Chapter 5 Verse 15
Karm Sanyās Yog
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः। अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः।।5.15।।
nādatte kasyachit pāpaṁ na chaiva sukṛitaṁ vibhuḥ ajñānenāvṛitaṁ jñānaṁ tena muhyanti jantavaḥ
Word Meanings
| na | not |
| ādatte | accepts |
| kasyachit | anyone’s |
| pāpam | sin |
| na | not |
| cha | and |
| eva | certainly |
| su-kṛitam | virtuous deeds |
| vibhuḥ | the omnipresent God |
| ajñānena | by ignorance |
| āvṛitam | covered |
| jñānam | knowledge |
| tena | by that |
| muhyanti | are deluded |
| jantavaḥ | the living entities |
Translation
The Lord takes neither the demerit nor the merit of any; knowledge is enveloped by ignorance, and beings are deluded.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
God is not a bookkeeper who collects our good or bad deeds. The Divine remains untouched by praise or blame; what matters is the state of the living being, not the Lord's gain or loss.
People are covered by ignorance that hides true knowledge. This ignorance makes us identify with the body, possessions, and outcomes, and so we remain confused and act from fear or desire.
When knowledge dawns, the veil lifts and we see ourselves and our actions clearly. Then we stop thinking that God must be paid or pleased; instead we take inner responsibility and act from wisdom.
Life Application
- Do your duties honestly but without clinging to reward or blaming God for results—focus on right action, not on payoff.
- Practice simple self-inquiry, reading, or meditation to remove small daily confusions (e.g., "Why did I react? What was my motive?").
- When upset by outcomes, pause and ask whether you are seeing clearly or reacting from fear, habit, or pride.
Reflection Question
Where in my life am I still acting from fear or attachment rather than clear understanding?