śhrī bhagavān uvācha
anāśhritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ
sa sannyāsī cha yogī cha na niragnir na chākriyaḥ
śhrī-bhagavān uvācha — the Supreme Lord said;
anāśhritaḥ — not desiring;
karma-phalam — results of actions;
kāryam — obligatory;
karma — work;
karoti — perform;
yaḥ — one who;
saḥ — that person;
sanyāsī — in the renounced order;
cha — and;
yogī — yogi;
cha — and;
na — not;
niḥ — without;
agniḥ — fire;
na — not;
cha — also;
akriyaḥ — without activity
In this verse, Lord Krishna is teaching us an important lesson about how to live our lives and approach our work. He says that the real mystic or spiritual person is not someone who avoids all work and simply sits idle, but rather someone who works without wanting anything in return.
Let’s break it down: When Krishna talks about being unattached to the fruits of one’s work, he means that we should not be overly focused on the results or rewards we get from what we do. For example, if you have a job, it is normal to want to earn a salary. However, Krishna is saying that while it's fine to want a good salary, our main goal should be to perform our job well and do our duty, rather than just thinking about the money or promotions we might get.
He stresses that the true spiritual or 'renounced' person is one who fulfills their responsibilities without being overly attached to outcomes. Just like a farmer plants seeds not just for the sake of his harvest, but because it's his duty to provide for his family and community, we should also approach our tasks with the intention of fulfilling our duties.
This idea can be seen in everyday life. For instance, a parent who takes care of their children and ensures they grow up well is doing this not just for personal gain but out of love and duty. That parent doesn’t do everything just for thank you or praise, but because it is their responsibility and they genuinely care.
Krishna is also emphasizing that true renunciation is not about being inactive or avoiding work, like someone who sits quietly without contributing anything. Instead, it’s about having the right attitude toward our work. The person who acts selflessly—doing their work to benefit others and society rather than just themselves—is considered the true yogi or mystical person.
In essence, Krishna is guiding us to find joy and purpose in our work by focusing on our duties and serving the greater good rather than just pursuing our self-interests. This shifts our mindset from seeking personal rewards to becoming part of something bigger. When we do this, we’re on the path to achieving peace and fulfillment in life.