Chapter-18, Verse 25

Ashtavakra Gita Verse 18.25

कृतं देहेन कर्मेदं न मया शुद्धरूपिणा । इति चिन्तानुरोधी यः कुर्वन्नपि करोति न ॥ २५ ॥

This action was done by the body but not by me, the pure-natured one. Thus thinking in accordance with the Truth, one does not act even when acting. || 25 ||

The meaning of this verse is that the enlightened person, who has Realized his True Nature as the pure, actionless, and Witness Consciousness, does not identify with the body or the mind, which are the instruments of action and the products of ignorance. He knows that he is not the doer or the enjoyer of the results of action, but only the detached observer of the play of phenomena. Therefore, he is free from the bondage of karma, even while performing actions in the world. He does not have any attachment, aversion, or delusion, which are the causes of suffering. He is always happy, peaceful, and free.

Similar verses from Vedic texts, which also express the idea of non-doership and freedom from karma for the wise are:

- From the Bhagavad Gita (5.8-9):

नैव किञ्चित्करोमीति युक्तो मन्येत तत्त्ववित् ।

पश्यञ्श्रृण्वन्स्पृशञ्जिघ्रन्नश्नन्गच्छन्स्वपन्श्वसन् ॥ ८ ॥

प्रलपन्विसृजन्गृह्णन्नुन्मिषन्निमिषन्नपि ।

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेषु वर्तन्त इति धारयन् ॥ ९ ॥

I do nothing at all, thus would the knower of Truth think - seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, eating, going, sleeping, breathing,

speaking, letting go, seizing, opening and closing the eyes -

convinced that it is the senses that move among the sense-objects. || 8-9 ||

- From the Yoga Vasistha (6.2.34):

अहं न कर्ता नाहं भोक्ता नाहं विश्वस्य कारणम् । अहं चिदानन्दरूपोऽहं शान्तोऽहं शान्तिमूर्तिमान् ॥ ३४ ॥

I am not the doer, nor am I the experiencer, nor am I the cause of the world. I am of the nature of Consciousness and Bliss, I am peaceful, I am the embodiment of Peace. || 34 ||

- From the Avadhuta Gita (1.29):

नाहं देहो न मे देहो बुद्धिर्नेन्द्रियाणि च । अहं चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम् ॥ २९ ॥

I am not the body, nor is the body mine, nor are the intellect and the senses. I am of the nature of Consciousness and Bliss, I am Shiva, I am Shiva. || 29 ||