निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः ।
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥
Hindi · हिन्दी
जिसका शरीर और अन्तःकरण अच्छी तरहसे वशमें किया हुआ है, जिसने सब प्रकारके संग्रहका परित्याग कर दिया है, ऐसा आशारहित कर्मयोगी केवल शरीरसम्बन्धी कर्म करता हुआ भी पापको प्राप्त नहीं होता ॥
English
One who has no hope, who has controlled the body and mind, and who has given up all possessions, does only bodily action and incurs no fault.
What this verse means
A person who has no craving, controls the body and mind, and lets go of possessions can act without being stained by wrongdoing.
Context & commentary
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna is frozen by grief and duty. Krishna keeps refining karma yoga: act without craving, without possession, without inner entanglement. Even bodily action stays clean when the mind is mastered.
Why this verse still matters
You sign the resignation letter, delete the backup plan, and still keep your hands steady. The fear is there, but it no longer owns the action.
The takeaway
There is relief in acting cleanly without carrying greed, clinging, or inner noise.
Word-by-word translation
निराशीर् (without hope) / यतचित्तात्मा (one whose mind and inner being are controlled) / त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः (one who has abandoned all possessions) / शारीरम् (bodily) / केवलम् (only) / कर्म (action) / कुर्वन् (doing) / न (not) / आप्नोति (attains) / किल्बिषम् (fault)
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: karma yoga (55 verses), self mastery (16 verses), nishkama (14 verses)