Verse-4
Chapter 3 — Karma Yoga
Verse 4
🕉 Original Sanskrit Shloka
na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo'śnute
na ca sannyasanādeva siddhiṁ samadhigacchati
🕉 English Translation
📜 Translation
English
Man cannot, by not undertaking actions, reach the state of actionlessness implying that he cannot attain the discipline of yoga nor by mere renunciation of action does he attain perfection.
It is possible or it can be thought that one will not initiate any action at all. Neither will there be the bamboo nor will flute be made and played; this commonly used saying is used as guiding principle. But to Shri Gitaji this kind of thinking is not acceptable. In conduct it does not happen and will not happen also in future. The actions are happening because of the accumulated impressions inside ourselves. While they remain inside us, actions will keep on flowing out of us. It is good and necessary that actions should be delinked from desire for fruit, attachment and egoism. Then accumulated past impressions will get exhausted and further no new impressions will accrue; that is in reality the state of 'naishkarmya' (the quietism of the inner-self unaffected by engaging in action). While engaging in action, the inner state of being unattached to action (inactivity) should be maintained. Establishment in yoga will become accomplished by itself. 'Karmayogane yoginaam' is the state described in the previous verse.
Renunciation of works in any form is not approved by the Gita. In fact, it is not possible also. In the Gita, the Blessed Lord has stated only whatever is possible. The problem can become complicated if something is impossible and the being is adamant on doing it. Perfection cannot be achieved by mere abandonment of works. Perfection is the inner state, not an external activity which can be accomplished by relinquishing the external activity. While performing an action the inner state should be kept under observation. It is necessary to exhaust the collected past impressions, and further the conduct should be so, that does not lead to further accumulation of new impressions; the inner purity should be maintained. In fact, this is the real renunciation; this is the state of naishkarmya, the state of perfection meaning that it is the real success in life. Be alert.