naiva tasya kṛtenārtho nākṛteneha kaścana na cāsya sarva-bhūteṣu kaścid artha-vyapāśrayaḥ
"Such a person has nothing to gain from actions done, nor anything to lose from actions not done. They have no need to depend on any being for anything."
What This Means:
The self-realized person gains nothing by acting and loses nothing by not acting. They don't depend on anyone or anything for their happiness. Complete independence. They might act or not act—either way, their fulfillment doesn't change.
Going Deeper:
This is absolute freedom. Most people act from need—needing money, approval, security, meaning. The enlightened one has no such needs. 'Artha-vyapashraya' (dependence on others for purpose) has ended. They interact with the world from fullness, not lack. Action becomes pure expression, not acquisition.
How To Apply This:
Notice how much of your action is motivated by needing something—approval, money, validation, security. What if you needed nothing? How would you act then? The free person's actions are gifts, not trades. Move toward that: act from fullness, not emptiness.
Key Sanskrit Terms: