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Chapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge · 42 verses

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Remember who is speaking. Kṛṣṇa is speaking. Take the verse as He directs.
  2. 2Say the verse and its words. Read the Sanskrit, then each word with its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation as it is. Let the translation say what it says, without adding your own meaning.
  4. 4Read the purport. Hear the verse through the disciplic succession.
  5. 5Bring your own question. Ask: where does this verse meet my life, my trouble, my doubt?
  6. 6Act on it, remembering Kṛṣṇa. Carry one instruction into your work today.
Read the full guide: how to read the Bhagavad-gītā ›
Duty & actionChapter 4 · Transcendental Knowledge
4.204.22

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is · Text 4.21

Transcendental understanding of action

Karma · Action

निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः ।

शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्‍नोति किल्बिषम् ॥ २१ ॥

nirāśīr yata-cittātmā

tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ

śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma

kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam

Translation

Such a man of understanding acts with mind and intelligence perfectly controlled, gives up all sense of proprietorship over his possessions and acts only for the bare necessities of life. Thus working, he is not affected by sinful reactions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

What this verse is saying, and where it sits in the story.

3 study points

Working Without Claiming Ownership

  1. 1

    A person of understanding controls mind and intelligence, gives up claims of ownership, and works only for basic needs, without sinful reactions.

  2. 2

    Prabhupāda explains that a Kṛṣṇa conscious person acts according to the Supreme’s desire and maintains the body for loving service to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Work honestly for basic needs, keeping yourself fit to serve the Lord rather than seeking personal sense pleasure.

Key points from the purport

These notes cover verses 4.19–24

“Akarma in Karma” (inaction in action)

Main characteristic — Works without attachment (Detached) to sense gratification (4.19)

2

Detached from fruits — Acts without fruitive attachment, although engaged in all undertakings (4.20)

3

Ever-satisfied and independent (4.20*)

4

Self-control — Mind and intelligence fully controlled (4.21)

5

Freedom from sense of proprietorship (4.21)

6

Desires only bare necessities (4.21)

7

Self-satisfaction — Satisfied with whatever comes by providence with no over-endeavor (4.22*)

8

Freedom from duality — nothing can hamper his service (4.22*)

9

Steadiness — Steady in success and failure (4.22*)

10

Freedom from envy (4.22*)

11

Detached from the modes (4.23*)

12

Fully situated in transcendental knowledge (4.23*)

13

Such kind of work merges into transcendence (4.23*)

14

Absolute quality of a sacrifice performed in Krishna consciousness has no reaction (4.24)

Connected verses · 2

Texts 4.20 & 4.21

Text 4.20 describes sadhaka stage. Texts 4.21 — 4.22 describes siddha stage.

Texts 4.21 & 4.22

Text 4.21 speaks of a highly advanced, perfected devotee who is constantly greedy for Krishna’s service. He considers himself insignificant and gives no importance to anything outside that service. His qualities will now be further described

Further reading

Understanding Karma On The Platform Of Jnana

One can perform detached actions in Krishna’s service by applying ‘transcendental knowledge’ They are called akarma

Akarma refers to actions without reactions and such actions are on the absolute platform

Krishna explains how in this way karma can be seen as jnana

Chapter 4, section III: Understanding Karma On The Platform Of Jnana
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nirāśīḥwithout desire for the result
  2. yatacontrolled
  3. citta-ātmāmind and intelligence
  4. tyaktagiving up
  5. sarvaall
  6. parigrahaḥsense of proprietorship over possessions
  7. śārīramin keeping body and soul together
  8. kevalamonly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The spiritual concepts this verse connects to.

Key ideas: karma, sva-dharma.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does BG 4.21 establish in Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport, and how does it connect to duty & action?

Practice

Do one task today purely because it is right.

5

Related verses

Keep going: verses that carry this teaching further.

BG 4.16Transcendental understanding of actionBG 4.17Transcendental understanding of actionBG 2.47Responsibility without ownership of outcomesBG 3.21Leadership by example
Live this todayDo Your Duty for KṛṣṇaA practice from BG 4.20, close to this verse

Study notes are editorial summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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