Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga, verse 20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः।
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
Say ittyaktvā karma-phalāsaṅgaṁ nitya-tṛipto nirāśhrayaḥ
karmaṇyabhipravṛitto ’pi naiva kiñchit karoti saḥ
Translation
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of the action, ever content, depending on nothing, he does not do anything even while being engaged in activity.
Swami Sivananda
Having given up attachment to the results of action, he who is ever-content, dependent on nothing, does not really do anything even though he is engaged in action.
Swami Gambirananda
Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).
Having renounced attachment to the fruits of their actions, ever contented with the eternal self, and dependent on none, one does not act at all, even while being engaged in action.
Swami Adidevananda
Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).
By abandoning attachment to the fruits of actions, remaining ever content and depending on nothing, that person, even though they are engaged in action, does not perform anything at all.
Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).
Having surrendered all claim to the results of his actions, he is always contented and independent; in reality, he does nothing, even though he appears to be acting.
Shri Purohit Swami
जो कर्म और फलकी आसक्तिका त्याग करके आश्रयसे रहित और सदा तृप्त है, वह कर्मोंमें अच्छी तरह लगा हुआ भी वास्तवमें कुछ भी नहीं करता।
Swami Ramsukhdas
जो पुरुष, कर्मफलासक्ति को त्यागकर, नित्यतृप्त और सब आश्रयों से रहित है वह कर्म में प्रवृत्त होते हुए भी (वास्तव में) कुछ भी नहीं करता है।
Swami Tejomayananda
Classical commentariesFor deeper study. Most are in the original Sanskrit.
Advaita
Non-dual: the self and the absolute are one.
Vishishtadvaita
Qualified non-dual: souls are real parts of the divine.
Dvaita
Dual: the soul and God are eternally distinct.
Shuddhadvaita
Pure non-dual, centred on grace and devotion.
Kashmir Shaivism
The Gita read through Trika Shaiva philosophy.
Modern teachers
20th-century teachers writing for today's readers.