Gita : Ch-4. Slo-20.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-4. ( Jnana-karma-sanyasa-yogam )


Slokam-20. ( After giving up desire / attachment for fruitive results, always satisfied, indifferent to external phenomena, he, in spite of being engaged in activities , does not do anything at all. )

tyaktva  karma-phalasamgam  nitya-trpto  nirasrayah,

 

karmany abhipravrttopi   naiva  kincit  karoti  sah.

karma-phalasamgam  tyaktva  =  having  given  up  the  desire / attachment   for  the   fruits / results/gains;

nitya-trptah  =  always  being  satisfied  ( in  the  inner  satisfaction/ atmanandam);

nirasrayah  =  not  depending   anything  else;

sah  karmani  =  he,  in  his  activities;

abhipravrttah   api  =  being   fully  engaged  in  spite  of;

kincit  na  karoti  eva  =  certainly  does not  do anything.

  

Now Lord Krishna speaks about the non-binding effects that the actions of the spiritually intelligent insure. They are without egoism and unattached to the doership of actions. Being completely satisfied by the bliss they experience within their consciousness they maintain their bodily existence by accepting what comes on its own accord. They are no longer affected by the dualities of life such as good and evil. 

It is not only by the mere renunciation of the intention for fruits of desire but also it is essential to renounce the affection and intense liking for these fruits in whatever form one is remembering them. This is what Lord Krishna is emphasising here. The nature of spiritual intelligence is being always tranquil and ever content. By acting in this way one assumes the qualities of the eternally equipoised and infinitely independent Supreme Lord.

Once one has given up attachment to actions as a means of obtaining rewards as well as giving up the desire for the rewards of actions one becomes tranquil and content without any need for acquisition or accumulation. Such persons although sometimes appearing to be engaged in actions naturally or prescribed, factually do nothing as all their activities are actually inaction. This is Lord Krishna's meaning here. 

Whoever has completely given up all desires and attachments to rewards for actions, who is also nitya-trypto or totally content immersed in the atma or soul, whoever is self satisfied never depending on anything from prakriti or material existence. Such a person although seen to be intently performing various prescribed actions, in reality performs inaction meaning no action that has any binding effect. Because although externally such a person might appear as if performing activities but internally that person is actually cultivating spiritual knowledge and meditating on the atma and thus exempt from any binding effect. Lord Krishna gives the spiritual intelligence aspect of actions is next. 

To be continued  ...