Chapter III · Śloka 17
यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः |
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ||
आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ||
yas tv ātma-ratir eva syād ātma-tṛptaś ca mānavaḥ |
ātmany eva ca santuṣṭas tasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ||
ātmany eva ca santuṣṭas tasya kāryaṃ na vidyate ||
But for the person who delights only in the Self, who is satisfied with the Self alone, and who is content in the Self — for that person there is nothing that needs to be done.
This verse carves out the exception: the one who has fully realized the Self has no unfulfilled need and thus stands beyond the compulsion of prescribed duty. Ritual obligation is a ladder — those who have reached the roof need not keep climbing.