Chapter 5 Verse 12

The one who is united (the well-poised or harmonized) having abandoned the fruit of action attains eternal peace; whereas the one who is not united (the unsteady or unbalanced), impelled by desire and attached to the fruit, is bound.

Core Meaning

When you do your work without clinging to rewards, praise, or fear of failure, you find steady and lasting inner peace. Letting go of the need for a specific outcome frees the mind from constant worry and creates balance.

If you act from desire for gain or approval, your attention stays tied to results and you become restless and trapped. Attachment to outcomes makes you react to every success or setback, keeping you unsettled.

True freedom comes from being centered — acting with skill and care, but offering the results and staying inwardly calm. That steady state is what the verse calls "everlasting peace."

Life Application

• Before starting a task, set a simple intention to do your best and accept whatever follows; focus on effort, not reward.
• When you feel anxious about results, pause, breathe, and remind yourself that outcomes are often beyond your control.
• Practice small acts of detached service: help, work, or create without immediately checking for approval or gain.

Reflection Question

Where am I holding on to outcomes instead of staying calm and doing my best?