Shankaracharya's commentary, trans. Alladi Mahadeva Sastry (1897)
[1]Having given up attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he does nothing at all.
BG 4.20
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."
All public-domain translations
5 translations · all pre-1928 or released to public domain · sources
Swami Swarupananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita (1909)
[4]Having abandoned attachment to the fruit of action, ever content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he truly does nothing.
William Quan Judge, The Bhagavad Gita (1890)
[6]He who is satisfied, who acts without clinging to results, and who is independent, does nothing, though he may be engaged in action.
Sir Edwin Arnold, The Song Celestial (1885)
[7]Who, casting off all longing for the fruit, Needs nothing, and forever self-contained, Acting, yet not performing acts.
K.T. Telang, Sacred Books of the East Vol. 8 (1882)
[9]Having abandoned attachment to the fruit of action, always content, not depending on anything — though engaged in action, he does not really do anything.