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त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः। कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः।।4.20।।

tyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛipto nirāśhrayaḥ karmaṇyabhipravṛitto ’pi naiva kiñchit karoti saḥ

Sanskrit Chant Recitation
Chapter 4, Verse 20
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Scripture Translation Room

Sanskrit to English Translation

Translator:
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything even while being engaged in activity.

A Reading - Rantideb

Why: having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, always content, depending on nothing, such a person does nothing at all even while fully engaged in action, an almost paradoxical description of full engagement without personal stake.

In life: the most settled, least anxious people at work often aren't the ones doing less, they're the ones less gripped by whether it goes their way.

Teaching: aim for that specific combination, full effort paired with genuine contentment regardless of outcome, rather than either extreme of apathy or anxious overinvestment.

tyaktvāhaving given up
karma-phala-āsaṅgamattachment to the fruits of action
nityaalways
tṛiptaḥsatisfied
nirāśhrayaḥwithout dependence
karmaṇiin activities
abhipravṛittaḥengaged
apidespite
nanot
evacertainly
kiñchitanything
karotido
saḥthat person

Deep Classical Commentary (Bhashya)

Author:
4.20 त्यक्त्वा having abandoned? कर्मफलासङ्गम् attachment to the fruits of action? नित्यतृप्तः even content? निराश्रयः depending on nothing? कर्मणि in action? अभिप्रवृत्तः engaged? अपि even? न not? एव verily? किञ्चित् anything? करोति does? सः he.Commentary The same idea of inaction in action is repeated here to produce a deep impression on the minds of the aspirants. He who works for the wellbeing of the world and he who performs actions without egoism and attachment for the fruits? to set an example to the masses? really does nothing at all though he is ever engaged in activity? as he possesses the knowledge of the Self which is beyond all activity and as he has realised his identity with It.As Brahman the Absolute is selfcontained? all the desires are gratified if one realises the Self. He is ever satisfied and does not depend on anything? just as a man who has the favour of the king does not depend on the minister or the government official for anything. (Cf.IV.41)