Bhagavad Gita 4.21निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः।शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
nirāśhīr yata-chittātmā tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ
śhārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham
Sanskrit recitation
What counts as real action · 4.16–4.23 · Teaching
Translation
Without hope, controlling the mind and the self, having abandoned all covetousness, and performing only bodily actions, one incurs no sin.
Hindi translation
जिसका शरीर और अन्तःकरण अच्छी तरहसे वशमें किया हुआ है, जिसने सब प्रकारके संग्रहका परित्याग कर दिया है, ऐसा आशारहित कर्मयोगी केवल शरीर-सम्बन्धी कर्म करता हुआ भी पापको प्राप्त नहीं होता।
Meaning
The liberated sage renounces all actions except what is necessary for the bare maintenance of the body. He has abandoned all possessions. He incurs no sin which will cause evil effects. For a man who thirsts for liberation (Mumukshu) even righteous activity (Dharma) is a sin as it causes bondage to Samsara. Dharma is a golden fetter for him. A golden fetter is also a fetter. A sage is liberated from both Dharma and Adharma, good and evil or virtue and vice. (Cf.III.7)
After Swami Sivananda
What counts as real action· 4.16–4.23→
Teachers usually read this idea across several verses together, one shared reflection covers the whole unit.
- 4.16What is action? What is inaction? Even the wise are confused about this. Therefore, I…
- 4.17For verily, the true nature of action enjoined by the scriptures should be known, as well…
- 4.18He who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, he is wise among men; he is a yogi…
- 4.19He whose undertakings are all devoid of desires and selfish purposes, and whose actions…
- 4.20Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on…
4.21Without hope, controlling the mind and the self, having abandoned all covetousness, and…
- 4.22Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy,…
- 4.23To one who is devoid of attachment, who is liberated, whose mind is established in…
Word-by-word→
- na
- never
- yata
- controlled
- karma
- actions
- sarva
- all
- kurvan
- performing
- tyakta
- having abandoned
- kevalam
- only
- āpnoti
- incurs
- kilbiṣham
- sin
- śhārīram
- bodily
- parigrahaḥ
- the sense of ownership
- chitta-ātmā
- mind and intellect
- nirāśhīḥ
- free from expectations
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