योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसञ्छिन्नसंशयम् |
आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय || 41||
yoga-sannyasta-karmāṇaṁ jñāna-sañchhinna-sanśhayam
ātmavantaṁ na karmāṇi nibadhnanti dhanañjaya
yoga-sannyasta-karmāṇam—those who renounce ritualistic karm, dedicating their body, mind, and soul to God; jñāna—by knowledge; sañchhinna—dispelled; sanśhayam—doubts; ātma-vantam—situated in knowledge of the self; na—not; karmāṇi—actions; nibadhnanti—bind; dhanañjaya—Arjun, the conqueror of wealth
Translation:
O Arjuna! Actions do not bind the man who has surrendered the fruits of karma by yoga, whose doubts are cleared by Knowledge, and who is firmly established in the Self.
Commentary:
It is evident that the man who has no longing for the fruits of action, who has surrendered them to the Lord, is not bound by the wheel of Karma. He has no attachment to the body and so he has no sense of doership. He is established in Atma, and looks upon the world as an illusion and a dream. Hence actions do not bind him. He may be continuously working, and yet he is not in action as he has no feeling of attachment and doership. The fire of Knowledge burns up all actions, as it has been already declared.
One whose doubts are cleared by practical Knowledge: Till the aspirant reaches the ultimate Truth doubts will crop up in some form or other. Only when Truth is seen, all doubts are cleared.
One who is established in Atma: It has already been declared that the seeker should be firmly established in the Self to attain complete freedom. He who has the knowledge of the Self alone removes the last trace of the bondage of Karma. All others are bound to reap the fruit of their actions in an endless series of births.
Question: Who is not bound by Karma?
Answer: The Nishkama karma yogi, the man whose doubts are cleared by knowledge, who is firmly established in the Self is not bound by Karma.
Question: So, what should a man do to free himself from the bondage of Karma?
Answer: He should give up the fruit of work and surrender to the Lord. He should acquire Knowledge and clear all his doubts. He should get established in the Self. Then Karma cannot bind him.