For the perfected person, no purpose remains in doing, and no purpose remains in not doing. No being in the world is a source of personal gain.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 3.18
Hindi · हिन्दी
उस कर्मयोगसे सिद्ध हुए महापुरुषका इस संसारमें न तो कर्म करनेसे कोई प्रयोजन रहता है, और न कर्म न करनेसे ही कोई प्रयोजन रहता है, तथा सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें किसी भी प्राणीके साथ इसका किञ्चिन्मात्र भी स्वार्थका सम्बन्ध नहीं रहता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
नैवnot at allतस्यfor that oneकृतेनby doingअर्थःpurpose, gainनnotअकृतेनby not doingइहhereकश्चनanyनnotचandअस्यfor this oneसर्वभूतेषुamong all beingsकश्चित्anyअर्थव्यपाश्रयःbasis for personal gain
Read literallynot at all · for that one · by doing · purpose, gain · not · by not doing · here · any · not · and · for this one · among all beings · any · basis for personal gain
Understanding the verse
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For the one who is complete, Krishna says, doing and not doing both gain nothing.
A person who has reached inner completeness no longer acts for personal gain. Neither action nor inaction adds anything to that person.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna explains the mature state of action: a person established in inner completeness neither acts for reward nor avoids action for reward. Nothing and no one becomes a bargaining chip.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
A neighbour fixes the leaking tap for the elderly couple next door and walks home without keeping score or expecting a favour back. The help stands on its own.
The takeaway
“You can act well without needing life to pay you back.”
A person who has reached inner completeness no longer acts for personal gain. Neither action nor inaction adds anything to that person.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.18?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Karma Yoga" (The Yoga of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 3.18?
Verse 18 sits in Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, "The Yoga of Action". The chapter has 43 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 3.18 matter today?
A neighbour fixes the leaking tap for the elderly couple next door and walks home without keeping score or expecting a favour back. The help stands on its own.
For the one who is complete, Krishna says, doing and not doing both gain nothing.
What this verse means
A person who has reached inner completeness no longer acts for personal gain. Neither action nor inaction adds anything to that person.
Context & commentary
Krishna explains the mature state of action: a person established in inner completeness neither acts for reward nor avoids action for reward. Nothing and no one becomes a bargaining chip.
What it looks like today
A neighbour fixes the leaking tap for the elderly couple next door and walks home without keeping score or expecting a favour back. The help stands on its own.
“You can act well without needing life to pay you back.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), vairagya (51 verses), nishkama karma (12 verses)