🔥 Work Becomes Bondage Unless It's Done for a Higher Purpose | Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Shloka 9 Explained

📜 श्लोक (Sanskrit)

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः ।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंगः समाचर ॥ 9 ॥

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🔤 IAST Transliteration

yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara ॥ 9 ॥

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🇮🇳 हिन्दी अनुवाद (Hindi Translation)

इस संसार में यज्ञ के लिए किए गए कर्मों को छोड़कर शेष सभी कर्म बंधन का कारण बनते हैं। इसलिए हे कौन्तेय! तू आसक्ति रहित होकर उस यज्ञभाव से ही कर्म कर।

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🌐 English Translation

Except for actions performed as a sacrifice (for Yajña), all work causes bondage in this world. Therefore, O Kaunteya (Arjuna), perform your duties free from attachment, for the sake of that higher purpose.

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🧠 व्याख्या (Detailed Explanation in Hindi)

इस श्लोक में श्रीकृष्ण कर्म के दो प्रकार स्पष्ट करते हैं—

1. यज्ञार्थ कर्म – जो परम उद्देश्य (ईश्वर, समाज, धर्म) के लिए किया गया हो।

2. सकाम कर्म – जो स्वार्थ, इच्छा या व्यक्तिगत लाभ के लिए किया गया हो।

श्रीकृष्ण कहते हैं कि यज्ञभाव से किया गया कर्म बंधन नहीं देता, जबकि स्वार्थ से किया गया हर कर्म कर्मबंधन (पुनर्जन्म का चक्र) में डाल देता है।

“यज्ञ” का अर्थ केवल अग्नि में आहुति देना नहीं है—यह एक व्यापक भाव है, जहाँ हम अपने कर्मों को ईश्वर को समर्पित करके, निःस्वार्थ भाव से करते हैं।

“मुक्तसंगः समाचर” का अर्थ है—कर्म करते हुए फल की आसक्ति से मुक्त रहना।

यह श्लोक कर्मयोग का मूल सिद्धांत बताता है: कर्म करते हुए भी बंधन से मुक्त होना संभव है, यदि वह कर्म यज्ञस्वरूप हो।

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📖 Detailed Explanation in English

Krishna makes a powerful distinction in this verse: All actions bind us, unless they are performed as an offering (Yajña)—that is, for a higher, divine purpose.

Here, "Yajña" does not refer merely to ritual sacrifice. It symbolizes any action done selflessly, in a spirit of service to God, the world, or a noble cause.

When we act out of desire, ego, or attachment, we become entangled in the results of our actions—success, failure, praise, blame. This leads to stress, pride, guilt, and ultimately bondage.

But when action is done without attachment and as a sacred offering, it purifies the soul and liberates us from karmic bondage.

Krishna urges Arjuna to engage in action (karma) not for himself, but for the greater good, without selfish expectations.

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💡 Life Lessons / Practical Takeaways

• 🔥 Work becomes worship when done selflessly. Let your duties be your offering.

• 🛑 Desire-driven action binds you. Let go of expectations to be truly free.

• 🧘‍♂️ Yajña is a mindset, not just a ritual. Any duty done with surrender is sacred.

• 🌍 Act for the benefit of others or the divine—not just yourself.

• ✨ Karma Yoga = Action + Detachment + Divine Intention.

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🔚 Conclusion

Shri Krishna teaches that freedom is not found in avoiding work, but in transforming it. When we act as a servant of the Divine, as a caretaker of society, or as an instrument of dharma, our work becomes spiritual.

This verse invites us to shift our intention—from self-centered effort to soul-centered offering. That’s the real Yajña. When we live this way, even the busiest life becomes a path to liberation.