Ashtavakra Gita 18.29Chapter 18, Verse 29
Ashtavakra Gita 18.29 is a verse from chapter 18 (Peace in a hundred verses). The sage Ashtavakra speaks it to King Janaka. In plain English it says: "One who has the sense of 'I' inside acts even when he does nothing. The steady one free of 'I' does nothing, even when things are done."
यस्यान्तः स्यादहङ्कारो न करोति करोति सः ।निरहङ्कारधीरेण न किञ्चिदकृतं कृतम् ॥
yasyāntaḥ syādahaṅkāro na karoti karoti saḥ |nirahaṅkāradhīreṇa na kiñcidakṛtaṃ kṛtam ||
One who has the sense of 'I' inside acts even when he does nothing. The steady one free of 'I' does nothing, even when things are done.
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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