Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 4 · Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Bhagavad Gita 4.14 न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले
श्लोक 4.14
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ।
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥
na māṃ karmāṇi limpanti na me karmaphale spṛhā |
iti māṃ yo'bhijānāti karmabhirna sa badhyate ||
हिन्दी अर्थ
कर्म मुझे लिप्त नहीं करते और न मुझे कर्मफल की इच्छा है। जो मुझे इस प्रकार तत्त्व से जानता है, वह भी कर्मों से नहीं बंधता।
Meaning in English
Actions do not taint Me, nor do I long for their fruits. One who knows Me in this way is not bound by actions.
Bhagavad Gita 4.14 — word by word
| Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| न | na | not |
| माम् | mām | me |
| कर्माणि | karmāṇi | actions |
| लिम्पन्ति | limpanti | taint |
| न | na | nor |
| मे | me | for me |
| कर्मफले | karma-phale | in the fruit of action |
| स्पृहा | spṛhā | desire |
| इति | iti | thus |
| माम् | mām | me |
| यः | yaḥ | who |
| अभिजानाति | abhijānāti | knows |
| कर्मभिः | karmabhiḥ | by actions |
| न | na | not |
| सः | saḥ | he |
| बध्यते | badhyate | is bound |
Explanation
Actions do not stain me, and I have no longing for their fruit. Whoever knows me in this way is not bound by actions. The Lord acts in the world, yet remains untouched, because he wants nothing from what he does.
Continuing from 4.13, where the Lord is called the non-doer even as creator, this verse explains why: action binds only through desire for its results. Shankara says that one who knows the Self to be like the Lord, free of the sense of doership and desire, is also freed from bondage. Ramanuja reads it as knowing the Lord's freedom from karma, which purifies the knower and frees him from the bondage of past action. Gandhi drew from such verses the ideal of action without attachment to outcomes.
भावार्थ
कर्म मुझे लिप्त नहीं करते और कर्मफल में मेरी कोई इच्छा नहीं है। जो मुझे इस प्रकार तत्त्व से जान लेता है, वह भी कर्मों के बन्धन में नहीं बँधता।
Living it today
Do your work well and let go of clinging to the result. Effort without grasping leaves you lighter, whatever happens.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita 4.14?
Actions do not stain me, and I have no longing for their fruit. Whoever knows me in this way is not bound by actions. The Lord acts in the world, yet remains untouched, because he wants nothing from what he does.
Who speaks Bhagavad Gita 4.14?
Sri Krishna speaks this verse, in Chapter 4 (Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita.
How can I apply Bhagavad Gita 4.14 in daily life?
Do your work well and let go of clinging to the result. Effort without grasping leaves you lighter, whatever happens.
Reflected on verse 4.14?
Light a diya, add a note, or share this verse.