म्हणोनि कर्मे तरी कीजती | परि तीं कर्तेपणा न येती | जैसा सूर्य न शिवे राती | तैसे जाणावे || १८० ||
"Therefore, actions are performed, but they do not bring doership; just as the sun never touches the night, know it to be so."
💡 Meaning
Therefore, actions are indeed performed, but they do not result in a sense of doership. Just as the sun is never touched by the night, so should this be understood.
🔍 Deep Interpretation
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar elucidates the essence of selfless action. A realized soul performs all necessary duties, yet remains free from the ego of being the 'doer'. Using the metaphor of the sun, he explains that just as the sun provides light to the world but is never touched or affected by the darkness of the night, a wise person performs actions without being bound by their consequences or the illusion of agency. Their actions are transformed into 'non-action' because the ego is absent.
🎯 Practical Application
Perform your daily tasks with full dedication but without seeking personal credit or being attached to the result. For example, a student should study hard as a duty, without letting the pride of 'I am the smartest' affect their character.
📌 Context
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains how a wise person remains untouched by the bonds of action, despite being active in the world.