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 - 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.


English Translation of Commentary  - Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
4.16-17 Kim  karma etc.  Karmanah  etc.  The classification of  [good]  action  and  non-action  is difficult to comprehend.  That is to say  there is bad  action  even among the action  that  has been  ordained [in the scriptures], just as the animal-slaughter  in the [pious]  Agnistoma  sacrifice.  Again, even in the  midst of action,  that goes against  [the scripture],  there is  auspicious  action;  for example there is an end for the trouble of the people in the act of  killing	 a murderous animal.  Even in the case of non-performance of action,  there do exist  [both]  the auspicious and inauspicious acts;  for there will be necessarily  [some]  acts performed  by the sense of speech  and by the mind  as they are  difficult to avoid  without  wisdom.  Therefore on account  of its mysterious nature, even hte experts have not properly understood the action as :  Prosperity  would be for as by this  [particular]  auspicious  action;  and emancipation would be for us by that  [particular]  non-undertaking  of [certain]  actions.  Therefore,  it is the fire of wisdom  taught  in the seel,  that alone is capable  of positively  burning  down the  fuel of all the auspicious  and inauspicious  actions;  and hence  that is to be  sought after as a refuge.  This is what is intended by the  Bhagavat.		
 In order to calrify the same,  [the Lord] says -


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