Chapter 4 Shloka 20

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासंगं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रय:।

कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित् करोति स:।।२०।।

Bhagwan clearly states:

Having abandoned attachment to actions

and the fruits thereof, the ever satiated,

independent one does nothing at all –

even though fully engaged in actions.

Chapter 4 Shloka 20

त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासंगं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रय:।

कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित् करोति स:।।२०।।

Bhagwan clearly states:

Having abandoned attachment to actions and the fruits thereof, the ever satiated, independent one does nothing at all – even though fully engaged in actions.

Little one, first understand the meaning of Nirashraya (निराश्रय) i.e. without ashraya. In order to do this, it is necessary to know the connotation of ashraya. Ashraya means:

a) to take another’s support or help;

b) dependence on another;

c) to make use of another;

d) to elicit service from another;

e) to acknowledge the other as one’s master in order to derive some benefit;

f) to follow another in order to achieve one’s own ends.

Little one, an individual takes the support of another on the gross, emotional or intellectual planes. He does this in order to satiate some personal desire.

The Sadhak – Nirashraya

1. The sadhak does not even consider the body to be his own, therefore he ceases to take the support even of his body.

2. The sadhak relinquishes the support of his tendencies and attributes.

3. He no longer depends on his own concepts and desires.

4. He gives up the support of his customary code of conduct and his mental knots and complexes.

5. He gives up his escapist tendencies.

6. He ceases to seek the protection of his body by his intellect.

He no longer uses his body or his mind and its potential or his intellect, at any level, for his own protection. Thus he is truly nirashraya.

The ever satiated Atmavaan – Nitya Tript (नित्य तृप्त)

If such a one were not completely satiated, or nitya tript, he would not be nirashraya either.

1. Only one without desires is everlastingly satisfied.

2. Only one without desires is forever content.

3. The absence of desire is the root of permanent satiation.

4. Such a one does not seek to quench the thirst of any personal desire.

5. He does not have any personal project awaiting fulfilment.

6. He has already attained all that he desired from his bodily endeavour.

7. He has no selfish motive whatsoever to satisfy through any object, nor does he have any resolves or negative impulses to fulfil.

Being without supports and yet ever content are signs of the Atmavaan. Of what use then are actions to such souls who have so to say, ‘turned away’ from their body selves. They are, therefore, detached from all actions. They do all, yet they do nothing.

The route towards complete satiation

Little one!

1. The route towards being eternally satiated is through the performance of selfless actions.

2. The aim of selfless actions is the state of eternal satiation.

3. If one forgets one’s own body and works for others, one will reach that state.

4. Procure what you like for others.

5. Use the objects you possess for the sake of others.

6. Give the objects that you enjoy for the enjoyment of the others.

7. An impulsive renunciation of one’s favourite things does not lead to satiation. First learn to share those things with others.

8. Then learn to procure them for others. Only then will you experience the immense satisfaction that comes from using enjoyable things for the happiness of others.

Practice this with vigilance.

1. Place at the service of others those objects upon which you are dependent.

2. Remember the other also harbours the same desires as you do. If you constantly pursue the fulfilment of your own desires, your desires will increase. But when you satisfy those same desires that lie in the hearts of others, one day you will achieve complete satiation.

This is also the purpose of selfless action – to take you towards complete contentment.

This contentment is the prasaad, the yagyashesh, that the doer of selfless deeds receives. The one who is completely satiated performs all actions but is not bound by them. Being totally detached from the fruits of those deeds, they can no longer bind him. He does all, yet he does nothing.