Chapter 3, Verse 31
ये मे मतमिदं नित्यमनुतिष्ठन्ति मानवाः | श्रद्धावन्तोऽनसूयन्तो मुच्यन्ते तेऽपि कर्मभिः ||३-३१||
ye me matamidaṃ nityamanutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ . śraddhāvanto.anasūyanto mucyante te.api karmabhiḥ ||3-31||
Meaning
3.31 Those men who constantly practise this teaching of Mine with faith and without cavilling, they too are freed from actions.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna offers reassurance and a promise. Those who constantly follow his teaching — practising selfless, surrendered action — with shraddha (faith) and anasuya (freedom from carping or cynicism), are liberated from the binding power of karma, just as surely as the great realized souls.
Two qualities are singled out as essential: faith and an open, non-fault-finding attitude. Faith is not blind belief but trust enough to actually live the teaching, and freedom from cavilling means approaching it without cynical resistance. With these, even ordinary people walking the path are released. The word api, 'too,' is gracious: this liberation is not reserved for sages alone but available to every sincere practitioner. The path is open to all who will take it up with a trusting and receptive heart, steadily putting it into practice rather than merely admiring it from afar.
💡 Key Takeaway
Sincere, faithful practice without cynicism frees anyone — this path is open to all, not just to the spiritually advanced.
Related Verses
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर | असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः ||३-१९||
tasmādasaktaḥ satataṃ kāryaṃ karma samācara . asakto hyācarankarma paramāpnoti pūruṣaḥ ||3-19||
3.19 Therefore without attachment, do thou always perform action which should be done; for by performing action without attachment man reaches the Supreme.
मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा | निराशीर्निर्ममो भूत्वा युध्यस्व विगतज्वरः ||३-३०||
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi saṃnyasyādhyātmacetasā . nirāśīrnirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigatajvaraḥ ||3-30||
3.30 Renouncing all actions in Me, with the mind centred in the Self, free from hope and egoism, and from (mental) fever, do thou fight.