Ashtavakra Gita 18.20Chapter 18, Verse 20
Ashtavakra Gita 18.20 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "The steady one does not insist on acting or on holding back. He does whatever comes to be done and stays at ease."
प्रवृत्तौ वा निवृत्तौ वा नैव धीरस्य दुर्ग्रहः ।यदा यत्कर्तुमायाति तत्कृत्वा तिष्ठतः सुखम् ॥
pravṛttau vā nivṛttau vā naiva dhīrasya durgrahaḥ |yadā yatkartumāyāti tatkṛtvā tiṣṭhataḥ sukham ||
The steady one does not insist on acting or on holding back. He does whatever comes to be done and stays at ease.
Ashtavakra, to King Janaka
Word meanings and a note for this verse are still being written. Read it in context on the chapter 18 page, or start with the verses in where to begin.
Chapter 18, Peace in a hundred verses: The longest chapter, a third of the text, contrasting the confused who strive with the steady who are already at rest.
Read all 100 verses in this chapter →Seven mornings of short readings from the Bhagavad Gita, chosen for what you're going through, by email.
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