Chapter 9 Verse 9
Rāja Vidyā Yog
न च मां तानि कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय। उदासीनवदासीनमसक्तं तेषु कर्मसु।।9.9।।
na cha māṁ tāni karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya udāsīna-vad āsīnam asaktaṁ teṣhu karmasu
Word Meanings
| na | none |
| cha | as |
| mām | me |
| tāni | those |
| karmāṇi | actions |
| nibadhnanti | bind |
| dhanañjaya | Arjun, conqueror of wealth |
| udāsīna-vat | as neutral |
| āsīnam | situated |
| asaktam | detached |
| teṣhu | those |
| karmasu | actions |
Translation
These acts do not bind Me, O Arjuna, sitting as one indifferent, unattached to those acts.
Philosophical Significance
Core Meaning
Krishna says that actions do not bind Him because He remains free and unattached, like a calm witness. He performs or allows action without being caught by desire or fear.
Binding happens when we identify with action and expect outcomes. Attachment ties us to pleasure, pain, praise, and blame; detachment frees us from that cycle.
Detachment here is practical, not cold indifference. It means doing your duty fully but not clutching the result—staying steady inside while the outer world changes.
Life Application
- Do your responsibilities wholeheartedly, then let go of worries about success or failure.
- When you feel anxious about results, pause, breathe, and remind yourself to be a calm witness to the situation.
- Treat praise and criticism the same way; respond from clarity, not from the need to prove yourself.
Reflection Question
Where in my life am I holding on to results instead of doing my duty with a calm mind?