Bhagavad Gita — Karma Yoga, Shloka 18

Karma Yoga

Devanagari script

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन । न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ॥ ३.१८ ॥

Transliteration

naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana | na cāsya sarva-bhūteṣu kaścid artha-vyapāśrayaḥ || 3.18 ||

Translation

त्याला येथे केलेल्या कर्मामुळे काही लाभ नाही, आणि न केलेल्यामुळे काही हानीही नाही. तसेच सर्व भूतांमध्ये कोणत्याही प्रयोजनासाठी तो कोणावरही अवलंबून नाही.

Gita Press Meaning

For him there is no gain from what is done, nor any loss from what is not done; nor does he depend on any being for any purpose.

Critical Edition Meaning

For him there is no purpose served by what is done, nor any by what is left undone; and among all beings he has no dependence for any end.

Comparative Note

Traditional and academic translations are close. The main interpretive question is scope: whether this describes the liberated sage’s non-instrumental relation to action (no personal ‘need’), not a blanket rejection of compassionate or exemplary action.

Word by Word

• न: not
• Root: न

• एव: indeed/just
• Root: एव

• तस्य: of him/of that (person)
• Root: तद्

• कृतेन: by (what is) done; by action performed
• कृतेन: Karana
• Root: कृत

• अर्थः: purpose/need/benefit
• अर्थः: Karta
• Root: अर्थ

• न: not
• Root: न

• अकृतेन: by (what is) not done; by non-performance/inaction
• अकृतेन: Karana
• Root: अकृत

• इह: here (in this world/context)
• Root: इह

• कश्चन: anyone/anything whatsoever
• कश्चन: Karta
• Root: कश्चन

• न: not
• Root: न

• च: and/also
• Root: च

• अस्य: of him/of this (person)
• Root: इदम्

• सर्वभूतेषु: in all beings
• सर्वभूतेषु: Adhikarana
• Root: सर्वभूत

• कश्चित्: any (one) at all
• कश्चित्: Karta
• Root: कश्चित्

• अर्थव्यपाश्रयः: dependence on a purpose; reliance on any end/utility
• अर्थव्यपाश्रयः: Karta
• Root: अर्थ-व्यपाश्रय

Speakers

• Krishna
• Arjuna

Primary Concepts

• Mokṣa (implied)
• Non-instrumentality of action
• Asaṅga (non-attachment)
• Ātman-centered fulfillment

Key Themes

• Freedom from personal gain/loss calculus
• Non-dependence
• Redefinition of motivation

FAQs

Psychological significance?

It describes reduced outcome-dependence: actions are not used to patch inner insecurity, lowering stress tied to success/failure.

Metaphysical meaning?

If the self is complete, action cannot add to or subtract from it; this aligns with the Gītā’s broader claim that the deepest self is unaffected by external change.

Contextual relevance?

It continues 3.17 by clarifying that the realized person’s relation to action is non-transactional, preparing the argument that such a person may still act for the world’s sake (3.20).

Modern Application?

A useful lens for leadership and service: act without treating outcomes as personal validation, while still being responsible and responsive.