Chapter III · Śloka 25
सक्ताः कर्मण्यविद्वांसो यथा कुर्वन्ति भारत ।
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥
कुर्याद्विद्वांस्तथासक्तश्चिकीर्षुर्लोकसङ्ग्रहम् ॥
saktāḥ karmaṇy avidvāṃso yathā kurvanti bhārata |
kuryād vidvāṃs tathāsaktaś cikīrṣur loka-saṅgraham ||
kuryād vidvāṃs tathāsaktaś cikīrṣur loka-saṅgraham ||
As the ignorant act with attachment to their deeds, O Bhārata, so should the wise act without attachment, desiring the welfare of the world.
The wise and the ignorant both act, but differ fundamentally in motivation — the ignorant seek personal fruit while the wise act purely for the good of all. This verse prescribes detached action as the hallmark of the enlightened person.