In Bhagavad Gita 3.18, Krishna explains that the realised person has no purpose to gain by acting or not acting, and depends on no being for anything.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो
नाकृतेनेह कश्चन
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु
कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥ ३-१८ ॥
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho
nākṛteneha kaścana
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu
kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ
English transliteration naiva tasya kritenaartho
naakriteneha kashchana
na chaasya sarvabhooteshu
kashchidarthavyapaashrayah ॥ 3.18 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Such a person has no purpose to gain by what is done or by what is not done in this world, nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| एव eva | indeed |
| तस्य tasya | his |
| कृतेन kṛtena | by what is done |
| अर्थः arthaḥ | purpose, gain |
| न na | not |
| अकृतेन akṛtena | by what is not done |
| इह iha | here |
| कश्चन kaścana | any |
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| अस्य asya | his |
| सर्वभूतेषु sarvabhūteṣu | among all beings sarva (all) + bhūteṣu (beings) |
| कश्चित् kaścit | any |
| अर्थव्यपाश्रयः arthavyapāśrayaḥ | dependence for any purpose artha (purpose) + vyapāśrayaḥ (dependence) |
Word-wise Chanting
- nai–va tas–ya kṛ–te–nār–tho 8 syllables nai-va tas-ya kri-te-naar-tho
- nā–kṛ–te–ne–ha kaś–ca–na | 8 syllables naa-kri-te-ne-ha kash-cha-na
- na cās–ya sar–va–bhū–te–ṣu 8 syllables na chaas-ya sar-va-bhoo-te-shu
- kaś–ci–dar–thav–ya–pāś–ra–yaḥ || 3-18 8 syllables kash-chi-dar-thav-ya-paash-ra-yah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 3 Verse 18
Context
Krishna completes the description of the realised sage begun in 3.17.
Meaning
The Self-realised person is completely free: there is nothing to gain by acting and nothing to lose by not acting. Such a person does not depend on anyone for happiness or fulfilment. Their actions, if they act, arise from freedom, not from need.
This independence is not coldness. Because the sage needs nothing from others, they can give freely, without bargaining. Their love is not a transaction. The verse sets up the next teaching: even such a free person continues to act, for the sake of others.
In Practice
Notice one relationship in which you act mainly to get something back. Try giving once today with no expectation at all.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.