नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।
पश्यञ्शृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपन्श्वसन् ॥ ८ ॥
naiva kiñchit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit
paśhyañ śhṛiṇvan spṛiśhañjighrann aśhnangachchhan svapañśhvasan
श्लोक ८: जिस मनुष्य में दिव्य चेतना है, जो सत्य को जानता है, देखते, सुनते, छूते, सूंघते, खाते, चलते, सोते और श्वास लेते हुए भी, इस तथ्य से अवगत रहता है कि वास्तव में इन कर्मों का कर्ता वह नहीं है।
Shloka 8: A person in divine consciousness, one who knows the truth, even while engaged in activities such as seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping and breathing, always realizes within himself that he is actually not the doer of these actions at all.
In Bhagavad Gita verse 5.8, Lord Krishna describes the enlightened perspective of a person who has truly understood the nature of action and self. The Sanskrit verse "naiva kiñcitkaromīti yukto manyeta tattvavit paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann aśnan gacchan svapañ śvasan" reveals a profound philosophical insight about our relationship with action.The verse presents the concept of a "tattva-vit" – one who knows the truth or reality of existence. This enlightened individual, while engaged in all normal activities of life – seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, moving, sleeping, and breathing – maintains the inner understanding that "I do nothing at all". This paradoxical statement forms the cornerstone of Krishna's teaching about detached action.This detachment doesn't imply physical renunciation or withdrawal from activities. Rather, it points to a psychological and spiritual detachment from the sense of doership. The person who has realized this truth understands that it is not the true self (the soul) that acts, but rather the body and its senses that engage with the material world. The soul remains a witness rather than the actual performer of actions.The enlightened person understands that the senses naturally interact with their objects – eyes see forms, ears hear sounds, skin feels touch – without the soul being the actual doer. This recognition comes from the profound realization that the self (soul) is distinct from the physical body and its sensory apparatus. By maintaining this awareness, one remains free from the bondage of karma that typically results from identifying with actions.Krishna describes this state as "karm yog" – the path of work in devotion – where one performs all necessary activities while maintaining inner detachment. Rather than being driven by personal desire or attachment to results, the person acts from a place of higher awareness, understanding the fundamental distinction between the eternal soul and the temporary body.This verse offers a radical shift in perspective. Instead of the common view that "I am doing this action," the enlightened view is that natural processes are unfolding through the body and its senses, while the true self remains untouched and unentangled. This doesn't lead to irresponsibility but to a higher form of engagement where one acts without the burden of ego-attachment.The beauty of this teaching is that it applies to all aspects of life – from mundane activities like eating and sleeping to more complex interactions. It offers a path to freedom from the psychological suffering that comes from over-identification with our actions and their results. By understanding that "I am not the doer," even while fully engaged in life's activities, one can experience profound peace and liberation from the anxieties that typically accompany a strong sense of personal doership.
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