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Chapter 3 · Verse 18 · Karma Yoga

Bhagavad Gita 3.18

contemplative Karma & Action Attachment & Letting Go Self & Identity

Sanskrit

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन। न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्िचदर्थव्यपाश्रयः।।3.18।।

Transliteration

naiva tasya kṛitenārtho nākṛiteneha kaśhchana na chāsya sarva-bhūteṣhu kaśhchid artha-vyapāśhrayaḥ

Word by Word

na not
eva indeed
tasya his
kṛitena by discharge of duty
arthaḥ gain
na not
akṛitena without discharge of duty
iha here
kaśhchana whatsoever
na never
cha and
asya of that person
sarva-bhūteṣhu among all living beings
kaśhchit any
artha necessity
vyapāśhrayaḥ to depend upon
Simplified Perspective

A liberated soul acts without grasping for results because they have recognized that the Self is complete and independent—needing nothing from action or inaction. The wise person understands that their true nature depends on no external being or circumstance for its wholeness.

In our modern striving, this verse invites us to release the invisible chains of outcome-dependency and act with authentic integrity simply because the action is right, not because we are fishing for benefit.

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Bhagavad Gita 3.18 — BG 3.18

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Sanskrit text from the Bhagavad Gita (public domain). Commentary © Mahakatha.

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