intelligent persons will be bewildered.
