Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, Verse 17

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga · Speaker: Krishna

Sanskrit verse

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥

Transliteration

yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ .
ātmanyeva ca santuṣṭastasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ॥

Meaning

But the person who delights only in the Self, is satisfied in the Self and is content in the Self alone — for him there is no duty left to do.

Word meanings

यः – who
तु – but
आत्मरतिः – delighting only in the Self
एव – alone
स्यात् – may be
आत्मतृप्तः – satisfied in the Self
च – and
मानवः – a person
आत्मनि – in the Self
सन्तुष्टः – contented
तस्य – for him
कार्यम् – duty to be done
न विद्यते – does not exist

Anvaya (word order)

यः तु मानवः आत्मरतिः एव, आत्मतृप्तः च, आत्मनि एव च सन्तुष्टः स्यात्, तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ।

Explanation

Having set out the principle of the yajna-cycle, the Lord now mentions an exception: the Self-knower. Three words stand out in this verse: atma-rati, atma-trpta and atma-santushta. The ordinary person seeks joy in external things; but one who has found the source of bliss within himself does not depend on any object.

Shankara holds that this verse concerns the Sankhya, the knowledge-centred renunciate, for whom the binding ordinance of Vedic rites no longer remains because their purpose is fulfilled. He takes it as proof of the excellence of the path of knowledge. Ramanuja reads it as meaning that even for the yogi absorbed in vision of the Self, actions remain part of that very discipline and are not abandoned.

Both teachers agree that such a person expects nothing from action. For him action is no ‘karya’, no compulsion; if he acts, he acts out of joy and nature, not under pressure.

The verse shows the height of the ideal, though the next verse will make clear that even such a sage continues to do his work in the world without attachment.

Context

Verse 3.16 censured one who disregards the cycle of action. Verse 3.17 now describes, as an exception, the Self-realised person; verses 3.18 and 3.19 will clarify why he nevertheless acts.

Life lesson

One who has found joy within is less troubled by external things. Cultivate peace and contentment inwardly; this is the root of freedom.

Key terms

Atma-rati: one who delights in the Self alone
Atma-trpta: fully satisfied by the Self
Karya: duty to be done, obligation