नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः । शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः ॥ ८ ॥
niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hyakarmaṇaḥ śharīra-yātrāpi cha te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ
Translation
Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Without action, even the maintenance of your body would not be possible.
Hindi Meaning (हिंदी अर्थ)
तुम अपना नियत कर्म करो, क्योंकि कर्म न करने की अपेक्षा कर्म करना श्रेष्ठ है। कर्म न करने से तो तुम्हारा शरीर-निर्वाह भी सिद्ध नहीं होगा।
Commentary
Niyataṁ karma — prescribed or rightful duty — is what one's situation calls for. Krishna adds a very practical point: even staying alive requires work. A philosophy that despises action cannot be lived.