BG - 4.17

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः। अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः।।4.17।।

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ cha vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaśh cha boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ

• karmaṇaḥ - 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

Translation

For verily, the true nature of action enjoined by the scriptures should be known, as well as that of forbidden or unlawful action, and of inaction; the nature of action is hard to understand.

Commentary