One who has no hope, who has controlled the body and mind, and who has given up all possessions, does only bodily action and incurs no fault.
— Krishna
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Bhagavad Gita · 4.21
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिसका शरीर और अन्तःकरण अच्छी तरहसे वशमें किया हुआ है, जिसने सब प्रकारके संग्रहका परित्याग कर दिया है, ऐसा आशारहित कर्मयोगी केवल शरीरसम्बन्धी कर्म करता हुआ भी पापको प्राप्त नहीं होता ॥
The verse in reading order — each Sanskrit word with its meaning beneath. Tap a word to focus on it.
निराशीर्without hopeयतचित्तात्माone whose mind and inner being are controlledत्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहःone who has abandoned all possessionsशारीरम्bodilyकेवलम्onlyकर्मactionकुर्वन्doingनnotआप्नोतिattainsकिल्बिषम्fault
Read literallywithout hope · one whose mind and inner being are controlled · one who has abandoned all possessions · bodily · only · action · doing · not · attains · fault
Understanding the verse
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Without craving or possessions, and with body and mind in hand, even plain bodily work brings no fault.
A person who has no craving, controls the body and mind, and lets go of possessions can act without being stained by wrongdoing.
02
On the battlefield
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps refining karma yoga for Arjuna, frozen by grief and duty: act without craving, without possession, without inner entanglement. Even bodily action stays clean when the mind is mastered.
03
In your life
What it looks like today
You sign the resignation letter, delete the backup plan, and still keep your hands steady. The fear is there, but it no longer owns the action.
The takeaway
“Master your mind and drop craving, and ordinary work stops leaving a stain.”
A person who has no craving, controls the body and mind, and lets go of possessions can act without being stained by wrongdoing.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.21?
Krishna speaks this verse, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the chapter titled "Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga" (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action).
Which chapter of the Bhagavad Gita contains verse 4.21?
Verse 21 sits in Chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita — Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, "Knowledge and Renunciation of Action". The chapter has 42 verses in total.
Why does Bhagavad Gita 4.21 matter today?
You sign the resignation letter, delete the backup plan, and still keep your hands steady. The fear is there, but it no longer owns the action.
Without craving or possessions, and with body and mind in hand, even plain bodily work brings no fault.
What this verse means
A person who has no craving, controls the body and mind, and lets go of possessions can act without being stained by wrongdoing.
Context & commentary
Krishna keeps refining karma yoga for Arjuna, frozen by grief and duty: act without craving, without possession, without inner entanglement. Even bodily action stays clean when the mind is mastered.
What it looks like today
You sign the resignation letter, delete the backup plan, and still keep your hands steady. The fear is there, but it no longer owns the action.
“Master your mind and drop craving, and ordinary work stops leaving a stain.”
Explore related themes: karma yoga (55 verses), self mastery (16 verses), nishkama (14 verses)