Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 3 · Karma Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 3.18 नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन
श्लोक 3.18
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन ।
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana |
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
ऐसे पुरुष का इस संसार में न कर्म करने से कोई प्रयोजन है, न कर्म न करने से। सभी प्राणियों में भी उसका किसी से कोई स्वार्थ का संबंध नहीं रहता।
Meaning in English
Such a person has nothing to gain here by acting, nor anything to lose by not acting, and does not depend on any being for any purpose.
Bhagavad Gita 3.18 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न | na | not |
| एव | eva | at all |
| तस्य | tasya | for him |
| कृतेन | kṛtena | by what is done |
| अर्थः | arthaḥ | purpose, gain |
| न | na | nor |
| अकृतेन | akṛtena | by what is not done |
| इह | iha | here, in this world |
| कश्चन | kaścana | any |
| न | na | nor |
| च | ca | and |
| अस्य | asya | his |
| सर्वभूतेषु | sarva-bhūteṣu | among all beings |
| कश्चित् | kaścit | any |
| अर्थव्यपाश्रयः | artha-vyapāśrayaḥ | dependence for any purpose |
Explanation
Such a person has nothing to gain in this world from doing, and nothing to lose by not doing. Nor do they depend on any being for any purpose.
This completes the portrait of the Self-satisfied sage. Since nothing is sought, action and inaction make no difference to them personally, and no one is needed as a means to an end. Shankara takes this as the full freedom of the knower. Tilak, Aurobindo and others point to the next verse, which begins 'therefore': precisely because the wise have nothing to gain, they can act purely for others, without selfish motive.
भावार्थ
उस महापुरुष का इस संसार में न तो कर्म करने से कोई प्रयोजन रहता है और न कर्म न करने से। सम्पूर्ण प्राणियों में भी उसका किसी से कोई स्वार्थ का सम्बन्ध नहीं रहता।
Living it today
Imagine doing your work with nothing to prove and nothing to gain for yourself. That is the freedom this verse points to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 3.18?
Such a person has nothing to gain in this world from doing, and nothing to lose by not doing. Nor do they depend on any being for any purpose.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 3.18?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 3.18 in daily life?
Imagine doing your work with nothing to prove and nothing to gain for yourself. That is the freedom this verse points to.
Reflected on verse 3.18?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.