Chapter IV · Śloka 17
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥
karmaṇo hy api boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ |
akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ||
akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ||
One must know the truth about action, and about wrong action, and about inaction as well; the course of action is deep and difficult to fathom.
Three categories are introduced—prescribed action (karma), forbidden action (vikarma), and non-action (akarma)—each requiring precise understanding. The depth of the subject is acknowledged before the key insight is delivered.