Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 30

English Translation

Devoid of the fever of the soul, engage in battle by dedicating all actions to Me, with (your) mind intent on the Self, and becoming free from expectations and egoism.

Detailed Commentary

3.30. Elucidation – Regarding 'मयि सर्वाणि कर्माणि संन्यस्याध्यात्मचेतसा' (offering all actions to Me with a mind fixed on the Self): Seekers often think that actions lead to bondage and that one cannot exist without performing actions. Therefore, Bhagavan tells Arjuna, "Offer all your prescribed duties to Me with a discerning mind. Do not claim any relation to them. In truth, My power is at work in every action of the world. The body, senses, material objects, etc., all belong to Bhagavan. Actions performed with this profound thought – 'Everything belongs to Bhagavan, and Bhagavan is ours' – will not be binding but rather liberating." The experience of the world is that one has no control over the body, senses, mind, intellect, etc. All these belong to Prakriti. In essence, it is our attachment to the world and actions that binds us. One should eradicate this through Viveka (spiritual discernment) and offer everything to Bhagavan. By the term 'Adhyātmacetasā', Bhagavan means that the goal of a seeker on any path should be spiritual. A goal pertains to the Nitya Tattva (eternal reality), whereas desire pertains to the Anitya Tattva (transient reality). A seeker should have a goal, not desire. Upon understanding oneself as bodiless (asharīra), we become free from bondage. The world inherently belongs to Paramatma. But the jiva (individual soul), forgetting this, considers it its own. Thinking, 'I belong to Bhagavan, and all that is called mine also belongs to Bhagavan' – one should offer everything to Bhagavan and remove one's Mamata (attachment/possessiveness). Paramatma has given us the human body for the fulfillment of a purpose. The resources received for this purpose should also be offered to Bhagavan. A special point regarding desire: The things we have received are for our sustenance. They should be utilized wisely (vivekapūrvak), not for oneself. One who harbors Mamata for received objects and desires unreceived objects gets caught in bondage. Therefore, considering received objects as belonging to Bhagavan, one should use them correctly. Engagement in actions is for the fulfillment of a purpose, not for desire. Therefore, perform actions but free from Kāmanā (desire) and Mamata. Bhagavan told Arjuna, "Perform your prescribed duties without Kāmanā, Mamata, or Santāpa (distress)." A child hands over the keys to his father, and the father is pleased to see this. Similarly, when we surrender everything to Bhagavan, He is pleased. One should perform purposeful actions with the goal of Bhagavatprāpti (attaining Bhagavan). This means that whatever task comes before one, it should be offered to Bhagavan, becoming Nishkām (desireless) and Nirmam (free from possessiveness). One should not worry about its results. When the sole objective of the seeker becomes the attainment of Paramatma, then defects like Kāmanā, Mamata, etc., automatically vanish. Context: Bhagavan affirms His principle.