Path of Selfless Service
Verse 3.22
न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन। नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि।।3.22।।
na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣhu lokeṣhu kiñchana nānavāptam avāptavyaṁ varta eva cha karmaṇi
Word Meanings
na—not; me—mine; pārtha—Arjun; asti—is; kartavyam—duty; triṣhu—in the three; lokeṣhu—worlds; kiñchana—any; na—not; anavāptam—to be attained; avāptavyam—to be gained; varte—I am engaged; eva—yet; cha—also; karmaṇi—in prescribed duties
Translation · English
There is nothing in the three worlds, O Arjuna, that needs to be done by Me, nor is there anything unattained that needs to be attained; yet I engage Myself in action.
Deep Meaning · English
In this verse, Krishna reveals the foundational truth of His own nature as the Supreme Consciousness, standing beyond the boundaries of desire and obligation. By stating that He has nothing to attain in the three worlds, He dismantles the egoic structure of 'duty' that Arjuna is currently grappling with. For most, duty (dharma) is a burden born of lack—a necessity to achieve a desired outcome or avoid suffering. Krishna, however, acts from a position of absolute fullness (purnatva). His engagement in karma is not an attempt to become something, but a divine play (lila) intended to uphold the cosmic order (lokasamgraha). This teaches the seeker that when actions are performed without the heat of personal desire, they no longer bind the soul; they become expressions of the Divine rather than chains of causality. By positioning Himself as the ultimate paradigm of the 'actionless actor,' Krishna invites Arjuna to perform his duty not as a slave to consequences, but as a liberated agent of the Divine will. This shifts the focus from the 'what' of the action to the 'how' of the consciousness behind it, illustrating that spiritual maturity lies in recognizing that while the body must act, the Self remains eternally established in its own perfection.
True freedom is not found by abandoning action, but by performing it from a state of inner completeness where the soul acts as a cosmic instrument rather than a self-seeking agent.
Connected Verses
Reiterates that the Lord remains neutral and indifferent to His own creative actions, underscoring the nature of divine activity.
Clarifies that while Krishna engages in action, He remains untouched by the effects of action, affirming His divine non-attachment.
Describes the state of the Self-realized soul who finds all their needs fulfilled within the Self, rendering them free from external obligations.
Establishes the fundamental principle of acting without attachment to the fruits of labor.
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