त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जो कर्म और फलकी आसक्तिका त्याग करके आश्रयसे रहित और सदा तृप्त है, वह कर्मोंमें अच्छी तरह लगा हुआ भी वास्तवमें कुछ भी नहीं करता ॥
English
One who has abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, remains ever content, and depends on nothing, does nothing at all even while fully engaged in action.
What this verse means
A person can stay fully active and still be inwardly free by dropping attachment to results and resting in inner contentment.
Context & commentary
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna is frozen between duty and grief. Krishna now explains the hidden freedom of action: the wise person acts, yet inwardly clings to nothing, so the action leaves no binding trace.
Why this verse still matters
You send the message, make the call, or resign from the safe job — and then you stop chasing the reaction. The clean act is enough.
The takeaway
You can give yourself completely without being owned by the outcome.
Word-by-word translation
त्यक्त्वा (having abandoned) / कर्मफलासङ्गम् (attachment to the fruit of action) / नित्यतृप्तः (ever content) / निराश्रयः (without dependence) / कर्मणि (in action) / अभिप्रवृत्तः अपि (even while fully engaged) / न एव (indeed not) / किञ्चित् (anything) / करोति (does) / सः (he)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: nishkama karma (12 verses), karma phala (10 verses)