Bhagavad Gita · Karma YogaAdhyaay 3, Shloka 18 (3.18)
Mool Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन
न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः
॥ 3.18 ॥
naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana
na cāsya sarvabhūteṣu kaścidarthavyapāśrayaḥ
Anuvaad
"Us (aatma-tript vyakti) ka is lok mein na karm karne se koi prayojan hai, na karm na karne se koi haani; aur na hi use kisi bhi praani par apne kisi prayojan ke liye nirbhar rehna padta hai."
Bhaavaarth
Teen "nahin". (1) Kiye se laabh nahin; (2) na kiye se haani nahin; (3) kisi praani par swaarthi nirbharta nahin.
Shankaracharya: na kiye se pratyavāya (kartavya na karne ka dosh) nahin, na ātma-hāni. Brahma se lekar sthaavar tak kisi bhi praani ka aashray lekar use kuchh siddh nahin karna. Aur phir Shankara ek mahatvapoorn baat jodte hain: na tvam etasmin sarvataḥ-samplutodaka-sthānīye samyag-darśane vartase — "tum (Arjuna) abhi is — chaaron or bhare jalaashaya jaise — samyak darshan mein sthit nahin ho." Yaani yeh avastha Arjuna ki nahin; isliye agla shloka: "tum karm karo."
Aacharya Ramanuja: Aise vyakti ko aatma-darshan ke saadhan karne se kuchh prayojan nahin, na karne se koi haani nahin — kyonki uska aatma-darshan asādhanāyatta — saadhanon par nirbhar nahin. Sa hi mukta eva — woh mukt hi hai. Phir Ramanuja is prakaran ka nishkarsh dete hain: kyonki saadhan ki zaroorat sirf aise siddh ko nahin; aur kyonki karma-yoga suśaka (aasaan), apramāda (bhool-rahit), aatma-gyaan ko samaaye hue, aur gyaan-yogi ke bhi shareer-nirvaah ke liye zaroori hai — isliye karma-yoga eva ātma-darśana-nirvṛttau śreyān — aatma-darshan ki praapti mein karma-yoga hi shreshth hai.