kurvan eveha karmāṇi jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ | evaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'sti na karma lipyate nare ||
"By performing actions here, one may wish to live a hundred years. For you, there is no other way than this — action does not bind a person who lives thus."
What This Means:
You can live a full, active life — even a hundred years — without being trapped by your actions. The key is how you act, not whether you act. When you work without selfish attachment, karma doesn't stick to you.
Going Deeper:
This verse reconciles the apparent conflict between action and renunciation. True renunciation isn't giving up action but giving up the ego's claim on the fruits of action. This is the same teaching Krishna gives Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.
How To Apply This:
You don't need to quit your job or abandon your responsibilities to be spiritual. Do your work fully, but release your death-grip on outcomes. When you act without obsessing over results, you stay mentally free even in the busiest life.
Key Sanskrit Terms: