Action in Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa
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of the world and yet be bound to material activity. So it is not the action itself which is important but the consciousness in which the action is carried out.
karmaṇo hy api boddhavyam boddhavyam ca vikarmaṇaḥ akarmaṇaś ca boddhavyam gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
“The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is.” (Bg. 4.17)
The path of  karma  is very intricate; therefore we should understand the distinctions between  karma ,  akarma  and  vikarma . If we simply engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, everything becomes clear. Otherwise we will have to make distinctions between what we should do and what we should not do in order not to become entangled. In the ordinary course of life we unknowingly break some law and have to suffer the consequences. Similarly, the laws of nature are very strict and stringent, and they accept no excuse. It is a law of nature that fire burns, and even if a child touches it, he will be burned despite his ignorance and innocence. Thus we have to choose our course of action very carefully lest the stringent laws of nature react to bind us to suffering. It is therefore necessary to understand what work to do and what work to avoid.
The word  karma  refers to prescribed duties. The word  vikarma  refers to activities which are against one’s prescribed duties. And the word  akarma  refers