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

Sanskrit · Teaching film · Everyday practice

Speaker: Krishna, addressing Arjuna.

The shloka

तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ॥ १९ ॥

Brief meaning

Therefore Krishna urges Arjuna always to do the work that should be done, without attachment. Acting without attachment, a person reaches the highest.

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

तस्मात् असक्तः सततम्

Therefore, always unattached,

कार्यम् कर्म समाचर

perform the work that should be done.

असक्तः हि आचरन् कर्म

For by doing action without attachment,

परम् आप्नोति पूरुषः

a person reaches the highest.

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: Finish one duty without checking how it will be rewarded.