In Bhagavad Gita 4.23, Krishna says that for one free from attachment, liberated, with mind established in knowledge, acting only as sacrifice, all karma dissolves completely.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य
ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः
यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म
समग्रं प्रविलीयते ॥ ४-२३ ॥
gatasaṅgasya muktasya
jñānāvasthitacetasaḥ
yajñāyācarataḥ karma
samagraṃ pravilīyate
English transliteration gatasangasya muktasya
jnaanaavasthitachetasah
yajnaayaacharatah karma
samagram pravileeyate ॥ 4.23 ॥
Translation / Meaning
For one who is free from attachment and liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge, and who acts only for the sake of sacrifice, all karma melts away entirely.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| गतसङ्गस्य gatasaṅgasya | of one free from attachment gata (gone) + saṅgasya (attachment) |
| मुक्तस्य muktasya | of the liberated |
| ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः jñānāvasthitacetasaḥ | whose mind is established in knowledge jñāna (knowledge) + avasthita (established) + cetasaḥ (mind) |
| यज्ञाय yajñāya | for sacrifice |
| आचरतः ācarataḥ | acting |
| कर्म karma | action |
| समग्रम् samagram | entirely |
| प्रविलीयते pravilīyate | dissolves |
Word-wise Chanting
- ga–ta–saṅ–gas–ya muk–tas–ya 8 syllables ga-ta-san-gas-ya muk-tas-ya
- jñā–nā–vas–thi–ta–ce–ta–saḥ | 8 syllables jnaa-naa-vas-thi-ta-che-ta-sah
- ya–jñā–yā–ca–ra–taḥ kar–ma 8 syllables ya-jnaa-yaa-cha-ra-tah kar-ma
- sa–mag–raṃ pra–vi–lī–ya–te || 4-23 8 syllables sa-mag-ram pra-vi-lee-ya-te
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 4 Verse 23
Context
Krishna completes the portrait of the wise actor (4.19–4.23) and leads into the teaching on sacrifice (4.24–4.33).
Meaning
When attachment is gone, the mind rests in knowledge, and action is done as yajña, an offering, karma does not accumulate. It pravilīyate, melts away completely, like ice in the sun. The past is not carried forward as a burden, because nothing in the present clings to it.
This verse connects the teaching on knowledge with the teaching on sacrifice. Action offered selflessly, in the light of understanding, leaves no residue. The next verse will describe this sacrifice in its most exalted form: everything seen as Brahman.
In Practice
Do your next task as a pure offering, expecting nothing. Afterwards, let it go completely without replaying it in your mind.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation 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.