Chapter 4 - Verse 15 — Ancient Knowledge

एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।
कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥ १५ ॥

evaṃ jñātvā kṛtaṃ karma pūrvairapi mumukṣubhiḥ .
kuru karmaiva tasmāttvaṃ pūrvaiḥ pūrvataraṃ kṛtam .. 15 ..

Thus knowing, men of old performed action in the hope of liberation : therefore do thou also perform action as did the ancients in the olden time.

Read the commentary

As the ancients performed action, do thou also perform action; do not sit quiet, nor renounce action. if thou art ignorant, do thou perform action to purify the self. If thou art wise and knowest the truth, do thou perform action for the protection of the masses. It was performed by the ancients such as Janaka in the olden time : it is not a recent instruction.

The real nature of action and inaction.

If action should be performed here (in this world of man) I shall perform it on the authority of Thy word. Why shouldst thou add that it was performed by the ancients in the olden time?—In reply the Lord says: (Listen). For there is a great difficulty in (understanding) action.—How?