Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4/Verse 17

कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥४-१७॥

karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṃ boddhavyaṃ ca vikarmaṇaḥ ।
akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ ॥4-17॥

Indeed, of action to be known, and of wrong action to be known, and even of inaction to be known. The way of action is difficult to understand. 


Word-for-word translations

karmaṇas (neuter, genitive, singular) = of action 

hi (adverb) (indeclinable) = indeed

api (adverb) (indeclinable) = even

boddhavyaṃ (gerundive, neuter, nominative, singular) = to be known

boddhavyaṃ (gerundive, neuter, nominative, singular) = to be known

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and 

vikarmaṇas (neuter, genitive, singular) = of wrong action


akarmaṇas (neuter, genitive, singular) = of inaction

ca (conjunction) (indeclinable) = and 

boddhavyaṃ (gerundive, neuter, nominative, singular) = to be known

gahanā (feminine, nominative, singular) = difficult to understand

karmaṇas (neuter, genitive, singular) = of action

gatis (feminine, nominative, singular) = way


Commentary

The interpretation and syntax of the gerundive words in this verse differ a bit from previous translations, but the ultimate meaning is similar.