Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga: / Verse 11

Krishna restates here what he mentioned earlier (3.5): To eschew actions is impossible for anyone who has a body. The world is vibrant and active everywhere, every time. Nothing remains inactive or still. Even the huge planets and celestial bodies are spinning in their trajectories. So, do not think in terms of inactivity or abandoning active life at all.

If this be so, what is the factor which we can relinquish? Krishna’s answer is quite clear. The results which actions aim at in varying degrees, should not cause any kind of possessiveness or affectation. This is certainly possible, and sufficient too.

Krishna thus summarily states that what has to be relinquished, in any circumstance, is not action, but the “subjective result” – the impact on the mind brought about by the objective result. By acting alone one preserves his well-being. Every part of the body needs its specific movement. To deny it is absolutely wrong, dangerous too.