Verse 4.18

Verse 4.18: “He who can see in (apparent) action (real) no-action, and who in (apparent) no-action (real) action: he amongst men is the man of discernment; he, the man set in Yoga; he, the doer of the entire action (as such). (93)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Such a sage is one who even while being immersed in a life of actions, has the full realisation of his true nature as action-less, and does not expect any fruit even while engaged in actions; and he is one, who performs actions for no other motive than doing his own duty—such a one, know it, is the true embodiment of action-free-soul. One who performs all his actions strictly and fully according to the prescribed procedure shows these marks and should be known as one perfect in knowledge. Just as one standing near water, sees his own reflection in it, yet fully knows that he is not that (reflection) one, but that he is separate from it; or just as one enjoying boating in a river, sees (as if) the trees on the bank (and not the boat itself) are running, yet after reflection realises that the trees are stationary; in the same way one who views his actions as unreal considered from the point of view of the form of the Self, and realises the original form of his own Self is a real action-free person. The Sun appears, while rising and setting, wending his way without (actually) moving in any way; similar is the action-freeness of the one (perfect in knowledge) even though he is seen performing actions. He seems to live his life like other men, and yet he remains untouched by human attributes, just as the sun’s rays do not get drenched even though their reflections get into water. In that way the action-free one even though he has realised the Universe, without going into it, does all things, enjoys all the enjoyments; yet he remains neutral in and detached from all these actions. Although he sits only in one place, still he moves in the Universe—nay even he is completely one with the very spirit of the Universe itself.