evaṁ jñātvā kṛitaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣhubhiḥ
kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṁ kṛitam
evam — thus;
jñātvā — knowing;
kṛitam — performed;
karma — actions;
pūrvaiḥ — of ancient times;
api — indeed;
mumukṣhubhiḥ — seekers of liberation;
kuru — should perform;
karma — duty;
eva — certainly;
tasmāt — therefore;
tvam — you;
pūrvaiḥ — of those ancient sages;
pūrva-taram — in ancient times;
kṛitam — performed
In this verse, Krishna is sharing an important lesson about how to live our lives in a meaningful way. He mentions that there are two types of people: those who are caught up in their material desires and have a lot of negativity in their hearts, and those who have managed to free themselves from those things and live a purer life.
For those who are still dealing with a lot of negativity, embracing Krishna consciousness—meaning being aware of and devoted to Krishna—can help them clean their hearts and minds. This process takes time but allows them to gradually become more pure and less chaotic inside. It’s like when you want to clean a dirty room; you can’t just wish for it to be clean. You have to slowly pick up the mess and organize everything. This is what the rules of devotional service do for someone who is struggling with material desires.
On the other hand, there are folks who have already done a lot of work on themselves. They have cleared away a lot of their doubts and negativity and can act in Krishna consciousness more smoothly. These individuals can be role models for others, showing the benefits of this way of living. They are like the shining examples that others can look toward for guidance.
However, Krishna points out that some people—especially those just starting out—think that they can escape from doing anything by withdrawing or not engaging, believing that it's better to avoid all kinds of activities. Arjuna, for example, initially wanted to avoid fighting in the battle. But Krishna tells him that this desire is not right. It’s not about running away from responsibilities but about knowing how to engage correctly.
Krishna encourages Arjuna to actively participate in Krishna consciousness. He reminds Arjuna about the sun-god Vivasvan, who learned this understanding from Krishna a long time ago and similarly served his duty. This shows that following the path of action, grounded in divine awareness, is what leads to liberation.
In a sense, Krishna is guiding us to look at the examples of those who came before us—like Vivasvan—who understood these teachings and acted accordingly. His point is that regardless of what they faced, these liberated souls engaged in their roles with a higher understanding of their connection with divinity, and that led them to liberation. Arjuna is being reminded that it’s essential to perform his duty with the same awareness and commitment.