Chapter 4, Verse 20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः | कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ||४-२०||
tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgaṃ nityatṛpto nirāśrayaḥ . karmaṇyabhipravṛtto.api naiva kiñcitkaroti saḥ ||4-20||
Meaning
4.20 Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything though engaged in activity.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Explanation & Commentary
Krishna paints the inner portrait of the liberated worker. Having let go of attachment to results (karma-phala-āsaṅga), such a person is nitya-tṛpta — ever content — and nirāśraya — leaning on nothing external for fulfillment. His happiness does not depend on how things turn out, so he is free of the anxiety that haunts ordinary action.
The striking line is that 'though fully engaged in activity, he does nothing at all.' This is not literal idleness but inner freedom from doership. Because he claims neither the work nor its reward as his own, no karmic residue clings to him. He is like one who plays a role wholeheartedly yet never forgets it is a role. Contentment that is unconditional and self-existent — this is the ground from which truly free action springs.
💡 Key Takeaway
When your contentment no longer depends on outcomes, you can act fully yet remain inwardly untouched.
Related Verses
अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् | प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय सम्भवाम्यात्ममायया ||४-६||
ajo.api sannavyayātmā bhūtānāmīśvaro.api san . prakṛtiṃ svāmadhiṣṭhāya sambhavāmyātmamāyayā ||4-6||
4.6 Though I am unborn, of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, governing My own Nature, I am born by My own Maya.
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः | बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ||४-१०||
vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ . bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ ||4-10||
4.10 Freed from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in Me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the fire of knowledge, many have attained to My Being.
काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः | क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ||४-१२||
kāṅkṣantaḥ karmaṇāṃ siddhiṃ yajanta iha devatāḥ . kṣipraṃ hi mānuṣe loke siddhirbhavati karmajā ||4-12||
4.12 Those who long for success in action in this world sacrifice to the gods; because success is ickly attained by men through action.