nirāśīr yata-cittātmā tyakta-sarva-parigrahaḥ śārīraṁ kevalaṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣam
"Free from expectations, mind and self controlled, having abandoned all possessiveness—performing only bodily action, one incurs no sin."
What This Means:
The liberated person has no expectations, has controlled their mind, has given up possessiveness over things. Acting only to maintain the body—without agenda—such a person creates no negative karma at all.
Going Deeper:
'Nirashi' (without expectations) frees from anxiety about future. 'Yata-citta-atma' (controlled mind and self) provides inner stability. 'Tyakta-sarva-parigraha' (abandoned all acquisition) removes the drive to accumulate. 'Shariram kevalam' (bodily only) indicates action reduced to minimum necessity—not driven by ambition. Such minimal, egoless action generates no 'kilbisha' (sin, fault).
How To Apply This:
Notice how much of your action is driven by expectations of future rewards, uncontrolled mental impulses, or desire to acquire and possess. What would remain if those were removed? That's the 'bodily only' action—what's actually necessary, done simply because it needs doing.
Key Sanskrit Terms: