saktāḥ karmaṇyavidvānso yathā kurvanti bhārata
kuryād vidvāns tathāsaktaśh chikīrṣhur loka-saṅgraham
saktāḥ — attached;
karmaṇi — duties;
avidvānsaḥ — the ignorant;
yathā — as much as;
kurvanti — act;
bhārata — scion of Bharat (Arjun);
kuryāt — should do;
vidvān — the wise;
tathā — thus;
asaktaḥ — unattached;
chikīrṣhuḥ — wishing;
loka-saṅgraham — welfare of the world
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita talks about how different types of people perform their work. It tells us that there are two kinds of individuals: those who are ignorant and those who are wise.
1. **The Ignorant Ones**: The verse mentions 'the ignorant,' which refers to people who are not aware of the larger picture of life. They do their work and are very attached to the results. For example, someone might work really hard on a project at work, but their main focus is on getting a promotion or a bonus. Their happiness depends on those rewards. This attachment can lead to stress and disappointment if things don’t go their way.
2. **The Wise Ones**: On the other hand, the 'learned' or wise individuals approach their duties differently. They perform their tasks too, but they do it without being attached to the results. They understand that while they must do their work, the outcomes are not entirely in their control. For instance, a wise person might put effort into the same project but isn’t solely focused on the reward. Instead, they might do it with the intention of helping their team or contributing positively to the company. They find satisfaction in the act of doing their duty, rather than just waiting for the pay-off.
3. **Leading by Example**: The verse also touches on the idea that wise individuals have a responsibility. Since they have a better understanding of life, they should act in a way that shows others how to do the same. This means that their behavior can inspire others to act better. When a wise person acts without selfish desires, it can encourage those around them to also consider the welfare of others and not just their own needs.
4. **Krsna Consciousness**: The interpretation specifically brings up Krsna consciousness—this simply means being aware of a higher purpose in life, which is to connect with divinity or spirituality. A person who is in Krsna consciousness ensures that their actions contribute toward spiritual growth. They might seem similar to those who are overly attached to material outcomes, but their underlying intention is different: they want to please Krsna or support spiritual ideals. So, while they engage in everyday tasks, they aim to do so in a way that helps them and others grow spiritually.
In summary, this verse teaches us that it's not just about how we work — it's about why we work and how we view the outcomes. The focus should be on acting rightly without being overly tied to results, and in doing so, we can inspire others to follow a similar path.