Chapter IV · Śloka 20
त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥
tyaktvā karma-phala-āsaṅgaṃ nitya-tṛpto nirāśrayaḥ |
karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ ||
karmaṇy abhipravṛtto 'pi naiva kiñcit karoti saḥ ||
Having abandoned attachment to the fruits of action, ever content, depending on nothing, even though engaged in action, he does nothing at all.
Contentment and independence from external support are the outward signs of inner non-doership. The paradox—fully active yet doing nothing—captures the liberation that comes when the ego-sense has been dissolved in action.