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Chapter 4

Chapter 4 · Verse 21

Jnana Yoga

ज्ञानयोग

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः | शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ||४-२१||

nirāśīryatacittātmā tyaktasarvaparigrahaḥ . śārīraṃ kevalaṃ karma kurvannāpnoti kilbiṣam ||4-21||

In plain words

The liberated sage renounces all actions except what is necessary for the bare maintenance of the body. He has abandoned all possessions. He incurs no sin which will cause evil effects.

Translation

4.21 Free from desire, his intellect and mind controlled, giving up all possessions, and doing bodily work only, he is not subject to evil:

Meaning

The liberated sage renounces all actions except what is necessary for the bare maintenance of the body. He has abandoned all possessions. He incurs no sin which will cause evil effects. For a man who thirsts for liberation (Mumukshu) even righteous activity (Dharma) is a sin as it causes bondage to Samsara. Dharma is a golden fetter for him. A golden fetter is also a fetter. A sage is liberated from both Dharma and Adharma good and evil or virtue and vice. (Cf. III.7)

Word by word

निराशीः without hope यतचित्तात्मा one with the mind and self controlled त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः having abandoned all covetousness शारीरम् bodily केवलम् merely कर्म action कुर्वन् doing न not आप्नोति obtains किल्बिषम् sin.