3.18 — The one who needs nothing, and the work still to be done

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥ १८ ॥

Brief meaning

Such a person has nothing to gain by acting or by not acting here, and depends on no being for any purpose.

In the conversation

Krishna describes one who is fully content in the self, for whom no duty remains and nothing is gained or lost. Then he turns back to Arjuna: therefore act, without attachment. The description of the fully realised person is not an excuse to avoid one’s own responsibilities while still on the way.

Word by word

न एव तस्य कृतेन अर्थः

Such a person has nothing to gain by acting,

न अकृतेन इह कश्चन

nor anything by not acting, here in this world;

न च अस्य सर्वभूतेषु

and among all beings,

कश्चित् अर्थव्यपाश्रयः

there is no one this person depends on for any purpose.

Going deeper

Krishna uses three close words: ātma rati, delight in the self, ātma tṛpta, satisfaction in the self, and ātma santuṣṭa, contentment in the self. For such a person, no kārya, no binding duty, remains. Then comes the word tasmāt, therefore. Arjuna is not yet in that state, so he must act. Asakta means unattached, and param, the highest, is the goal reached through such action.

Everyday reflection

It is tempting to say: I am not attached to anything, so I need not do this chore. But claiming detachment can become a clever way to avoid effort. A simpler test is to do the task carefully, without needing it to go your way. If you can wash up, finish a report or visit someone who is lonely, and not need thanks, detachment is beginning. Which task have you been calling unimportant, when really it is just unwelcome?

Consider today: Notice one thing you do only to be seen doing it.