Chapter 4, Verse 16
"What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here"
What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here— Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 16
About This Verse
This verse appears in the middle section of Chapter 4 — The Yoga of Knowledge (ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः), which explores divine knowledge and the yoga of action. This chapter contains 42 verses and focuses on the ancient tradition of spiritual knowledge and how God incarnates to restore dharma. In this particular verse, the teaching centers on the idea that what is action and what is inaction? even the wise are confused here. The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata, consisting of a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
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What does Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 16 mean?
Chapter 4, Verse 16 of the Bhagavad Gita teaches that what is action and what is inaction? even the wise are confused here. This verse is part of The Yoga of Knowledge (ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः), which contains 42 verses.
Who spoke Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 16?
This verse is part of the dialogue in Chapter 4 — The Yoga of Knowledge. The Bhagavad Gita is primarily a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra.
What is the context of Chapter 4, Verse 16 in the Bhagavad Gita?
This verse appears in Chapter 4 — "The Yoga of Knowledge" (ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः), which is verse 16 of 42 in this chapter. The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and 700 verses in total.
How can I read this verse in other languages?
This verse is available in 22 languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and more. Download the free Bhagavad Gita app on iOS or Android to read the full translation, detailed meaning, word-by-word breakdown, and listen to Sanskrit audio recitation — all completely free.