Jñāna Yoga · Verse 16
किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः | तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्
kiṃ karma kim akarmeti kavayo 'py atra mohitāḥ | tat te karma pravakṣyāmi yaj jñātvā mokṣyase 'śubhāt
What is action? What is inaction? Even the sages are confused about this. That action I shall explain to you, knowing which you will be liberated from evil.
The fundamental question. Even kavayaḥ — sages, poets — are mohitāḥ — confused — regarding the distinction.
The confusion is legitimate: true action is subtle. Aśubhāt — from the inauspicious, from evil — indicates that correct knowledge of action liberates from negative consequences. Kṛṣṇa’s answer will transform the understanding of action.