What is right action!

Krishna explains in Gita 4.17 that understanding what actions to perform and not to perform is mysterious. (गहना कर्मणो गतिः) It becomes more complicated as different actions may be right for different people in the same circumstances. Sometimes, even action is not important but our internal state of equanimity (समता), seeing self as part of Krishna, surrender to Krishna etc. Swami Ramsukhdas narrates very nice story about Sant Namadev. I find that story very helpful in this context. Sant Ramdev was on a pilgrimage and he stopped to eat roti (bread). He only had one dry roti and little ghee (clarified butter). As soon as he started to eat the only roti, a dog came and snatched the roti away. Sant Ramdev started to run behind the dog. Seeing him running, the dog even ran faster. Sant Ramdev screamed, "Take this ghee also. You won't like the dry roti". His attitude was of service towards dog as he saw his beloved Bhagavan in everyone. Soon, Vishnu appeared from the dog and gave him His darshan. This story tells us how to act. We should see Vishnu in everyone even animals and do actions with attitude of serving Vishnu residing in everyone. Whatever action we will perform with this attitude will be right action!

Here are some slokas to support this statement:

SB 11.29.19 - "Of all the ways (practices) to attain Me, I consider this to be best way ( practice) - seeing or accepting Me in all living entities and objects with mind, speech and body's activities." One who sees Krishna in everyone automatically acts to give happiness to everyone and thinks & acts for everyone's benefit.

SB 11.13.24 - Within this world, whatever is perceived by the mind, speech, eyes or other senses is Me alone and nothing besides Me. All of you please understand this by a straightforward analysis of the facts.


After describing duties of varna-ashram dharma, Lord Krishna describes four duties which are common to all people. SB 11.17.21 - "Four varna and four ashram's have following dharma - one should not hurt anyone with mind, speech and body, one should stay firm on truth, one should not steal and one should do those actions which give happiness to all living entities and are beneficial to them." This is based on fact that Krishna is in everyone and therefore, we should act for happiness of everyone.

BG 9.22 states - "The devotee who constantly thinks of Krishna with ananya bhakti and who worships Him, to those I give what they lack and preserve what they have." Swami Ramsukhdas explains how to attain this state. He writes, "Whatever you see, hear and understand accept all those as svarup (part) of Bhagavan and whatever changes, actions or modifications happen in that svarup are all lilas (loving play) of Bhagavan. One who accepts this understanding with determination, he does not give importance to anything else than Bhagavan. He is always engaged in Bhagavan. Therefore, he is "ananya". Due to giving importance only to Bhagavan and having loving feeling towards Him, the remembrance (chintan) of Bhagavan automatically happens."

With my limited knowledge and understanding, seeing or accepting Krishna in everyone and therefore, acting for everyone's happiness seems to me basis for action in this world. We should start this with seeing Bhagavan in people around us (parents, wife, kids and friends) and acting for their happiness and later on, extending to more and more people.