मनस्यनीहिते शान्ते स्वबुद्धीन्द्रियकर्मभिः । नहि कश्चित्कृतैरर्थो नाऽकृतैरप्यभावनात् ॥ २५ ॥
manasyanīhitē śāntē svabuddhīndriyakarmabhiḥ | nahi kaścitkṛtairarthō nā’kṛtairapyabhāvanāt || 25 ||
Translation
When the mind is stilled and free of wanting, there is nothing at all to be gained by deeds done with one's intellect and senses, nor by deeds not done, because nothing is taken as real.
Word by word
- manasi
- when the mind
- anīhitē
- is free of wanting
- śāntē
- and stilled
- sva
- one's own
- buddhi
- intellect
- indriya
- and senses
- karmabhiḥ
- by deeds
- nahi
- not at all
- kaścit
- anything
- kṛtair
- (kṛtaiḥ) by deeds done
- arthō
- (arthaḥ) to be gained
- na
- nor
- akṛtair
- (akṛtaiḥ) by deeds not done
- api
- even
- abhāvanāt
- because nothing is taken as real
Meaning
The commentary: when the world has been shown to be unreal and the mind is still, with intellect and senses but without desire, there remains no purpose in doing, not doing or wanting. What has been seen to be unreal no longer shows itself as real, so the semblance of action that past karma still produces does not become action, and its fruit is not enjoyed. Another commentary puts it in the terms of karma: he is no longer the one who reaps what is being done now or what is stored. This is how the free one of verse 11 can live in the world.