4:25 Bhagavad Gita

Context

Action without Reaction has been the topic since text 14. Krishna explained that action becomes free of reaction when performed without selfish motive (see texts 16-24). This is the internal requisite of reactionless action, but is there an external requisite? Is there a specific type of action especially freed from reaction? The discussion now turns to this topic.

Krishna will enumerate a list of sacrificial activities, both specifically (texts 25-27) and categorically (texts 28-29). He will then explain which of these are best for reactionless action (texts 30-33).

Text

Here, in verses 25, 26 and 27, Krishna lists common sacrificial actions:

Text 25

• Some worship demigods.
• Some worship Brahman.

Text 26

• Some regulate sensory activity.
• Some regulate the objects of sense perception.

Text 27

• Others regulate action and breath through yoga.