Verse 3.17
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः। आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते।।
Transliteration (IAST)
yas tv ātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛptaś ca mānavaḥ | ātmany eva ca santuṣṭas tasya kāryaṁ na vidyate ||
Word-by-Word Meanings
आत्मरतिः-delighting in the Self
आत्मतृप्तः-satisfied in the Self
सन्तुष्टः-content
कार्यम्-obligatory duty
न विद्यते-does not exist
Translation
But for one who delights only in the Self, who is satisfied in the Self, and who is content in the Self alone - for such a person there is no obligatory duty.
Commentary
Krishna acknowledges the exception: the fully Self-realized being who has transcended all desires has no binding duty. This is the state of jivanmukti - liberation while living. However, this applies only to the truly enlightened, not to those who merely claim detachment.
Themes
atmanmokshajnana