Chapter III · Śloka 4
न कर्मणामनारम्भान्नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते |
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ||
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति ||
na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo 'śnute |
na ca sannyasanād eva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati ||
na ca sannyasanād eva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati ||
A person does not attain freedom from action by abstaining from action, nor does one attain perfection simply by renunciation.
Mere physical inaction is not freedom — the mind still churns with desire and aversion. True naiṣkarmya, actionlessness, is an inner state that cannot be forced by withdrawing the hands while the heart still grasps.