Chapter 4 · Verse 20

Path of Knowledge and the Disciplines of Action

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः। कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः

tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛipto nirāśhrayaḥ karmaṇyabhipravṛitto ’pi naiva kiñchit karoti saḥ

Word Meanings

tyaktvā — having given up; karma-phala-āsaṅgam — attachment to the fruits of action; nitya — always; tṛiptaḥ — satisfied; nirāśhrayaḥ — without dependence; karmaṇi — in activities; abhipravṛittaḥ — engaged; api — despite; na — not; eva — certainly; kiñchit — anything; karoti — do; saḥ — that person

Language:

Translation

Having abandoned all attachment to the fruits of action, ever content and free from dependence, such a person does nothing at all, even while fully engaged in action.

Commentary

त्यक्त्वा having abandoned? कर्मफलासङ्गम् attachment to the fruits of action? नित्यतृप्तः even content? निराश्रयः depending on nothing? कर्मणि in action? अभिप्रवृत्तः engaged? अपि even? न not? एव verily? किञ्चित् anything? करोति does? सः he.Commentary The same idea of inaction in action is repeated here to produce a deep impression on the minds of the aspirants. He who works for the wellbeing of the world and he who performs actions without egoism and attachment for the fruits? to set an example to the masses? really does nothing at all though he is ever engaged in activity? as he possesses the knowledge of the Self which is beyond all activity and as he has realised his identity with It.As Brahman the Absolute is selfcontained? all the desires are gratified if one realises the Self. He is ever satisfied and does not depend on anything? just as a man who has the favour of the king does not depend on the minister or the government official for anything. (Cf.IV.41)