jñeyaḥ sa nitya-sannyāsī yo na dveṣhṭi na kāṅkṣhati
nirdvandvo hi mahā-bāho sukhaṁ bandhāt pramuchyate
jñeyaḥ — should be considered;
saḥ — that person;
nitya — always;
sanyāsī — practising renunciation;
yaḥ — who;
na — never;
dveṣhṭi — hate;
na — nor;
kāṅkṣhati — desire;
nirdvandvaḥ — free from all dualities;
hi — certainly;
mahā-bāho — mighty-armed one;
sukham — easily;
bandhāt — from bondage;
pramuchyate — is liberated
This verse tells us that a person who does not feel anger or desire about the results of their actions is someone who has truly let go. In simple terms, when you do something, like working on a project or helping a friend, if you don’t get upset if it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, or if you don’t just work for personal gain, you are practicing a kind of inner peace.
This kind of mindset means you are not tied down by feelings of hatred or longing. Imagine you are playing a sport just for fun and not worrying about winning or losing. This allows you to enjoy the game much more. When people are like this, they are free from the ups and downs that come with wanting things to go a certain way.
The verse continues to explain that such a person sees everything clearly without confusion or bias. They understand that they are part of something greater. For example, think of a drop of water being part of the ocean; it’s a smaller part but still fundamentally the same. So, recognizing that you are part of a bigger picture—like the world or life itself—helps you feel whole and content, rather than just focusing on your individual desires or struggles.
These renounced individuals, in serving or thinking about a higher purpose, become free from the struggles of life. Instead of getting caught up in opposites like success and failure, joy and sadness, they cultivate a balanced view.
Ultimately, this feeling of peace and lack of attachment means they are not bound by the usual expectations of life. They can live fully in the world without being affected negatively by all the chaos around them. This state of being, where one maintains a balanced attitude regardless of circumstances, leads to true freedom, even when living within the material world. Like a lotus flower that grows in muddy water but remains untouched by it, these individuals thrive without being bogged down by the challenges of life.