Chapter 4 Verse 14
Jñāna Karm Sanyās Yog
न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा। इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते।।4.14।।
na māṁ karmāṇi limpanti na me karma-phale spṛihā iti māṁ yo ’bhijānāti karmabhir na sa badhyate
Word Meanings
| na | not |
| mām | me |
| karmāṇi | activities |
| limpanti | taint |
| na | nor |
| me | my |
| karma-phale | the fruits of action |
| spṛihā | desire |
| iti | thus |
| mām | me |
| yaḥ | who |
| abhijānāti | knows |
| karmabhiḥ | result of action |
| na | never |
| saḥ | that person |
| badhyate | is bound |
Translation
Actions do not taint Me, nor do I have a desire for the fruit of actions. He who knows Me thus is not bound by actions.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
This verse teaches that the true divine or pure self is not changed or harmed by actions. Actions belong to the changing world; the supreme reality remains untouched and has no craving for their outcomes.
Because the divine has no desire for results, it is not bound by rewards or punishments. When someone understands this truth, they see a clear difference between their changing doer-self (with desires and reactions) and the deeper, unchanging presence.
Knowing this helps a person act without being trapped by expectations. Acting from this understanding frees you from anxiety, regret, and the sense of being controlled by success or failure.
Life Application
- Do your duty fully, but let go of clinging to results; focus on effort, not reward.
- Dedicate your actions to a larger purpose (family, community, or a spiritual aim) so outcomes feel less personal.
- Practice calm acceptance of success and failure; learn from both without letting them define you.
Reflection Question
How would my daily choices change if I stopped making outcomes the measure of my worth?