4.16 Even the wise are confused Krishna speaks

किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः
तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात्

kiṁ karma kim akarmeti kavayo ’pyatra mohitāḥ
tat te karma pravakṣhyāmi yaj jñātvā mokṣhyase ’śhubhāt

What is action, and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here. I will tell you what action is, and knowing it you will be free.

Explanation

Even the wise are confused here.

What is action, and what is inaction? kavayo 'py atra mohitāḥ — even poets and seers get lost.

An unusual admission to make before explaining something. It is also true, and the two verses that follow are the knottiest in the chapter.