Bhagavad Gita 3.17 meaningWhy action matters
In simple wordsSo simple a child gets it
“Someone truly happy inside doesn’t need anything.”
What it means
“But someone whose joy and contentment come entirely from within has nothing they need to do.”
The original Sanskrit
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः । आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥
yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate
Translations
Literal translation
But that man who rejoices only in theSelf and is satisfied with the Self, and is contented only in the Self-for him there is no duty to perform.
Swami Gambhirananda
हिंदी अनुवाद
परन्तु जो मनुष्य आत्मा में ही रमने वाला आत्मा में ही तृप्त तथा आत्मा में ही सन्तुष्ट हो उसके लिये कोई कर्तव्य नहीं रहता।
Swami Tejomayananda
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Commentaries
How great teachers across 1,200 years have explained this verse.
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Keep reading · 3.18“Such a person gains nothing by acting and loses nothing by not acting. They don't depend on anyone for anything.”