For Eternal Beginners
न हि कश्चित् क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ॥ ५ ॥
na hi kazcit kSaNamapi jAtu tiSThatyakarmakRt |
kAryate hyavazaH karma sarvaH prakRtijairguNaiH || 5 ||
न कश्चित् [na kazcit] Nobody तिष्ठति [tiSThati] can stay अकर्मकृत् [akarmakRt] without doing anything क्षणमपि जातु [kSaNamapi jAtu] even for a moment, हि [hi] indeed. सर्वः [sarvaH] Everyone अवशः [avazaH] is compelled कार्यते [kAryate] to create कर्म [karma] activity प्रकृतिजैः गुणैः [prakRtijaiH guNaiH] due to the qualities born out of worldly matter.
You cannot exist in this world without activity.
Indeed, no person in this world can stay without doing something, even for a moment, even if the person decides not to do anything. Everyone is driven towards activity – this is inevitable.
Such activity is in-line with the qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas that you possess. These qualities arise from worldly matter. Each quality is nurtured according to the actions committed by you since your eternal past.
Thus, by working without being driven by the desire for outcomes- as explained before- you are freed from the influence of past deeds. You bring the qualities of sattva, rajas and tamas under control. With a pure mind, you are fit to pursue the Self.
Without this, a person who begins the pursuit of realization would practice in vain-