🕉️Sanskrit Subhashit

In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar uses the classic metaphor of the lotus leaf. Just as a lotus leaf grows in water but remains dry and untouched by it, a person established in self-knowledge performs all necessary worldly duties without the ego of 'doership'. Since there is no attachment to the results or the ego of being the performer, the actions do not create any karmic bondage. This is the essence of Nishkama Karma (selfless action), where one acts as an instrument of the divine rather than an independent agent.

Perform your daily tasks with full dedication but without getting emotionally entangled in the results. Example: A student should study hard for exams as a duty, but should not let the fear of failure or the pride of success disturb their inner peace.

Saint Dnyaneshwar explains how a realized soul remains untouched by the bonds of action while living in the world, using the metaphor of a lotus leaf.

In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar explains that a person established in self-knowledge performs all worldly duties naturally, yet remains untouched by them. This is because they have transcended the egoistic notion of 'I am the doer.' Just as the sun illuminates the world and enables all activities without being the actual performer of those deeds, the wise person allows the body and senses to act according to their nature while remaining a detached witness. Their actions do not create any karmic bondage because the sense of individual agency is absent.

Perform your daily tasks like studying or working as a duty without getting attached to the ego of being the performer. Example: Help someone because it is the right thing to do, not to satisfy your ego or expect praise.

Saint Dnyaneshwar describes the state of a realized soul who remains a non-doer even while performing actions.

In this verse, Saint Dnyaneshwar emphasizes that total renunciation of action is impossible for any living being. As long as one is bound by the physical body and the laws of nature (Prakriti), actions will occur naturally, whether voluntary or involuntary. Even the act of breathing or thinking is a form of karma. Therefore, the path to liberation is not through the physical abandonment of action, but through performing one's duties without ego and attachment to the results.

In daily life, we cannot avoid our duties. For example, instead of procrastinating on a work project, one should accept it as a necessary part of their professional growth and complete it diligently.

Saint Dnyaneshwar explains to Arjuna the inevitability of action for any living being.