In Bhagavad Gita 9.9, Krishna says these actions do not bind him, for he sits as if indifferent, unattached to those actions.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
न च मां तानि कर्माणि
निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय
उदासीनवदासीनम्
असक्तं तेषु कर्मसु ॥ ९-९ ॥
na ca māṃ tāni karmāṇi
nibadhnanti dhanañjaya
udāsīnavadāsīnam
asaktaṃ teṣu karmasu
English transliteration na cha maam taani karmaani
nibadhnanti dhananjaya
udaaseenavadaaseenam
asaktam teshu karmasu ॥ 9.9 ॥
Translation / Meaning
These actions do not bind Me, O Dhananjaya, for I remain as if seated indifferently, unattached to those actions.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| न na | not |
| च ca | and |
| माम् mām | Me |
| तानि tāni | these |
| कर्माणि karmāṇi | actions |
| निबध्नन्ति nibadhnanti | bind |
| धनञ्जय dhanañjaya | O Dhanañjaya |
| उदासीनवत् udāsīnavat | as if indifferent udāsīna (indifferent, sitting apart) + vat (as if) |
| आसीनम् āsīnam | seated |
| असक्तम् asaktam | unattached |
| तेषु teṣu | to those |
| कर्मसु karmasu | actions |
Word-wise Chanting
- na ca māṃ tā–ni kar–mā–ṇi 8 syllables na cha maam taa-ni kar-maa-ni
- ni–badh–nan–ti dha–nañ–ja–ya | 8 syllables ni-badh-nan-ti dha-nan-ja-ya
- u–dā–sī–na–va–dā–sī–nam– 8 syllables u-daa-see-na-va-daa-see-nam-
- a–sak–taṃ te–ṣu kar–ma–su || 9-9 8 syllables a-sak-tam te-shu kar-ma-su
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 9 Verse 9
Context
Krishna explains why the work of creation does not bind him.
Meaning
The vast work of creating and dissolving universes does not bind the Divine, because it acts asakta, without attachment. It is udāsīnavat, like one seated apart, a witness unaffected by the outcome. Action without attachment does not bind, whether for God or for us.
This is the model for karma yoga. If even the creation of worlds does not bind the Divine because it is done without attachment, our small actions need not bind us either, if done in the same spirit.
In Practice
Do one task today fully and well, while inwardly sitting apart from its results like a calm witness.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (The Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret). 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.