Read a Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on this Verse
k-MaR<Yak-MaR Ya" PaXYaedk-MaRi<a c k-MaR Ya" )
Sa buiÖMaaNMaNauZYaezu Sa Yau¢-" k*-Tòk-MaRk*-Ta( )) 18 ))
karmaëy akarma yaù paçyed
akarmaëi ca karma yaù
sa buddhimän manuñyeñu
sa yuktaù kåtsna-karma-kåt
SYNONYMS
karmaëi-in action; akarma-inaction; yaù-one who; paçyet-observes; akarmaëi-in inaction; ca-also; karma-fruitive action; yaù-one who; saù-he; buddhi-män-is intelligent; manuñyeñu-in human society; saù-he; yuktaù-is in the transcendental position; kåtsna-karma-kåt-although engaged in all activities.
TRANSLATION
One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.
PURPORT
A person acting in Kåñëa consciousness is naturally free from the bonds of karma. His activities are all performed for Kåñëa; therefore he does not enjoy or suffer any of the effects of work. Consequently he is intelligent in human society, even though he is engaged in all sorts of activities for Kåñëa. Akarma means without reaction to work. The impersonalist ceases fruitive activities out of fear, so that the resultant action may not be a stumbling block on the path of self-realization, but the personalist knows rightly his position as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore he engages himself in the activities of Kåñëa consciousness. Because everything is done for Kåñëa, he enjoys only transcendental happiness in the discharge of this service. Those who are engaged in this process are known to be without desire for personal sense gratification. The sense of eternal servitorship to Kåñëa makes one immune to all sorts of reactionary elements of work.
