3:17श्रीभगवानुवाच

Karma Yoga

कर्म योग

Sanskrit Shloka

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः। आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥ 3:17॥

Padacheeda (Word-by-Word)

यः तु आत्म-रतिः एव स्यात् आत्म-तृप्तः च मानवः, आत्मनि एव च सन्तुष्टः तस्य कार्यम् न विद्यते।।

Anvaya (Construction)

तु (किंतु) यः मानवः (जो मनुष्य) आत्म-रतिः एव (आत्मा में ही रमण करने वाला) च आत्म-तृप्तः (और आत्मा में ही तृप्त) च आत्मनि एव सन्तुष्टः (और आत्मा में ही संतुष्ट) स्यात् (हो) तस्य (उसके लिए) कार्यम् (कोई कर्तव्य) न विद्यते। (नहीं है)।

Meaning

Hindi

परंतु जो मनुष्य आत्म-स्वरुप में ही रमण करने वाला और अपने-आप में ही तृप्त तथा संतुष्ट हो उसके लिए कोई करणीय कर्म नहीं है—{प्रजापति ब्रह्मा द्वारा ऊपर बताए गए यज्ञादि नियत कर्म भी नहीं}।


English

But the one on a journey to self-discovery, anchored in their inner, divine Self, truly loving it (ātmaratih), is fully gratified within that Self (ātmatriptah), and finds contentment within (ātmani eva santushtah). For them, no duty exists {not even responsibilities like the performance of yajna rituals prescribed by Prajāpati Brahmā in verses 3:10-15}. (3:17)

Commentary

English

The reader may carefully notice the subtle way the Lord is gradually departing from the lower, half-hedonistic spirituality of the Vedas (3:10-15) to the higher spirituality of Self-realization. Another essential message in this verse is the need for humans not to be dependent for peace and happiness on external stimuli or circumstances including rites and rituals and subordinate gods and goddesses, as the soul itself is an unfathomable reservoir of joy.