न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ।
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥
इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
मेरे द्वारा गुणों और कर्मोंके विभागपूर्वक चारों वर्णोंकी रचना की गयी है । उससृष्टिरचना आदि का कर्ता होनेपर भी मुझ अव्यय परमेश्वरको तू अकर्ता जान । कारण कि कर्मोंके फलमें मेरी स्पृहा नहीं है, इसलिये मुझे कर्म लिप्त नहीं करते । इस प्रकार जो मुझे तत्त्वसे जान लेता है, वह भी कर्मोंसे नहीं बँधता ॥
English
Actions do not stain me, and I do not crave their fruits. One who knows me this way is not bound by actions.
What this verse means
Actions do not affect Krishna, because he has no desire for their results. Anyone who understands this deeply is also freed from being bound by action.
Context & commentary
On Kurukshetra, Krishna explains why he is untouched by action even while shaping the world. He has no hunger for results, and that same understanding can free Arjuna from fear of being bound by duty.
Why this verse still matters
You send the message, make the hard call, or finish the surgery, then wait for the reaction. The verse says your hands can stay clean even when the outcome is beyond you.
The takeaway
There is relief in acting fully without being trapped by what comes back.
Word-by-word translation
न मां (not me) / कर्माणि (actions) / लिम्पन्ति (stain) / न (not) / मे (my) / कर्मफले (in the fruit of action) / स्पृहा (desire) । इति (thus) / माम् (me) / यः (who) / अभिजानाति (knows truly) / कर्मभिः (by actions) / न (not) / सः (he) / बध्यते (is bound)
This verse is part of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga — Knowledge and Renunciation of Action, which contains 42 verses.
Explore related themes: nishkama (14 verses), karma phala (10 verses)