Bhagavad Gita 4.18

karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyed

akarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ

sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu

sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt

 

“One who can see in action, no cause for reaction,

And in inaction, sufficient cause for reaction,

Is wise indeed among all humankind,

Always well-engaged in heart and mind.”

 

My dear Lord, you are expert in seeing the substance of things beyond their appearance. And you are so merciful that you want me to become similarly expert. That is why you provide me with your empowering words of wisdom. Bless me, my Lord, so that I can avoid falling prey to the superficial and convenient conception that when faced with difficult decisions, I can just do nothing and thereby be held responsible for nothing. You have given me a role and responsibility in this world.

 And if I play my part in the mood of service to you, O merciful Lord, you take responsibility for my actions and step forward to protect me from any untoward consequences of actions that I had to do for your cause. Such was the situation of Arjuna—he was called to fight a war against his venerable elders. I pray, my Lord, that I never face such a difficult test. And if I do face such a test and understandably falter, as did Arjuna, I pray that I may remember your words of warning so that I don’t choose the easy way out by choosing to do nothing. Bless me, O Lord, with the courage of conviction to focus on doing my part in your service without fixating on my convenience.

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04.18 One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.