Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 17
भगवद् गीता अध्याय 4 श्लोक 17

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।4.17।।



English Translation - Swami Gambirananda
4.17 For there is something to be known even about action, and something to be known about prohibited action; and something has to be known about inaction. The true nature of action is inscrutable.


English Translation - Swami Sivananda
4.17 For verily (the true nature) of action (enjoined by the scriptures) should be known, also (that) 
of forbidden (or unlawful) action, and of inaction; hard to understand is the nature (path) of action.


English Translation - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
4.17. Something has got to be understand of [good] action also;  and something is to be understood of the wrong action; and something is to be understood of non-action. Difficult is to comprehend the way of action.


Transliteration Bhagavad Gita 4.17Karmano hyapi boddhavyam boddhavyam cha vikarmanah;
Akarmanashcha boddhavyam gahanaa karmano gatih.


Word Meanings Bhagavad Gita 4.17karmaṇaḥ—recommended action; hi—certainly; api—also; boddhavyam—should be known; boddhavyam—must understand; cha—and; vikarmaṇaḥ—forbidden action; akarmaṇaḥ—inaction; cha—and; boddhavyam—must understand; gahanā—profound; karmaṇaḥ—of action; gatiḥ—the true path