87. Akarma in Karma

Krishna says that the issue of karma and akarma is very intricate and even the wise are confounded about the subtleties of karma and akarma (4.16) and clarified that sage is the one whose pursuits are free from kaam and sankalp (kaam-sankalp-varjitah) and whose actions are burnt by the fire of knowledge (4.19).

To help us understand karma and akarma, Krishna gives glimpses of akarma in karma and says, “Having renounced attachment to fruits of action, the ever content (nitya-tript), depends on nothing, he doesn’t do anything though he is engaged in action” (4.20). The crux is that such an ever-content person doesn’t do anything though he is engaged in action.

Firstly, the sense of doership disappears when attachment to fruits of action is renounced. Secondly, ‘ever content’ doesn’t have any motive to perform any particular action but keeps engaging in actions bestowed by the existence. This is nothing but nishkaam-karma or unmotivated action. Thirdly, he doesn’t depend on sensual pleasures like praise from others. Finally, such a person will be free from karma-bandhan.

Gita encourages us to focus on the roots of issues and dilemmas we face. All of us have confusion about what to do and what not to do. Krishna himself clarified that even wise are confused. In this existential verse, Krishna tells us to attain the state of ‘ever content’, ‘depend on nothing’ and renounce fruits of action. Once we reach that state, we no longer do anything, even though we are engaged in karma. This is striking at the root of the confusion regarding karma and akarma.


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