Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 15 Meaning
Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore.
BG 4.15
एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः। कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम्
evaṁ jñātvā kṛitaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣhubhiḥ kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṁ kṛitam
Meaning
Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore.
Available in 28 languages
What Does Bhagavad Gita 4.15 Mean?
The Gita addresses divine knowledge with characteristic directness here. Having known this, the ancient seekers of freedom also performed action; therefore, do thou also perform action, as the ancients did in days of yore. Within the broader arc of Chapter 4, this verse builds on Krishna's systematic exposition of wisdom. Ramanuja's commentary highlights how this verse reinforces the accessibility of the Gita's path.
The teaching on divine knowledge is presented not as an elite attainment but as a practical orientation available to anyone willing to examine their motivations and actions honestly. Applied to contemporary life, this teaching asks us to examine our relationship with wisdom. Not through self-judgment, but through honest observation that gradually shifts our center of gravity from reactive habit to conscious choice.
— Explained by the Nitya Team
What Is the Context of Bhagavad Gita 4.15?
The divine origin of spiritual knowledge and the importance of finding a true teacher.
Key themes in this chapter include Knowledge, Divine incarnation, Sacrifice.
How Can I Apply Bhagavad Gita 4.15 in Daily Life?
- •When you need steadiness while dealing with knowledge
- •When practicing divine incarnation amid uncertainty
- •When applying sacrifice to real-life choices
Verse FAQs
What is the main idea of Bhagavad Gita 4.15?
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 4.15 in daily life?
Related Verses
BG 4.1
The Blessed Lord said, "I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan; he then told it to Manu; Manu proclaimed it to Ikshvaku.
BG 4.5
The Blessed Lord said, "Many births of Mine have passed, as well as of thine, O Arjuna; I know them all, but thou knowest not, O Parantapa (scorcher of foes)."
BG 1.1
Dhritarashtra said, "What did my people and the sons of Pandu do when they had assembled together, eager for battle, on the holy plain of Kurukshetra, O Sanjaya?"
Read in Other Languages
Build a daily reading habit with Nitya
Get the Free App