yoga-sannyasta-karmāṇaḿ
jñāna-sañchinna-saḿśayam
ātmavantaḿ na karmāṇi
nibadhnanti dhanañ-jaya
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 4.41
One who acts in devotional service, renouncing the fruits of his actions, and whose doubts have been destroyed by transcendental knowledge, is situated factually in the self. Thus he is not bound by the reactions of work, O conqueror of riches.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
One who follows the instruction of the Bhagavad-gita, as it is imparted by the Lord, the Personality of Godhead Himself, becomes free from all doubts by the grace of transcendental knowledge. He, as a part and parcel of the Lord, in full Krishna consciousness, is already established in self-knowledge. As such, he is undoubtedly above bondage to action.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
In such a state, a person will reach a state of no karma (naiskarmyam). Having renounced all karma through niskama karma yoga, and having eradicated all doubts through practice of jnana, actions do not bind that person, who has attained realization of the soul.
Commentary by Sri Ramanuja of Sri Sampradaya:
4.41 The countless ancient Karmas which constitute the cause of bondage, do not bind him who has renounced actions through Karma Yoga in the manner explained before, who has sundered all doubts concerning the self by the knowledge of the self in the manner explained before, and who is of steady mind, i.e., unshakable, with the mind focussed steadily on the meaning that has been forth.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
The dual method of realising the Brahman or the spiritual substratum pervading all existence has been taught with karma yoga or the performance as prescribed Vedic activities as the beginning stage and jnana yoga or the cultivation of Vedic knowledge as the intermediate stage in the last two chapters, is being concluded with this verse. One who has offered all actions to the Supreme Lord has renounced actions. This yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness is performed continuously. Therefore all doubts in regard to ego-consciousness have been destroyed by the fire of knowledge knowing that one is not the physical body. One is consciousness and self alert and is not bound by actions whether they are naturally done for oneself or for others.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
Sri Madhvacharya did not comment on this sloka.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
In this way the complete failure of the ignorant who doubt the veracity of the spiritual well-wishers has been given in order to remove all doubts of the aspirant for moksa or liberation who has faith follows a life of pious conduct. The dual paths of karma yoga or prescribed Vedic activities and jnana yoga or cultivation of Vedic knowledge are both concluded in this verse and the next. Actions do not bind one to material existence who is renounced. All actions offered or dedicated to the Supreme Lord are always renounced. This is characterised by direct perception of the Supreme Lord and the conscious reality that one belongs exclusively to Him which arises only after the realisation of the Brahman or the spiritual substratum pervading all existence is perceived.
Commentary by Sri Adi Shankaracharya of Advaita Sampradaya:
4.41 Yoga-sannyasta-karmanam, one who has renounced actions through yoga: that person who is a knower of the supreme Goal, by whom actions called righteous or unrighteous have been renounced through the yoga characterized as the Knowledge of the supreme Goal. How does one become detached from actions through yoga? The Lord says: He is jnana-samchinna-samsayah, one whose doubts (samsaya) have been fully dispelled (samchinna) by Knowledge (jnana) characterized as the realization of the identity of the individual Self and God. O Dhananjaya, he who has thus renounced actions through yoga, atmavantam, who is not inadvertent, not careless; him, karmani, actions, seen as the activities of the gunas (see 3.28); na nibadhnanti, do not bind, (i.e.) they do not produce a result in the form of evil etc. Since one whose doubts have been destroyed by Knowledge-arising from the destruction of the impurities (of body, mind, etc.) as result of the practise of Karma-yoga-does not get bound by acitons owing to the mere fact of his actions having been burnt away by Knowledge; and since one who has doubts with regard to the practice of the yogas of Knowledge and actions gets ruined-
Commentary by Sri Abhinavagupta of Kaula Tantra Sampradaya:
4.41 Yoga-etc. Renunciation of actions becomes possible only through Yoga and not otherwise. This has been discussed also [in the sequel].
Sanskrit Shloka Without Transliteration Marks:
yoga-sannyasta-karmanam
jñana-sañchinna-samsayam
atmavantam na karmani
nibadhnanti dhanañ-jaya
Sanskrit to English Word for Word Meanings:
yoga — by devotional service in karma-yoga; sannyasta — one who has renounced; karmāṇam — the fruits of actions; jñāna — by knowledge; sañchinna — cut; saḿśayam — doubts; ātma-vantam — situated in the self; na — never; karmāṇi — works; nibadhnanti — do bind; dhanam-jaya — O conqueror of riches.
