कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥17॥
karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ
akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
karmaṇaḥ = of work; hi = certainly; api = also; boddhavyaṃ = should be understood; boddhavyaṃ = should be understood; ca = also; vikarmaṇaḥ = of forbidden work; akarmaṇaḥ = of inaction; ca = also; boddhavyaṃ = should be understood; gahanā = very difficult; karmaṇaḥ = of work; gatiḥ = entrance.;
For verily (the true nature) of right action should be known; also (that) of forbidden (or unlawful) action and of inaction ; imponderable is the nature (path) of action.