त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः । कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
tyaktvā karma-phala-āsaṅgaṃ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ | karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ ||
Attachment to fruits abandoned, ever content, no dependence — fully active yet truly doing nothing at all.
Word by word (3)
- tyaktvā karma-phala-āsaṅgam nitya-tṛptaḥ nirāśrayaḥ
- — having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action — ever content, without dependence · Tyaktvā = having abandoned (from tyaj). Karma-phala-āsaṅga = attachment to the fruits of action (karma = action, phala = fruit, āsaṅga = clinging, from saṅg). Nitya-tṛpta = ever/always content (nitya = always; tṛpta = satisfied, from tṛp). Nirāśraya = without dependence/support-seeking (nir+āśraya = no taking of shelter in external things).
- karmaṇi abhipravṛttaḥ api naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ
- — though fully engaged in action — truly does nothing at all · Karmaṇi = in action. Abhipravṛtta = fully engaged, actively proceeding (abhi+pra+vṛtta = completely set in motion). Api = even though. Na eva = not at all, truly not. Kiñcit = anything. Karoti = does. The paradox of V18 now stated as lived reality: fully active in the world AND truly doing nothing — because there is no ego-doer appropriating the action.
- nitya-tṛptaḥ nirāśrayaḥ
- — nitya-tṛptaḥ = ever-content/permanently satisfied (nitya = eternal/constant; tṛpta = satisfied, from tṛp = to be pleased/satisfied; nityatṛpta = satisfied not periodically but continuously — contentment is the baseline, not an occasional peak); nirāśrayaḥ = without dependence/without refuge-seeking (niḥ = without; āśraya = support/shelter/dependence; one who does not lean on external outcomes for inner stability); these two qualities (nitya-tṛpta + nirāśrayaḥ) are the internal state that makes it possible to act without doing — action without grasping
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, without dependence — though fully engaged in action, that person truly does nothing at all.
A modern analogy
The surgeon in deep focus: operating with complete precision — cutting, suturing, monitoring. And yet 'they' are not there. There is only the procedure, flowing perfectly. They will not remember it as 'something they did' in the ego-claiming sense. V20: fully engaged, yet not-doing. This is the living expression of V18's insight.
Take with you
- Nitya-tṛpta (ever content): contentment is not a mood that comes and goes — it is a settled inner state.
- Nirāśraya (no dependence): does not depend on outcomes, circumstances, or others' responses for inner peace.
- Abhipravṛttaḥ api (though fully engaged) — this is not withdrawal. Full engagement remains.
- Naiva kiñcit karoti — truly does nothing: the ego-doer is absent even in the midst of full action.
V20 is the lived portrait of the karma-yogi who has internalized V14 and V18. The three inner qualities — karma-phala-āsaṅga-tyāga (abandonment of fruit-attachment), nitya-tṛpti (ever-contentment), nirāśrayatā (no-dependence) — produce the paradoxical outer reality: karmaṇy abhipravṛttaḥ api naiva kiñcit karoti. Shankaracharya: this is the jīvanmukta (liberated while living) in action. Their actions appear externally identical to ordinary action — vigorous, effective, complete. But internally, there is no ego-claiming of the action, no waiting for the result, no dependence on the world's response. The karma-yogi in this state has realized the akartā (non-doer) nature of the Ātman described in V13.
Public-domain translations (5) compare all →
Having given up attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he does nothing at all. [1]
Having abandoned attachment to the fruit of action, ever content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he truly does nothing. [4]
He who is satisfied, who acts without clinging to results, and who is independent, does nothing, though he may be engaged in action. [6]
Who, casting off all longing for the fruit, Needs nothing, and forever self-contained, Acting, yet not performing acts. [7]
Having abandoned attachment to the fruit of action, always content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he does not really do anything. [9]
This verse speaks to
Where this thread continues
The fully self-realized person has no binding duty — their joy, satisfaction, and fullness come entirely from within.
Seeing inaction in action, action in inaction — that one is wise, a yogi, a complete doer of all actions.
Who acts in duty without depending on fruit — that one is the true sannyāsī and yogī, not the fireless or the inactive.
Sannyāsa = abandoning desire-motivated action; tyāga = abandoning fruits of ALL action — say the learned.
Surrendering all actions to Brahman, abandoning attachment — like a lotus leaf, sin never clings.
Yogis act with body, mind, intellect, and bare senses — abandoning attachment — solely for self-purification.