Chapter 3, Verse 4 (Bhagavad Gita 3.4)
Chapter 3: Karm Yog – Path of Selfless Service
Sanskrit Shloka
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते। न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति
Transliteration
na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnute na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati
Word Meanings
na—not; karmaṇām—of actions; anārambhāt—by abstaining from; naiṣhkarmyam—freedom from karmic reactions; puruṣhaḥ—a person; aśhnute—attains; na—not; cha—and; sannyasanāt—by renunciation; eva—only; siddhim—perfection; samadhigachchhati—attains
Translation
Not by abstaining from work does one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by mere renunciation does one attain spiritual perfection.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse addresses the misconception that physical withdrawal from worldly duties is equivalent to spiritual liberation. True freedom is not found in the avoidance of activity, but in the transformation of the internal state while continuing to perform one's obligations. Perfection is a state of consciousness, not a change of location or lifestyle; if the mind remains attached to desires, renouncing work is merely a superficial performance. By engaging in duty without the hunger for personal results, one purifies the heart and eventually transcends the bondage of karma. Thus, the Gita encourages an active life lived in a spirit of dedicated service rather than a passive life of isolation.