Path of Selfless Service
Verse 3.18
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन। न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्िचदर्थव्यपाश्रयः।।3.18।।
naiva tasya kṛitenārtho nākṛiteneha kaśhchana na chāsya sarva-bhūteṣhu kaśhchid artha-vyapāśhrayaḥ
Word Meanings
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
Translation · English
For him, there is no interest whatsoever in what is done or not done; nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
Deep Meaning · English
This verse describes the state of the Jivanmukta—the one who is liberated while still inhabiting a physical body. Krishna is explaining to Arjuna that for the self-realized soul, the dichotomy of action and inaction has dissolved. Because such a person dwells in the fullness of the Atman, they do not perform actions to gain anything, nor do they abstain from action out of fear of loss or karmic consequence. Their existence is no longer driven by the 'artha' or personal interests that plague the egoic mind. When the seeker realizes they are not the doer, the entire weight of karmic obligation vanishes. They do not 'need' the world to validate their existence or provide them with security, because they have discovered the inexhaustible source of fullness within. This is not a license for lethargy, but a state of spontaneous, cosmic-aligned action that flows from an overflow of divine peace. The seeker remains in the world but is no longer dependent on any creature or circumstance for their happiness or purpose, as they see the Self in all and all in the Self. This realization shifts the paradigm of 'duty' from a heavy burden of social or moral obligation to an expression of innate, non-dual consciousness.
For the self-realized soul, duty is no longer a path to personal gain but an expression of divine freedom, as they no longer rely on any worldly outcome or being for their completeness.
Connected Verses
Describes the equanimity of a yogi who sees gold, stone, and clods of dirt as the same, reflecting a lack of worldly dependency.
Explains how the wise, though constantly engaged in action, are actually doing nothing because they are not attached to results.
Directly precedes this verse, describing the person who finds total satisfaction in the Self and thus has no worldly duty.
Establishes the foundational principle of performing duty without attachment to the fruits of action.
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