त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgaṃ nityatṛpto nirāśrayaḥ |karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ ||
- त्यक्त्वा · tyaktvā
- having abandoned
- कर्मफलासङ्गम् · karmaphalāsaṅgam
- attachment to the fruit of action
- नित्यतृप्तः · nityatṛptaḥ
- ever content
- निराश्रयः · nirāśrayaḥ
- dependent on nothing
- कर्मणि · karmaṇi
- in action
- अभिप्रवृत्तः · abhipravṛttaḥ
- fully engaged
- अपि · api
- though, even
- न · na
- not
- एव · eva
- at all
- किञ्चित् · kiñcit
- anything
- करोति · karoti
- he does
- सः · saḥ
- he
“Abandoning attachment to the fruit of action, ever content, dependent on nothing — though fully engaged in action, such a one does nothing at all.”
— Original plain-language translation
The paradox of verse 18 unpacked: maximum outer engagement with zero inner appropriation counts as 'doing nothing' karmically. Contentment (nityatṛpta) replaces the fruit as the doer's nourishment. Lean on nothing, and action leaves no residue.
— Reader's notes (original)