म्हणोनि कर्मे तरी कीजती। परि तीं कर्तेपणा न येती। जैशीं चित्रींचीं न हालती। चित्रे लिहिलीं॥ ९०॥
"Therefore, actions are performed, but they do not bring the sense of doership; just as painted figures do not move."
💡 Meaning
Therefore, actions are indeed performed, but they do not result in the sense of doership, just as painted figures in a picture do not actually move.
🔍 Deep Interpretation
In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar uses a beautiful analogy of a painting to describe the state of a liberated soul. Just as figures in a painting may be depicted in various poses of action (like running or fighting), they do not actually possess any movement or the ego of performing those actions. Similarly, a person established in self-knowledge performs all necessary worldly duties through their physical body and senses, yet remains internally detached. They do not harbor the illusion of 'I am the doer' (Kartrutva Bhava), and thus, their actions do not create any karmic bondage.
🎯 Practical Application
In professional life, perform your duties with excellence but without getting attached to the 'credit' or 'ego' of the work. For example, a doctor treats a patient as a duty, without letting the success inflate their ego, knowing they are just an instrument.
📌 Context
Saint Dnyaneshwar explains how a realized soul performs actions without being bound by the ego of doership.